Question 1:
You may find $70 for a single laser session, especially if performed on the back of the hands, armpits, or another small area. $70 is a not uncommon price for time-sensitive pricing, too, if it's only a half hour or so. Generally speaking, however, you can expect anywhere between $120 - $300 per session, depending on the clinic, the area treated, and the size of the area treated.
As another poster shared,
Groupon.com also has a lot of laser hair removal fire sales. You'll often see ~$250-350 for 6-8 sessions of an area. This can be a great deal, but can also be a horrible trap. This website should help as a guide, if you're interested:
http://alternaluxe.blogspot.com/2013/01/how-to-choose-laser-hair-removal.htmlQuestion 2:
The only worthwhile at-home laser kit is the Tria 4X, from what I've heard (although a handful of people claim success with less powerful machines). However, it will still not be as effective/powerful as professional laser. The reason for this is because professional machines are capable of much higher settings, and some times hair is stubborn enough to require unusually high energy output. The Tria is limited in its output both due to its size and due to FDA limitations.
As for the Tria's effectiveness, the common experience seems to indicate that it only reduces facial hair most of the time, and is more commonly effective on body hair. Some people do see facial hair elimination, rather than just reduction, but it seems uncommon.
The reason that it would be more effective on body and not facial hair is because facial hair is much more coarse and resilient. Laser works by delivering heat to the root of a hair follicle, and there is only so much heat delivered per zap. The more area that the energy in a zap needs to cover, the less power that energy will maintain.
You can think of using a microwave to heat 1 slice of pizza vs. 3 slices of pizza as a weird analogy -- 3 slices take longer and do not heat as evenly, despite being the same material.
If it works for you, the Tria is definitely more cost effective. It does take a lot longer to see results, however, and requires routine treatment (2-3 times a week is the general wisdom I've seen). Professional laser is once every regrowth cycle.
Question 3:
What type of laser do you use?
If the laser does not work, are you willing to eventually turn up the settings for me?
*What settings do you begin with?
How much experience do your technicians have?
Is your clinic medically licensed to perform laser hair removal?
* This can be tricky. I love my clinic, personally, but it's like pulling teeth to get my technician to go higher than 16 joules (I'm at the highest spot size, which only goes up to 20 joules -- and I feel like something in those last 4 has been the difference).
It helps to ask the technicians to help teach you about the settings, but I would never act like they don't know what they're doing -- this can REALLY irritate them and make them put in less effort! What technicians I've had have been fond of me and like to relate their frustrations; #1 almost always seems to be "people who think they know my job better than I do."
Long post is long, but I'm a harlot for thorough information. I always try to be detailed when I share with others! If you like, you can always feel free to PM me, too.
I hope this helped. Best of luck!
Edit: Oh dear, I just realized this is nearly a month late. It was on the front page! Oh well, I hope someone else might make use of it.
