Most people who walk into our clinic on N Larrabee for face treatments have already tried everything else. Waxing leaves them red for a day. Shaving causes ingrown hairs along the jaw. Threading works but has to be redone every two weeks. By the time someone books a consultation with us, they’re usually past curiosity — they want the upkeep to stop.
That’s what laser does for the face. It doesn’t promise miracles in one session, and we’ll tell you that on the phone. But after a series of treatments spaced a few weeks apart, the hair that grows back is finer, slower, and in most cases significantly reduced for years.
V&P Laser Hair Removal & Skin Care is a Chicago clinic at 1317 N Larrabee St in Old Town. We treat the face — full face, upper lip, chin, sideburns, cheeks, and neck — using the Candela GentleMax Pro Plus, the same laser system used by dermatology practices across the country.
What “facial laser hair removal” actually covers
When clients call asking about face laser hair removal in Chicago, they usually mean one of a few things:
- Full face — forehead, cheeks, jawline, chin, upper lip, sideburns. Treated as one session.
- Upper lip and chin — the two most common areas women book separately. See our lip and chin page for details on that combo.
- Sideburns or cheeks alone — smaller areas, shorter sessions, lower per-session cost.
- Beard line shaping for men — neckline cleanup, sculpted edges. We see this from men as often as women.
- Front or back of neck — often grouped with face but priced separately.
If you’re not sure what you actually want done, the consultation is free and a tech will look at your skin and hair under good lighting before recommending anything.
Facial laser hair removal cost in Chicago
Here’s what face treatment runs at our clinic, straight from our full price list:
| Area | 1 session | 3 sessions | 6 sessions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full face | $225 | $600 | $1,150 |
| Upper lip | $125 | $300 | $550 |
| Chin | $125 | $300 | $550 |
| Cheeks | $125 | $300 | $550 |
| Sideburns | $125 | $300 | $500 |
| Front of neck | $175 | $450 | $850 |
| Back of neck | $175 | $450 | $850 |
A free consult and patch test runs $25, refundable as a deposit toward your first session if you book within 30 days.
Why the package discount? Because most people need 4 to 6 sessions to see lasting results, and we’d rather you commit to the full series than try one session and walk away frustrated. Hair grows in cycles — the laser only kills follicles that are in the active growth phase at the moment of treatment — so a single session catches maybe 20-25% of the hair on your face.
How many sessions you’ll actually need
For face, the typical client lands between 4 and 6 sessions, spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart. After the initial series, most people come back once or twice a year for touch-ups, usually because hormones (pregnancy, perimenopause, PCOS) bring some hair back.
A few things that change the count:
- Hormonal hair growth (PCOS, thyroid issues, perimenopause). Tends to need more sessions plus maintenance — your doctor’s input matters here.
- Light blonde, gray, or red hair. Laser targets pigment. If there’s not much pigment, results are limited. We’ll tell you straight up at the consult if your hair won’t respond.
- Dark hair on lighter skin. Best-case scenario. Often clears in 4 sessions.
- Dark hair on darker skin. The GentleMax Pro Plus has an Nd:YAG wavelength specifically for this — safe and effective across Fitzpatrick types I–VI.
What the session is actually like
You shave the area the night before or the morning of. No waxing, no plucking, no threading for at least four weeks before — laser needs the follicle intact. Show up without makeup, lotion, or sunscreen on the treatment area.
A full face takes about 15 to 20 minutes. The laser feels like a rubber band snap, with a cool blast of cryogen right after each pulse — the Candela “DCD” cooling system. Most clients describe the upper lip as the worst spot and the cheeks as barely noticeable. Bring AirPods. Most people listen to a podcast through it.
Afterward your skin will be pink for an hour or two, sometimes a touch puffy around hair follicles. You can go straight back to work. We’ll send you home with aftercare instructions — basics like no hot showers, no gym, no direct sun for 48 hours, and SPF 30+ on the face anytime you’re outside.
For the full pre- and post-treatment rundown, see our pre-laser prep guide and post-laser care page.
Why we use the GentleMax Pro Plus
This is the system we chose after testing several. It runs two wavelengths in one device — Alexandrite (755nm) for lighter skin and Nd:YAG (1064nm) for darker skin — so we can treat every Fitzpatrick type without swapping machines. The DCD cooling spray fires a millisecond before each pulse, which is the main reason face sessions are tolerable on the lip and chin.
It’s not the cheapest laser on the market. It’s the one a lot of dermatology offices use, which matters when your face is involved. We’d rather charge a fair price for a serious machine than discount-shop the equipment that touches your skin.
For more on how laser hair removal works in general, our what is laser hair removal page covers the science.
Who shouldn’t book facial laser
Pretty short list:
- Anyone pregnant or actively trying. We ask you to wait until after.
- Recent tan, sunburn, or self-tanner on the face — wait two weeks.
- Active cold sore breakout. If you get cold sores, we’ll ask you to start antiviral meds 24-48 hours before your session.
- Accutane in the last six months.
- Recent Botox or filler in the area within two weeks.
We go through all of this at the consultation. If anything on your medical history makes laser a bad idea, we’ll tell you and you won’t be charged.
Booking and what to expect
First-time clients have to come in for a consultation before we’ll schedule a treatment. No exceptions. It’s how we make sure your skin and hair will actually respond to laser, and it’s how we set expectations honestly. The consult takes about 20 minutes.
We’re open Monday through Saturday, 8am to 8pm, by appointment only. Walk-ins aren’t possible — the laser room is booked solid most days. Our techs speak English, Romanian, and Russian.
If you have questions before booking, the FAQ page covers the most common ones. For women specifically, this page has more on what to expect.
Frequently asked questions about facial laser hair removal
How much does facial laser hair removal cost near me in Chicago?
At our clinic, full face is $225 per session, $600 for a package of 3, or $1,150 for 6 sessions. Individual areas like upper lip or chin start at $125 per session. Most clients book a 3- or 6-pack rather than pay session-by-session because the per-session cost drops about 30%.
Is full face laser hair removal in Chicago worth it?
Worth it depends on what you’re spending now. If you wax your face every 4 weeks at $40–$60 a visit, you’re spending $500–$780 a year forever. A 6-session full-face laser package at $1,150 is roughly 18 months of waxing — except you stop after that and only need occasional touch-ups.
How long do results from face laser hair removal last?
Most clients get 8 to 12 months of clear results after completing a series, then come in for one or two touch-up sessions per year. Hormonal hair (chin and upper lip especially) tends to need more maintenance than non-hormonal hair (cheeks, sideburns).
Does laser face hair removal work on dark skin?
Yes. The Nd:YAG wavelength on the GentleMax Pro Plus is designed for Fitzpatrick types IV–VI. We treat clients of every skin tone and have for years.
Will my face be red after?
For an hour or two, sometimes up to a day if you have sensitive skin. You can wear mineral makeup the same day if you need to.
Can I get laser hair removal on the face if I have PCOS?
Yes — and a lot of our face clients have PCOS or other hormonal causes. The catch is you’ll likely need more sessions over a longer period, plus ongoing maintenance, because your body keeps producing new hair growth signals. Honest conversation at the consult, no surprises.
How do I find facial laser hair removal near me in Chicago?
We’re at 1317 N Larrabee St in Old Town, two blocks from the North/Clybourn Red Line. Free street parking after 6pm. If you’re in River North, Lincoln Park, Gold Coast, West Loop, or Wicker Park, we’re 10–15 minutes away. Call (252) 557-7113 to book your free consultation.
