Why Men Should Choose Medical Laser Hair Removal | 3 Reasons, Cost, Sessions Explained

The table below lets you see the main differences between medical and esthetic hair removal at a glance.

As this comparison shows, even though esthetic hair removal appears cheaper per session, the required number of sessions is 2-3 times greater, so the total cost is often lower with medical hair removal.

According to the American Electrology Association (AEA), permanent hair reduction is defined as a regrowth rate of 20% or less one month after the final treatment. To meet this standard, the tissues that produce hair (hair matrix cells, dermal papillae) must be destroyed, which constitutes a medical procedure.

IPL devices used in esthetic salons have limited output and lack the ability to completely destroy follicular tissue. They can thermally damage the follicle to temporarily suppress hair growth, but over time, the hair matrix cells recover and hair grows back.

In fact, in 2001, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare issued a notice (Medical Bureau Notification No. 105) stating that irradiating the hair root area with laser light or other light of powerful energy, regardless of whether the device is a medical device, to destroy the dermal papilla, sebaceous gland openings, etc., constitutes a medical procedure. In other words, treatment capable of producing permanent hair reduction can legally only be performed at medical institutions.

Compared to women, men’s body hair has the characteristic of being thicker with deeper-rooted follicles. Beard hair in particular is classified as terminal hair, the thickest and most coarse type of body hair, with follicle depths reaching 3-4 mm.

Because IPL used in esthetic salons has weak output, sufficient energy has difficulty reaching these deep follicles. As a result, reviews of esthetic hair removal often include complaints like I went for dozens of sessions and my beard did not reduce.

In contrast, medical lasers have high output that can deliver energy deep into the follicle. Because thick, deep hair like men’s beards has higher melanin absorption efficiency, thick, coarse men’s hair is actually the ideal target for medical lasers.

The principle of medical laser hair removal is based on a mechanism called selective photothermolysis. Laser light is selectively absorbed by the melanin pigment in hair and converted into heat energy, which thermally destroys the hair matrix cells and dermal papilla that produce hair.

Because surrounding skin tissue contains little melanin, it absorbs very little laser energy. This allows the procedure to pinpoint only the hair follicle while minimizing damage to the skin.

Once destroyed, hair matrix cells do not regenerate, so hair stops growing from that follicle. However, since not all hair is in the growth phase at the same time, multiple sessions are required to sequentially treat hair in different growth cycles.

Medical hair removal results become visibly apparent 2-3 weeks after the first session. A phenomenon called pop-out occurs, where the irradiated hair sheds off gradually, and many people feel the amount of hair has clearly decreased.

After 3 sessions, hair volume is roughly halved. After 5 sessions, the frequency of self-care is dramatically reduced, and after 8-10 sessions, the skin reaches a nearly smooth state.

On the other hand, esthetic hair removal has milder results per session, so it takes 2-3 times as many sessions to achieve the same feel. Moreover, with esthetic hair removal, hair regrows if treatment is discontinued, requiring continuous visits. Once you start, there is no end with esthetic hair removal, while the goal is clear with medical hair removal.

At Men’s Care Clinic, we use GentleLase Pro from Syneron Candela. This device is equipped with an alexandrite laser (wavelength 755 nm) and is one of the most widely used hair removal lasers at medical institutions worldwide.

• High hair removal efficacy: The alexandrite laser has a high melanin absorption rate and is optimal for Japanese skin and hair quality. It reliably targets even thick, dense men’s hair.
• DCD cooling system: A cooling gas is sprayed immediately before laser irradiation to lower the skin surface temperature. This dramatically reduces pain and minimizes the risk of burns.
• Speedy irradiation: The large-diameter spot of up to 24 mm quickly covers wide areas. Shorter procedure times reduce the burden on patients.
• FDA-certified: Certified by the U.S. FDA, its safety and efficacy are objectively proven.

GentleLase Pro is particularly strong for men’s beard hair removal, delivering sufficient energy even to thick, deep hair follicles. There is no need to worry that the power will not be enough for coarse men’s hair.

Medical hair removal clinics have the following safety management systems in place.

• Physician examination before treatment: Laser output and irradiation conditions are individually set based on skin type, hair type, and medical history. Treatment is possible within a safe range even for those with sensitive or atopic skin.
• Treatment by nationally qualified practitioners: Physicians or nurses perform the procedure, allowing them to adjust output while observing skin condition in real time.
• Immediate medical response: If redness or burns occur, a physician can examine on the spot and prescribe anti-inflammatory or topical steroid medications. Many clinics do not charge additional visit fees.
• Use of anesthesia: For those concerned about pain, anesthetic cream (lidocaine) can be applied. Since this is a medical procedure, it cannot be used at esthetic salons.

Japan’s National Consumer Affairs Center receives many complaints about esthetic hair removal every year. The main types of complaints are as follows.

• Burns and blisters: Sustained burns after treatment, but the esthetic salon could not provide medical treatment, requiring out-of-pocket dermatology visits.
• No results: Attended 20 or more sessions with no notable results and was charged additional fees.
• Cancellation problems: Signed a high-priced course contract but was not allowed to cancel midway.
• Paradoxical hypertrichosis: Hair became thicker and denser after treatment (paradoxical hypertrichosis), with no explanation of cause or response.

Since esthetic salons are not medical institutions, they cannot perform examinations or prescribe medication on the spot when trouble occurs. Remember that choosing esthetic hair removal solely because it is cheap carries the risk of ultimately incurring additional medical costs and time.

Men’s Care Clinic has established a medical collaboration with Toyosu Hospital (Showa University system). Even in the unlikely event of skin trouble that cannot be handled within the clinic, we can promptly refer patients to an advanced medical institution.

Additionally, we always conduct a physician’s consultation before treatment and set laser output to match each individual’s skin and hair type. During treatment, nurses monitor skin condition while performing irradiation, ensuring sufficient safety margins.

If redness or swelling occurs after treatment, aftercare including anti-inflammatory medication prescriptions is available free of charge. Medical hair removal is safe is a claim we can make precisely because of this kind of system.

The table below shows the guideline number of sessions and costs for men’s medical hair removal by body area. Individual differences exist, but please use this as a general market reference.

For example, a full beard requires 8-10 sessions with medical hair removal, while esthetic hair removal requires 20-30 or more sessions. Even if the cost per session at an esthetic salon is half, the total cost will be 1.5 times higher if the number of sessions is three times as many. In addition, since esthetic hair removal may allow hair to grow back even after completion, the cost of additional treatments must also be considered.

What is often forgotten when considering the cost of hair removal is the cost and time required for self-care.

For example, let’s calculate the cost of daily beard shaving. Electric shaver replacement blades cost approximately JPY 5,000-10,000 per year, shaving foam about JPY 3,000 per year, and replacing the shaver body once every 2-3 years costs about JPY 10,000-20,000. This amounts to roughly JPY 10,000-20,000 per year, or JPY 100,000-200,000 over 10 years.

Furthermore, if it takes 10 minutes to shave your beard each morning, that is about 60 hours per year, or about 600 hours over 10 years – in other words, you spend about 25 days worth of time shaving your beard.

By using medical hair removal to permanently remove your beard, all these costs and time become unnecessary. The initial cost is high, but you quickly recoup your investment – this is the essence of medical hair removal cost performance.

Many people feel anxious about paying hundreds of thousands of yen for a course contract. That feeling is completely understandable.

Men’s Care Clinic adopts a pay-per-visit system that does not require a course contract. Since you pay per session, you have the advantage of being able to decide for yourself whether to continue based on the results.

• No high initial cost: You can start with just one session’s treatment fee.
• No penalty for quitting midway: The results came faster than expected, so I will stop at 5 sessions is entirely your choice.
• Flexible addition of other areas: I finished my beard and now want to do my arms is easy to add.

While many clinics have 5-session courses or 10-session courses as their standard, our ability to offer pay-per-visit is precisely because we are confident in the quality and effectiveness of our treatment. The pay-per-visit system is especially recommended for those who feel anxious about starting men’s medical hair removal for the first time.

All body hair repeats growth and shedding through the following three phases.

• Anagen (growth phase): The period when hair matrix cells actively divide and hair grows. Rich in melanin pigment, this is the phase where laser treatment has the highest efficacy.
• Catagen (regression phase): The period when hair matrix cell division stops and hair begins to separate from the dermal papilla. Laser efficacy is limited.
• Telogen (resting phase): The dormant period when hair completely sheds and waits for the next growth phase. Since there is no hair in the follicle, laser irradiation has no effect.

Importantly, only about 20% of all hair is visible on the skin surface. The remaining 80% is in the catagen or telogen phase, waiting beneath the skin for the next growth.

In other words, only about 20% of hair can be treated with a single laser irradiation, so multiple sessions are required to treat all hair.

Hair cycle length differs by area. To maximize efficacy, it is important to receive treatment when the most hair is in the growth phase.

At Men’s Care Clinic, during the initial consultation, we examine your skin and hair type, and then inform you of the optimal treatment interval and guideline number of sessions for you. Rather than an opaque unlimited visits plan, the strength of medical hair removal is the ability to establish a treatment plan with a clear goal.

The way pain is felt varies significantly by area. Areas where hair is thick and dense, or where skin is thin, tend to feel more pain.

Pain from medical hair removal can be dramatically reduced with the following methods.

• Use of anesthetic cream: Applying lidocaine-containing anesthetic cream 30 minutes before treatment can reduce pain by 50-70%. We especially recommend using anesthesia for beard and VIO hair removal.
• Choosing lasers with cooling function: The DCD cooling system of GentleLase Pro automatically eases pain by spraying cooling gas immediately before laser irradiation.
• Gradual output adjustment: Starting with a modest output on the first session and gradually increasing it while observing skin reaction is possible.
• Avoiding sunburn and dryness: Sunburned or dry skin is more sensitive to laser pain. Be sure to moisturize and protect against UV exposure before treatment.
• Increasing number of sessions: As hair decreases, so does the number of hair the laser reacts to, reducing pain with each session. Many people say it became much easier from the third session onwards.

At Men’s Care Clinic, we can prescribe anesthetic cream. If you are concerned about pain, please feel free to consult us during your counseling session. We believe it is our responsibility as a medical institution to provide hair removal that you do not have to endure.

For men’s hair removal, the alexandrite laser is considered the most effective. There are three reasons.

• High melanin absorption rate: Men’s thick, dense hair contains abundant melanin pigment, and the alexandrite laser wavelength (755 nm) is absorbed most efficiently by that melanin. In other words, it is a laser that is most effective on coarse men’s hair.
• Compatibility with Japanese skin tone: The alexandrite laser is optimal for standard Japanese skin tones (Fitzpatrick types III-IV). It delivers sufficient energy to the hair follicle while avoiding excessive skin damage.
• Extensive clinical track record: It has the longest clinical use history of any hair removal laser worldwide, with the most comprehensive data on safety and efficacy.

Men’s Care Clinic GentleLase Pro is the top-tier model of alexandrite laser. With its unique DCD cooling system, it achieves both high hair removal efficacy and pain reduction.

Medical hair removal has two irradiation methods: thermal destruction (shot method) and heat-accumulation (SHR method).

• Thermal destruction: High-output laser is irradiated one shot at a time, instantaneously destroying hair follicles with high temperatures (over 200 degrees Celsius). Highly effective on thick, dense hair, and is the mainstream method for men’s hair removal. GentleLase Pro is classified as thermal destruction.
• Heat-accumulation: Low-output laser is continuously irradiated, gradually heating the bulge area (the part that directs hair regeneration) to stop its function. While pain is milder, it is less effective on thick hair compared to thermal destruction.

For thick, dense hair like men’s beard and VIO, thermal destruction is more effective. Heat-accumulation is better suited for vellus or fine hair, and it is ideal to use each method according to area and hair type.

First, book a free consultation via the web or by phone. You can choose from our three clinics: Shinbashi, Akihabara, or Omotesando, whichever is most convenient.

No special preparation is needed at booking. On the day, we ask that you shave the treatment area (self-care the day before), but if it is just a consultation, you can come as you are.

After arrival, a physician will confirm your skin type, hair type, and medical history, and determine the laser type and output settings. Please share any allergies, chronic conditions, or medications you are taking at this stage.

We will also hear about the areas you want to treat and the image of the finish (such as completely smooth or reduce the volume), and inform you of the guideline number of sessions and cost. You can freely decide whether to receive treatment after the consultation, so just wanting to hear about it is completely fine.

Gel is applied to the treatment area, and GentleLase Pro is used to deliver the laser. Treatment time varies by area, but the guidelines are as follows.

• Full beard: Approximately 15-20 minutes
• Underarms: Approximately 5-10 minutes
• Full arms: Approximately 20-30 minutes
• Full legs: Approximately 30-40 minutes
• VIO: Approximately 20-30 minutes
• Full body: Approximately 60-90 minutes

For those concerned about pain, anesthetic cream is applied before treatment (arrival 30 minutes before treatment is recommended). During irradiation, nurses frequently check in, and if pain is strong, they will adjust the output, so please do not hold back from speaking up.

After treatment, the irradiated area is cooled and anti-inflammatory moisturizer is applied. Redness may occur but usually subsides within 1-2 days. In the unlikely event of trouble, you can receive physician examination and medication prescriptions free of charge.

Post-treatment precautions are as follows.

• Day of treatment to next day: Avoid strenuous exercise, baths (showers are OK), and alcohol.
• For about 2 weeks: Avoid sunburn on the irradiated area (use sunscreen).
• Between treatments: Self-care with tweezers or wax is prohibited (shaving is OK).

The next treatment is scheduled 6-8 weeks later, matching the hair cycle. Payment is made per visit, and you pay only for one session treatment fee.