How Long Does A Laser Hair Removal Treatment Take?

The length of time needed depends on the size of the area being treated. For instance, the upper lip will only take minutes, while other areas, like the leg will take more time.

The times listed are a range.  Variables include laser used, the spot size of the laser which is  often somewhat dependent upon the amount of laser energy required (fluence). 

Laser energy used (dose) is  in turn affected by skin and hair color.

Most treatment times end up toward the lower end of the range given here, however.

Also, treatments tend to go more rapidly each successive treatment. 

The time it takes is still a fraction of the time electrolysis would take for the same area because lasers can treat multiple hair follicles at once. 

How many treatments will I need?

The laser can only disable actively growing hairs during your treatment.  And because hair growth occurs in cycles, only a certain amount of hair follicles are growing at any one time.The number of treatments you may require for optimal long-term benefits depends on the area you wish to have treated, the hair density and your hair’s growth cycle. Your hair grows in cycles and many factors influence it’s growth. Age, ethnicity, weight, hormones, diet, medication and metabolism all play a part in your hair’s location, thickness and resilience.

The laser energy is only effective on hairs which are in their active growth phase.  Many hair follicles are in their resting stage at any one particular time.    That means several visits will be necessary (but nowhere close to number needed for electrolysis) to catch the hairs that were in the resting stage before.  As a general rule, several treatments will be required.  However, most times you can expect to see a 50% reduction in hair growth after just one treatment.  Then after determining your individual characteristics we can develop a treatment schedule that’s best for you.

How far apart in time should laser hair removal treatments be given?

Because the hair removal laser is only effective on actively growing hair follicles, treatments should be spaced apart so that the hair follicles in the area have time to begin growing again.  If the treatment is given too soon, that particular treatment episode will not be effective.  The answer is dependent upon several factors.  But, for the bulk of cases, we suggest about two months between treatments.

Quoted from  http://www.drmelton.com/Chicago/Lasers/Laser_Hair_Removal/laser_hair_removal.html