Laser procedures range from about $50 per session for small-area hair removal to $7,000 or more for full-face skin resurfacing, depending on the type of treatment. The word “laser” covers a wide spectrum of medical and cosmetic procedures, so the total cost depends entirely on what you’re having done, how many sessions you need, and where you live.
Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal is one of the most affordable and commonly searched laser procedures. A single session costs $49 to $59 for a small area (like the upper lip or underarms), $84 to $104 for a medium area (like the bikini line), and $144 to $194 for a large area (like full legs or back). Buying a package of sessions drops the per-session price by roughly 15 to 20 percent.
Most people need six to eight sessions spaced several weeks apart. That means the total cost for a small area runs about $300 to $475, while a large area can land between $720 and $1,550 over the full course of treatment. Prices shift noticeably by region. Clinics in Southern California and New York City tend to charge at the higher end, while locations in Texas, Florida, and Pennsylvania often sit lower in the range.
LASIK Eye Surgery
The national average for LASIK is $2,250 per eye, or about $4,492 for both eyes. That said, there’s a meaningful difference between standard LASIK and custom LASIK. Standard (conventional) LASIK is the least expensive option and works well for straightforward prescriptions. Custom LASIK uses detailed 3D mapping of your eye’s surface to guide the laser, producing a more precise correction tailored to your specific anatomy. Custom procedures sit at the higher end of the price range.
Health insurance almost never covers LASIK because it’s classified as elective. Rare exceptions exist: if your vision problems resulted from an injury or prior surgery, if your refractive error is severe, or if you physically cannot wear glasses or contacts due to an allergy or deformity, your plan might cover part of the cost. Outside of those narrow circumstances, expect to pay out of pocket.
Skin Resurfacing
Laser skin resurfacing treats wrinkles, scars, sun damage, and uneven texture. Costs vary widely depending on the type of laser used and how aggressively the skin is treated. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons puts the average surgeon’s fee for laser skin resurfacing at $1,829, but that figure doesn’t include facility costs, anesthesia, or prescriptions.
For CO2 laser resurfacing, one of the more intensive options, full-face treatment typically costs $3,000 to $7,000 when all fees are included. Less aggressive treatments (non-ablative lasers that don’t remove layers of skin) cost less but may require multiple sessions to achieve comparable results. Facility fees, anesthesia, and post-procedure medications can add several hundred dollars on top of the quoted procedure price, so always ask for an all-in estimate.
Tattoo Removal
A single laser tattoo removal session costs $200 to $500, depending on the tattoo’s size:
- Small tattoos (1 to 2 square inches): $200 to $300 per session
- Medium tattoos (3 to 6 square inches): $300 to $400 per session
- Large tattoos (7+ square inches): $400 to $500 or more per session
The real cost driver is how many sessions you’ll need. A small black-ink tattoo may fade completely in 4 to 6 sessions, totaling $800 to $1,800. A medium single-color tattoo typically takes 6 to 8 sessions ($1,800 to $3,200). Large, multicolored tattoos are the most stubborn, often requiring 10 to 12 sessions and running $4,000 to $6,000 or more in total. Color matters because certain pigments (greens and blues, for example) are harder for the laser to break down, which adds sessions and cost.
Laser Gum Surgery
Laser periodontal treatment costs $4,000 to $8,000 per quadrant of the mouth. Your mouth has four quadrants, so full-mouth laser gum therapy can run $16,000 to $32,000 in the most extensive cases. Traditional gum surgery (osseous surgery) is significantly cheaper at $1,000 to $3,000 per quadrant, with full-mouth treatment typically falling between $4,000 and $12,000. The tradeoff is that laser treatment tends to involve less cutting, less bleeding, and a faster recovery.
What Drives the Total Price
The quoted “per session” or “per procedure” price is rarely the complete picture. Facility fees, anesthesia (for more invasive procedures), consultations, and post-treatment prescriptions all add up. For skin resurfacing and surgical procedures especially, the provider’s fee may represent only part of the final bill.
Geography plays a consistent role across every type of laser procedure. Major metro areas, particularly in coastal states, charge more than clinics in the South and Midwest. The technology matters too. Newer, more precise laser systems cost providers more to purchase and maintain, and those costs get passed along. A clinic using the latest equipment may charge 20 to 30 percent more than one using older technology for the same type of treatment.
Financing Options
Most medical spas and clinics offer financing through third-party lenders. Interest-free plans are common for short terms, typically up to 6 months. Longer payment plans extend to 36 months with APRs ranging from 0% to 36%, depending on your credit. As a rough example, financing $1,000 over 12 months at 15% APR works out to about $90 per month. Many clinics also offer four interest-free installments paid every two weeks, splitting that same $1,000 into $250 payments. If you’re considering financing, the interest-free window is the sweet spot. Once promotional rates expire, the APR on medical financing can be steep.