My Honest Milan Laser Hair Removal Review: What to Expect

How We Got Started With Milan Laser Hair Removal and Why

Laser hair removal was something that I had never really considered. I had gotten very much into the routine of shaving, waxing, and repeating. My interest was piqued, though, when I was chatting with a workout buddy at the gym about Milan Laser Hair Removal. She was having her legs done and viewed it as an investment. Once she was done with the treatments, she would almost never have to waste her time with razors or waxing again. She spoke very highly of Milan Laser in Appleton but did emphasize that it “felt like a rubber band repeatedly snaps you” each time the laser zaps your skin.

But to not have to deal with waxing or shaving again? That sounded like a small price to pay! 

Especially if I didn’t have to worry about hair removal while I was traveling.

My husband, Zac, also was having his “unibrow” and the tip of his nose treated. This was less for aesthetics purposes (like mine) and more to help him cope with what we thought was trichotillomania, but we later learned it was more likely a symptom of untreated severe ADHD. He rips the longer/darker hairs by his eyebrows and a couple on the tip of his nose when he’s stressed. This can be painful and result in some pretty large scabs. He hoped that permanently removing the hairs would help him stop “picking” when he gets stressed.

What to Expect With Milan Laser

Consultation Experience

So, the laser hair removal process at Milan Laser starts with a complimentary consultation. Here, we discussed the specific areas we were looking to treat, and the clinic manager answered all of our questions. She also assessed our skin tones and hair types to make sure that laser hair removal would be effective for us. 

This is because laser hair removal does not work as well on blonde hair. The hair needs to have some pigment for the laser to capture. 

We also went over the various pricing options and payment plans available. The cool part of Milan Laser is that once you pick a plan and pay, you’re set for life. You can go in for as many touch-up appointments as you want—forever!

Note: HaveClothesWillTravel60 will get you 60% off your treatment plan! *Excluding full-body treatments.

Preparing for Your Session

To make sure you get the best possible results, there are a few key steps you should follow before your treatment. 

First, it’s really important to avoid sun exposure and tanning, as your skin needs to be its natural tone for the laser to work safely. You’ll also need to shave the area to be treated either the day before or on the day of your appointment, but no waxing or plucking. This is different from electrolysis, where you need to let your hair grow out.

You also need to make sure your skin is clean for the appointment, meaning no lotions, perfumes, deodorants, etc, are on your skin.

During the Treatment – My Experience

During my laser hair removal session at Milan Laser, a temporary grid was carefully drawn on the targeted areas to ensure that every inch is accurately covered. This attention to detail reassured me that they were committed to thoroughness!

Once prepped, safety goggles (they look like tanning goggles) are provided to protect my eyes from the laser light. The practitioner then adjusted the laser settings specifically for my skin type and hair color, ensuring the treatment was tailored just for me. 

In the first year of our treatments, the laser technology at the Appleton clinic used a laser with cooling technology, which made the experience significantly less unpleasant. However, I went for a touch-up appointment recently, and the laser technology had been upgraded to a laser that uses a fan as a cooling mechanism. This still works really well at removing the sting, but I did find this to be a little more, ah, “spicier” feeling than my previous treatments. Just a heads up!

However, your treatment intensity will go up with each treatment, and I have been doing this for more than a year, so I’m sure that also played a part in the feeling of this last treatment.

Pain Level and Management

So, the feeling is very similar to being snapped with a rubber band. That is the best way to describe it. While it’s not exactly pleasant, it is far less painful than waxing. This is especially true if you’ve ever had to go for regular bikini/Brazilian waxes!

Note: The first few appointments we had we both hardly felt anything at all. However, again, the intensity will go up as your appointments go on. For the last few appointments, we were grateful the clinic provides stress balls, haha. 

Also, if you’re doing your bikini area like me, that area can be more sensitive during that wonderful time of the month. I tried to avoid booking my appointments during that time. You can, however, do your appointments during that time of the month if you want; just wear a tampon.

How Long Does it Take?

While waxing large parts of your body can take 30-60 minutes (or more), laser hair removal is surprisingly fast! My armpits and my husband’s “unibrow” take less than 10 minutes to treat, and my bikini area takes about 20 minutes at most. 

Results Over Time

The real excitement came with seeing the results over time. After the first treatment, I was thrilled to see a noticeable reduction in hair growth. The hair that did grow back was finer and lighter, making it far less visible. 

My husband’s hair is much thicker and coarser than mine, so he didn’t notice this until about the second or third treatment. 

It took me about 1 ½ years worth of treatments (which came out to 11 treatments) before my technician said I was done! 

My husband took about 2 years to reach this same level, but again, he has very thick and coarse hair, so everyone will be a little different. 

Note: Laser hair removal is not going to be 100% effective forever. You will need to go in periodically for treatments over the years. For some people this will be more frequent than others, depending on the thickness of your hair. I don’t need to go in as frequently as my husband because my hair is much thinner. This also will not treat blond hair. You will need to continue shaving any blond hair that grows.

Side Effects Experienced

While the treatment is generally safe, I did experience some minor side effects. There was temporary redness and tenderness in the treated areas, which felt similar to a mild sunburn. This was nothing that Aloe couldn’t help with.

You also have to avoid the area getting too warm. This means wearing loose, breathable clothing for 24 hours after the treatment and not going in saunas, exercising, etc. 

After one treatment, I fell asleep on the couch wearing a very heavy sweater and flannel pants. I woke up SO warm and sweaty. Shortly after I woke up, I broke out in hives around the treatment areas. I called Milan Laser, and they explained this was likely a side effect of getting too warm and that the symptoms should subside within 24 hours. I needed to keep the areas cool, and I could also take an antihistamine to help.

Within 24 hours, I was back to normal, and I never made that mistake again!

Also, the Milan Laser helpline is VERY helpful.

More Maintenance Tips

Besides staying cool, you also need to protect your skin from sun exposure. I make sure to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily. You also need to avoid harsh skincare products, such as body scrubs and perfumed lotions for a couple days after the treatment.

Verdict – Do We Recommend Milan Laser Hair Removal?

The short answer is yes. We both recommend Milan Laser for permanent hair removal. 

These are a few quick reasons why I love it:

• No more waxing. It is SO amazing not to have to book waxing appointments anymore, especially Brazilian waxes (gosh, do those hurt)!
• The unlimited lifetime touchups are amazing. It’s been since January 2024 since I had my last laser appointment. I think I will need to go in within the next few weeks for a touchup, as I’m getting some breakthrough hairs. It’s great to know I don’t have to pay for this and that the appointments are not a large time commitment. 

• The staff at Milan Laser Appleton is amazing, and it is very comforting to know they are all registered nurses. They always make me feel very comfortable.

• I love not having to worry about hair removal when I’m traveling. When we are in areas where showering can be tricky (or just not an option), like on safari in Kenya or hiking the Inca Trail in Peru, it’s really nice to even think about having hairy armpits. I also love not having to worry about any random, embarrassing bikini hair when we go to beach destinations like Curacao. 

• Another awesome aspect about Milan Laser is they have 370+ locations around the country. So, if we are traveling (or one day we move again), we can still use our treatment package at a different location.

Zac is also happy to report that, with these hairs on his face gone, he no longer “picks” when he gets stressed. He hasn’t had a scab on his face in more than six months. (But he does also want to reiterate that it isn’t a 100% gone forever scenario. He does occasionally have breakthrough growth and needs to go in for additional treatments.) 

Overall, we highly recommend checking out Milan Laser if you’ve ever been interested in laser hair removal. It’s a worthwhile investment, in our opinion. 

And again, you can save a whopping 60% off your treatment plan if you use code HaveClothesWillTravel60. *Excludes full-body treatment package.