Laser Hair Removal: How Much Pain Is Involved?

Laser hair removal has given many people permission to toss their razors in the trash, cancel their monthly spa appointments, and see the light at the end of the tunnel that means freedom from unwanted growth. How painful is the technique, though? Let’s take a look.

Laser hair removal has given many people the free reign to toss their razors in the trash, cancel their monthly waxing appointments, and see the light at the end of the forest that means freedom from unwanted growth. Of course, nearly everyone who considers shaving and waxing a nuisance is interested in the prospects of having that hair eliminated for good. But as with most procedures of this nature, there is an element of fear on the part of the uninitiated. This goes double for those people who wince at the thought of getting a shot or anything else that might be painful in a doctor’s office. So how painful is the procedure? Let’s take a look.

First of all, it can be said that your first appointment will produce the majority of your discomfort. Laser hair removal works with a process of heat, so unless you have no nerve endings, you’re going to feel something as the clinicians begin to work. Some might describe this feeling as pain, while others may simply describe it as discomfort. Many have likened the feeling to having a rubber band popped against the skin. It isn’t exactly pleasant, but it certainly isn’t going to leave you writhing in pain. Naturally, the pain will vary according to where the removal is taking place. The face, for instance, is rather more sensitive than the arm.

One of the biggest variables, of course, is going to be your own personal tolerance for pain. It’s something of a cultural myth that one can “toughen up” against pain. The concept of pain is mostly physiological and not psychological (though there is an element of that, as well). Simply put, some people feel more than others. Some people can get their blood drawn or have a shot administered without the slightest flinch. Others react as though they’ve been stabbed. The concentration of your nerve endings, what type of skin you have, and how much hair you have can all play a role in determining how it will feel.

Some doctors will offer a topical anesthetic for those patients who feel they are unable to tolerate the discomfort of the process. If there is anything you can do to avoid this, however, it would be wise to do so. It’s important to stay in tune with your body’s pain signals in case something goes wrong. You could be in the hands of a sloppy clinic that has the laser turned too high. If you feel you chose a reputable clinic and trust the professionals (a situation you should have ensured by doing the proper research), then you can talk to your doctor about using a numbing cream to reduce the pain.

If you have, however, experienced waxing without a particularly strong reaction to the pain, there is little chance that you will find laser hair removal to be worse. Most patients, in fact, find the process much less painful.

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