# Does Laser hair removal work?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-laser-hair-removal-work/128977>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 21, 2002, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-laser-hair-removal-work/128977 "2002-09-21T11:06:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![flapcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@flapcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flapcats)\
**Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-laser-hair-removal-work/128977/1 "2002-09-21T11:06:15Z")

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Has anyone had laser hair removal?

Did it work - how total was the hair ‘reduction’, ie: is there an annoying hair that always grows back no matter what?

How many sessions did it take - what was the cost, does it hurt?  
Are armpits and bikini line more painful?

Would you recommend it?

Thanks in advance.

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**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\
**Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-laser-hair-removal-work/128977/2 "2002-09-21T14:23:46Z")

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KellyM had it. After 3 passes, it removed permanantly at least 50% total in all areas and more in others. It would have cost more to have that many hairs professionally eletroysized away. The thinning out made home electrolysis much easier.

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**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\
**Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-laser-hair-removal-work/128977/3 "2002-09-21T16:11:49Z")

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**lee** , was that comperable to what was advertised, or less? It doesn’t seem like as high a success rate as I see advertised.

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**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\
**Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-laser-hair-removal-work/128977/4 "2002-09-21T20:27:56Z")

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It was as high as the scientific studies have shown. The kill rate was better than 50% in much of the area. We did not look at advertisements, just the science we could find. It was a costeffective part of the total hair removal plan. There is a chance that removal would be near total aftr more treatments, who knows?