Before you book laser hair removal, find out who will operate the laser, who is responsible for them, and how they will plan for your skin and hair. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) calls it a serious procedure, because it means aiming a powerful laser beam at your hair follicle.1
Who may operate a laser depends on your state. This guide covers what to check and ask. Whether to have it is for you and a clinician.
Who operates the laser
The AAD says laser hair removal can be dangerous in inexperienced hands: burns, permanent changes to skin color and scars can occur. It says you can greatly reduce the risk by choosing a medical doctor who is extremely skilled with lasers and knows the skin well, and recommends a board-certified dermatologist.2 That is a society of dermatologists recommending its own members, so weigh it accordingly.
The plastic surgeons' society takes a wider view: it says treatments like laser skin procedures count as the practice of medicine and should be overseen by a physician with specialized training, ideally a board-certified plastic surgeon, facial plastic surgeon or dermatologist.4 It also says to verify the credentials of the medical director, the supervising physician and whoever performs your treatment.4
Medical lasers fall under the federal medical device rules as well as laser radiation rules.5 But which licensed people may operate one is a state matter. Our guide to who may inject shows how to check yours.
Your skin and hair color
Skin and hair color affect both the results and the risk. Laser hair removal works best on light skin and dark hair. It can now also be an option for people with light hair or dark skin, but it must be done very carefully.2 That is why one question on the AAD's list is how many people with your skin coloring the doctor has treated.1
Myth
Laser hair removal works the same on every skin and hair color.
Fact
The AAD says it works best on light skin and dark hair. It can be an option for light hair or dark skin, but must be done very carefully, and permanent skin color changes can occur in inexperienced hands.
The consultation
The AAD says a dermatologist always offers a consultation before laser hair removal.1 The plastic surgeons' society says a quality med spa should too, covering your medical history, your goals and a plan, and being open about risks, expected results and costs.4
Expect to be examined. The AAD says how well it goes depends on where the hair is on your body, its color and coarseness, and where it is in its growth cycle. Tell the provider if you tend to get cold sore or genital herpes outbreaks, if you have taken isotretinoin, and about any other medicine you take, including aspirin you bought without a prescription.1
At the consultation
The provider looks at
- Where the hair is on your body
- Its color and coarseness
- Where it is in its growth cycle
You tell them about
- Cold sore or genital herpes outbreaks
- Isotretinoin, past or present
- Any other medicine, even aspirin
At the med spas we list
2,713 of the 7,475 med spas we list offer laser hair removal, and 736 of them name their medical director. Here is what else they state.6
What med spas that offer laser hair removal state
Share of 2,713 med spas that offer laser hair removal
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Mention financing | 60% |
| Offer online booking | 37% |
| Say the consultation is free | 29% |
| Offer a membership | 28% |
| Name a medical director | 27% |
Nearly three in four don't name one. Ask who supervises the laser treatments and how to reach them.6
Questions to bring
These first five are the AAD's own list.1 The rest come from the plastic surgeons' society.4
Questions to bring
The AAD's five questions
The clinic
After treatment, the AAD says to follow your dermatologist's instructions at once, and to protect your skin from the sun, with a broad-spectrum, SPF 30 or higher, water-resistant sunscreen.1 Our laser hair removal page covers the visits and side effects, and the cost guide covers what clinics list.
Common questions
Who should do my laser hair removal?
The AAD recommends a board-certified dermatologist, and the plastic surgeons' society wants physician oversight. Who may legally operate a laser depends on your state, so check the license of the person who will treat you and who supervises them.
What questions should I ask before laser hair removal?
The AAD suggests five: whether a board-certified dermatologist will perform it, how many people with your skin coloring the doctor has treated, what you need to do beforehand, whether you have a higher risk of side effects, and whether you can see before-and-after photos.
Does laser hair removal work on dark skin?
It can be an option, the AAD says, but it must be done very carefully. It works best on light skin and dark hair.
Do clinics name a medical director?
Mostly not. 736 of the 2,713 med spas we list that offer laser hair removal name one. Ask when you book.
Not sure where to start?
Look at clinics in your state, or read what to ask first.
Where to go next
Sources (6)
- AAD, Laser hair removal: Preparation · American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), a non-profit professional organization of dermatologists · read 29 Oct 2026
- AAD, Laser hair removal FAQs · American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), a non-profit professional organization of dermatologists · read 29 Oct 2026
- AAD, Laser hair removal: Overview · American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), a non-profit professional organization of dermatologists (last updated 11/22/21 per the page) · read 29 Oct 2026
- ASPS, How to Choose the Right Medical Spa for You · American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), a professional society of plastic surgeons · read 29 Oct 2026
- FDA, Laser Products and Instruments · US Food and Drug Administration (content current as of 11/13/2024 per the page) · read 29 Oct 2026
- Clinic websites: what they say on their own pages · Our own read of listed clinics' websites in the 14 states we cover, October 2026. A clinic counts once; a fact counts only if its own site states it. · read 30 Oct 2026