Laser Treatments
Laser hair removal in Clarks Summit and Scranton, PA - safe for all skin types.
Laser hair removal at The Summit Aesthetics is a permanent hair reduction treatment performed on the Cutera XEO Nd:YAG laser platform – the same medical-grade device used in dermatology and plastic surgery practices. Every laser hair removal session at our Clarks Summit medical spa is personally performed by Lori Barone, a Certified Cosmetic Laser Technician with more than 5 years of experience. Most patients across Scranton, Abington, Dunmore, Kingston, and the wider NEPA region need 6 to 8 sessions spaced 6 to 10 weeks apart to see 70–90% permanent hair reduction, with periodic maintenance thereafter. Because we use an Nd:YAG-based platform rather than IPL or Alexandrite, our treatments are safe and effective across all Fitzpatrick skin types – including darker skin tones that many older laser platforms cannot treat. Your complimentary consultation includes a patch test option and a written treatment plan.
Duration
15 minutes per area
Downtime
None
Results
Initial results appear quickly; maximum effect around 12 weeks
Sessions
Typically 1–2 sessions per area
Ready to begin
How laser hair removal actually works
Laser hair removal is a photothermal treatment. The laser sends a specific wavelength of light into the skin, where it is absorbed by melanin – the pigment in the hair follicle. That absorbed light converts to heat, and the heat damages the follicle enough to stop or slow future hair production. Surrounding skin, which has different absorption properties, is left largely undisturbed.
The reason multiple sessions are required is that only hair follicles in the active growth phase (called anagen) can be effectively targeted. At any given time, roughly 20 to 30 percent of the hair in a treatment area is in this phase. Each session catches that percentage, waits for the next set of follicles to cycle into anagen, and treats those. Six to eight sessions typically covers the vast majority of the follicles in an area – which is why we build treatment plans across that range rather than promising results in one or two visits.
Why we chose the Cutera XEO Nd:YAG platform
Not all laser hair removal is the same. The type of laser used matters more than most patients realize – particularly for anyone with a skin tone darker than Fitzpatrick III (light-medium olive, tans easily, rarely burns) or for anyone with a family history of complications from cosmetic lasers.
At The Summit Aesthetics we use the Cutera XEO platform, which uses a Nd:YAG (neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet) laser. That is a technical name that means one practical thing: the wavelength (1064 nanometers) penetrates deeper into the skin and bypasses more of the surface pigment than shorter-wavelength lasers. That deeper reach targets the hair follicle without heating the pigment in the surrounding skin – which is what causes burns, discoloration, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation on darker skin tones treated with the wrong device.
Laser platform
Skin types it works well on
Skin types it can harm
Cutera XEO Nd:YAG (what we use)
Fitzpatrick I–VI (all skin tones, all ethnicities)
None when used correctly
Alexandrite (755 nm)
Fitzpatrick I–III (light to olive)
Fitzpatrick IV–VI (medium to dark)
Diode (810 nm)
Fitzpatrick I–IV
Fitzpatrick V–VI
IPL (intense pulsed light – not technically a laser)
Fitzpatrick I–III only
Fitzpatrick IV–VI
Most laser hair removal chains and franchises use Alexandrite, Diode, or IPL platforms because they treat lighter skin faster and cheaper. Patients with darker skin either get turned away or receive treatment with a device that carries real risk. The Cutera XEO Nd:YAG is more expensive to operate but is the correct clinical choice for a practice that treats all patients.
If a laser hair removal provider anywhere in NEPA cannot tell you which specific laser platform they use – or if they say “IPL is the same as laser hair removal” – those are red flags. Different lasers do different things. Ask before you book. Learn more about the difference on our IPL Therapy page.
Body areas we treat with laser hair removal
Lori performs laser hair removal on essentially any area where unwanted hair grows, for patients of all genders. The most common treatment areas at our Clarks Summit medical spa:
Face and neck
- Upper lip
- Chin
- Full face (women only – rarely appropriate for men beyond neckline shaping)
- Sideburns
- Neck (front and back)
Body – women
- Underarms
- Bikini line, extended bikini, or full Brazilian
- Legs – lower, upper, or full
- Arms – lower, upper, or full
- Stomach and back of neck
Body – men
- Back
- Chest and abdomen
- Shoulders
- Neckline shaping (below the beard line)
- Ears and top of nose
If you are considering a specific area not listed here, ask at your consultation. Lori has 5+ years of experience with the Cutera platform and can advise on whether a given area is a good candidate for treatment on your specific hair and skin type.
What to expect at your appointment
01
Consultation (first visit)
Complimentary, 30 to 45 minutes. Lori reviews your medical history, examines your skin and hair type, discusses which areas you want treated, and builds a session plan. If you'd like a patch test to confirm your skin's response before committing to a full plan, we offer that at the consultation.
02
Treatment sessions
Anywhere from 5 minutes (upper lip) to 60 minutes (full legs). The Cutera XEO uses an integrated cooling system that keeps the skin surface cool during each pulse, which substantially reduces discomfort. Most patients describe the sensation as a warm snap or a rubber-band flick - brief and manageable without topical numbing.
03
What you'll feel
A quick warm sensation with each pulse, cooled almost immediately by the integrated device. Some areas (upper lip, bikini) are more sensitive than others (arms, legs). We can pause anytime.
04
Immediately after
The treated area will look mildly red and feel like a mild sunburn for a few hours. Some patients see the treated hairs pushing out of the follicles over the following 1 to 2 weeks (this is called "shedding" and is normal and desirable).
05
Between sessions
You can shave between sessions - shaving does not affect the treatment. Do not wax, tweeze, thread, or use depilatory creams between sessions, because those methods remove the follicle temporarily and the laser needs the follicle in place to work.
How many sessions do I need?
Most patients see 70 to 90 percent permanent reduction after a full treatment plan. Session count varies by body area because different areas have different hair growth cycle lengths and different follicle densities. As a general guide:
Body area
Typical session count
Spacing between sessions
Face (upper lip, chin, sideburns)
6 to 10 sessions
4 to 6 weeks
Underarms
6 to 8 sessions
6 to 8 weeks
Bikini / Brazilian
6 to 8 sessions
6 to 8 weeks
Legs (lower or full)
6 to 8 sessions
8 to 10 weeks
Arms
6 to 8 sessions
8 to 10 weeks
Back (male)
8 to 10 sessions
8 to 10 weeks
Chest and abdomen (male)
6 to 10 sessions
8 to 10 weeks
These are ranges. Your actual session count depends on your hair color, hair thickness, hormonal factors (hormonal hair on the face and chin often requires more sessions), and how well your follicles respond in the first two sessions. Lori will refine your plan after your first two visits based on how your specific hair is responding.
Maintenance: After the initial series, most patients need one or two maintenance sessions per year to keep the area smooth. Some patients need less. Some need more, particularly for areas driven by hormonal hair growth (chin, upper lip, jawline).
How to prepare for your laser hair removal session
Preparation matters. Following these steps in the week before each session substantially improves the result and reduces the risk of side effects.
In the 2 weeks before
- Do not wax, tweeze, or thread the treatment area. The laser needs the hair follicle to be present in the skin. Waxing removes it temporarily. Shaving is fine.
- Avoid tanning – sun, tanning beds, and self-tanner. Tanned skin absorbs laser energy differently and increases the risk of pigmentation changes.
- Discontinue exfoliating acids in the area. Retinoids, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid make skin more reactive. Stop 5 to 7 days before treatment.
The day of treatment
- Shave the area within 24 hours of your appointment. The hair should be at surface level – not visible above the skin, but not tweezed out. A clean shave the night before or morning of is ideal.
- Come with clean, product-free skin. No lotion, no makeup, no deodorant (for underarm treatment), no self-tanner in the area.
- Wear loose, comfortable clothing. The treated area will be tender and slightly warm for a few hours after.
Aftercare - what to do and what to avoid
For the first 24 to 48 hours
- Keep the area cool. A cool compress or aloe gel is soothing if the area feels warm.
- Skip hot showers, saunas, hot tubs, and strenuous exercise (sweating on freshly-treated skin can cause irritation).
- Avoid friction on the area (tight clothing, aggressive scrubbing).
- No swimming (chlorine and salt water can be irritating).
- Wear sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) on any treated area exposed to sunlight – and continue to do so for the full duration of your treatment plan.
For the first 2 weeks
- No sun exposure or tanning on the treated area.
- No waxing, tweezing, or threading. Shaving is fine and encouraged.
- Skip retinoids and exfoliating acids on the treated area for 5 to 7 days.
What is normal
- Mild redness and warmth for a few hours (like a mild sunburn)
- Slight swelling around individual follicles for a few hours
- “Shedding” of treated hairs over 1 to 2 weeks – the follicles push the dead hairs out. This is a good sign, not regrowth.
- A phase where the area appears hairless for a few weeks, followed by new growth from the next hair cycle. This is expected. It does not mean the treatment failed.
Does laser hair removal really work?
Yes, when done correctly, on the right laser, on hair with enough pigment. That is the honest version.
Laser hair removal works on any hair that has pigment (melanin). It works best on dark, coarse hair on lighter-to-medium skin, and – on the Cutera XEO Nd:YAG – it also works safely on darker skin tones. What it does not work well on is gray, white, or blonde hair, because there is not enough pigment in those hairs for the laser to target. Red hair is a hard case that sometimes responds and sometimes does not.
For everyone else, the result is genuinely long-lasting. Most patients see 70 to 90 percent of treated hair permanently gone after a full plan, with the remainder growing back finer, lighter, and slower. Occasional maintenance keeps the area stable. Patients who complete a full series and then never return will still see substantially reduced regrowth compared to their pre-treatment baseline, even years later.
Laser hair removal vs. waxing - what actually differs
This is the most common comparison patients ask us about. The short answer: waxing is a temporary maintenance routine; laser hair removal is a long-term reduction treatment. They are solving different problems.
Common Ask
Laser hair removal
Waxing
What it does
Damages the follicle to stop future growth
Removes the hair shaft from the follicle
Duration of result
Weeks to years, cumulative permanent reduction
3 to 6 weeks per session
Session count
6 to 8 initial + occasional maintenance
Every 3 to 6 weeks, indefinitely
Pain
Mild snap with skin cooling
Sharp pull, more painful for most people
Ingrown hairs
Reduces incidence dramatically
Common recurring issue
Cost trajectory
Higher upfront, decreases sharply after initial series
Lower per visit, compounds indefinitely
Best fit for
Long-term reduction goal on any body area
Occasional short-term maintenance, single events
For most patients pursuing long-term hair reduction, the math on laser hair removal is favorable within 2 to 3 years compared to lifetime waxing costs. The comparison also shifts if you factor in ingrown hair complications, which laser hair removal significantly reduces and waxing often produces.
IPL vs. laser hair removal - are they the same thing?
No. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is a broad-spectrum flash of light that scatters across many wavelengths. A laser like the Cutera XEO Nd:YAG delivers a single, focused wavelength. That distinction produces meaningfully different results and safety profiles – particularly for anyone with darker skin.
IPL is faster and cheaper, which is why home devices, discount spas, and franchises often use it. For lighter skin tones with dark hair, IPL can produce reasonable results – not as good as a proper laser, but usable. For medium and darker skin tones, IPL is genuinely not the right technology and can cause pigmentation problems.
IPL is used for other things too. At The Summit Aesthetics we use IPL (via the Cutera Limelight platform) for a completely different purpose – treating sun damage, age spots, redness, and rosacea on the face. That is IPL used correctly. IPL for hair removal, especially on darker skin tones, is IPL used inappropriately. Learn more about our Limelight IPL Therapy page for what IPL actually does well.
Why "provider-consistent care" matters for laser hair removal
Most medical spas rotate laser technicians. A junior tech treats you at your first session, a different tech treats you at your fourth, and no single person tracks how your skin has responded across the plan. That model works fine when everything goes well. It works poorly when the second session needs a dose adjustment based on how your skin behaved after the first.
We do the opposite. Every laser hair removal session at The Summit Aesthetics is personally performed by Lori Barone. The same person who assesses your skin at consultation is the same person who treats you at session one, session four, session eight, and every maintenance visit thereafter. There is no rotation and no delegation.
Why this matters specifically for laser hair removal:
Dose calibration.
The laser has adjustable settings for skin type, hair type, and treatment area. A technician who saw you last time knows how your skin responded and adjusts accordingly. A rotating tech is starting from the notes each time.
Skin history knowledge.
Lori remembers your sensitivities, your hormone-related shifts, the areas where your hair grew back fastest, and what settings gave you the best result. That memory produces cleaner results.
Complication recognition.
A tech who has done tens of thousands of Cutera treatments across 5+ years recognizes the difference between normal post-treatment redness and something that needs adjustment on the next visit. That pattern recognition is genuinely hard to teach and impossible to buy.
Is laser hair removal safe? Who should not be treated?
Laser hair removal on the Cutera XEO Nd:YAG platform has a strong safety record when performed by a trained provider on appropriate candidates. Serious complications are rare and typically stem from either an inappropriate device choice for the patient’s skin type or from insufficient technician training.
Common, expected, and short-lived
- Redness lasting a few hours
- Slight swelling around individual follicles for a few hours
- Mild sensitivity to touch for 24 hours
- Occasional small pigment darkening at follicle sites that resolves in a few days
Uncommon, generally manageable
- Temporary pigmentation changes (either lightening or darkening) that typically resolve over weeks
- Small blisters if the setting was too aggressive for the area (rare with proper technique)
- Paradoxical hair growth (extremely rare, tends to occur on the face and neck in specific hormone-driven cases)
Who should not get laser hair removal
- Anyone pregnant (defer until after pregnancy – not an absolute risk, but standard clinical practice)
- Anyone with active infection or open wounds in the treatment area
- Anyone currently on isotretinoin (Accutane) – wait 6 months after finishing the course
- Anyone with recent tanning (sun, tanning bed, or self-tanner) in the treatment area – wait 4 to 6 weeks
- Anyone with a history of keloid scarring in the area (relative contraindication – discuss)
- Anyone with an active herpes outbreak in the treatment area (defer)
- Anyone with unregulated diabetes, connective tissue disorders, or photosensitizing medications (discuss at consultation)
Frequently asked questions
Questions our patients ask most
How much does laser hair removal cost in Clarks Summit, PA?
Cost depends on the treatment area and the number of sessions in your plan. Some areas (upper lip, underarms) are among our most affordable per-session treatments; larger areas (full legs, back) are proportionally more. We offer plan-based pricing that reduces the per-session cost when you commit to a full series upfront. Lori will provide a specific total for your plan at your complimentary consultation. Call (570) 585-0201 to schedule.
How many laser hair removal sessions will I need?
Most patients need 6 to 8 sessions for body areas and 6 to 10 sessions for face and hormone-driven areas. Sessions are typically spaced 6 to 10 weeks apart depending on the body area. After your initial series, most patients need 1 to 2 maintenance sessions per year.
Does laser hair removal hurt?
The Cutera XEO uses an integrated cooling system that dramatically reduces the discomfort of laser hair removal. Most patients describe the sensation as a warm snap or a rubber-band flick – uncomfortable but brief, and manageable without numbing cream. Some areas (bikini, upper lip) are more sensitive; larger areas (legs, arms) are generally very tolerable.
Is laser hair removal permanent?
The FDA-approved term is “permanent hair reduction,” not “permanent hair removal.” After a full plan, most patients see 70 to 90 percent of treated hair permanently gone. The remainder grows back finer, lighter, and slower. Occasional maintenance keeps the result stable. Anyone promising 100% permanent removal is either misleading you or misunderstanding the biology.
Can I get laser hair removal on darker skin?
Yes – safely and effectively. The Cutera XEO Nd:YAG platform we use is one of the few laser hair removal devices that works well across all Fitzpatrick skin types, including Fitzpatrick IV, V, and VI. Many laser hair removal clinics use Alexandrite, Diode, or IPL platforms that either cannot treat darker skin or carry real risk of pigment changes. Ask any provider what specific laser they use before booking – the answer matters.
Does laser hair removal work on gray, white, or blonde hair?
No. Laser hair removal targets melanin (pigment) in the hair follicle. Gray, white, and blonde hair do not contain enough pigment for the laser to target effectively. Red hair is inconsistent – some patients see results, most do not. Dark brown and black hair on any skin tone are ideal candidates.
Can I shave between laser hair removal sessions?
Yes – in fact, shaving is required. You should shave the treatment area within 24 hours of your appointment. Between sessions, shaving is fine and does not affect the treatment. Do not wax, tweeze, thread, or use depilatory creams – those methods remove the follicle temporarily and the laser needs the follicle to be present to work.
Can men get laser hair removal?
Yes. Male laser hair removal is one of the fastest-growing patient groups in our practice – particularly for the back, chest, shoulders, neckline shaping below the beard, and ears. Male body hair often requires more sessions than female body hair because it tends to be denser and more responsive to hormonal cycles, but the underlying treatment and expectations are the same.
How long between laser hair removal sessions?
Face treatments (upper lip, chin, sideburns) are spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart. Most body areas (underarms, bikini, legs, arms) are spaced 6 to 10 weeks apart. The spacing is driven by hair growth cycles – too soon and the follicles have not cycled into the phase the laser can treat; too late and you lose momentum on the treatment plan. Lori will space your sessions optimally based on your specific area.
Ready to begin
Book your laser hair removal consultation
Every new laser hair removal patient begins with a complimentary consultation with Lori. The consultation includes a skin and hair assessment, a discussion of the areas you want treated, an optional patch test, and a written session plan. There is no fee, no card required, and no obligation to book treatment.
Investment
Custom pricing at consult
Financing
From ~$25/mo · Cherry 0% APR
Member savings
Save 10–20% →
The Summit Aesthetics
116 North State Street, Clarks Summit, PA 18411 | Serving Scranton, Abington, Dunmore, Kingston, Wilkes-Barre, and the wider NEPA region
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The Summit Aesthetics
Serving Clarks Summit, Scranton, Kingston, and Northeastern Pennsylvania with physician-led aesthetic care in a calm, elevated setting.
Address
116 North State Street, Clarks Summit, PA 18411
Hours
Mon–Thu 10a–6p · Wed to 7p · Fri 10a–2p
Phone
(570) 585-0201
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