I keep seeing conflicting information.  Some people say it is permanent for the hair that it actually does treat, but then I see other people say that the hair eventually comes back after an undetermined period of time.

It is a grey area! I have been clear for 2 yrs, some growth of a light wispy blonde hair, no regrowth of the dark hair.

I think a sort of rule is, if your hair and skin are compatible for laser get it done then clear the rest with electrolysis which is more time consuming and expensive.

Laser only works on dark hair, even then it take many sessions - 8 or more in most cases spanning of a year. If you are on HRT then permanent removal has a better chance, but its not guaranteed. Then there are the blonde, white, reddish ones and for that only electrolysis works. Electrolysis in the only method guaranteed to permanantly remove hair and its slow work. I have had laser remove the dark ones and then had electrolysis for over 11 months getting rid of the blonde/white hairs going twice a week for 1 hour each session. I'm in the clearing stage now and only go once a week.

I think the only answer anyone can give is "it depends". There is no single authoritative answer regarding laser, hence why the US FDA does not list it as "permanent hair removal" and instead classifies it as "hair reduction".

There are a number of problems. First you need to be close to an ideal candidate - light skin, dark hair. Second, even some ideal candidates can't permanently remove facial hair this way. For them, it just doesn't work.

However, laser is a lot cheaper than electrolysis, so if you want to give it a go, then do so. Maybe you'll be one of the lucky ones! And if not, you can always start on electrolysis later.