Can laser hair removal make hair grow back thicker?

My friend claims that after laser removal some of the hair grew back and it seemed coarser and darker than before. Could this really happen?

Answers from doctors (3)


Each hair follicle produces multiple hairs. Typically with laser removal, it can take multiple treatments to achieve permanent hair reduction--100 percent is unlikely. Normally hair becomes finer with each session. But this all depends on the type of laser that was used, the technician, and how many treatments she had.

Answered by Clean Slate Tattoo Removal at Vein Specialties (View Profile)

Each hair follicle produces multiple hairs. Typically with laser removal, it can take multiple treatments to achieve permanent hair reduction--100 percent is unlikely. Normally hair becomes finer with each session. But this all depends on the type of laser that was used, the technician, and how many treatments she had.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Celibre Medical Corporation

Published on Mar 18, 2016

It's not likely. Although there have been documented cases where low-level laser treatments have caused hair to thicken in Middle Eastern patients, it's more likely that your friend is just getting thicker hair. Males and females get body and facial hair that becomes coarser and darker over time--females primarily on the face and males on the chest, abdomen, and back. So, it's more likely that your friend is getting more hair, but if he/she did not get the right results for laser hair removal, it's best to try another provider.

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Answered by Celibre Medical Corporation

It's not likely. Although there have been documented cases where low-level laser treatments have caused hair to thicken in Middle Eastern patients, it's more likely that your friend is just getting thicker hair. Males and females get body and facial hair that becomes coarser and darker over time--females primarily on the face and males on the chest, abdomen, and back. So, it's more likely that your friend is getting more hair, but if he/she did not get the right results for laser hair removal, it's best to try another provider.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Celibre Medical Corporation

Published on Jan 08, 2010

We have never heard of or seen an instance of hair growing back thicker and darker than it was previously. We have heard of instances where the patient did not respond to laser hair removal or had more hair (highervolume) than before they started. In the research this has occurred with darker skin types and in cases where laser settings were too low or
the type of laser used was improper for the skin type. Find an experienced practitioner that has the best laser for your skin type and that will help to avoid this issue.

//imgs-origin.edoctors.com/imageresizer/image/user_uploads/58x58_85-1/doctors/6573_1439482825.jpg
Answered by Celibre Medical Corporation

We have never heard of or seen an instance of hair growing back thicker and darker than it was previously. We have heard of instances where the patient did not respond to laser hair removal or had more hair (highervolume) than before they started. In the research this has occurred with darker skin types and in cases where laser settings were too low or
the type of laser used was improper for the skin type. Find an experienced practitioner that has the best laser for your skin type and that will help to avoid this issue.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


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