Laser hair removal in Tallinn: how many sessions, pain and cost
Prices as of 24.10.2026
How many laser hair removal sessions do you need?
Each session reaches only growing hairs.
Consultation
The specialist checks skin, hair, health, medicines and recent sun.
First session
Treated hairs fall out in 2–3 weeks; hair is typically reduced by 10–25% (AAD).
Every 4–6 weeks
Catches newly growing hairs: usually 6–8 diode sessions, 3–12 with ELOS.
About 5–10 months
Long-term reduction; sometimes a maintenance session, e.g. once a year.
Who is laser hair removal for, and which hair does not respond?
The specialist decides at the consultation.
Suitable if…
- dark hair on light skin – strongest response
- no tan for 2–3 weeks
- darker skin – with especially careful settings
Not suitable or weak results if…
- a fresh tan or self-tan
- blonde, grey, white or red hair – little pigment
- pregnancy or breastfeeding
- light-sensitising medicines or recent isotretinoin
- inflamed skin, herpes, eczema or psoriasis flare
- for ELOS: metal implants, a pacemaker, oncological disease
Laser hair removal: preparation and aftercare
Choose a stage.
Avoid
- Waxing, sugaring, tweezers, epilators, depilatory creamThe laser needs the hair in the follicle
- Tanning, sunbeds, self-tan – 2–3 weeksTanned skin absorbs more energy: burns, patches
Fine
- Shaving – throughout the course
Avoid
- Cream on the skin on the day
To do
- Shave the area so the hair is about 1–2 mm long
- The face usually needs no shaving
Avoid
- Alcohol-based products, including deodorant – 24 hours
- Strenuous exercise – 24 hours
- Sauna and swimming pool – at least 3 days
Fine
- Soothing irritated skin with a dexpanthenol cream
- Letting hairs fall out on their own, not pulling them
Avoid
- Tanning and sunbedsTanned skin absorbs more energy at the next session
- Waxing or sugaring between sessionsThe laser needs the hair inside the follicle
Fine
- Sun with the area covered and SPF 30–50
- Shaving
Laser and sun: why many people start in autumn
Little sun
No tan to disrupt the schedule.
A course takes months
6–8 sessions 4–6 weeks apart: 5–10 months. From October or November, most fall before summer.
2–3 weeks, no tan
On either side of every session.
Summer works too
With untanned skin, the area covered and SPF 30–50.
Laser vs shaving, waxing and electrolysis
DermNet: only laser and electrolysis may give a lasting result.
| How it works | Lasts | Keep in mind | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shaving | cuts hair at the surface | days | irritation, ingrown hairs |
| Waxing | pulls hair out by the root | weeks | painful; hair must grow out |
| Electrolysis | needle and current, follicle by follicle | a follicle may stop growing hair | any hair colour; very slow; not at Melior |
| Diode laser | 808 nm light, skin cooling | long term; sometimes maintenance | 6–8 sessions; light hair responds weakly |
| ELOS Plus Motif | light plus bipolar radiofrequency | long term; sometimes maintenance | 3–12 sessions; not with metal implants or pacemaker |
Side effects: what is normal and what is not
Common
- redness and warmth, like a mild sunburn
- slight swelling – hours, sometimes 1–3 days
Rare
- lighter or darker patches
- cold sore flare, scarring
- more fine hair on face or neck
Tell the clinic
Tell the clinic now
- blisters or a burn
- severe pain
- crusting, signs of infection
Straight away
In more detail
How does laser hair removal work?
The light is absorbed by the hair pigment, melanin, and turns into heat. The heat damages the follicle, which then grows a finer hair or stops growing hair.
Only hairs in the growth phase respond. The rest enter that phase weeks or months later, which is why treatment is done as a course.
Diode laser or ELOS Plus Motif?
The RL Secret diode laser uses a single 808 nm wavelength and cools the skin. ELOS Plus Motif combines light energy with bipolar radiofrequency.
Which fits depends on skin tone, hair colour and thickness, and the area; the specialist decides. IPL, or photoepilation, uses a broad-spectrum flash of light on the same principle.
Is laser hair removal permanent?
Not strictly: it reduces hair growth long term but cannot ensure that hair never comes back. According to the AAD, skin often stays hair-free for months or even years, and regrowing hairs tend to be sparser, finer and lighter. A maintenance session is sometimes needed, for instance once a year.
How is the course price calculated?
The price is set per area and per session, so a course costs the session price times the number of sessions. Prices for every area are in the Melior Clinics price list.
Frequently asked questions
Does laser hair removal hurt?
It is usually tolerable: warmth, prickling or a rubber-band snap, stronger on the bikini line and underarms. The diode laser cools the skin and ELOS uses a cooling gel, so anaesthesia is not usually needed.
Can I have laser hair removal in summer?
Yes, if your skin is not tanned. Sun and sunbeds are avoided for 2–3 weeks on either side of each session, with SPF 30–50 in the sun. This is easier in autumn and winter.
Does it work on blonde, grey or red hair?
Usually poorly. The light targets dark pigment, and blonde, grey, white and red hair have little or none of it. Whether a particular hair will respond is assessed by the specialist at the consultation.
Can I have it while pregnant or breastfeeding?
No. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are contraindications at Melior Clinics, and safety data in pregnancy are limited. During this time hair is removed by shaving or waxing, and the course starts or continues later.
Is it suitable for men?
Yes. Melior Clinics offers diode and ELOS Plus Motif treatments for men, for example on the back, chest, abdomen, shoulders, neck and sideburns. Men’s hair is often denser, so the number of sessions depends on the area.
How much does laser hair removal cost in Tallinn?
At Melior Clinics prices are per area and session: from €35 with ELOS Plus Motif and from €45 with the diode laser (price list 24.10.2026). A course costs the session price times the number of sessions.
Laser hair removal in Tallinn
Read next
- American Academy of Dermatology: Laser hair removal: FAQs
- American Academy of Dermatology: Laser hair removal: Preparation
- DermNet: Electrolysis
- Trivedi MK, Kroumpouzos G, Murase JE. A review of the safety of cosmetic procedures during pregnancy and lactation. Int J Womens Dermatol. 2017;3(1):6–10 (PubMed)
This article is general information and does not replace a consultation. Whether a treatment suits you is decided by a specialist at the consultation. Melior Clinics (Star Company OÜ), Liivalaia 53, Tallinn · Estonian Health Board licence L04198.
