Full Legs and Full Arms Laser Hair Removal: How Many Sessions, and What It Costs
Full legs and full arms with a laser: about 8 sessions, one every 4 to 6 weeks. The per-session price compared with the Unlimited Zones plan, with the math.
If you're looking for laser hair removal around Montreal, we're right next door, in Sainte-Rose, Laval, a few minutes from the bridge. Many of our patients come from the island for two reasons: our laser carries two wavelengths and treats phototypes I through VI, and the Unlimited Zones plan covers all your zones in the same monthly session.
Crossing the bridge for hair removal can feel like a lot, we know. This guide gives you what you need to compare before deciding: how the laser works, its limits, how a session goes, the areas treated, what it costs in the region and how to choose a place.
Understanding laser hair removal
What is laser hair removal?
Laser hair removal uses concentrated light that targets the pigment in the hair follicle. Wax and razors remove the hair; the laser goes after the root to prevent regrowth.
The principle is called selective photothermolysis. Melanin absorbs the light, and the resulting heat destroys the follicle without damaging the skin around it. Because hair grows in staggered cycles, several sessions are needed to reach every active follicle.
Over a full series, hair reduction is clear, often beyond 80%, from the face to the legs.
The technologies found in the region
Three families of lasers share the Montreal market: Alexandrite, Nd:YAG and diode. Each suits certain skin and hair types better.
| Technology | Skin types | Strengths |
|---|---|---|
| Alexandrite 755 nm | Fair to medium | Speed, comfort |
| Nd:YAG 1064 nm | Dark, tanned | Reaches deeper, safe on melanin-rich skin |
| Diode | In between | Versatility |
Our Clarity II by Lutronic carries both Alexandrite and Nd:YAG on the same device. So we can treat phototypes I through VI without switching machines or sending anyone elsewhere. Over a series of sessions (8 on average, sometimes up to 12), reduction commonly reaches 90%.
Safety and oversight in Quebec
How do you know a place is safe? First check whether the person holding the handpiece was trained on that device, and whether the equipment is serviced. That's what makes the difference between an uneventful session and a burn.
Risks exist, such as a superficial burn or passing irritation, but they stay rare when the protocol is followed. On your side, protect your skin from the sun, report any unusual reaction and tell us if you take a photosensitizing medication.
Benefits and drawbacks
The benefits
The first benefit is duration. After a series of sessions, the reduction is permanent on the follicles treated, often beyond 80%. Shaving and waxing become the exception rather than the routine.
The second is comfort. We see far fewer irritations and ingrown hairs than with traditional methods, and the short sessions apply to nearly every area of the body.
In short:
- Results that last, visible from the first sessions
- Spending on wax or blades that ends, instead of coming back every month
- Quick sessions, suited to every phototype
- Fewer ingrown hairs and less razor irritation
The limits
A full treatment takes 8 sessions on average, sometimes up to 12,, spaced several weeks apart, because the laser only reaches hair in its active growth phase. An annual touch-up is often needed to keep the result.
The laser targets melanin, so it has nothing to aim at on very light, white, blond or red hair. Pregnancy, certain skin conditions and photosensitizing medication are also contraindications.
In short:
- Several sessions, not one
- Touch-ups to plan for
- No effect on hair without pigment
- Instructions to follow before and after, or the risk goes up
What we see at the clinic
The first change people notice, even before density drops, is the end of ingrown hairs and razor rash.
Nd:YAG also changed things for darker skin. It was long turned away from this treatment, for lack of a device able to target the hair without heating the skin itself.
Quick comparison:
| Method | Durability | Pain | Long-term cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laser | High | Low | Ends one day |
| Electrolysis | Very high | Variable | Higher, hair by hair |
| Wax, razor, cream | Low | Variable | Repeats for life |
How a session goes
The steps, in order
We start with an assessment. We look at your skin type and hair colour to set the parameters. Before the session, shave the area, and skip makeup and sun.
The session lasts 15 to 60 minutes depending on the area, and built-in cooling limits discomfort. Right after, the skin may be slightly red, like a mild sunburn.
Afterwards, you moisturize, protect the area from the sun and avoid direct exposure. The next session is planned around the regrowth cycle, generally every 4 to 6 weeks.
What improves the result
- Follow the instructions before and after each session.
- Avoid the sun during the protocol and wear sunscreen.
- Shave between sessions instead of waxing, which removes the hair the laser needs to reach.
- Use the soothing products recommended.
- Call us if a reaction is out of the ordinary, rather than waiting for the next appointment.
How long per area
The face takes about twenty minutes, and full legs up to an hour. A classic or full bikini takes 30 to 45 minutes.
Settings change from one person to the next. On fair skin we favour Alexandrite, and on darker skin Nd:YAG, on the same device set differently.
The areas treated
The most requested
For women, we mostly treat the face (upper lip, chin, cheeks), full or half legs, arms, underarms and classic or full bikini. For men, it's the back, chest and abdomen.
Many people combine several areas, which costs far less than paying for them one at a time.
Adapting to your skin and hair
The result depends on skin type and hair colour. We tune the settings finely to avoid burns and pigment spots.
That tuning, more than the brand of the device, is what lets us treat the wide range of phototypes we see in this region, and work on the most sensitive areas.
What has changed in recent years
Male clientele has grown a lot, especially for the back and chest. That's why the offer exists for women and for men, with different areas and rates.
We also see people moving from per-area packages to a subscription. They want to see the spending end, instead of a bill that comes back every season.
What it costs
In this region, the price of a session depends on the area, the device and the place. Small areas like underarms or the upper lip start around $40, and large areas, such as full legs or the back, run to a few hundred dollars per session. Multiply that by the number of sessions (8 on average), then by the number of areas, and the bill surprises many people.
How we do it
We don't sell by the session. We offer the Unlimited Zones plan, at $497/mo for women and $697/mo for men, taxes extra. You come in once a month, and we treat as many zones as you want during that session; it's the zones that are unlimited, not the sessions. What you need to do to qualify is written on each offer page.
The plan also settles the maintenance question, since nobody gets billed again for an annual touch-up.
How to compare an offer
Look at the price, and at what it includes. A serious clinic posts its rates, explains what the package includes and excludes, and assesses you before selling you anything.
A price well below the market? We'd advise caution. To lower the price of a laser treatment that much, something else has to be cut, often the device or the training of the person setting it.
The questions we get
- How many sessions does it take? Generally 6 to 8 for lasting reduction, then maintenance.
- Does it hurt? Most people describe a brief tingle, and the cooling helps a lot.
- What side effects? Redness and mild irritation, sometimes an ingrown hair during the transition. Serious complications stay rare.
- All skin types? Yes for phototypes I through VI, if the device carries both wavelengths. For white or blond hair, no.
- What if it grows back? We adjust the treatment. That's what the follow-up is for.
Getting the most from the treatment
- Prepare the skin: no tanning, no scented cream before a session.
- Follow the aftercare, especially the soothing cream and sunscreen.
- Keep the recommended interval, generally 4 to 6 weeks.
- Shave between sessions instead of waxing.
- Call us quickly if a reaction is out of the ordinary.
Myths and reality
Does the laser remove 100% of hair forever? No. It gives significant permanent reduction, with maintenance. If someone promises you zero hair for life, they're promising more than the device can do.
What about cancer? No study has established a link with hair-removal lasers. This light doesn't touch DNA, unlike ultraviolet. The devices used here are approved and set according to phototype.
Choosing where to have it done
The criteria that matter
- The training of the person holding the handpiece, and their experience with your phototype.
- A serviced device carrying both wavelengths, rather than a single model "for everyone".
- Strict hygiene rules, visible to the naked eye.
- Posted prices and explained protocols before the first payment.
- Reviews you can read, not an isolated score.
What good care looks like
First, a detailed assessment of your skin type and expectations, with a written protocol. Then a clear price, a device set for your complexion and follow-up from one session to the next.
Here, laser hair removal is performed by our medical estheticians, and one of our nurses does laser work as well.
Before you book
Prepare your questions: which device will be used, who does the settings, what the package includes, the cancellation policy and the payment options.
Then come in for an assessment. We look at your skin and hair, and tell you what the laser can do in your case, for women and for men. If the answer is no, we'll tell you that too.
