Women’s laser hair removal

Laser hair removal generally works on the principle that the melanin pigment in hair absorbs the laser light, and the heat produced is transferred to the hair follicle that makes the hair. That's why darker, thicker hair absorbs the light well, while very light-colored vellus hair or white hair is known to respond less.

Laser hair removal does not remove all hair at once; it aims to reduce the amount and thickness of hair that grows back. How much hair remains differs from person to person depending on the area, the nature of the hair and your body's condition.

The four areas on the price list differ in both size and the nature of the hair. The underarms tend to have thick, dark hair and are known to respond well to the laser, while the calves and forearms (the arm below the elbow) cover a large area, so the laser takes longer to apply.

Upper-lip hair is often fine and light in color, so how much change you notice may vary with the thickness and color of the hair. Please have your hair type, and how far the laser covers in each area, checked in person at your appointment.

Hair grows in cycles, moving through an active growth phase, a phase where growth stops, and a shedding phase. The laser is known to work mainly on actively growing hair, but not all hairs are in that phase at the same time, so having several sessions at intervals is the usual approach.

The interval is often set at about 4 to 8 weeks depending on the area, and may be longer for areas where hair grows slowly, such as the calves and arms. The date of your next session is decided by looking at how the hair is growing back.

Because the laser targets the pigment in the hair root, it is known to be best to pause methods that remove hair from the root — such as plucking with tweezers, waxing or hair-removal creams — during the treatment period. Hair is often tidied by shaving; please follow the instructions given when you booked for when to shave before you come.

Tanned skin is more prone to skin color changes after laser treatment, so it's best to take care with sun protection during the treatment period. Please tell us in advance if you are pregnant or have a wound or inflammation in the area to be treated.

It is common for the treated area to turn red or for each pore to swell into a small bump, and this usually settles within a few hours. Rarely, blisters may form or the skin may darken or lighten, so if the stinging keeps getting worse or you see blisters, please contact the clinic right away.

While the skin is red, it's best to avoid things that heat up the skin, such as exercise that makes you sweat a lot, saunas or hot baths. Hair treated with the laser often doesn't disappear right away but sheds little by little over time, so it's best to leave it rather than pulling it out.

Underarm hair removal (5 sessions) is ₩49,000, upper lip (5 sessions) is ₩39,000, calves (5 sessions) is ₩240,000 and forearms (5 sessions) is ₩190,000, plus 10% VAT on cosmetic procedures. The plan that suits your areas and hair condition is decided at your consultation.