"That makes no sense..."

As summer approaches, many clients come to me and say,

"I had 3 sessions at another clinic, but why does it look exactly the same?"

Quite a few people genuinely ask, "They told me elsewhere that it would take 5 to 6 sessions to finish, so why isn't the hair going away even after 3 times?"

This is a very common concern.

Today, I would like to explain the reason behind this,

starting step-by-step with the hair follicle cycle.

Hair removal lasers all look similar, right? But the truth is...

Laser hair removal works by letting the melanin in the hair follicles

absorb light energy,

which in turn destroys the hair roots.

*To be precise,

it must target and destroy the stem cells

located next to the bulb of the hair follicle.

Unlike shaving or waxing, which only removes hair from the surface,

lasers target the hair follicle itself,

weakening its ability to grow back.

Commonly used devices usually feature two wavelengths:

Alexandrite (755nm) and

Nd:YAG (1064nm).

Different wavelengths reach different depths

and target different hair thicknesses.

That is why... utilizing the right wavelength for each area is absolutely key.

Even under the same name of "laser hair removal,"

the ideal approach varies

depending on the patient’s skin tone and hair thickness.

Why you need 8 to 10 sessions: The answer lies in the hair growth cycle

"Hair only responds to the laser during its growing phase (anagen).

Given the hair growth cycle, you need to receive 8 to 10 sessions at intervals of at least 2 weeks—ideally 2 to 6 weeks—

to achieve

an 80% or higher permanent hair reduction effect.

 

Judging the results as ineffective after only 3 sessions

is simply too early."

 

— Dr. Wi Young-jin (Beauty stone Clinic Hongdae)

This might be hard to visualize just by reading about it,

so let’s look at a real-life case.

Last month, a 26-year-old female client visited us.

She had received 3 sessions of underarm laser hair removal at another clinic, feel that there was "no effect," got a refund,

and came to our clinic.

After our consultation, my advice to her was:

"Rather than recommending more sessions right away,

let's wait 4 more weeks and re-evaluate."

Instead of starting a new treatment cycle immediately, it was more important to accurately assess the results of her previous treatments.

Here is why: hair grows in a continuous cycle of three phases: anagen (growth),

catagen (regression), and telogen (resting).

Among these, the laser only targets

hair that is currently in the active growing (anagen) phase.

The light energy can only reach down to the root when melanin is sufficiently present in the follicle and the hair bulb

is actively connected.

The challenge is that the proportion of hair in the growth phase

varies significantly by body area.

For underarms, only about 30% of the hair is in the growing phase at any given time.

For legs, it is around 20%, and for fine facial hair, it is even lower.

This means that a single session can only target

about 20% to 30% of the total hair in that area.

This is why we recommend

8 to 10 sessions at intervals of 4 to 6 weeks.

It allows the resting hair

enough time to transition into the next growing phase,

allowing us to target another 30% with each subsequent session.

By repeating this 8 to 10 times, the cumulative effect

leads to a permanent hair reduction of over 80%.

To be perfectly honest, the 3-session mark

is just when the hair has completed its very first cycle.

It is simply too early to judge the final efficacy.

This is also where the choice of equipment becomes crucial.

We primarily use the GentleMax Pro Plus,

which allows us to switch between the 755nm Alexandrite and 1064nm Nd:YAG wavelengths on a single device.

For clients with lighter skin tones and dark, relatively fine hair,

we use the 755nm wavelength.

For those with darker skin tones or thick, deeply rooted hair,

we use the 1064nm wavelength.

We customize this even within a single session depending on the specific area being treated.

If a clinic only uses a single-wavelength device,

there is a higher risk of burns on darker skin,

or fine hair might be missed entirely.

A Key Summary from Dr. Wi Young-jin

Hair removal is not a one-stop procedure;

it is a gradual process that builds up results

by following the natural hair growth cycle.

You need to keep the 4 to 6-week interval and complete 8 to 10 sessions

to reach the stage of permanent hair reduction.

Judging the treatment as "ineffective" after only 3 sessions

is a premature conclusion.

Check the guide below to see what applies to your target areas

One important thing to keep in mind

is that these figures represent "averages."

For individuals with strong hormonal influences or naturally thick

and dense hair, it may take 12 to 15 sessions

to achieve the desired, satisfying results.

Knowing your unique hair profile beforehand

helps minimize any frustration

about your progress seeming slow.

How many sessions will I need? — A 30-Second Self-Calculation

If the table still feels a bit abstract,

try estimating your timeline with these 3 simple steps:

Step 1. Find the recommended sessions for your target area

Underarms: around 8 sessions,

Legs & arms: 8 to 10 sessions,

Bikini line: around 10 sessions,

Facial peach fuzz: at least 10 sessions.

Step 2. Adjust for your hair type

If you have thick, dense hair

or strong hormonal influences,

it is practical to anticipate around 12 to 15 sessions.

Step 3. Interval × Sessions = Total Treatment Period

Let’s look at an example.

For underarms, a 4-week interval × 8 sessions

will take about 7 to 8 months in total.

For legs, a 5 to 6-week interval × 8 to 10 sessions

means you should plan for at least 10 months.

If you are unsure about the calculation, feel free to send us photos of the area and your hair type via KakaoTalk.

I will personally review them and estimate the timeline for you.

The 3 most popular questions we receive regarding laser hair removal

Q1. If I come in every 2 weeks, wouldn't the process finish much faster?

A. I completely understand wanting to finish as quickly as possible.

However, if you ignore the hair follicle cycle and simply shorten the interval,

you will end up spending more money for virtually the same results.

It takes at least 3 to 4 weeks

for hair in the resting phase to transition back to the growing phase.

Treating the area again in just 2 weeks

means applying laser energy to hair roots that have already been treated,

failing to target the newly emerging hair.

Q2. Will the hair really never grow back once my 10-session package is complete?

A. There is a scientific reason why we use the term

"permanent reduction" rather than "absolute permanent hair removal."

After 10 sessions, you will see a reduction of over 80% of your hair,

and any remaining hair will grow back much finer and lighter.

However, due to hormonal shifts

or stress, dormant hair follicles can occasionally wake up,

causing some hair to grow back.

Therefore, many clients choose to have a quick maintenance session

once every 1 to 2 years.

Q3. Are there any important precautions to keep in mind during my treatment?

A. The two most important rules are

sun protection and avoiding waxing.

Please avoid waxing or plucking with tweezers for at least 2 weeks before your visit.

If the hair root is completely pulled out, the laser has no target to react with.

Shaving, however, is completely fine.

Sun protection is vital both before and after your treatment.

Applying laser energy

to tanned skin significantly increases the risk of burns.

Q4. Can I transfer to your clinic if I started my treatment elsewhere?

A. Yes, absolutely. If you let us know how many sessions you have had so far

and the equipment (wavelengths) used,

we will design a plan for your remaining sessions.

Typically, we can evaluate and begin treatment about 4 weeks after your last session.

If you take away just one key point today,

it is that hair removal success should be evaluated

by how many hair growth cycles have been successfully completed,

not simply by the raw number of sessions.

In our next post,

we will explore hormonal and physiological variables to see

"why some clients finish in just 5 sessions, while others require up to 12 sessions."

How Beauty stone Approaches Your Care

Since we discussed equipment wavelengths above,

I would like to share our practical standards for care.

We customize wavelengths dynamically with the GentleMax Pro Plus

We utilize the advanced GentleMax Pro Plus,

which allows us to switch between 755nm and 1064nm wavelengths

to match the specific area and hair type within a single session.

We provide clear guidance on the total estimated sessions upfront

I personally run a practice where we avoid starting with a low cost for a single session

only to continually add extra visits later on.

We share our honest estimation first

and explain the clinical reasons if further sessions are needed.

Energy settings are always customized directly by the director

Low-power settings that only drag out treatment times,

or overly aggressive settings that risk burns, are ultimately a matter of detail.

I personally inspect your skin reaction during every single session to adjust the energy levels safely and effectively.

Our clinic is within easy walking distance from Hapjeong Station,

making it highly accessible from Hongdae, Sinchon, and Ewha Womans University.

You are always welcome to reach out with questions via KakaoTalk first.

Consultation via KakaoTalk

If you are wondering if this treatment is right for you, our director is here to consult with you directly.

▶ Start a 1:1 KakaoTalk Chat

Warm regards, Dr. Wi Young-jin.

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Recommended Readings

• Be careful with promises of "Permanent Beard Removal" unless they use GentleMax Pro Plus

• Why simply increasing GentleMax beard removal sessions won't solve the problem

• How many sessions for underarm laser hair removal? A realistic guide

• How many laser sessions for permanent leg hair removal? Answered by hair growth cycles

• Why our clinic is known as the go-to spot for laser hair removal in Hongdae