Like the popular saying goes “bikinis are fun” until it’s time to remove ingrown hairs. If you’re tired of waxing and other painful hair removal methods, Brazilian laser hair removal is what you need. Sadly, many have the wrong perception of the cost of Brazilian laser hair removal.
Brazilian hair removal is a type of laser hair removal treatment that helps you get rid of unwanted hairs with far less fuss than you are used to. It is a cosmetic procedure that uses modern technology to damage hair follicles. As a result, the results of this hair removal method are long-term. And, contrary to what many believe, the cost of Brazilian laser hair removal isn’t very expensive.
Additionally, as opposed to the traditional methods of hair removal around the bikini area, Brazilian laser hair removal is safer. With it, you have the luxury of leaving some hairs around your lady area or completely removing them. Also, you can feel more confident in how smooth and beautiful the results usually are.
How Much Does Brazilian Laser Hair Removal Cost
n laser hair removal involves removing all the hair in your Bikini area and around your buttocks. It’s a delicate treatment — a fact that’s reflected in the cost of Brazilian laser hair removal.
Typically, the pricing for Brazilian hair removal depends on the number of sessions.
A session costs between $150 to $300 and most people need about six sessions before they see the best results. This means you should expect to pay $1800 for all your sessions.
Typically, it is cheaper to go for package pricing consisting of 5 sessions or more depending on your needs. This way you will save some money as opposed to paying per session. However, the cost of Brazilian laser hair removal depends on several factors. For illustration, research from the NCBI shows your skin colour can greatly influence how much you’ll pay for a Brazilian laser hair removal session.
Additionally, a person whose hair is darker than their skin tone tends to see better results. The reason is the light from the laser works best with dark hairs. If you have blonde hair or you’re a redhead, you may require more sessions than someone with dark hair. During your consultation, you will get a proper inspection and a breakdown of how this characteristic can affect the cost of Brazilian laser hair removal.
Irrespective of the cost of Brazilian laser hair removal, many people agree it’s worth it. To understand where they are coming from, it helps to focus more on the benefits rather than the cost of the procedure. People who ask “how much does Brazilian laser hair removal cost” often realize after the procedure that the cost is justified.
Conclusively, when you calculate how much you spend on waxing and shaving, you realize they aren’t worth it. Other hair removal options may seem less expensive initially. But, in the long run, they cost more than Brazilian laser hair removal. Also, the bikini area is sensitive. As such, any treatment that comes with fewer side effects and pain is always a plus.
Factors Determining the Cost of Brazilian Laser Hair Removal
The pricing for Brazilian laser hair removal is also a function of your treatment provider. While some centres charge per session, others may charge according to the number of sessions. Regardless of which payment model your beauty care provider offers, Brazilian laser hair removal is still affordable.
Often, we find that many people perceive Brazilian laser hair removal as costly because they’re unaware of what determines the cost. The cost of Brazilian laser hair removal is dependent on the following factors.
The number of sessions
There isn’t any doubt that the more sessions you have, the more you will pay. A person who gets six sessions will definitely pay more than someone who had just three sessions.
The plus here is you can agree on the total number of sessions that suit your budget during the consultation.
While three-session treatments are popular, to get the best results, we recommend six sessions. Although each session offers noticeable results, it’s always better to opt for six sessions. The number of sessions you get not only determines the cost but also how long the results last. If you want to save more money in the long run, you need the result of your Brazilian laser hair removal to last longer.
Your hair colour
Your skin and hair colour can greatly influence the cost of Brazilian laser hair removal. People with dark hair often get the best Brazilian laser hair results. This is because the pigment present in the hair easily absorbs the laser’s energy. Also, if your skin is light and you have dark hair, it’s even more perfect.
Skin colour
Asides from the colour of your hair, your skin colour alone can affect the total cost of Brazilian laser hair removal. People with really dark skin aren’t the ideal candidate for Brazilian laser hair removal treatment. Just like with hair, the pigment in your skin absorbs the energy the laser emits.
As such, you may need more treatment sessions to completely remove all hair in the bikini area. However, this only comes with a slight bump in price. It doesn’t mean Brazilian laser hair removal is not affordable. In fact, with package pricing, you may not even feel the difference in price.
Owing to this, we recommend that you don’t get a suntan prior to your Brazilian laser hair removal appointment. If possible, a month to your appointment, avoid tanning to give the tan ample time to wear out. Also, before your appointment, you will be asked to reduce your exposure to the sun. This reduces the risk of damage or complications after the procedure.
The treatment area
The larger the size of the treatment area, the higher the cost of Brazilian laser hair removal. Places that don’t require too much time to cover are less expensive than larger areas. Parts of your body like the chest, legs or back require more time to cover thus increasing the total cost.
However, the bikini area is smaller compared to other parts of the body. Consequently, the cost of Brazilian laser hair removal is far more affordable than you may have been led to believe by mainstream media.
Where you live
Your location can have a significant impact on the cost of Brazilian laser hair removal. If you reside in a big city, you should expect to pay more. However, you can get a rough estimate on how much you’ll be expected to pay during your consultation.
How Much Does Laser Hair Removal Cost Full Body
Laser hair removal is often considered a beauty investment. It costs more money than shaving or waxing, but over time, when treatments are no longer needed, you can save money on body hair removal costs.
Many factors affect the price of this procedure. “Costs for laser hair removal vary by body area treated, geographical location, the expertise of the person performing the procedure, and time to perform the procedure,” says dermatologist Corey L. Hartman, M.D., founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology in Birmingham, Alabama. “Individual treatment session costs are generally in the range of $100 to $800.”
In 2020, the average cost of laser hair removal with no other related expenses was $389, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Below, we dig into the average costs for common treatment areas. Remember that the average prices listed below are per treatment, and you may need four to six treatments overall, according to Dr. Guanche.
Average Cost of Laser Hair Removal for Large Areas
If you are getting laser hair removal on large areas of your body, such as your back or legs, the cost will likely be more expensive than removing hair from small areas. “Generally, a large area like the back or legs can be upwards of $600 per treatment,” says Dr. Guanche.
Average Cost of Laser Hair Removal for Small Areas
Smaller areas of the body are going to be less expensive. This can include the bikini line, underarms and facial areas like chins, lips and sideburns. “The bikini can be anywhere from $250 to $350 per treatment, depending on whether it is a Brazilian [removing hair from the labial to the perianal areas] or normal v-shaped bikini [removing hair from the groin areas, leaving a V or patch of hair on the mons pubis],” says Dr. Guanche. She adds that the lower face and chin can average about $250 per treatment, and underarm hair removal can range between $175 to $225 per treatment.
What’s Included in the Cost of Laser Hair Removal?
The cost of laser hair removal typically includes the office visit, the application of topical anesthetic to numb the pain, the laser treatment and the post-care topical application of products like soothing agents and sunscreen, according to both Dr. Guanche and Dr. Hartman.
How Many Treatments of Laser Hair Removal are Required?
It might ultimately be a more permanent hair removal solution, but laser hair removal treatment is not a quick fix. Just one laser hair removal treatment may be enough to make hair thinner, lighter and more fine, but in order to be completely hair-free, you will have to get the procedure done four to six times. In the first year, Dr. Guanche recommends going every four to six weeks for touch-ups depending on how your hair is growing.
“It takes a number of treatments [to be completely effective],” says Dr. Guanche. “The laser treatment can reduce the size and diameter of hair, place it into remission completely, or not affect the hair at all. For this reason, multiple treatments are necessary at four to six week intervals.” You may even require yearly touch-ups for a few years following your first procedure.
Does Insurance Cover Laser Hair Removal?
For the most part, you shouldn’t expect your health insurance to cover the costs of laser hair removal. Dr. Hartman notes that you might be able to use a flexible spending account to cover the costs.
However, insurance might cover laser hair removal in rare cases, adds Dr. Guanche. This may include patients who have conditions such as pilonidal cysts or hidradenitis suppurativa (which are skin conditions that can be painful and may be able to be treated with laser hair removal). But, she adds, “In my experience, it is a daunting process to convince insurance companies to cover laser hair removal.”
Always ask the treatment office receptionist if they offer package options or flexible payment plans.
The Benefits of Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal might be expensive, but it also comes with a number of benefits including:
- Gets rid of unwanted body hair. This is one of the most permanent solutions to removing/reducing body hair out there.
- Makes skin smooth and even. Laser hair removal can “alleviate skin problems associated with hair growth like folliculitis and discoloration,” and it can also “reduce pigmentation problems associated with unwanted hair,” according to Dr. Hartman.
- Reduces time spent on removing body hair. Once you are done with laser treatments, you don’t have to spend any more time shaving or waxing. “There is no need for depilation, waxing, shaving and any of the irritation that goes along with these procedures,” says Dr. Guanche.
- No risk of ingrown hairs. Dr. Guanche points out that ingrown hairs, which often go hand-in-hand with shaving and waxing, are “a thing of the past after laser hair removal.”
The Downsides of Laser Hair Removal
There are also some cons to consider, including the following:
- Temporary discomfort with the procedure. Laser hair removal can cause side effects such as mild swelling, slight redness of the skin and temporary irritation that results in blistering, crusting, scarring or change in skin texture, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. However, some research has shown that side effects are limited and not serious.
- The out-of-pocket expense. Laser hair removal costs more than other hair removal methods.
- The possibility of pigmentation issues. Laser hair removal can cause pigmentation, depending on skin type. “The fairest skin types with the darkest hair fair the best,” says Dr. Guanche. “This is because the laser can more precisely target the dark hairs. This also allows for the practitioner to use higher energy to yield more results.” If you have dark skin and dark hair, the laser may also end up targeting the pigment of the skin, which can lead to burning or hyperpigmentation. When lasering on dark skin, the energy levels have to be kept lower to reduce those side effects, which results in more treatment sessions to achieve the desired results. “Darker skin types may require more treatments since energy levels would have to be decreased,” says Dr. Guanche. “Conversely, lighter hair types may require more treatments as well, since there’s not much pigmentation to absorb the laser energy.”
- Some inconvenience. “Sun avoidance and protection during the pre-treatment and post-treatment weeks is very important,” says Dr. Guanche, which is something to think about in terms of warm weather and possible vacations.
- The in-between period of treatments. In between treatments, Dr. Guanche says that you may have to allow hair to grow back without waxing or plucking them away.
- Potential for ineffectiveness: Experts note that effectiveness of the laser can be influenced by genetic predisposition, medications taken and nutritional factors. For example, people taking testosterone may not have as effective long-term results due to the medication.