In What Age my Daughter Can Start Laser Hair Removal?

Laser hair removal will not affect your daughter's hormones, nor will it cause any other harmful systemic effects. This is an age group in which the patient's maturity level is the best predictor as to whether or not she/he would be a good candidate for laser hair removal. Some eleven year-olds are very mature and are able to understand why they are having the procedure as well as the fact that it may cause some discomfort while it is being performed. If your daughter is self-conscious about the amount of hair on her arms and legs and wants to have the procedure (and you, as her legal guardian consent to her having it done), I see no problem with treating someone of that age. Oftentimes, I see younger patients wanting treatment to remove excess eyebrow hair that causes a "unibrow". This is something that can be fixed relatively easily with several laser hair removal visits and can really boost that child/teenager's self-esteem. With the newer lasers on the market for hair removal, pain during treatment is substantially less and the procedure only takes a few minutes. An experienced and compassionate physician will take extra time with younger patients, ensuring that they are comfortable by using numbing cream prior to treatment and explaining each step of the procedure along the way. If I get the impression that the child/teenager is not necessarily bothered by the hair and is hesitant to have the procedure (that it's more of a cosmetic concern of his/her parent), then I will advise them to hold off on having it done. Even though the patient is a minor, its important that he/she is involved in the decision of whether or not to have the laser hair removal treatments. So, to answer your question, if your daughter is self-conscious about excess hair on her arms/legs and is mature enough to understand that the procedure is not completely painless (and you, as her parent, support her decision), I see no problem at all with treating her (or even someone younger than her).

Thank you for your question! Before starting laser hair removal, I would consult with her pediatrician first to make sure she does not have any medical issues. If medically cleared, then she can proceed with laser treatment. There’s no evidence that using a laser would result in future hormonal problems. Best of luck!

Before starting laser hair removal, I would consult with her pediatrician first to make sure she does not have any medical issues. If medically cleared, then she can proceed with laser treatment.   There’s no evidence that using a laser would result in future hormonal problems 

The decision to start laser hair removal or any other cosmetic procedure on our younger patients has been and will continue to be a debate which has no correct answer and will continue to be done no matter what the choice is. The main decision here needs to come from the young patient – is she wanting this or are you? Is she smart enough and mature enough to understand the procedure, the after care and what is expected? And what is the motivation at this age? These need to be considered before beginning treatments. So a thorough assessment is needed, and this needs to be documented completely in the medical records. But there is no age minimum to start laser hair removal treatments – it is up to you to sign her consent and to pay for the procedures – and most of us would recommend shaving first and seeing how that does before embarking on a laser procedure – at least to start.

Laser hair removal targets active hairs so it doesn't matter the age of the person receiving treatment. The reason we don't recommend treatment on those who are young doesn't have to do with hormones or anything like that. It has to do with fear and pain. Laser hair removal can feel like a rubber band snap and it can create fear in some children, who then will jump or move a lot, which causes difficulty (and potential burning) during treatment. If you are ok with her going, you consent to her treatment, and you can be in the room to help her remain calm, it's fine to treat her. I would also suggest that you start with very small areas and have the technician use lower settings. Don't try to make her go for a full leg and arm treatment which could be over 90 minutes.