Laser Hair Removal on 15-16 Year Old: Any Risks?

Hi, Thanks for posting your query. You can get your laser done for the regions specified with your guardian's consent. There are no specific side effects when you get it done with a professional regardless of your age. More over after 30's there are chances of developing grey hair which will not be addressed by laser. So it is better to get it done before your hair turns grey. Hope this information will help you. Good luck.

Teenagers can have laser hair removal, provided their guardian (typically parent) consents to the procedure.  LASER hair removal can be beneficial for some teenagers and there are no further risks for a teenager than an adult.

Laser Hair Removal has the same risks for teenagers as it does for adults over 18 years old.  With a parental consent,  teens can be treated for unwanted hair  with safe lasers and professionals trained with the technology.The importance of sun avoidance and sunscreens is imperative to prevent skin discolorations and burns before and after laser treatments. 

There are many rumours regarding laser hair removal. You may have laser hair removal done at 16 however I always recommend that our laser patients
have hit puberty, as this gives us a better understanding of your hair growth. Make sure you bring one of your parents to
the consultation. There are many risks
associated with laser hair removal so it is really important to choose the right
medical clinic at which to have your treatments performed.

Although you need parental consent because you are still a minor, this should not be withheld because if the incorrect notion that it is "unsafe or ineffective for those under 40." What kind of friends gave them this baloney? If they simply don't want you to have it, they should tell you that (and perhaps why) and then you can at least have a discussion about it.

But as far as safety, laser hair removal uses non-ionizing energy, so there is NO risk of skin cancer (tanning beds are actually riskier!), and the worst things that can happen are inexpert treatment causing blisters, burns, or scars. These can occur in any age group, and choosing an expert hair removal provider is critical to minimizing these risks. (Price should NOT be the guiding force here). Properly performed, laser hair removal is safe and effective. You should understand that multiple treatments are need in any given area since the hairs need to be in a proper phase of growth in order to be effectively destroyed.

The cost may actually be the main issue here. Are you able to pay for this yourself? If you are or have saved up the required financial commitment, present your information and reasoning to your parents and do so in the adult manner you wish to be treated in. Best wishes!

The effectiveness and safety is equally good in patients 18 or younger comared with 40+ age group.  If parental consent is given, then treatment may commence with the patient's consent as well.  Risks of hyperpigmentation and scarring, which are rare, do exist and sun protection pre and post laser hair removal is a must.  You must be mature and willing to be fully compliant with these instructions, regardless of age.

Thank you for your question. Certainly, teenagers can have laser hair removal as long as they have parental consent. There are no further risks for teenagers than an adult. Some risks and side effects include pigment changes and scarring. You can help avoid this by staying out of the sun before, after and in-between treatments. I recommend speaking to your parents about their concerns. Best of Luck!

Your parents are the ones making medical decisions for you prior to you 18th birthday, so no doctor will undertake treating you for anything that your parents will not want you to be treated for.  We are restricted by law from doing that.

That being said, there is no age restriction on safety of laser procedures in general.  We do not perform laser procedures on pregnant or nursing women as we do not know the side effects.

Laser Hair Removal is fantastic for the removal of dark brown or black hairs on all skin types, as long as the procedure is doctor-supervised and using the right laser.  Teenagers make great candidates when they have parental consent and stay out of the sun during the treatment schedule.  One other very important consideration is to make sure that any young female candidates are hormonally stable.  Laser hair is greater than 90% effective but is less effective with patients who have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome,  All female patietns should check with yoru doctor that you have regular menses and are hormonally stable before you begin the laser treatments.  You want to get the best treatment and be care free!  Good luck!

The risk of laser hair removal in a 15-year old person is no different than the risk in  a 40-year old person.  There is risk of skin discoloration, which is in most cases temporary.  This risk is higher if one has a darker skin tone or is tanned.