Laser hair removal is the use of laser technology to target and destroy hair follicles, removing unwanted hair in the process. Traditional hair removal routines can be tedious, painful, and can amount to be expensive over time. Laser hair removal, on the other hand, can permanently reduce hair growth in specific areas, allowing for fewer return treatments, and more time spent enjoying the results. ⁽¹⁾ For women, the most common treatment areas are the legs, bikini area, underarms, and face. Men often seek to address the areas of the back, chest, legs, arms, and face.

Dr. Daniel Markmann, a board-certified cosmetic surgeon based in Baltimore, offers laser hair removal treatments at Metamorphosis Plastic Surgery. The dedicated team at Metamorphosis Plastic Surgery will walk you through the process of laser hair removal and do their best to make sure you get the results you are looking for.

Visit our office conveniently located off Baltimore National Pike, give us a call at (410)465-3600, or fill out our contact form to get in touch with us today. To see what else Metamorphosis Plastic Surgery has to offer, check out our blog and our events and specials.

About Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal is a remedy we provide at Metamorphosis Plastic Surgery to address the proliferation of unwanted hair. Unwanted hair occurs in many different areas and is a frequent complaint we hear among patients. Patients who seek to remove unwanted hair may feel as though it is getting in the way of their confidence and enjoyment of everyday activities. Both men and women can be affected by this concern. ⁽²⁾

Laser hair removal treatments are minimally invasive, and very common in the aesthetic treatment category. Patients require multiple treatments over time in order to experience the maximum hair reduction. Laser hair removal works by utilizing selective photothermal destruction, which in this case is when light is used to selectively destroy the cells of the hair follicles. The laser specifically targets the melanin (pigment) in your hair, which helps prevent some damage to the nearby tissues. ⁽³⁾

Laser Types

There are different types of lasers, with different wavelengths and different targets. Some are only good for pale skin, others are better for darker skin and some can treat any skin color.

Metamorphosis Plastic Surgery and medspa, has all three types and can therefore treat any skin color effectivelly and safely.

Benefits of Laser Hair Removal

While home remedies for hair removal are relatively inexpensive, they can be messy, painful, and short-lived when compared to laser hair removal.

Other reasons to choose laser hair removal:

Candidates for Laser Hair Removal

If you want to remove unwanted hair on your face or body, laser hair removal is a great alternative to any home remedies. More specific candidates who are eligible for laser hair removal include the following:

Laser hair removal is not recommended for individuals with active skin infections, or pregnant women.

Personal Consultation

Unsure if laser hair removal is right for you? At Metamorphosis Plastic Surgery, we will help you figure out the answers to all of your laser hair removal questions. During a personal consultation with Dr. Markmann, we will assess your hair and skin type, and find out what kind of results you are looking for. To schedule an in-person consultation, please call our office at (410)465-3600 or fill out our contact form.

If you are unable to make it to our office, or simply prefer to receive a consultation in the comfort of your own home, we also offer a virtual consultation option. The way the virtual consultation process works is simple; First, we will ask that you provide comments about your laser hair removal goals, as well as relevant images. Our team will then review this information and reach out to you for the next steps.

Preparation

To prepare for laser hair removal, you should not pluck or wax your hair for at least 6 weeks before your appointment. ⁽¹⁾ We will also ask that you do not shave immediately before the procedure; it is ideal to have hair at least stubble length. This will make it easier for the laser to selectively target your hair. Depending on the exposure of the area of hair removal, we may recommend the use of sunscreen around 4-6 weeks before your appointment as well. Before your treatments, photographs will be taken for the purpose of before and after comparisons and evaluation. ⁽¹⁾

In preparation for your laser hair removal procedure, our team will review your medical history to make sure that you do not have any infections that could disqualify you from receiving treatment. We will also review what kinds of medications and supplements you take. If it is necessary, we can apply a numbing cream to the targeted area 30 minutes or 1 hour before the laser hair removal takes place. ⁽¹⁾ We will also discuss your expectations with you to make sure that they align with the realities of the treatment. It is important to note that laser hair removal is primarily a permanent reduction technique, as opposed to a permanent hair removal remedy. ⁽¹⁾

Procedure

During laser hair removal, we will place a laser directly on top of the skin where the targeted hair resides. The handheld device will draw in the skin, stretching it so that the light energy source can target the melanin in the hair. During this process, the hair follicles will absorb the heat the laser beam emits, damaging the follicle and making it difficult for the hair to grow back.

The laser beam itself only feels like a light sting. Most devices are made with a cooling sequence that occurs between the laser pulses, which helps ease discomfort and reduce the development of some side effects.

Recovery

If pain and swelling develop, we recommend using ice packs to help minimize these normal side effects. For more excessive redness or swelling, we may prescribe topical steroid creams. During your recovery period and afterward, we always recommend diligent sun protection and daily sunscreen application. ⁽¹⁾

Results

Most patients are able to achieve results in a 30-45 minute session that occurs once every 3-4 weeks over the course of several months. Your hair follicles are most receptive to the laser technology during the initial phase of growth, and different areas of your hair may be at different phases in the growth cycle. This is why multiple sessions are often required, as treatment should be done during these alternating time windows. After the initial treatments, some patients may prefer to get touch-up treatments if any hair grows back.

Your overall results will depend on your hair treatment location, as some areas respond better to laser hair removal than others. Your skin and hair type may also affect how the laser effectively interacts with the hair follicles. ⁽¹⁾

Corresponding & Complementary Procedures

Laser Skin Resurfacing

Laser technology is not only for hair removal–it can help address signs of aging too. Using a Mixto CO2 fractional laser, laser skin resurfacing works to remove layers of the skin in order to stimulate new collagen growth. This new collagen growth lessens the appearance of wrinkles and sun damage, and makes for a hydrated, more even complexion.

Chemical Peels

Chemical peels are another way to enhance your look by applying chemical solutions that lessen scars, skin discoloration, and wrinkles. These chemical peels produce results by eliminating dead skin cells from the face and causing impurities beneath shallow layers of the skin to peel away. At Metamorphosis Plastic Surgery, we offer both light and medium peels.

Cost of Laser Hair Removal in Baltimore

The cost of your laser hair removal will depend on the size of the treated area, the laser used, the number of sessions, and the type of hair that is being removed. For areas such as the bikini and underarms, the approximate cost is about $125-$150 per session. These areas often take fewer sessions to produce good results. Larger areas, such as the back and legs, will require more time and will cost more as a result. On average, these larger areas are about $250-$500 per treatment.

For more exact pricing estimations, call our Baltimore office at (410) 465-3600, or fill out our contact form.

Metamorphosis Plastic Surgery also gives patients the option of financing treatment payments through a variety of different companies such as Cherry, CareCredit, and Alphaeon Credit.

If you purchase 5 laser hair removal treatments, the 6th treatment is free!

FAQ

References

1. Vaidya T, Kumar D D, H. Hohman M. Laser Hair Removal. Nih.gov. Published July 25, 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507861/
2. Thomas MM, Houreld NN. The “in’s and outs” of laser hair removal: a mini review. Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy. 2019;21(6):316-322. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/14764172.2019.1605449
3. Hendricks K, Celenkosini Thembelenkosini Nxumalo, Makgobole MU, Ghuman S, Jacobs D, Nomakhosi Mpofana. Evaluating the effectiveness of laser hair reduction using a home use laser in comparison to a Diode laser. PLoS ONE. 2023;18(5):e0286162-e0286162. doi:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0286162