Laser Hair Removal has come a long way in the past several years. The technology has advanced, and the cost has come down. Laser hair removal is permanent hair reduction: about 90 percent. I went through the process in 2000, and I have to admit it was time-consuming and painful. I had to apply a numbing cream to my body and wrap myself in cellophane. It was a slight hassle, but it made the process less painful. Believe me, even then I felt it whenever I missed a spot!

For my revisit for laser hair removal, I chose an American Laser Center. These centers use the Aurora system that is technologically advanced, in that it uses ELOS (Electro-Optical-Synergy). Basically translated, it means that it combines radio frequency with optical energy creating better results with less heating of the skin, causing less skin damage. One of the most important benefits of ELOS technology is that it makes laser hair removal available to people with darker skin tones as well as lighter hair colors. Traditionally, the only people who could benefit were fair or light skinned people with dark hair. The Aurora system is also FDA approved for permanent hair reduction.

There were other reasons why I chose American Laser Centers. First of all the treatment protocols are established by board-certified plastic surgeons as well as other board-certified physicians. The centers are located nationwide, and due to the vast amount of patients they have treated, they have been able to develop a patient-specific protocol based on aspects, such as genetic make-up, hair color, body chemistry and eye color. The technicians are all extensively trained in these protocols.

Another major reason to choose American Laser Centers is that they offer a two-year guarantee. If any hair grows back in the treated area they will remove it free of charge. That is an unbeatable deal!

Now for my experience. I was hesitant at first, because I remembered how painful it was years ago. I received a free in-depth consultation that covered how the Aurora system works, the costs and the treatment plan. I will not lie to you and tell you it is inexpensive, because it isn't. A complete six-treatment plan will cost you around one thousand dollars depending on where you live. The treatments are spread out over six weeks. If you consider that it removes around 90 percent of your hair, and it is guaranteed for two years, this is a good value. I can sum up my experience in a few words: quick, comfortable and yes, practically painless. Any pain I felt lasted for a split second and was not intense. Everyone's pain tolerance is different, and it also depends on how coarse your hair is. Without getting too personal, let's just say some parts were completely painless, while others pinched for a second. My first treatment lasted about 30 minutes where I had a few body parts done. I have very sensitive skin so I expected some irritation, but I had practically none. I just experienced some sensitivity to a very warm shower the next day.

I would definitely recommend American Laser Centers based on my first experience. The true test will be in seeing the final results. Stay tuned for the end.