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| Advantages and Disadvantages | Advantages
• Some patients have experienced long-lasting hair removal or permanent hair reduction.
• Very helpful for large areas such as backs or legs.
• It is considered to be painless as compared to other methods
• Regrowth is observed but the hair is lighter in color or finer in texture.
• The procedure is safe if performed properly.
• The best results have light-skinned consumers with dark hair.
 Disadvantages
• There are not enough long-term and accurately established data on safety and effectiveness.
• Response rates have not been established.
• Regrowth rates have not been accurately established. It is difficult to forecast regrowth rates due to numerous variables.
• Laser hair removal gives worse results on unpigmented (gray) hairs and red or blonde hair.
• Must be used very carefully (if at all) on patients with darker skin or on consumers who tan themselves.
• Incorrect treatment can lead to burns, lesions, skin discoloration lasting several months, or patchy/patterned regrowth.
• Recent data showed that other skin types are often affected by laser irradiation, and long term effects of this can leed to an unknown risk.
• Requires wearing goggles.
• Can be expensive.
• Sometimes the procedure can be painful.
• Regulation ranges by state, so inadequate controls help to ensure competent practitioners.
• Some consumers, even ideal candidates, do not have best results after treatment.
Incorrect Statements
• "Painless" or "virtually painless"
A lot of clients tolerate laser without requiring pain relief, but it doesn’t mean that treatment will be painless for all consumers.
• "Permanent hair removal" or "100% permanent" or "permanent"
Some clients achieved permanent reduction of treated hair over the course of treatment, but published data have shown that many patients are not good candidates, and even ideal candidates who have light skin and dark hair do not always experienced permanent hair reduction.
• "Guaranteed 0% regrowth"
There is no published clinical data to prove this sort of overpromise. It is known that regrowth can occur but the hair is lighter in color or finer in texture.
• "Laser electrolysis" or "lasertrolysis"
These terms are used to blur important distinctions between laser and electrolysis effectiveness. Laser has several benefits over electrolysis, and vice versa. Terms like these only confuse patients.
• "Light years ahead of electrolysis"
This statement means that laser is better than electrolysis for consumers, but this is not always true.
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