Thinking about laser hair removal? Here are 12 questions to ask before you get laser hair removal. These are questions you should ask of the clinics you’re visiting and speaking with while figuring out if the process makes sense for you.
You can ask most if not all of these questions when investigating Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and electrolysis hair removal treatments too.
Am I a suitable candidate?
Ask the hair removal clinic if they can even help you based on your skin tone and hair color/type. For laser hair removal to work, you can have any skin type I-VI although the Nd:YAG laser is the only current laser type suitable for all skin tones and the only one that is especially good and safe for skin tones IV-VI. Click here to learn more about skin tones and how it relates to hair removal.
If your unwanted hair is white, blonde, red or gray, laser hair removal will not work. If your unwanted hair is very thin and fine, laser hair removal will also not work. Save your time and money and investigate electrolysis instead in case it’s an option. It’s not dependent on skin color, hair color or hair type for success. It tends to be only good for small areas of hair removal but it can offer permanent results and might work for you.
What laser equipment do you use?
There are 4 types of laser used for hair removal. Their wavelength is measured in nanometers (nm):
- Ruby: Old technology. If they only have this type of laser, find another clinic.
- Diode: 810 nm. Good for pale to dark-colored skin, skin types I-V.
- Alexandrite: 755 nm. Works best on pale skin colors, skin type I-III. Not safe for some darker skin colors.
- Nd:YAG: 1064 nm. The only laser currently on the market that can work with all skin types I-VI.
Modern laser machines often combine 2 or more laser technologies (Nd:YAG and Alexandrite for example) to offer a more customizable path for patients. Some even include Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) in their machine too. These machines can be adjusted during treatment as you lose hair and the remaining hairs get thinner and might not respond as well to the original laser that was first used.
Modern IPL machines may not require use of a cooling gel as many newer laser and IPL machines have a built in cooling feature to prevent burning and provide comfort to patients’ skin.
Ask about the specific brand(s) they have and familiarize yourself with the manufacturer(s) to learn more about the pros and cons of each. You may come across manufacturers like LightSheer, Candela, Cynosure, Quanta System, DEKA, CoolTouch and more.
If the clinic doesn’t have a machine that suits your skin type and hair type, you’ll have to find a clinic that does.
How often are the machines calibrated?
This is a key question because not only does it let the clinic know that you know your stuff, if they don’t know the answer it might give you a clue as to how much they know about their own laser machines. And how well they take care of them.
When was the machine last serviced? How old is the machine?
Check out this article
from a Montreal-based skin expert who writes on various skincare topics including the importance – and lack of – laser hair removal machine calibration in the industry in general.
Do you specialize in laser hair removal?
Is this a side business for the clinic or is it an integral part of their business?
Their website should allude to that and you should get an indication of how serious hair removal is to their business from how much space the service takes up on their website in terms of the number of pages, written information, photos, links, etc. Checking the clinic in person of course and seeing the facility will help even more.
Who provides the hair removal service?
Is the hair removal machine operated by a doctor? A nurse? A clinician? What sort of training do they have, are they certified or otherwise well-trained and how much experience do they have?
Prior to having both laser and IPL work done, I met the people who actually ran the machine and would be doing the hair removal for me. I got to speak with them in detail to learn more about the process and about them, too. One was a nurse and the other was a clinician.
What success have you had with people with my skin and hair type?
As mentioned above, skin type, hair color and hair type (coarse hair is ideal) are critical factors for success when choosing laser hair removal. Assuming the clinic you’re speaking with isn’t brand new they should have pictures and examples of patients they’ve successfully treated already. Ask to see these pictures and referrals.
Look for patients who have the same skin and hair type as you and who therefore might offer you a glimpse of what you can expect.
How much does each treatment cost?
Now we’re getting to the nitty gritty….Everyone wants to know how much laser hair removal is going to cost. The per session fee is of course important but if one clinic says you need 8 treatments at a high price but the other clinic says you’ll need 12 visits at a lower price, all things being equal which way should you go?
Cost isn’t everything. Look for a clinic that give you confidence that you are in good hands. A higher up front cost might end up costing you less in the long run in terms of success, pain and side effects. How good is a cheap clinic that competes solely on price?
Ask about pricing options:
- Does the clinic offer a buy 4 laser treatments get 1 free deal or similar?
- Can you prepay for several treatments and get a discount?
- Is there a cash discount if you pay cash or with a bank card and avoid using a credit card?
- Do they offer a trial session at a discount to see how your skin and hair reacts before committing to a longer treatment period?
How many treatments will I need?
Another key question you’ll want answered. Or least to get an idea of what you’re looking at. Do you need 4-6 treatments or is 10-12 more likely? More treatments = more cost = more appointments. Do they offer appointments on days and at times that work for you or does your work or school schedule get in the way? How far do you have to travel to get to the clinic?
My chosen hair removal clinic was in my hometown but then I started working in a city 45 minutes away and I didn’t have a car and I took public transit. I had to leave work early for each appointment as they were only offered Monday-Friday. I didn’t change clinics because I was getting such a good price! It was worth the hassle.
Do you offer a guarantee?
Most clinics won’t but it’s worth asking just in case. If they offer a guarantee make sure you understand exactly what is covered because it will undoubtedly insist that you follow all instructions and that you schedule follow up appointments at the proper time.
One of the biggest laser hair removal failures – as with many things in life – is people not following instructions and giving up too soon.
What should I do before treatment?
Let them know about medication you take or any skin or health conditions that might interfere with treatment. Ask about staying out of the sunlight, not using certain lotions, creams, etc and doing anything else that could interfere with hair removal success.
Are you required to shave yourself before treatment? If so, when and what sort of shaver (Razor? Clippers?). My IPL hair removal provider shaved me with clippers at each treatment but I read online that clinics these days either charge people to do the pre-treatment shave – $75 in some cases – or they’ll cancel the hair removal session if you show up unshaved!
What should I do after treatment?
Can you just go home and go about your business or does the clinic recommend anything specific? Some clinics may suggest using a post treatment lotion or pain relief if necessary. Find out in advance what you should expect and be prepared for it.
How much pain should I expect?
What should you do if you experience extreme side effects like pain, sores, swelling, etc. What sort of medication might you require? When should you contact a doctor for bad side effects? It helps to know this well in advance.
Getting the right questions answered up front before committing to a costly laser hair removal plan can save you time, money, pain and ultimately disappointment in the future.
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