DermNet, a dermatologist-edited reference, says laser hair removal needs 3 to 6 sessions or more↗, and that clinicians generally recommend 3 to 8 weeks↗ between sessions. At a published Sydney price of $195↗, six full-leg sessions come to $1,170 before any discount.
The number matters more than the session price, and clinics rarely lead with it. A course you thought would take three months can run past Christmas, and a pack of ten can turn out to be four more sessions than you needed.
Why is it a range and not one number?
Because people differ. The count that suits one person's hair and skin will not suit another's, which is why a reference gives a range and a practitioner gives you a plan after seeing you. Read the "or more" in DermNet's wording as a warning: the top of the range is not a guaranteed finish line.
Does hair colour change the result?
It can decide whether laser is worth paying for at all. DermNet says alexandrite laser hair removal is generally ineffective for light-coloured hair↗, and is useful for dark hair on lighter skin types. If your hair is fair, grey or red, ask what device the clinic uses and whether it will work on you before you buy a course.
How long will the whole course take?
DermNet gives 3 to 8 weeks↗ between sessions. Six sessions at the short end of that spacing take about 15 weeks from first visit to last. At the long end it is about 40 weeks, which is most of a year. That is our arithmetic on DermNet's figures, and it is worth doing before you book around a wedding or a holiday.
Our arithmetic on DermNet's stated gap of 3 to 8 weeks, checked 12 September 2026.
Show the numbers as a table
| Gap between sessions | Sixth session falls in |
|---|---|
| 3 weeks | Week 15 |
| 8 weeks | Week 40 |
What does the session count do to the cost?
| Area and city | One session | 3 sessions | 6 sessions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Underarms, Sydney | $25↗ | $75 | $150 |
| Underarms, Melbourne | $40↗ | $120 | $240 |
| Full legs, Sydney | $195↗ | $585 | $1,170 |
| Full legs, Melbourne | $220↗ | $660 | $1,320 |
Run your own numbers in the treatment cost calculator.
How current is this guidance?
DermNet's page on alexandrite laser treatment is dated 2014. It is the most specific session guidance we could trace to a named medical source, so we use it and tell you its age rather than quote a fresher number from a clinic marketing page. Your practitioner's assessment of your own skin and hair comes first.
DermNet is a dermatology reference edited by dermatologists in New Zealand. It is not an Australian regulator, and nothing here is medical advice.