Self-Reported Outcome After Diode Laser Hair Removal

In a study evaluating patient satisfaction with diode-laser hair removal, a survey was sent to 220 patients who had undergone the treatment between 2000 and 2004, with 114 (52%) responding. The results showed that 80% of the patients were either "very satisfied" or "somewhat satisfied" with the procedure. About 40% reported a 75% hair reduction, while 38% reported a 50% hair reduction. Most patients required 5-6 treatments over a period of 13-18 months to achieve maximum improvement, and the necessity for multiple treatments over a prolonged time was a significant deterrent to completing the treatment. However, 91% of patients experienced no long-term side effects, indicating that diode-laser hair removal is a safe and well-tolerated procedure with patient satisfaction levels comparable to those reported in hair-count studies.