A typical skin laser treatment price can vary depending on a host of factors, leaving many potential clients uncertain about the rates they can expect. This article aims to help readers establish a clearer idea of what any given treatment might cost by instilling an understanding of the variables that affect laser treatment rates.
In this article, we cover six primary variables that affect a treatment’s cost, explaining why they do so too. The clearest picture you can get of a treatment’s price will come from a consultation with the clinic you’re planning on visiting, where they can outline the exact costs.
At NuSkinnovation, we provide high-quality, reliable and safe laser treatment procedures at affordable rates. We also offer free consultations, where you can get an exact quote for the price of your laser treatment. To find out more about which factors affect a typical skin laser treatment price, read on in our comprehensive breakdown.
Skin Laser Treatment Price: Different Treatments, Different Price
One of the greatest strengths of laser therapy is its incredible versatility. A skilled and knowledgeable technician equipped with the right laser system can treat dozens of different conditions, ranging across medical, dermatological and aesthetic disciplines. At NuSkinnovation, we offer a huge variety of different procedures, including wrinkle smoothing, scar reduction, hair removal, hair regrowth, acne treatment, wart eradication and much more. Each treatment is priced differently, and it will likely be the first and most obvious variable affecting the rate.
This is largely because different lasers are required for different kinds of treatments. Certain treatments use an ablative laser (with Erbium wavelength), which is administered across the surface of the skin, destroying the top layer and triggering healthy regrowth full of collagen. Ablative treatments are more intense and take longer to recover from, but their effects are almost immediately noticeable. In contrast, non-ablative treatments use an Nd laser wavelength to penetrate more deeply into the tissue, slowly heating the skin from beneath and resulting in effects that are less immediately apparent but take less time to recover from and have fewer side effects.
Ablative treatments tend to be the pricier of the two, as the laser wavelengths require more power, advanced equipment and longer downtimes. As non-ablative treatments are less energy-intensive and require less advanced equipment or downtime, this makes them more affordable, which is another reason why clients may opt for a non-ablative form of treatment.
Certain procedures also require the laser system to make multiple passes over the treatment area to guarantee effective results, with each pass increasing the net energy usage of the procedure, thus increasing the overall price of the treatment.
Skin Laser Treatment Price: The Size Of The Treated Area
One of the other major variables that affect the total price of a treatment is the size of the area being treated. The reason for this is intuitive: the larger the area being treated; the more energy is required to complete the procedure. In most cases, different kinds of treatments will be applied to different-sized areas.
One of the best examples of this is laser hair removal. Laser hair removal treatments may cover only a small area, such as the upper lip, which can be completed in under thirty minutes. Alternatively, it may cover an area as large as the back or the legs, which may take over an hour or even multiple hours to complete.
A good rule of thumb, therefore, is that the larger the treatment area, the higher the price will be.
Skin Laser Treatment Price: The Number Of Sessions Required
In the case of many procedures, the results of laser treatment will be immediately apparent. However, even in cases where there is instant visual improvement, many treatments require multiple sessions to achieve maximally effective results in the long term. This may be for multiple reasons.
The first is to do with the limits of what the skin can safely handle. No respectable clinic will expose its patients to more laser energy than what is healthy, in case they risk serious irritation, burns, or blistering. For the safety of the patient, sessions will be spaced to give the skin adequate time to heal and recover between sessions.
Secondly, much of what laser treatment is about is triggering the body’s natural healing and collagen production processes, which take place gradually rather than instantaneously. After each laser session, the patient’s body slowly heals the micro-damage caused by the laser beam and fills the regrowth tissue with fresh collagen. By repeating this process over multiple spaced sessions, this gives the skin enough time to regrow, so that the process can be safely restarted for maximum efficiency.
If the treatment relates to hyperpigmentation, the reason might also be due to safety. Laser treatments only target a portion of the pigmented cells in the treatment area to avoid overheating the skin and causing unnecessary damage to surrounding tissue. Space between sessions allows the body to get rid of the remains of the pigments that were destroyed in the previous session, allowing the process to be safely resumed until all the pigmented cells can be dealt with.
The reason why multiple sessions are required may be due to the body’s growth cycles. This is especially true in the case of laser hair removal, as the treatment is most effective while the hair is in its growth phase. Multiple sessions spaced across several weeks, therefore, means that all the hair in the treatment area can be targeted while in the growth phase.
The final reason is less to do with the patient’s body and more to do with the laser system itself. Long sessions are energy-intensive and impose a heavy downtime on the devices. By spacing a treatment across multiple sessions, the strain on the machine is lower and the energy usage is more economical. As a result, it is also more affordable to have a treatment done over multiple sessions than it would be to lump them all into one long stretch of laser treatments. You’ll find that many clinics offer discounted rates on packages of larger sessions, benefitting both the clinic and the client.
Skin Laser Treatment Price: Clinic Expertise
The price of a laser treatment will also vary with the clinic offering the treatment itself. Well-known, dermatologically certified clinics are in a position to offer higher rates than smaller and lesser-known clinics. More than merely exploiting an established reputation, established clinics offer their clients the implicit agreement that they will uphold a high standard of care.
While established clinics charge more than smaller and lesser-known clinics, keep in mind that this is often because they are equipped with state-of-the-art technology and staffed with certified and highly trained technicians. NuSkinnovation is equipped with advanced laser machines and the latest cooling technology integrated right into our laser systems, which helps to reduce any discomfort or pain that patients may feel during treatment. We also follow a holistic client care method, offering detailed consultations before and after treatment.
NuSkinnovation still aims to offer treatments at fair and reasonable rates that compete well in the South African market, meaning that our clients don’t have to break the bank to achieve flawless skin.
While you may be tempted to save money by using the services of a less established clinic, you should be aware that laser treatment, when done by untrained staff or the incorrect equipment, can lead to unpleasant and even serious side effects like burns, blistering or even scarring. The extra amount paid for a treatment by an established and trusted clinic may go a long way.
Skin Laser Treatment Price: Location
Laser treatments can also vary in price depending on geographical location. On a global scale, developed nations in North America and Western Europe tend to offer some of the highest prices for laser treatments, reflecting a higher standard of living for the population. On the other hand, the lower cost of living in countries across Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe has made these places home to some of the most affordable laser clinics. Due to this, medical tourism has sprung up around the practice, with laser clinics in these nations offering incredibly competitive prices to attract clients from other countries.
South Africa sits at a comfortable midpoint between these two extremes. Our laser treatments tend to be noticeably more affordable than what would be found in Europe, America or the UK, but our prices do not compete with nations like Thailand or Turkey, which have made cheap aesthetic treatments somewhat of a tourist attraction.
On a more local level, laser clinics in urban centres tend to offer more premium rates, to reflect the higher earnings of a metropolitan populace. On the other hand, big cities are more likely to host multiple laser clinics, which will price their treatments competitively, driving costs lower.
Skin Laser Treatment Price: Preparation And Aftercare
The price of a laser treatment can also be affected by the level of preparation and aftercare that goes into the process. Certain clinics may charge an additional fee for a consultation before treatment, which is an important part of the process. During this consultation, the clinic may prescribe you certain creams or cleansers to use in preparation for the treatment, maximising safety and efficiency. Afterwards, a client may also be prescribed several more products to help manage side effects and keep the skin healthy. These consultations and additional products will increase the overall price of treatment but are important in ensuring the best results possible.
At NuSkinnovation, we offer free consultations to anyone hoping to get high-quality, reliable and safe laser treatment. Getting a consultation is the best way to determine if laser treatment is the best move for you, your needs and your budget.
Skin Laser Treatment Price: In Conclusion
Laser treatments are a versatile, effective and safe way of resolving a great number of aesthetic, dermatological and medical issues. However, the exact price of these treatments can vary greatly based on several factors. Different kinds of procedures require different kinds of laser wavelengths and at different intensities, affecting the rates. The larger an area is, the more treatment will cost.
The number of sessions required in a treatment will also affect pricing, with certain treatments requiring many spaced sessions to achieve maximum results, therefore increasing the total cost. More established and trusted clinics tend to offer higher prices too, due to not only their reputation but often the superior quality of equipment and staff they employ.
Location is another factor that cannot be overlooked, as areas with higher living standards tend to offer laser treatments at higher rates. Finally, there may be additional costs associated with consultations and prescribed medications associated with the preparation and aftercare of laser treatment.
Looking for an affordable skin laser treatment price? Book your first free consultation with NuSkinnovation today!