Is laser hair removal painful?

I can take some pain (I gave birth!), but what can I expect from LHR?

4 answers to “Is laser hair removal painful?”

A: How painful is Laser Hair Removal?

Harold J. Kaplan, MD

Pain is a very personal issue and what is very tolerable for one patient is excruciating for another. Generally speaking, any female that has given birth will fly right through laser hair removal and in fact, men usually have the most difficulty. The senation is normally described as a sharp rubber band snap... more

A: Hair removal can be slightly painful

Arnold R. Oppenheim, MD

Hair removal treatments can be slightly painful.  Most of the time you can use "numbing" creams prior to treatments or the use of a cold air blower will help take away some discomfort.  The pain disappears shortly after treatment and most patients find it tolerable. 

A: Laser hair removal not too painful

Gregory Turowski, MD, PhD

The level of discomfort depends on the treated area, the texture of the hair, and skin. Darker skin people are more sensitive because they have more pigment, not just in the hair, but in their skin as well. Patients with dark and coarse hair experience more discomfort as well. After each treatment, the hair... more

A: Laser hair removal naturally painful

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD

Laser hair removal is naturally painful as the hair follicles are burned along areas of skin the size of a quarter. As the hair follicles burn, they cause a hot sensation on the skin.  Minimizing pain during laser hair removal is an art. Painless laser hair removal can be acheived by slowing the frequency... more

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