Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal at Seattle Plastic Surgery Center from $119 for a package of 4 treatments on a small area. Laser energy targets melanin in the hair follicle to inhibit regrowth. Multiple sessions are required as hair grows in cycles and only actively growing follicles respond to treatment. Suitable for face, underarms, bikini, legs, and other body areas. Sessions run 15–30 minutes depending on area size.

Laser hair removal at Seattle Plastic Surgery Center uses focused light energy delivered to the skin surface to selectively target and disable hair follicles. The treatment principle is selective photothermolysis — laser energy at a wavelength absorbed by melanin (the pigment in the hair shaft and bulb) is pulsed into the follicle in calibrated bursts. The melanin in the hair shaft absorbs the energy and converts it to heat, which diffuses to the surrounding follicular structures (bulge, bulb, and dermal papilla) and thermally damages the cells responsible for hair regrowth, without generating enough heat in the surrounding tissue to cause a burn. Multiple sessions are required because hair grows in asynchronous cycles — only follicles in the active growth phase (anagen) are targeted effectively by each treatment, while follicles in the catagen (transitional) or telogen (resting) phases have minimal melanin in the shaft and are not disabled in that session. Repeated sessions at 4–6 week intervals capture progressively more follicles as they cycle into anagen, with most patients achieving 70–90% long-term hair reduction after 6–8 sessions depending on the body area. Small area packages of 4 sessions are offered from $119 — covering areas such as upper lip, chin, underarms, or bikini line — making laser hair removal available at an accessible price point at this practice. Larger body areas (half-leg, full leg, back, chest) and full-body packages are priced separately and quoted at consultation. Sessions run 15–30 minutes for small areas and up to 60–90 minutes for large combined areas. Mild redness and follicular papules resolving within 24 hours are the expected post-treatment response.