When proper precautionary procedures are practiced, laser hair removal is a very safe, minimally invasive hair removal treatment. The hair is damaged by the heat generated by the laser beam which is really just a high intensity light.

The laser beam only penetrates up to the dermis of the skin. Since the eyes are a sensitive tissue, goggles are usually used to protect the eyes during facial hair removal.

Besides the minor risks of laser facial hair removal to the eyes, other parts of the body is relatively safe. Pale patches may form on areas of the skin that are over exposed to the laser. These side effects are temporary and usually go away over time.

Beyond the discoloration caused by over exposure, there is a chance of blistering. In rare cases the skin can be scarred. The risks increases with darker skin tones and pale skins make for better candidates of laser hair removal.

There are a few cases when a person is not a candidate for the laser hair removal procedure. They can be too dark skin and the melanin concentration could cause problems with the laser. If the skin is normally sensitive to bright lights, then laser treatment is not a good idea.

If the area to be treated is currently fighting an infection, the right thing for a doctor to do is obviously reject the patient until the infection is cleared. It would be reckless and unnecessarily risking the patients health.

Although the FDA allows laser hair removal to be advertised as permanent, it may take several sessions over many months. The hairs that are damaged by the laser cannot re-grow but there will be some missed follicles. After the first session the hair will grow back thinner, and after multiple sessions there will be no re-growth.

Any type of alteration to your body's natural function must be approached with caution. There are simply precautionary practices and screening of patients before any treatment begins. Some patients report tingling sensations in a variety of ranges.

The duration of the treatment depends on the amount of hair to be removed. A typical session can last between fifteen to forty-five minutes. Not every person is the same, nor is any area of the body. Because everyone is different, expect different results with each treatment.