The demand for laser hair removal has sky rocketed thanks to improved results and reliability as an effect of advancement in laser technology. One of the first things people ask about is the costs involved in such a treatment. The short answer: it depends. The long answer, well, this is the long answer. As with most cosmetic procedures, pricing is done on a case by case basis depending on a number of factors.
The final price is determined by three main factors. Pricing will differ according to where the treatment will be performed, as well as the number of session it will take to completely eliminate all the hair, and the doctor executing the procedure. So those consulting with a doctor about laser hair removal should ask aboutboth the laser hair removal process itself and the cost of laser hair removal..
There are several ways a clinic can determine the bill for their services. It can be on a flat fee basis, by the minute, or by the number of pulses fired. Each of these method have variations depending on the clinic. Other factors can also play a role in how much the procedure will cost.
Most clinics that charge based on time usually bill in increments of fifteen minutes. There are a few factors that influence the amount of time required. It will take more time if the area being treated has more hair, thicker hair, or a combination of the two. Usually it is the size of the area that determines the amount of hair, but this doesn’t have to be the case. The other two depends on the clinic and how they work. Some machines will be able to laser more hair at a faster rate so less time is required to treat the area. It also depends on the operator of the machine and how fast he or she can get the work done. All these things will determine the final bill if the clinic charges based on time.
Flat Fee laser hair removal pricing can be for a seriers of treatments or per single treatment. The flat fee will be the same for all patients having the same specific area of their bodies treated, no matter of the amount of hair they need removed.
The third pricing strategy used by many clinics is to charge per pulse. A pulse is a single firing of the laser beam and usually can blast hundreds of hair follicles in under a second. In this method, a person with thicker hair that is harder to destroy, or more hair in general will end up paying more than a person with less hair in the same area.
In many cases where the per pulse pricing method is used, clinics will charge a minimum number of pulses to begin. This means if your hair removal needs requires fewer pulses than the minimum you will still be charged for that amount. Usually, the practice is quite fair and many patients are happy because they tend to go over the minimum, and anything over the minimum is charged a reasonable rate somewhere to the tune of one dollar per pulse. In repeat sessions when the hair grows back thinner, it is cost effective to go back for more treatment since less hair needs to be removed.
In the end, the final cost depends on the individual. The area of the body from which the hair will be removed, the thickness and amount of hair, and the total number of treatments required will all play a role in determining the final price of laser hair removal.
