Key Summary
We compiled 3,523 laser hair removal reviews from Gangnam Unni and Babitalk. All the hair did not disappear at once, and most of the reviews planned a package of 5 times, the interval was mostly 4 weeks, and the pain and cost varied greatly depending on the area.
- The planned number of times was 62% (179) for the 5th, 18% (51) for the 10th, and 9% (26) for the 6th, with an average of 6.4 (289). The 835 cases that actually wrote the number of times received averaged 2.5 and 71% were the 1st and 2nd, so most of the reviews were written in the early rounds.
- Among the 845 reviews that wrote about the effect, 72% (607) said that the hair had reduced a lot, 21% (178) said that it had reduced a little, and 7% (60) said there was no change. Of the 1,110 reviews that wrote about the pain level, 9% (95) said that it was quite painful.
- The average price for one time was about 22,000 won (381 reviews) for underarms (381 reviews), 21,000 won (209 articles) for upper lip, 50,000 won (132 articles) for entire face, 69,000 won (95 articles) for legs, and 72,000 won (108 articles) for Brazilian.
Although 72% of the reviews that wrote about the effect said it was good, 97% of the reviews that wrote about the timing were written within 1 month after the procedure, so it is impossible to tell from the reviews how long hair will not grow.
Why do I need to undergo laser hair removal multiple times?
The growth cycle of each hair is different, so not all hair is lost at once, and studies have shown that the longer the hair growth cycle of an area, the greater the long-term effect. In a review of 223 people in 5 randomized trials (Krasniqi, 2022), the long-term hair reduction rate was 30-73.61% for NDYAG, 35-84.25% for Alexandrite, and 32.5-69.2% for Diode, and all three devices It was highest in the legs with a long growth cycle (1 year) and lowest in the face with a short growth cycle (6 months).
In a comparative study (Eremia, 2001) in which 15 people with underarms received alexandrite and diode 4 times at 4 to 6 week intervals, hair reduction rates were 85% and 84% after 12 months. Standard guidelines for the interval and number of sessions were not found in the paper, and a 2008 literature review (Casey) also summarized that the interval and guidance differ greatly from operator to operator.
What parts appear most often in reviews?
Underarms were the most common at 995, followed by upper lip at 650, legs at 611, Brazilian at 602, chin and beard at 438, entire face at 415, bikini line at 304, and arms at 295. If there were multiple parts in one review, each part was counted.
Of the 3,523 reviews, 489 included gender: 295 were male and 194 were female. Most of the beard reviews were from men, while there were a mix of female reviews for underarms and upper lip, so even for the same area, the number and amount of reviews were different for different genders. The average number of planned reviews for men was 7.5 times, and for women it was 6.3 times.
How many times will I receive it for each area and at how many weeks apart?
The average number of times planned in the review was 7.6 times for chin and beard, 7.0 times for entire face and Brazilian, 6.3 times for underarms, 6.0 times for upper lip, 5.8 times for legs, 5.7 times for arms, and 5.3 times for bikini line, with 5 times being the most for all parts.
| part | Review of planned number of times | Average number of plans | Most times | Number of times received so far (average) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chin, beard | 36 cases | 7.6 times | 20 cases in 5 times, 9 cases in 10 times | 3.2 times (105 cases) |
| full face | 18 cases | 7.0 times | 10 cases in 5 times, 5 cases in 10 times | 3.4 times (83 cases) |
| Brazilian | 55 cases | 7.0 times | 25 cases in the 5th time, 14 cases in the 6th time, 9 cases in the 10th time | 2.4 times (183 cases) |
| underarms | 109 cases | 6.3 times | 67 cases in the 5th time, 19 cases in the 10th time, 9 cases in the 6th time | 2.6 times (270 cases) |
| upper lip | 49 cases | 6.0 times | 39 cases in 5th session, 6 cases in 10th session | 2.4 times (116 cases) |
| bridge | 56 cases | 5.8 times | 40 cases in 5 times, 8 cases in 10 times | 2.6 times (128 cases) |
| arm | 27 cases | 5.7 times | 5 times 21 cases | 2.6 times (68 cases) |
| bikini line | 22 cases | 5.3 times | 14 cases in the 5th time, 3 cases in the 3rd time, 3 cases in the 6th time | 1.9 times (76 cases) |
There were 69 reviews that used an interval, with an average of 4.1 weeks, with 59 reviews (86%) saying 4 weeks. There were 3 cases at 3 weeks, 2 cases at 5 weeks, and 2 cases at 8 weeks. The planned number of times is the number from the clinic package (5 times, 10 times), so it is not the same as the number of times required. In studies the intervals ranged from 4 to 6 weeks and the latter 4 weeks is in the same range.
What was the effect, and did it get better as the number of episodes increased?
Among the 845 reviews about the effect, 72% (607) said their hair had decreased a lot, 21% (178) said their hair had decreased slightly, and 7% (60) said there was no change. By area, the most common areas were chin and beard (76%), and underarms (75%).
| part | Reviews with effects | decreased significantly | decreased slightly | No change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chin, beard | 139 cases | 76% (106 cases) | 17% (23 cases) | 7% (10 cases) |
| underarms | 293 cases | 75% (221 cases) | 21% (61 cases) | 4% (11 cases) |
| bikini line | 53 cases | 72% (38 cases) | 25% (13 cases) | 4% (2 cases) |
| full face | 93 cases | 70% (65 cases) | 23% (21 cases) | 8% (7 cases) |
| arm | 86 cases | 70% (60 cases) | 23% (20 cases) | 7% (6 cases) |
| bridge | 152 cases | 68% (104 cases) | 24% (36 cases) | 8% (12 cases) |
| upper lip | 153 cases | 67% (103 cases) | 24% (37 cases) | 8% (13 cases) |
| Brazilian | 135 cases | 67% (91 cases) | 24% (32 cases) | 9% (12 cases) |
Looking at the number of times it was received, 72% (164 of 229) of reviews said it had decreased 1-2 times, 66% (44 of 67) 3-4 times, 71% (48 of 68) 5-6 times, 8 of 10 (7-9), and 59% (13 of 22) of 10 or more times. Reviews with more episodes were not better, but the reviews are just how they felt at the time, and it is not possible to tell from the reviews why people who received more episodes received more.
How much did it hurt and how was the anesthesia done?
Of the 1,110 reviews that wrote about the level of pain, 64% (713) said it was barely painful, 27% (302) said it was bearable, and 9% (95) said it was quite painful. The most common reviews that said it was quite painful were chin and beard (14%), Brazilian (14%), and bikini line (12%).
| part | A review that describes the level of pain | It almost didn't hurt | It was bearable | It was quite painful |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| underarms | 323 cases | 68% | 26% | 5% |
| arm | 76 cases | 72% | 25% | 3% |
| bridge | 184 cases | 71% | 22% | 7% |
| upper lip | 193 cases | 66% | 25% | 9% |
| full face | 91 cases | 57% | 34% | 9% |
| bikini line | 107 cases | 63% | 25% | 12% |
| Brazilian | 261 cases | 57% | 29% | 14% |
| Chin, beard | 133 cases | 53% | 33% | 14% |
Of the 192 cases in which anesthesia was used, 110 (57%) used topical anesthetic cream, and 82 (43%) reported that they received it without anesthesia.
What kind of equipment will be featured in the review?
Out of 628 reviews of equipment, 417 (66%) were Apogee, 185 (29%) were GentleMax, 11 were Clarity, and 15 were Other. Equipment names were counted as written in the text of the review or procedure name, and were not used as the basis for ranking or superiority.
| Equipment written in reviews | Number of reviews | Among the reviews that said it was effective, there was a significant decrease | It was quite painful | Amount per time (average) | Number of plans (average) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apogee | 417 cases | 72% (81 out of 113) | 11% (15 out of 134) | Approximately 64,000 won (90 items) | 6.8 times |
| GentleMax | 185 cases | 85% (45 out of 53) | 7% (6 out of 82) | Approximately 43,000 won (58 items) | 7.5 times |
This table is not a comparison of equipment because the clinic setting, area, gender, and event price are different for each equipment. In a study, alexandrite 755nm and diode 800nm had similar 12-month hair loss rates of 85% and 84% (Eremia, 2001), and there was no significant difference between laser types in a network meta-analysis of 652 people in 13 randomized trials (Kao, 2023). You must follow the clinic's explanation as to how the name of the equipment (Apogee, GentleMax) corresponds to the name of the wavelength of the study.
What was the inconvenience after hair removal?
Among the 3,523 reviews, bitter discomfort was rare: 35 cases of redness (1.0%), 14 cases of itching (0.4%), 8 cases of pain (0.2%), and 7 cases of folliculitis (0.2%).
| Reported inconvenience | Number of reviews | ratio |
|---|---|---|
| redness | 35 cases | 1.0% |
| Itching | 14 cases | 0.4% |
| pain | 8 cases | 0.2% |
| folliculitis | 7 cases | 0.2% |
| swelling | 4 cases | 0.1% |
| Pigmentation | 3 cases | 0.1% |
| dry | 3 cases | 0.1% |
| Burns, blisters | 2 cases | 0.1% |
There were 144 (4.8%) reviews out of 3,000 reviews that said they regretted it or did not recommend it. There were 403 reviews about laser hair removal for the first time, and 556 reviews about having received laser hair removal from other places, so there were more reviews about repeat visits.
You need to be careful when removing hair from areas with moles. A review of cases where moles were investigated during laser hair removal (Cices, 2023) summarized that changes in moles becoming smaller, darker, or more asymmetrical were common, and although no melanoma has been reported after laser hair removal for about 30 years, a dermatologist checked the mole in advance and suggested avoiding the area if dysplasia is suspected.
How much does laser hair removal cost?
The average price for one time was about 21,000 won for upper lip, 22,000 won for underarms, 33,000 won for arms, 50,000 won for entire face, 54,000 won for chin and beard, 69,000 won for legs, 70,000 won for bikini line, and 72,000 won for Brazilian.
| part | Amount per time (average) | Number of reviews | 5 package (average) |
|---|---|---|---|
| upper lip | Approximately 21,000 won | 209 cases | Approximately 45,000 won (7 items) |
| underarms | Approximately 22,000 won | 381 cases | Approximately 72,000 won (14 cases) |
| arm | Approximately 33,000 won | 39 cases | Few reviews |
| full face | Approximately 50,000 won | 132 cases | Few reviews |
| Chin, beard | Approximately 54,000 won | 75 cases | Few reviews |
| bridge | Approximately 69,000 won | 95 cases | Approximately 194,000 won (9 items) |
| bikini line | Approximately 70,000 won | 30 cases | Few reviews |
| Brazilian | Approximately 72,000 won | 108 cases | Few reviews |
The total number of reviews using the package was about 255,000 won (82 reviews) on average for 5 times, 479,000 won (19 reviews) for 10 times, and the average price for the unlimited period pass was about 469,000 won (17 reviews). The review price is the payment amount written on the platform, so it is a mixture of the first visit event price, anesthesia, VAT, and gender, and is not the same standard as the clinic's published price. Upper lip differed depending on gender, with the average of 12 female reviews being about 14,000 won and the average of 58 male reviews being about 56,000 won.
How did the research view laser hair removal?
In the study, laser hair removal reduced hair and there was no significant difference between types of equipment, but how long it lasted depended on the hair growth cycle of the area.
| Research | target | Results |
|---|---|---|
| Krasniqi A et al., J Cosmet Laser Ther 2022 | Review of 223 randomized trials in Part 5 | The long-term hair loss rate was 30-73.61% for NDYAG, 35-84.25% for Alexandrite, and 32.5-69.2% for Diode, with the growth cycle being highest on the long legs and lowest on the face. |
| Kao YC et al., J Cosmet Laser Ther 2023 | Network meta-analysis of 13 randomized trials and 652 people | Although Diode had fewer hairs than the control group at 3- and 6-month follow-up, there was no difference between laser types, and adverse reactions were temporary. |
| Eremia S et al., Dermatol Surg 2001 | underarms 15 people, 4 times at 4-6 week intervals | The 12-month hair loss rate was 85% for alexandrite and 84% for diode. |
| Bouzari N et al., Dermatol Surg 2004 | Retrospective of 75 patients and 805 procedures | The average hair reduction rate was 42.4% for NDYAG, 65.6% for alexandrite, and 46.9% for diode, and there was no difference between alexandrite and diode. |
| Karanfil E et al., Aesthet Surg J 2024 | 48 underarms, 3 menstrual cycle groups, once a month 3 times | The number of hairs decreased regardless of the hormonal cycle, and the pain score decreased with each treatment. |
Where did DermaFocus have a high positive-review rate in laser hair removal reviews?
Based on reviews, the areas with the highest percentage of hair loss were the chin and beard (76%), underarms (75%), and bikini line (72%), while the areas with the fewest reviews saying it was quite painful were the arms (3%) and underarms (5%).
The most common items in the reviews for each area of concern are as follows.
| Part written in review | Number of times planned in reviews | positive-review rate (effective reviews) | It was quite painful | Amount per time (average) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| underarms | 5 times, 4 weeks apart | 75% (293 cases) | 5% | Approximately 22,000 won |
| upper lip | Episode 5 | 67% (153 cases) | 9% | Approximately 21,000 won |
| Chin, beard | 5 or 10 times | 76% (139 cases) | 14% | Approximately 54,000 won |
| bridge | Episode 5 | 68% (152 cases) | 7% | Approximately 69,000 won |
| Brazilian | 5 or 6 times | 67% (135 cases) | 14% | Approximately 72,000 won |
- Underarms had the most reviews, with a positive-review rate of 75%, with only 5% of reviews saying that it was quite painful. The price for one session was about 22,000 won, and the 5-session package was about 72,000 won (14 cases).
- Chin and beard had a high positive-review rate of 76%, but 14% of reviews said it was quite painful, and the number of plans was the highest, with an average of 7.6. Most of the reviews were from men.
- The price per session for legs and Brazilian was high at about 69,000 won and about 72,000 won, and 14% of reviews said that Brazilian was quite painful.
There are other parts with good reviews. The bikini line was good in 72% of 53 cases (38 cases) and the arms were good in 70% (60 cases out of 86).
72% of the reviews about the effect said it was good, but most of them were written immediately after the procedure. This comparison is based on reviews, not medical superiority or inferiority, and the results of the procedure vary from person to person, so the ratio of reviews does not guarantee the results. During the consultation, please check the frequency and interval for your area, whether there are any spots, and whether it is a one-time amount or a total package amount.
What should I ask during a hair removal consultation?
Start by asking how many times the package is for your area and how much the additional cost is if that number is not enough. Although 62% of the reviews said they planned 5 times, the average number of times they actually received it was 2.5 times at the time of the review, and there were some reviews where they received more than 10 times.
| What to check | Questions to Ask |
|---|---|
| Number of times | How many times is the standard for my part? If 5 sessions are not enough, what is the additional cost? |
| spacing | How often do I receive it? What if I miss a gap? |
| equipment | What equipment do you use and what is the wavelength? Why this equipment for my skin and hair thickness? |
| Pain and anesthesia | Is numbing cream included? Can I lower my output if I'm sick? |
| moles and skin | I have a mole on my area. What should I do about that area? Can I get the treatment if I have a tan? |
| Advance preparation | How many days before the procedure do you shave? How long should I avoid waxing or plucking? |
| price | Is it a one-time amount, a total package amount, or an unlimited period? Are VAT and anesthesia included? |
| Actual practitioner | Does the doctor I consult perform the procedure themselves? |
DermaFocus compares laser hair removal clinics like this:
The recommendation guide applies the same four criteria to all clinics.
| Comparison Items | Verification criteria |
|---|---|
| Treatment information | Information on number of times and intervals for each area, equipment and wavelength, mole and tanning information disclosed or not |
| medical staff | Specialist qualifications and actual practitioners confirmed by official sources |
| cost | Confirmation date, VAT, price conditions, one time and package basis |
| Reviews | Repeated mention of sources, writing time, consultation and explanation for each platform |
The number of reviews and specialist qualifications are not used as scores to guarantee treatment results. The role of a recommendation guide is to display confirmed facts side by side using the same standards.
How this article was checked
The DermaFocus editorial team organized the reviews and research papers, and they were not supervised by medical professionals. This article does not constitute a medical diagnosis or recommendation for treatment, so please consult with a medical professional to determine whether and how to perform the procedure.
- Reviews: We classified 3,547 cases randomly sampled by area from Gangnam Unni laser hair removal, underarms hair removal, leg hair removal, upper lip hair removal, facial hair removal, bikini line hair removal reviews and Babitalk reviews (as of October 9, 2026). Among them, 3,523 reviews of laser hair removal are the subject of this article.
- Analysis criteria: The effect ratio is based on 845 cases of using the effect, 1,110 cases of pain, 835 cases of received number, 289 cases of planned number, 69 cases of interval, and 628 cases of equipment.
- Studies: 2 reviews and meta-analyses of laser hair removal in PubMed (Krasniqi 2022, Kao 2023), 3 comparative studies (Eremia 2001, Bouzari 2004, Karanfil 2024), 1 point change review (Cices 2023), and 1 guideline review (Casey 2008). Only the abstracts were checked.
- Price: This is the payment amount written in the review. Among the reviews that only received one part, we only averaged the one-time price between 3,000 won and 500,000 won, and the clinic's publicly disclosed price was not included in this article.
- Limitations: 97% of the reviews were written within 1 month after the procedure, and the average number of treatments was 2.5, so it is not possible to know from the reviews how long hair does not grow. There are only 628 reviews using the equipment, and each clinic has different parts, genders, and event prices, so it is not read as a ranking of the equipment.
- Personal Information: The original text of the review, the author, and the name of the clinic are not included.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does laser hair removal require multiple sessions?
This is because each hair has a different growth cycle, so all hair does not fall out at once. In the study, the long-term reduction was greatest on the legs with long hair growth cycles and lowest on the face with short hair growth cycles. In the latter part, 62% planned 5 sessions and 86% planned 4-week intervals.
How many times should I undergo laser hair removal?
The average number of times planned in reviews was 6.4 times (289), with 5 times being 62% and 10 times being 18%. The average for each part was 7.6 times for chin and beard, 6.3 times for underarms, and 5.8 times for legs, and the standard number of times was not presented in the paper.
How many weeks is the interval between laser hair removal?
Of the 69 cases where the interval was written in the reviews, 59 (86%) were 4 weeks, and the average was 4.1 weeks. A study comparing 15 people with underarms who received four treatments four to six weeks apart found 12-month hair loss rates of 85% and 84%.
Does laser hair removal hurt?
Of the 1,110 cases that reported the level of pain, 64% said it hardly hurt, 27% said it was bearable, and 9% said it hurt quite a bit. Reviews that said it was quite painful were 14% in the chin and beard, 14% in Brazil, and 3% in the arms.
How much does underarms laser hair removal cost?
The average price for a single package of 381 reviews of only one part was about 22,000 won, and the average price for a 5-session package was about 72,000 won (14 cases). This is the payment amount mixed with the first visit event price.
How many times does it take beard laser hair removal?
In the review of chin and beard, the average number of times planned was 7.6, which was the most among the areas, with 5 times being 20 times and 10 times being 9 times. The average amount per time was approximately 54,000 won (75 cases).
How effective is laser hair removal?
Of the 845 reviews about the effect, 72% said their hair had reduced a lot, 21% said their hair had reduced slightly, and 7% said there was no change. In the study, the 12-month hair loss rate was around 85%, but it varied from 30% to 85% depending on the area and equipment.
Is laser hair removal permanent?
You can’t tell from the reviews. 97% of reviews were written within 1 month after the procedure. The paper also reports that long-term effects depend on the hair growth cycle of the area, and the longest follow-up in this article is 12 months.
Can I remove hair from the mole area?
A review by Cices (2023) suggested having a dermatologist assess moles in the treatment area beforehand. During laser hair removal, it was common for the spot to become smaller or darker, and if dysplasia was suspected, the area was advised to be avoided.
Sources and verification dates
- Krasniqi A et al. Systematic review of the effectiveness of lasers and light sources in long-term hair reduction, J Cosmet Laser Ther 2022 (PMID 35634805)(confirmed 2026-10-09): 5 randomized trials, 223 people, long-term reduction rate by device, growth cycle largest in long legs
- Kao YC et al. Laser hair removal effect network meta-analysis, J Cosmet Laser Ther 2023 (PMID 37493187)(confirmed 2026-10-09): 13 randomized trials, 652 people, no significant difference between laser types
- Eremia S et al. 1-year results of hair removal with alexandrite and diode laser 4 times, Dermatol Surg 2001 (PMID 11737125)(confirmed 2026-10-09): 15 underarms, 4 times at 4-6 week intervals, 12-month hair reduction rate of 85% and 84%
- Bouzari N et al. Comparison of ND YAG, Alexandrite, and diode long pulse laser hair removal, Dermatol Surg 2004 (PMID 15056137)(confirmed 2026-10-09): 75 people, 805 treatments, hair reduction rate 42.4%, 65.6%, 46.9%
- Karanfil E et al. Alexandrite laser hair removal effect and pain by stage of menstrual cycle, Aesthet Surg J 2024 (PMID 38394336)(confirmed 2026-10-09): 48 underarms, hair count decreases regardless of hormonal cycle
- Casey AS. Guidelines for laser hair removal, J Cosmet Laser Ther 2008 (PMID 18330795)(confirmed 2026-10-09): Literature review of intervals and number of sessions, differences in guidance between operators
- Cices A et al. Systematic review of mole changes during laser hair removal, Lasers Surg Med 2023 (PMID 37493510)(confirmed 2026-10-09): 10 studies, changes in mole size and color, no reports of melanoma, prior confirmation suggested.
- Gangnam Unni review and Babitalk review (platform review, confirmed on 2026-10-09): Based on sample classification of 3,547 laser hair removal reviews. The original text of the review is not included.
Editorial responsibility and relationships
DermaFocus has no advertising, contract, or affiliation with any of the clinics or manufacturers mentioned in this article, and has not received any money or sponsorship. This article is a compilation of information needed to select a procedure and does not replace a personal diagnosis or treatment plan.