There is a big variance between the methods used for these two techniques. Electrolysis hair removal is an invasive procedure in which a needle penetrates the skin into the hair follicle. In contrast the laser hair removal treatment procedure is a non-invasive procedure using no needle to be placed in the body. The only thing passing through the skin is the laser beam. In electrolysis, the electric current flowing through the needle can produce an electric jolt but laser hair removal treatment cannot produce such dangers.

Electrolysis Versus Laser Costs

The cost structure offered by cosmetic clinics is a feature of both procedures depending upon:
- Area to be treated
- Session length
- Number of sessions
- Cost of each session

The pricing of each session can be less for electrolysis versus laser but electrolysis treatment is a fairly long process with longer session lengths and a larger number of sessions. This adds to the overall cost of the region you are having treated and therefore inflicts a heavy burden of costs on the customer compared to laser hair removal treatment. In the long run the removal of hair by laser is the less expensive option in the terms of effectiveness per dollar having lower overall costs and often a flexible pricing structure.

Is it Risk-free?

After receiving electrolysis one has to take care of the skin in a certain way. Research has shown that long lasting skin harm can ensue if specific care is not given to the skin. The other danger of being an invasive procedure is the skin infections. With laser hair removal side effects are extremely rare, and much less after treatment care is required. Darkening of skin, redness or scarring are transient effects which very quickly return to normal.

Efficiency

One vital area of comparison is the question of efficiency. Electrolysis being an old procedure has had many years to show what it can do in terms of efficiency. Electrolysis, in spite of 120 years of usage, cannot guarantee permanent hair reduction. Reduction of hair with laser conversely has shown at least 30-40% permanent hair reduction of hairs after completion of treatment. Another advantage of laser hair removal treatment is that it can be used efficiently for the treatment of big areas such as the back, chest and legs.

Treatment Period

The time required to fully complete the process of depilation in electrolysis is much longer, in order to get satisfactory results, as we've already covered. The major problem is in fact the large number of sessions required to have full treatment. As an electrologist says "Electrolysis demands a series of sessions over a length of time. It's not just a one-, two- or three-time thing." Reduction of hair with laser needs about 3 to 4 sessions for the full treatment. So electrolysis treatment is a fairly lengthy and tedious process.

Will it Hurt?

As laser hair removal treatment is a non-invasive procedure, there is no directly invasive stimulus. Electrolysis hair removal being a skin penetrating procedure initiates a uncomfortable stimulus with each hair that is treated due to the presence of sensory nerve endings in the skin. Reduction of hair with laser can be sore either in the case of sensitive skin or if you encounter a poorly trained laser practitioner. The good news is, any slight pain can be effectively minimized with laser hair removal treatment pain control. With electrolysis treatment conversely, soreness is an unavoidable feature of the procedure.

Making Your Decision

As we have seen, the current data provides an overview of electrolysis versus laser hair removal but more wide-ranging study and research is required to confirm the efficiency of one procedure over the other. As we have seen, there are a large number of factors that need to be taken into consideration to confirm whether one procedure is superior to the other.