Physician-Led Laser Hair Removal in Reston, Virginia
Serving Northern Virginia, Washington DC and Maryland. Treatments in Reston, consultations in Reston or Chevy Chase.
The Naderi Center offers physician-led laser hair removal at our Reston, Virginia office, a short drive from Herndon, Great Falls, McLean, Vienna and Tysons. We use the Candela GentleMax Pro, which has two wavelengths in one laser: a 755 nm Alexandrite for lighter skin and finer hair, and a 1064 nm Nd:YAG, the safest wavelength for deeper skin tones.
Candela GentleMax Pro, 755 + 1064 nm
Every Skin Tone, Light to Deep
4.9★ from 1,100+ Google Reviews
Two things decide how well laser hair removal works: the laser, and the settings chosen for your skin and hair.
Your treatments are performed by our licensed master aesthetician and laser technician, who has extensive experience with this laser. Our physicians, Dr. Shervin Naderi and Dr. Alexandra Snodgrass, are consulted whenever your skin, hair or medical history calls for it. The goal is a session strong enough to work and safe for your skin, so you are not paying for treatments set too cautiously to make a difference.
Laser hair removal is permanent hair reduction, not 100 percent removal. Treatment typically takes 6 or more sessions, 4 to 8 weeks apart, starting at $150 per session for a small area.
At a glanceLaser Hair Removal at The Naderi Center
- Laser
- Candela GentleMax Pro: 755 nm Alexandrite and 1064 nm Nd:YAG
- Who treats you
- Licensed master aesthetician and laser technician; Dr. Naderi and Dr. Snodgrass consulted
- Sessions
- Typically 6 or more sessions, 4 to 8 weeks apart
- Session time
- About 15 minutes to an hour
- Downtime
- None; mild redness for a few hours to 2 to 3 days
- Cost
- $150 to $550 per session; $810 to $2,970 for six
- Skin types
- Every skin tone, light to deep
- Where
- Treatments in Reston, VA; consultations in Reston or Chevy Chase, MD
- Consultation
- $100, applied toward your treatment; same-day treatment available
Dr. Shervin Naderi, named to Newsweek America’s Best Plastic Surgeons
- 2023
- 2024
- 2025
- 2026
Why Do the Laser Settings Matter as Much as the Laser?
The same laser can be set too weak to reach the follicle or too strong for your skin, and the person choosing the settings decides which one you get.
Every pulse of the GentleMax Pro comes down to four choices: which wavelength, how much energy, how long the pulse lasts, and how large the spot is. The right choices depend on your skin tone, the color and thickness of your hair, the area being treated, and whether you have a tan. Upper lip hair is not leg hair, and the right setting for fair skin can burn deeper skin.
Some providers keep settings low on purpose, because a weak treatment rarely causes a problem anyone can see. It simply doesn’t work, and you keep paying for sessions that do little. Settings that are too aggressive cause the opposite problem: blisters, burns and pigment changes, which are more likely in darker skin.
At The Naderi Center, your settings are matched to you at your first visit and adjusted at every session as your hair becomes finer and sparser. Before your first treatment we review your medical history and medications, since some medicines make the skin more sensitive to light.
What this means for you
- A plan built for your skin tone, your hair color and each area treated
- Settings adjusted at every visit, not a one-size preset
- Physician input from Dr. Naderi and Dr. Snodgrass for darker skin, hormonal hair growth or medical concerns
- A test spot first for darker skin when there is any question
- No treatment during pregnancy
- Honest advice when the laser isn’t the right fit, such as for white, gray, red or blond hair
What Makes the Candela GentleMax Pro Different?
The GentleMax Pro puts two hair removal lasers in one machine, so the wavelength is matched to your skin instead of every patient getting the same laser.
Strongly absorbed by the pigment in hair. Best for lighter skin and for finer or lighter brown hair, where the laser needs every bit of pigment it can find.
Travels deeper and is absorbed far less by the pigment in skin. It reaches the follicle in deeper skin tones while sparing the surface, the safest wavelength available today for darker skin.
With every pulse, the laser sprays a burst of cryogen onto the skin to cool and protect it, which also makes treatment more comfortable.
Before bringing laser hair removal into the practice, our doctors and staff tried several hair removal devices side by side and chose the GentleMax Pro. Many spas use IPL for hair removal. IPL sends a broad band of light instead of one tuned wavelength, and in our experience it gives less consistent hair reduction and is less suited to deeper skin tones.
The Candela GentleMax Pro, used for every laser hair removal treatment at our Reston office.
Is Laser Hair Removal Safe for Darker Skin?
Yes, when the right wavelength and settings are used. We treat every skin tone, including Black, South Asian, Middle Eastern, Hispanic and East Asian skin, and the GentleMax Pro’s 1064 nm Nd:YAG wavelength is designed for deeper skin.
Older lasers could not tell the pigment in dark skin from the pigment in dark hair, so the skin absorbed the energy meant for the follicle and could burn. The longer 1064 nm wavelength passes beneath the skin’s pigment to reach the follicle, which is why it is the safest choice for deeper skin tones.
The wavelength is only part of it. Energy and pulse length also have to be set for deeper skin, and that is where experience matters most. If there is any question about how your skin will respond, we can treat a small test spot first.
For any skin tone, hair color matters more than skin color. Brown and black hair respond best. Red, blond, white and gray hair carry too little pigment for today’s lasers to target well.
“IT WORKS! [I] was skeptical at first since I am brown skinned and I didn’t know if it would work, but [it] does… trust the process.”
T.U., Google review
Is Laser Hair Removal Permanent?
Laser hair removal is permanent hair reduction, not 100 percent removal. Most treated follicles stop producing hair, and the hairs that remain usually grow back finer, lighter and more slowly.
Each session reduces regrowth by roughly 10 to 25 percent. Hormones keep changing through life, so some patients come back for a touch-up session about once a year.
If you want every hair gone, including white or gray hairs, electrolysis is the method that treats one follicle at a time regardless of color. We will tell you plainly if that is the better fit.
A risk to know: fine hair can become coarser
There is always a small risk that fine, light hair in or near a treated area becomes thicker, darker or coarser after treatment. It is uncommon and most likely where hair is fine and downy, such as the face and neck. Tell us if you notice it, so we can adjust your treatment.
How Many Laser Hair Removal Sessions Will I Need?
Treatment typically takes 6 or more sessions, 4 to 8 weeks apart.
Hair grows in cycles, and the laser can only treat hairs in their active growth phase, when they carry the most pigment. At any moment many of your follicles are resting. Spacing the sessions lets the next group of follicles come into growth so each visit reaches new hairs.
Areas with thinner skin, such as the underarms and bikini line, usually respond faster than areas with thicker skin, such as the back and chin.
Between 5 and 20 days after a session, treated hairs shed. It can look like new growth, but it is the treated hair working its way out.
Strong, well-chosen settings make each session count. That is how we keep you from paying for extra sessions that do little.
Laser Hair Removal Before and After
The underarm result is a Naderi Center patient. The face and back photos are example results from Candela, the maker of our laser. Results vary from person to person.
Watch a Laser Hair Removal Treatment
A walk-through of a GentleMax Pro treatment in our office.
What Our Laser Hair Removal Patients Say
4.9 on Google from 1,100+ reviews
“IT WORKS!”
“Been going for a year and half and love it. Would recommend to anybody who wants to try it out… IT WORKS! [I] was skeptical at first since I am brown skinned and I didn’t know if it would work, but [it] does… trust the process.”
★★★★★T.U.Google review
“Outstanding and lasting.”
“I had previously seen a dermatologist at another office who burned me with the laser procedure… The results are outstanding and lasting.”
★★★★★S.H.Google review
“So glad I did.”
“I decided to give laser hair removal another shot after disappointing results at another practice, and I’m so glad I did… Already so much hair has fallen out since my first session, and I can’t wait to be back.”
★★★★★S.A.Google review
“More results than any other spa.”
“I came to the Naderi Center after visiting several other medspas with minimal results after many laser hair removal treatments. Their aesthetician knows her stuff. After 4 sessions I have seen more results than any other spa I have visited. She’s knowledgeable and thorough in her treatments. She listens to her patients and takes the time to address their issues. Totally recommend it.”
★★★★★Patient review
“Love this team!”
“I’ve gotten several facials and laser hair removal done at the Naderi Center… The office and staff are professional looking and clean. They are diligent at confirming appointments and following up after treatments to ensure I am happy with my results. Love this team!”
★★★★★J.H.Google review
“Truly life changing.”
“Getting laser hair removal was truly life changing for me as I now save so much time in the morning without having to shave.”
F.Z.Naderi Center patient
Which Areas Can Be Treated?
Almost any area of the face or body with dark hair can be treated, for women and for men.
Popular areas for women
- Upper lip, chin and sideburns
- Underarms
- Bikini line, French bikini and Brazilian
- Lower legs or full legs
- Arms and abdomen
Popular areas for men
- Back and shoulders
- Chest and abdomen
- Front and back of the neck
- Full face and beard line
- Arms
Laser hair removal also cuts down on ingrown hairs and razor bumps, since there is less hair to shave. Areas are grouped by size for pricing, shown next.
How Much Does Laser Hair Removal Cost in Reston?
Laser hair removal at The Naderi Center costs $150 to $550 per session depending on the size of the area, or $810 to $2,970 for a package of six.
| Area size | Areas included | Single session | Package of 6 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | Unibrow, upper lip, ears, sideburns, chin, hands and fingers, areola, linea negra, feet and toes | $150 | $810 |
| Medium | Women: front or back of neck, underarms, abdomen line, bikini line, face, perianal, knees. Men: front or back of neck, underarms | $250 | $1,350 |
| Large | Women: Brazilian, French bikini, lower arms, abdomen, chest, buttocks. Men: full face, lower arms, shoulders | $350 | $1,890 |
| Extra large | Upper arms, upper back, lower back, lower legs, upper legs | $450 | $2,430 |
| XX-large | Full legs, full arms, full back, full chest and abdomen | $550 | $2,970 |
Prices from our Menu of Services, October 2026. Subject to change.
Most patients need 6 or more sessions, so the package is the better value.
Touch-up sessions after your series are priced like a single session.
Applied toward your treatment, and you can be treated the same day. In Reston or Chevy Chase, or start with a virtual consultation.
Patient Financing
Pay Over Time with Cherry
Monthly payment plans for surgery and treatments, including 0% APR options for qualifying patients. Checking whether you qualify won’t affect your credit score.
Laser vs. IPL vs. Electrolysis vs. At-Home Devices
For dark hair on any skin tone, a true hair removal laser gives the most dependable long-term reduction. Electrolysis is the option for hair a laser can’t see, like white or gray hair.
| Method | How it works | Best for | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| GentleMax Pro laser | Two tuned laser wavelengths heat the pigment in the hair root | Dark hair on any skin tone, small or large areas | Permanent hair reduction, typically over 6 or more sessions |
| IPL | A broad band of filtered light, not one wavelength | Light skin with dark hair | Less consistent hair reduction, less suited to deeper skin |
| Electrolysis | A fine probe treats one follicle at a time with electric current | Any hair color, including white, gray, red and blond; small areas | The only method the FDA allows to be called permanent hair removal; slow for large areas |
| At-home devices | Low-energy light designed for home use | Light skin with dark hair, upkeep between visits | Slower and more modest; many are not meant for darker skin |
What Happens at a Laser Hair Removal Visit?
Your first visit starts with a look at your skin, hair and medical history. Each treatment then takes about 15 minutes to an hour, depending on the area.
Consultation
- $100, applied toward your treatment
- In Reston or Chevy Chase, or virtual
- If your skin is ready, you can have your first treatment the same day
- We check your skin tone, hair color and the areas you want treated
- Tell us your medications, any Accutane in the past 6 months, a history of cold sores, and if you are pregnant or nursing
Before each session
- No sun, tanning beds or sunless tanner for 4 to 6 weeks
- Shave only. No waxing, tweezing, threading, bleaching or electrolysis for 4 weeks before and during your series
- Stop glycolic acid, tretinoin and retinol 1 week before
- Shave the area the night before or the morning of
- Come with clean skin, no lotion, makeup or deodorant
During treatment
- Everyone in the room wears protective eyewear
- Each pulse feels like a quick sting or snap, followed by a burst of cooling spray
- Numbing cream is used only as our team directs; most patients are comfortable without it
After treatment
- Redness and swelling around the follicles for a few hours, sometimes 2 to 3 days
- Cool with ice wrapped in a soft cloth, 15 to 20 minutes at a time
- For 24 hours, skip hot tubs, saunas, heavy sweating and deodorant on treated underarms
- Protect treated skin from the sun for 3 months, with mineral sunscreen SPF 30 or higher
Read the full laser hair removal instructions · Download the PDF
What Are the Risks of Laser Hair Removal?
Most people have only redness and swelling around the follicles for a few hours to a few days. Less common risks include blisters, cold sore flares, pigment changes and, rarely, scarring.
- Redness, swelling and a sunburn feeling, usually gone in 1 to 3 days
- Blisters or crusting
- Cold sore flares in people prone to them; you may be given an antiviral before facial treatment
- Temporary lightening or darkening of the skin, more likely with darker skin or a recent tan
- Rarely, permanent pigment change, scarring or infection
- Fine hair becoming coarser, uncommon and most likely on the face and neck
Most serious problems come from the wrong wavelength or energy for a patient’s skin, or from treating tanned skin. That is why we match the settings to you, adjust them at every visit, and will reschedule rather than treat skin that is tanned or sunburned.
Call us right away if you have
- Blisters, crusting or broken skin
- Pain, redness or swelling that gets worse after 2 to 3 days
- Signs of infection: warmth, pus or a fever over 101°F
- Darkening or lightening of the treated skin
- Eye pain or any change in vision
Reston (703) 481-0002 · Chevy Chase (301) 222-2020
Who Is a Good Candidate, and Who Should Wait?
The best candidates have brown or black hair, on any skin tone, and can keep the area out of the sun before and during their series.
Good candidates
- Brown or black hair, on fair, olive, brown or deep skin
- Want long-term reduction rather than a perfectly hair-free result
- Can avoid tanning before and during treatment
- Can come back for a series of sessions
Wait, or talk with us first, if you
- Are pregnant. We do not treat during pregnancy. Tell us if you are nursing.
- Are tanned or sunburned
- Took Accutane (isotretinoin) in the past 6 months
- Use creams or medicines that make your skin sensitive to light
- Get cold sores and want your face treated
- Have white, gray, red or blond hair
- Have new or quickly growing facial hair, since a hormone condition can be the cause and is worth checking with your own doctor
We will bring the experience.
Where Is Laser Hair Removal Done?
All laser hair removal treatments take place at our Reston, Virginia office. Consultations are available in Reston or Chevy Chase.
Both offices close at 4 p.m. on Fridays.
Maryland
5454 Wisconsin Ave,
Suite 1655
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
(301) 222-2020
Monday to Thursday, 9 AM to 5 PM
Friday, 9 AM to 4 PM
Get directions
Virginia
1850 Town Center Parkway,
Pavilion II, Suite 551
Reston, VA 20190
(703) 481-0002
Monday to Thursday, 9 AM to 5 PM
Friday, 9 AM to 4 PM
Get directions
Laser Hair Removal FAQs
How much does laser hair removal cost at The Naderi Center?
Laser hair removal costs $150 to $550 per session depending on the size of the area, or $810 to $2,970 for a package of six, which saves 10 percent. Touch-up sessions after your series are priced like a single session, and payment plans are available through Cherry.
How much is a laser hair removal consultation?
The consultation is $100, and it is applied toward your treatment. Consultations are available in Reston or Chevy Chase.
Can I be treated the same day as my consultation?
Yes. If your skin is ready, you can have your first treatment right after your consultation in Reston. Come shaved, with no tan, and with clean skin free of lotion, makeup and deodorant on the area.
How many laser hair removal sessions will I need?
Treatment typically takes 6 or more sessions, 4 to 8 weeks apart. Thinner-skinned areas like the underarms and bikini line often respond faster, and some patients return for a touch-up about once a year.
Is the GentleMax Pro the best laser for hair removal?
The GentleMax Pro is one of the most respected hair removal lasers because it combines a 755 nm Alexandrite and a 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser in one machine, so it can treat every skin tone. Your result depends just as much on the settings chosen for your skin and hair, which is why ours are matched to you and adjusted at every visit.
Does laser hair removal hurt?
Most patients feel a quick snap or sting with each pulse, followed by a burst of cooling spray from the laser. Numbing cream can be used as our team directs, but most patients are comfortable without it.
Is laser hair removal permanent?
It is permanent hair reduction, not 100 percent removal. Most treated follicles stop growing hair, and what remains usually grows back finer, lighter and more slowly.
Is laser hair removal safe for dark skin?
Yes. The GentleMax Pro’s 1064 nm Nd:YAG wavelength is the safest wavelength available today for deeper skin tones, and we treat every skin tone. When there is any concern, we can treat a small test spot first.
Does laser hair removal work on blond, red, gray or white hair?
Not well. These hair colors carry too little pigment for current lasers to target. We will tell you honestly if the laser is not a good fit; electrolysis works on any hair color.
Who performs laser hair removal at The Naderi Center?
Treatments are performed by our licensed master aesthetician and laser technician, who has extensive experience with the GentleMax Pro. Our physicians, Dr. Shervin Naderi and Dr. Alexandra Snodgrass, are consulted whenever your skin, hair or medical history calls for it.
Can men get laser hair removal?
Yes. Men most often treat the back, shoulders, chest, neck and beard line. Treating the beard line and neck can also cut down on ingrown hairs and razor bumps.
How much does Brazilian laser hair removal cost?
A Brazilian is priced as a large area: $350 per session or $1,890 for a package of six. A bikini line is a medium area at $250 per session, and a French bikini is a large area at $350.
How much does underarm laser hair removal cost, and how many sessions do underarms need?
Underarms are a medium area: $250 per session or $1,350 for a package of six. Most people need 6 or more sessions, 4 to 8 weeks apart, and underarms often respond faster than areas with thicker skin, such as the back or chin. After each session, skip deodorant on the treated underarms for 24 hours.
Can laser hair removal treat chin and upper lip hair in women?
Yes. The chin and upper lip are small areas, $150 per session. If facial hair is new or growing quickly, tell us, since a hormone condition can be the cause and is worth checking with your own doctor.
Can laser hair removal be done on the face?
Yes. For women, the upper lip, chin and sideburns are small areas at $150 per session, and the full face is a medium area at $250. For men, the full face and beard line are a large area at $350, and treating the beard line also cuts down on ingrown hairs and razor bumps. The settings are matched to your skin tone and hair, so facial hair can be treated on every skin tone.
Is laser hair removal a surgery?
No. Laser hair removal is an in-office treatment with no incisions and no anesthesia. Most people go straight back to their day.
How long does a laser hair removal session take?
About 15 minutes for a small area like the upper lip, and up to an hour for large areas like the full legs or back.
Why does my hair look like it is growing back after a session?
Between 5 and 20 days after treatment, the treated hairs shed. It can look like new growth, but it is the treated hair working its way out.
Can I have laser hair removal while pregnant?
No. We do not treat during pregnancy. Please also tell us if you are nursing.
Can I get laser hair removal in the summer?
Yes, as long as your skin is not tanned and you can keep treated areas out of the sun for 3 months afterward. Many patients start in the fall so their series is finished by summer.
Is laser hair removal done at the Chevy Chase office?
Consultations are available in Chevy Chase, and all treatment sessions take place at our Reston office.
Do you offer financing for laser hair removal?
Yes. Cherry offers monthly payment plans, including 0 percent APR options for qualifying patients, and checking whether you qualify won’t affect your credit score.