Is Laser Hair Removal Painful?

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 becomes lighter or thinner and the pain subsides, which makes it easier to handle the laser.
To help with the discomfort during the procedure I would recommend using a cooling device, such as Zimmer, applying a tropical anesthetic, or simply icing the area for a few minutes.

Laser hair removal feels kind of like an elastic band snapping against your skin.  Numbing cream can be applied to improve comfort.

Laser hair removal, to most people, feels like a rubberband snap against the skin. Particular areas of the body can be more sensitive, such as the underarms, bikini, and upper lip. Each person's pain tolerance can vary. Cold compresses or anesthetic creams can reduce discomfort. Some lasers have cooling devices such as cold air or a chilled tip that also helps with making the treatments more tolerable. Laser hair removal has come a long way and the treatments are usually quick enough where the pain is not much of a problem. It definitely should not be excruciating. Always let the person doing your treatment know if the pain is not tolerable.

After giving birth, laser hair removal will not impress you. However, everyone will have a different degree of tolerance.

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 to the skin and will vary by area of the body treated.
With that said, there are ways to minimize the pain of laser hair removal so that it is tolerable for all. These include:

Laser colling (chill tip).
Air colling (blown air)
Ice
Numbing cream
Pain medications

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 of pulses, applying ice or numbing agents to the skin, and lowering the laser setting if the pain cannot be tolerated. In my office, I use the Gentle Yag laser for hair removal and this laser works to minimize pain by spraying a cooling spray with each laser pulse.

Thank you for your question! There is some discomfort with the treatment. It is described as the snap of a rubber band. Treatments are performed anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks apart. Cold compresses or anesthetic creams can reduce discomfort. Some lasers have cooling devices such as cold air or a chilled tip that also helps with making the treatments more tolerable. Laser hair removal has come a long way and the treatments are usually quick enough where the pain is not much of a problem. It definitely should not be excruciating. Best of luck!

There is some discomfort with the treatment. It is described as the snap of a rubber band. Treatments are performed anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks apart. Cold compresses or anesthetic creams can reduce discomfort. Some lasers have cooling devices such as cold air or a chilled tip that also helps with making the treatments more tolerable. Laser hair removal has come a long way and the treatments are usually quick enough where the pain is not much of a problem. It definitely should not be excruciating.

Hair removal lasers are equipped with a cooling device that helps reduce the discomfort and protect the top layer of skin from the heat. In addition, a topical numbing agent may be used to desensitize the treatment area. We also recommend taking an ibuprofen beforehand to help mitigate the pain. Doing so will help, particularly if you have sensitive skin.The feeling of laser hair removal has been described as a rubber band continually snapping at the skin. Additional side effects can be redness and swelling that last anywhere from one to three days. Most patients who have had the laser hair removal procedure believe the hair-free results are well worth the feeling experienced during the procedure.

Each individual has a different pain tolerance as well as each area has its own sensitivity level. There is some mild discomfort with laser hair removal as the light creates heat to destroy the hair follicle at the root. It should feel like a rubber band snap or a pin prick in the area. Be sure to express any concerns with your laser hair removal technician. Application of ice may be provided; also, a topical anesthetic such as lidocaine may be prescribed if necessary.