CQC-registered laser · UK
Laser hair removal,
Photothermolysis of the hair follicle for long-term reduction - in Save Face–verified clinics, with the right wavelength for your Fitzpatrick type. Not permanent removal, permanent reduction. We are honest about the difference.
Indicative pricing
What laser hair removal costs in the UK.
Indicative per-session ranges across CQC-registered UK clinics. Packages of six typically save 20–30%.
In short
£50–£120 per session, six to eight sessions for a full course.
| Area | Per session | Typical duration | Downtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper lip | £30–£60 | 10 min | Same visit |
| Chin | £40–£80 | 10–15 min | Same visit |
| Underarms | £50–£120 | 15 min | Same visit |
| Bikini (basic line) | £60–£140 | 15–20 min | Same visit |
| Brazilian / Hollywood | £80–£200 | 20–30 min | Same visit |
| Half leg | £100–£200 | 30 min | Same visit |
| Full leg | £200–£450 | 45–60 min | Same visit |
| Back | £150–£400 | 30–45 min | Same visit |
| Chest | £120–£300 | 30 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by clinic, device, area size and how many sessions you buy up front. A course of six sessions typically saves 20–30% on the per-session rate.
The problem
The right device, the right skin type, the right expectation.
Laser hair removal is one of the most-marketed and least-regulated cosmetic treatments in the UK. High-street salons, mismatched devices and promises of ‘permanent removal’ are common. We fix all three.
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Unregulated salon?
CQC-registered clinics with medical oversight, verified on the Save Face directory - not a rented laser in a back room.
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Sold ‘permanent removal’?
It is permanent reduction, not removal. We say so out loud, plan the maintenance and set honest expectations.
When it helps
When laser hair removal is the right step.
The situations we see most, plus the ones where laser is not the answer - grey hair, active tan, or a recent course of isotretinoin.
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Unwanted facial hair
Upper lip, chin and jawline - the areas most women ask about, often driven by hormones or PCOS.
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Underarms and bikini
The classic combination - quick sessions, high satisfaction, and no more ingrown hairs from shaving.
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Legs, arms and torso
Full legs, half legs, forearms, chest and back - larger areas where the maths of laser versus shaving really pays off.
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Ingrown hairs and folliculitis
Recurrent bumps from shaving or waxing settle down once the hair is reduced at the follicle.
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PCOS-related hirsutism
Hormonal hair regrows, so maintenance is part of the plan - but laser still gives lasting reduction between hormonal peaks.
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Pre-surgical or gender-affirming
Reducing hair before surgery, or as part of a gender-affirming plan - done in a proper clinical setting.
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Grey, white or very blonde hair
No melanin means no target - laser will not work, and any clinic saying otherwise is selling you something else.
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Red flag: recent isotretinoin
Isotretinoin (Roaccutane) means waiting six months before laser. Active tan, keloid tendency and photosensitising drugs also change the plan.
Devices and wavelengths
One device does not fit every skin.
Wavelength, pulse duration and cooling all matter - and they depend on your Fitzpatrick type and hair colour, not the clinic’s marketing.
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Alexandrite 755 nm
Fast and effective for light-to-medium skin (Fitzpatrick I–III) with fine-to-medium dark hair. Not for darker skin - risk of burn.
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Diode 810 / 940 nm
The workhorse. Comfortable, effective across most skin types, and the device most modern clinics reach for first.
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Nd:YAG 1064 nm
The only safe laser for Fitzpatrick V–VI skin. Longer wavelength bypasses melanin in the skin and targets the follicle safely.
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IPL 500–1200 nm
Broad-spectrum light - technically not a laser, though often marketed as one. Cheaper, gentler, and less precise; better for lighter skin and hair.
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Fitzpatrick I–IV
Standard territory for Alexandrite and diode. Dark coarse hair on lighter skin gives the highest melanin contrast and best results.
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Fitzpatrick V–VI
Darker skin needs Nd:YAG or a well-calibrated diode. The wrong wavelength on darker skin causes burns and hyperpigmentation.
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Course of six to eight sessions
Spaced four to eight weeks apart to catch each hair in the anagen phase. Most see 70–90% reduction at twelve months.
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Maintenance one to three a year
Because this is permanent reduction, not permanent removal, most people top up one to three times a year to hold results.
Safety and expectations
What to expect afterwards - honestly.
Laser hair removal is safe in the right hands. The things worth planning are your patch test, your sun exposure and the maintenance sessions that come after the initial course.
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Redness and swelling for hours
Mild erythema and follicular oedema for a few hours - sometimes into the next day. Cool compress, aloe and SPF.
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Burns and blisters if mismatched
Wrong Fitzpatrick, wrong wavelength or an active tan is how burns happen. A proper patch test avoids most of this.
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Pigmentation changes
Hyperpigmentation is more common in Fitzpatrick IV–VI; hypopigmentation is rarer. Both usually settle over months.
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Paradoxical hypertrichosis
A rare quirk - hair grows more, not less, usually on face and neck. Discussed at consent so you know it exists.
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Eye protection is not optional
Laser eye injury is permanent. Goggles for you and the practitioner every single session - no exceptions.
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Folliculitis and infection
A crop of small pustules a day or two after is usually mild folliculitis. Genuine spreading infection is rare and needs a review.
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Permanent reduction, not removal
The honest answer: expect 70–90% reduction at twelve months, with lighter, finer hair remaining. Maintenance is part of the plan.
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What laser cannot treat
Grey, white and very fine blonde hair have no melanin target. Laser will not work - electrolysis is the alternative.
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Red flags
Blistering, weeping, spreading redness or a fever after treatment are not normal - call the clinic the same day.
Reading your treatment note
Your treatment note in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever device was used, the note the practitioner sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Laser parameters are precise and can read technically - we translate them for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the note before your next session, just ask.
- 01 Header
Area treated, device and settings
Which area, which device (Alexandrite, diode, Nd:YAG or IPL), wavelength, fluence and pulse duration used on the day.
- 02 Technique
Fitzpatrick type and cooling
Your skin type on the Fitzpatrick scale, whether a contact cooling tip or chilled air was used, and any patch-test findings.
- 03 Findings
Skin response and adverse events
How the skin responded during and immediately after - erythema, oedema, any pinpoint burns or pigmentation changes noted.
- 04 Impression
Next session and aftercare
Read this first: when to come back, what to avoid (sun, sauna, retinoids) and when to call if something is not right.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Laser hair removal is almost always considered cosmetic and self-pay.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about laser hair removal.
Quick answers on pain, cost, skin types, hair colour and what to avoid before and after.
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Does laser hair removal actually work permanently?
It gives permanent hair reduction, not permanent hair removal - that distinction matters. Most people see 70–90% reduction at twelve months after a course of six to eight sessions, with finer, lighter regrowth managed by one to three maintenance sessions a year.
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How many sessions will I need?
Usually six to eight, spaced four to eight weeks apart. The gap matches the hair growth cycle - laser only works on hairs in the active anagen phase, so multiple sessions are needed to catch every follicle.
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Does it hurt?
Most people describe it as a snap of an elastic band against the skin. Modern devices with contact cooling or chilled air keep it very tolerable, even on sensitive areas like the bikini line and upper lip.
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How much does laser hair removal cost in the UK?
Per session: upper lip £30–£60, underarms £50–£120, bikini £60–£200, half leg £100–£200, full leg £200–£450, back £150–£400. Packages of six sessions typically save 20–30% on the individual price.
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What skin types can be treated safely?
All Fitzpatrick types I–VI can be treated with the right device. Alexandrite and diode work well for I–IV. Fitzpatrick V and VI - darker skin - need Nd:YAG 1064 nm to avoid burns and pigmentation changes. Any clinic without Nd:YAG cannot safely treat darker skin.
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Can laser remove grey, white or blonde hair?
No. Laser targets melanin in the hair, and grey, white and very fine blonde hair have too little pigment. Electrolysis is the only method that reliably treats these hairs, one follicle at a time.
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What should I avoid before and after treatment?
No tanning (sun or spray) for four weeks before. Do not pluck or wax between sessions - shave only, so the follicle stays intact. For 24–48 hours after, avoid sauna, hot yoga, heavy exercise and retinoids, and wear SPF 50 daily on treated areas.
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Is it safe during pregnancy?
Most reputable clinics decline to treat during pregnancy. There is no clear evidence of harm, but the evidence base is limited, and pregnancy hormones can cause pigmentation to react unpredictably. Most women pause treatment and resume postnatally.