Laser Hair Removal In Chicago For Every Skin Type
V&P offers laser hair removal in Chicago for every skin type, on the Candela GentleMax Pro Plus, by a team of certified laser technicians. We treat the face, lip and chin, underarms, arms, legs, bikini and Brazilian, scalp, and full body. If you’re tired of shaving and waxing, our treatments give you permanent hair reduction, starting with a free consultation at our clinic.
- 5.0 rating on Google
- FDA-cleared for skin types I through VI
- Licensed nurse practitioners on staff
What Makes Our Clinic Different
V&P is a laser hair removal clinic at 1317 N Larrabee St in Old Town, on Chicago’s Near North Side. Clients who leave us reviews tend to mention the same things: providers who explain each step, sessions that start on time, and results they wish they’d started sooner.
The Sedgwick Brown Line stop is a four-block walk away, and there’s free street and garage parking near the building.
We use the Candela GentleMax Pro Plus. It’s one of the few laser platforms FDA-cleared for every Fitzpatrick skin type, including the darker tones that older diode lasers can’t treat safely.
All our providers are certified, and two are family nurse practitioners (APRN, FNP-C). When something on your skin needs a medical judgment call, a clinician makes it.
Your first session comes after a free consultation. We don’t push packages, and if laser isn’t right for your skin or your goals, we’ll say so.
Why Clients Choose V&P
When people refer a friend, these are the reasons they give us at the front desk:
- If your skin reacts during the patch test, we change the settings before treating the rest of the area.
- Sessions run on time. If we say 30 minutes, you’re out in 30.
- Most clients reach 75 to 95 percent reduction by session 6 to 9. We tell you when to stop and won’t sell you a tenth session you don’t need.
- We treat with the GentleMax Pro Plus, the same machine top dermatology clinics use.
- If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on certain medications, or freshly tanned, we’ll reschedule you, even if you booked a non-refundable package.
If laser hair removal at another Chicago clinic left you with patchy results, the most common cause is undertreatment. The settings were too low to damage the follicle, usually because the technician was being careful with a skin tone the machine wasn’t really cleared for. The Pro Plus fixes the equipment side of that problem, and our providers handle the clinical judgment.
What Happens At Your First Visit
Book A Free Consultation
Every first-time client starts with a free 20-minute consultation. Book online or call (252) 557-7113.
Get A Patch Test And A Price
We look at the area you want treated, run a patch test if your skin tone calls for one, and give you a written treatment plan with the price.
Start Your Sessions
Most clients see thinner hair after 2 or 3 sessions. We’ll tell you when you’ve reached the point where you can stop.
Our Team
Valeria Tartacovschi
Valeria Tartacovschi cofounded V&P Laser Hair Removal & Skin Care. She started the clinic to help people feel more confident by getting rid of unwanted hair for the long term…
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Nik-Nik Perez Achanzar, APRN
Nik-Nik Achanzar, APRN, is a family nurse practitioner with more than eight years of clinical practice in primary and acute care. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from DePaul University in 2012…
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Yefoonah Christmas, FNP-C
Yefoonah Christmas, FNP-C, is a family nurse practitioner with more than nine years of experience caring for patients of all ages, from infants to older adults…
Read MoreWhat You Get At V&P
If you’re comparing a few Chicago clinics before you book, these are the details to check at ours.
Free 20-Minute Consultation
There’s no deposit. We look at the area, do a small patch test if your skin tone calls for it, and give you a treatment plan with a price. If we’re not the right fit, you leave without owing anything.
One Laser For Every Client
Every package, at every price, is done on the GentleMax Pro Plus. It has two wavelengths, Alexandrite (755nm) and Nd:YAG (1064nm), which lets us treat Fitzpatrick skin types I through VI on the same machine.
Nurse Practitioners On The Team
Every provider at V&P is licensed, and two are family nurse practitioners with full clinical training. Their bios are above.
Open Six Days A Week
We’re open Monday through Saturday from 8 AM to 8 PM and closed Sunday. Most new clients get an appointment within a week.
Three Languages
We speak English, Romanian, and Russian. Visits are by appointment only, and we don’t take walk-ins.
Published Prices
Prices for single sessions, three-packs, and six-packs are listed further down this page. The consultation itself is free.
Laser Hair Removal Services
Every area below is treated at our Chicago clinic on the same GentleMax Pro Plus by one of our licensed providers.
Laser Hair Removal For Men
Back, chest, neck, beard line, and any other area where you want less hair.
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Scalp Laser Hair Removal
Reduces excess or patchy hair on the scalp for a cleaner, more defined look.
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Facial Laser Hair Removal
A full face is $225 a session. Smaller areas like the cheeks or sideburns are $125 each.
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Lip And Chin
The upper lip and chin are $125 each per session, and an upper lip takes about 10 minutes.
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Brazilian Laser Hair Removal
A Brazilian takes five to ten minutes and costs $225 a session.
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Bikini Laser Hair Removal
A basic bikini line is $125 a session. Clients with razor bumps there usually see them fade within two or three sessions.
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Laser Hair Removal For Bodybuilders
For bodybuilders who want less hair hiding their muscle definition.
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Full Body Laser Hair Removal
A full body session takes 90 to 120 minutes and costs $2,000, with a lower price per session in packages.
Learn MoreHow Laser Hair Removal Works
What The Laser Does
Laser hair removal works by sending light into the hair, where its pigment (melanin) absorbs it. That energy damages the follicle so it stops growing new hair. Because the Pro Plus has two wavelengths, we can match the setting to your skin tone.
How To Prepare
- Shave the area closely the night before or the morning of your appointment.
- Don’t wax or tweeze for at least three weeks before your session.
- Stay out of the sun and skip self-tanner for several weeks beforehand. We can’t treat tanned skin.
- Stop using retinoids and prescription topicals on the area 14 days before treatment.
- If you’re taking antibiotics, tell us when you book. We need at least 14 days between your last dose and your session.
- We don’t treat clients who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
What A Laser Hair Removal Session Is Like
Small areas take 15 to 20 minutes, medium areas 20 to 30, and larger areas 30 to 60. Most clients describe the feeling as a rubber band snap that fades quickly. Some redness or irritation afterward is normal and usually clears within 24 hours.
Hair grows back slower and finer after each session. On average, it takes 6 to 9 treatments to reach 75 to 95 percent reduction.
Areas We Can Treat
We can treat almost any part of the body, including the face, legs, arms, underarms, and back. That includes sensitive areas like the chest, nipples, and bikini line.
After Your Session
Most people go straight back to work or errands, though treated skin can stay red for a while, so plan around any events that day. Skip saunas, hot tubs, and workouts for 24 hours, and wear sunscreen on treated skin that sees the sun. Your provider may suggest skincare products for your skin type.
Possible Side Effects
Mild redness and swelling, a bit like a sunburn, usually go away within a few hours. Blistering can happen but is rare. Your provider will go over the risks for your skin at the consultation.
Laser Or Electrolysis?
Electrolysis treats one hair follicle at a time with a needle and an electrical charge, so large areas take years of appointments. The GentleMax Pro Plus covers hundreds of follicles with each pulse. Electrolysis does work on blonde, red, and gray hair, which laser can’t reliably treat, and Electrolysis 100% Permanent Hair Removal & Skin Care offers it in our building.
Laser Hair Removal Compared With Shaving, Waxing, IPL, And Electrolysis
Most people who come to us have spent years shaving, waxing, threading, or trying at-home IPL devices that didn’t work for them. This is how those methods compare with laser hair removal.
Shaving
Shaving is quick and cheap each time, but it lasts a day or two, and over a lifetime the razors and creams add up to thousands of dollars. In Chicago you show summer skin for maybe four months and deal with winter razor burn the rest of the year.
Waxing
Waxing lasts longer than shaving, but ingrown hairs are common, especially with coarse hair, and you have to grow the hair out before every appointment.
At-Home IPL
At-home IPL can work on light skin with dark hair. It doesn’t have the energy or wavelength range for most skin tones, and the FDA hasn’t cleared most of these devices for use over the whole body.
Electrolysis
Electrolysis is permanent, but it treats one follicle at a time with a needle. A full bikini line can take several years.
Professional Laser
Each pulse treats hundreds of follicles. Six to nine sessions usually get you to 75 to 95 percent reduction, and after that most clients come back once a year for a touch-up, if at all.
For most of our clients, cost settles it. Five years of waxing costs more than a full body laser hair removal package, and once your laser sessions are done, you mostly stop paying.
Laser Hair Removal Before And After Photos
What Our Clients Say
Laser Hair Removal Prices
Prices at our Chicago clinic are per treatment area. Buying three or six sessions lowers the price of each one.
| Services | 1 session | 3 sessions | 6 sessions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Body | $2,000 | $5,925 | $11,800 |
| Upper Body | $1,000 | $2,925 | $5,800 |
| Lower Body | $900 | $2,625 | $5,200 |
| Full Face | $225 | $600 | $1,150 |
| Full Back | $375 | $1,050 | $2,050 |
| Full Arms | $275 | $750 | $1,450 |
| Full Back, Shoulders & Back of Neck | $500 | $1,425 | $2,800 |
| Upper Back, Shoulders & Back of Neck | $300 | $700 | $1,200 |
| Upper Back, Shoulders, Back of Neck & Upper Arms | $400 | $1,125 | $2,200 |
What People Ask Before Their First Session
These four come up at almost every consultation. The FAQ further down covers the rest.
“Will It Work On My Skin?”
With the GentleMax Pro Plus we can safely treat Fitzpatrick skin types I through VI. The patch test at your free consultation confirms it for your skin.
“How Much Does Laser Hair Removal Cost?”
Single sessions start at $125 for small areas like the upper lip or underarms. A full face is $225 and a full body session is $2,000. Three- and six-session packages lower the price of each session, and every price is on our full price list.
“How Long Until I See Results?”
Most clients notice thinner hair after 2 or 3 sessions. Full results usually come around session 6 to 9.
“What About Pregnancy?”
We don’t treat pregnant or breastfeeding clients. There’s no clinical data showing harm, but there’s none showing safety either, so we’d rather wait.
Frequently Asked Questions
Didn’t see your question? Ask at your free consultation or call (252) 557-7113.
01Does Laser Hair Removal Hurt?
Most clients compare it to a rubber band snapping against the skin, and the feeling fades quickly. The GentleMax Pro Plus releases a cooling spray with every pulse, which takes most of the sting out of sensitive areas like the bikini line. Any redness afterward usually clears within a day.
02How Long Does A Laser Hair Removal Session Take?
It depends on the area. An upper lip takes about 10 minutes and a Brazilian five to ten, while full legs take about 45 minutes and a full body session 90 to 120. We book by appointment only, so your session starts on time.
03Is Laser Or Electrolysis Better For My Hair?
For dark hair, laser is usually faster and gentler, because each pulse treats hundreds of follicles and electrolysis treats one at a time. For blonde, red, or gray hair, electrolysis works better. Electrolysis 100% Permanent Hair Removal & Skin Care shares our building at 1317 N Larrabee St, and if your hair is a better fit for electrolysis, we’ll tell you at your consultation.
04How Is Your Laser Different From IPL Or A Diode Laser?
IPL is a broad flash of light, not a true laser, so it takes more sessions and mostly works on light skin with dark hair. Diode lasers work, but most have a single wavelength, which limits the skin tones they can treat safely. Our GentleMax Pro Plus has two wavelengths, 755nm Alexandrite and 1064nm Nd:YAG, and is FDA-cleared for permanent hair reduction on all six Fitzpatrick skin types.
05Do You Offer Laser Hair Removal Packages?
Yes. Every area is sold as a single session, a three-pack, or a six-pack, and packages lower the price of each session. Underarms, for example, are $125 for one session or $550 for six. Most people need six to nine sessions, and if you reach your goal early, we’ll tell you to stop.
06Does Insurance Cover Laser Hair Removal?
Almost never, because insurers classify it as cosmetic. There are rare exceptions for documented medical conditions and gender-affirming care, and HSA or FSA cards sometimes work with a letter of medical necessity, so check with your plan first. Call us at (252) 557-7113 and we’ll help you work out what your treatment plan would cost.
07Can Laser Help With Razor Bumps And Ingrown Hairs?
Yes. Laser hair removal shuts down the follicle, so the hair that causes the bump stops growing back. Clients with razor bumps on the bikini line usually see them fade within two or three sessions, and it works the same way along the jaw.
08What Should I Do After A Laser Hair Removal Session?
Moisturize treated skin with Aquaphor or Vaseline three times a day, and put SPF 50+ on any treated area that sees the sun. Skip saunas, hot tubs, and workouts for 24 hours, and swimming for three days. If anything worries you afterward, call us and you’ll speak with one of our laser technicians.
09How Can I Tell If A Laser Hair Removal Clinic Is Safe?
Look for a laser that’s FDA-cleared for your skin type, a provider whose license you can look up, a patch test before any full treatment, and a clinic willing to turn you away when treatment isn’t safe, such as during pregnancy or with a fresh tan. You can check our laser’s clearance in the FDA’s 510(k) database and our nurse practitioners’ licenses through the Illinois IDFPR.
10Where Are You Located, And Is There Parking?
Our laser hair removal clinic is at 1317 N Larrabee St in Old Town, Chicago, a four-block walk from the Sedgwick Brown Line stop. There’s free street and garage parking near the building. We’re open Monday through Saturday from 8 AM to 8 PM, by appointment only.
Check Our Equipment And Licenses
We use the Candela GentleMax Pro Plus (manufacturer information is at candelamedical.com). It’s FDA-cleared under 510(k) for permanent hair reduction on Fitzpatrick skin types I through VI, and you can look up the clearance in the FDA’s 510(k) database.
Our nurse practitioners hold Illinois APRN licenses (FNP-C). You can look them up through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
Book A Free Consultation In Old Town, Chicago
Your first laser hair removal visit is a free 20-minute consultation. We talk through what you want, look at the area, do a patch test if needed, and give you a written plan with the price. You don’t have to decide on the spot.
Book online or call us. We’re open six days a week.
- V&P Laser Hair Removal & Skin Care
- 1317 N Larrabee St, Chicago, IL 60610
- (252) 557-7113
- Monday to Saturday, 8 AM to 8 PM
