Laser hair removal systems use laser light — an intense, pulsating beam of light — to remove unwanted hair. Your doctor may use multiple treatments to target areas such as the face, upper lip, neck, chest, breasts, underarms, back, abdomen, bikini line and legs. This usually isn't covered by insurance providers. Laser hair removal may be an option if you seek long-term or permanent results.

One treatment may zap thousands of hairs. But one treatment usually isn't enough. Because hair grows in staggered cycles, and laser light affects only actively growing hair, you must usually undergo multiple treatments over weeks and months to achieve smoother-looking skin.

During the procedure, we press a hand-held laser to your skin, and activates it for a fraction of a second. The laser light passes through your skin's surface to tiny sacs called hair follicles. Each follicle contains a bulb that germinates a hair shaft. When light reaches your hair follicles, it temporarily generates enough heat to destroy the follicles and bulbs. If the procedure is successful, your old hair falls out and new hair doesn't grow back.

How long the procedure takes depends on the area of the body involved. A small area such as the upper lip may take several minutes. A larger area such as the back may require several hours. Because laser hair removal typically causes only mild discomfort, you generally don't need anesthetics. During the procedure, you wear goggles to protect your eyes from accidental exposure to laser light. The procedure causes a slight charring of your stubble. You may notice a strong odor of singed hair, which is normal. Afterward, you may experience some temporary redness and swelling.

After six months, laser procedures remove 60 percent to 95 percent of targeted hair. Even after multiple treatments, however, you may experience some hair regrowth, although the new hair may be finer and lighter in color.