What a course of laser hair reduction really involves

Laser targets hair that is actively growing. At any moment only a portion of the hair in an area is in that phase, which is why one session can never clear it — and why session spacing is set by the area, not by convenience.

Face areas cycle faster and are usually treated every four to six weeks. Legs and back cycle slower and sit closer to eight to ten weeks. A full course is commonly six to eight sessions, with occasional maintenance afterwards.

Before the first session we assess skin type and run a test patch. Sun exposure and self-tan both change how the skin absorbs energy, so they need to be avoided in the weeks either side.

Expect a gradual thinning rather than a sudden clearance. By the third or fourth session most patients notice the regrowth is finer, slower and patchier — that is the treatment working exactly as planned.