Some are scared of spiders, others fear abandonment, and certain people — like yours truly — are straight-up terrified of pain. But sometimes, it’s worth it. For instance, I'll endure a laser hair removal session if it means I get to skip shaving for weeks. But, with those long-term results comes some definite discomfort. (Because, you know, lasers.) The good news is that the pain varies, depending on where you do it — which could be any number of spots. In fact, pretty much every area of the body is fair game besides anything that's in or around an orifice, so any flagrant nose and ear hairs will have to stay (or be tweezed off), according to Kim Nichols, M.D., a dermatologist in Greenwich, CT. Here’s how the pain factor stacks up.
The Spot: Your Face
Pain Level on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the worst: 2 to 8
It's a big range, but the thickness of your skin varies even on your face (which is why, for example, you need a thicker cream around the eyes than your usual moisturizer). The upper lip is easily the most painful area, since the skin here is thinner than anywhere else on your face. “It feels like a rubber band snap, very quick but very snappy,” explains Elizabeth Tanzi, M.D., dermatologist and founder of Capital Laser & Skin Care. So on one hand, you feel like you’re being tortured, but, on the other, you lose your mustache. It seems like a worthwhile trade. On the other hand, spots where your skin is thicker — like your chin and sideburns — the pain is way more manageable and therefore on the lower end of the pain spectrum.
The Spot: Underarms
Pain Level: 9
This is hands-down the most painful area on the body for laser hair removal, according to Dr. Tanzi’s patients. “It feels like a deep needle, but hair removal works so well under the arm that patients always come back to finish the series,” she explains. What could potentially help: Imagining a life where you don’t have to bring your razor on vacation.
The Spot: Bikini Line
Pain Level: 8
If you’ve ever waxed your bikini line and lived to tell the tale, you could probably survive this. The drawback: “Patients say it’s easier than waxing, but takes a lot longer,” says Dr. Tanzi. Unlike waxing, laser hair removal isn't over after a split second.
The Spot: Arms
Pain Level: 3
Similarly to the face, the laser feels like a rubber band snapping against your skin — but unlike your face, the skin on your arms can better withstand any pain. "The skin is thick on the forearms, so the sensation is minimal," explains Dr. Nichols. The pain is so mild, in fact, that a better word to describe it would be discomfort, so much so that most patients don't need numbing cream for this.
The Spot: Legs
