Back laser hair removal at Skin Anthology costs $199 a session, or $1,353.20 for a package of 8, on the current price list. The back is priced as a large area, most people plan for about 6 to 8 sessions spaced 6 to 8 weeks apart, and the consultation is free. This guide covers what the price includes, how long a series takes, and how to prepare your back for laser hair removal.
What back laser hair removal costs
Skin Anthology prices laser hair removal by the size of the area. The back sits in the large area tier with full arms, full legs and the chest. Here is how the current price list works out for a full series of 8:
| Plan | Total | Session |
|---|---|---|
| Single session | $199 | $199 |
| 8 paid singly | $1,592 | $199 |
| Package of 8 | $1,353.20 | $169.15 |
The package is the 8 session total at 15% off, which saves $238.80 compared with paying for 8 sessions one at a time.
Area sizing is confirmed at your consultation. The price list does not show shoulders as a separate line, so ask whether yours are included in your back area. The neck is listed separately as a medium area at $149 a session.
If you want more than the back, each extra large area, such as the chest, is another $199 a session, and full body, which covers everything in one visit, is $699. Every area and price is laid out in the guide to laser hair removal cost in Los Angeles.
Only growing hairs respond to the laser.
The Cleveland Clinic explains that a hair follicle has to be in its anagen, or growth, stage for the treatment to work. Follicles sit in different stages at different times, which is why a back needs a series of sessions rather than one.
How many sessions a back needs
Skin Anthology recommends a series of about 6 to 8 sessions for long term reduction. Body areas, the back included, are usually treated every 6 to 8 weeks, and your provider may adjust that to your hair density, growth pattern and response.
That spacing sets the calendar. Six sessions take roughly 30 to 40 weeks from the first visit to the last, and eight take roughly 42 to 56 weeks. Plan on about 7 to 13 months for the full series.
You do not wait until the end to see a change. The American Academy of Dermatology says to expect a 10% to 25% reduction in hair after the first treatment, and regrowth becomes progressively finer and less dense across the series.
It is reduction, not a guarantee of zero hair. The Cleveland Clinic notes that laser hair removal is not permanent: some hair grows back, usually lighter and thinner than before, and occasional maintenance sessions may be needed. The price list does not show a separate touch up rate, so ask about it at your consultation.
What a back session is like
Small areas take a few minutes. Larger areas such as the back can take up to an hour or more, and the AAD gives the same guide: treating a large area like the back or legs may last more than an hour.
Laser energy is applied while the skin is kept cool. Most Skin Anthology patients feel mild warmth or tingling paired with a cooling sensation, and settings are adjusted through the session based on how your skin responds. The AAD adds that everyone in the room wears protective eyewear.
Afterwards, mild redness or warmth may occur and typically resolves within hours. The AAD notes that the most common side effects, discomfort, swelling and redness, are minor and last 1 to 3 days, and that a cool compress can help.
A faint smell of burnt hair is normal.
The American Academy of Dermatology explains that the laser removes hair by vaporizing it, which causes small plumes of smoke with a sulfur like smell. The Cleveland Clinic says smelling smoke and burning hair during a session is normal.
How to prepare your back
- Shave within 24 hours of your appointment. The back is hard to reach, so ask someone to help. Do not wax, pluck or thread the area.
- Keep the sun off it for at least 2 weeks. That means no sun, tanning beds, spray tans or self tanner on your back before each session.
- Share your history. Tell your provider about current medications, hormonal therapies, skin sensitivities and any recent skin treatments. Never stop a prescribed medicine unless the clinician who prescribed it advises it.
The Cleveland Clinic advises talking to your provider first, and possibly avoiding treatment, if you are pregnant, take certain medications such as acne treatments, have genital herpes or are prone to cold sores, have keloid scars, or have or have had skin cancer.
A back can catch sun at the beach or pool without you noticing, so plan your series around summer trips. The guide to laser hair removal on tanned skin explains the timing.
Hair color changes the result.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, laser hair removal works best on thick, dark hair, because the contrast with the skin helps the hair absorb the heat. It might not work as well on hair that is blonde, gray, white or red, so bring that up at your consultation.
Aftercare between sessions
For 24 to 48 hours after each session, skip hot baths, saunas, intense exercise and direct sun on your back. After that, use a broad spectrum sunscreen daily on any treated skin that will see the sun and keep it moisturized.
Between sessions, shaving is fine. Avoid waxing, plucking and threading; the Cleveland Clinic gives the same advice once treatment begins. Skin Anthology notes that reducing active follicles also helps minimize the ingrown hairs, razor bumps and irritation that shaving and waxing can cause.
Serious side effects are rare, but the AAD lists blistering, cold sore outbreaks, infections, scarring and skin lightening or darkening. If you notice any of these, call the clinic. The guide to laser hair removal side effects covers what is normal and what is not.
Frequently asked questions
How much does back laser hair removal cost?
How many sessions does a back need?
Is laser hair removal on the back permanent?
Does back laser hair removal hurt?
Can I have a session right after a beach trip?
Get your back plan and price.
The consultation is free. Your provider looks at your skin and hair, confirms the area, and you leave knowing the session plan and the price before you commit. Skin Anthology Med Spa, 848 N La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles.
Prefer to talk? (310) 482-2081
Sources: American Academy of Dermatology, Laser hair removal FAQs; Cleveland Clinic, Laser hair removal; Skin Anthology laser hair removal and consultation pages and price list. This article is general information, not medical advice.
