Most clinics in Brussels and surrounding areas will tell you they have “the best laser.” Few will explain what actually drives a good resultAt I Care Clinic in Tervuren — just 15 minutes from Brussels, we treat laser hair removal as a medical procedure, not a beauty service. Here is what separates a serious treatment from a marketing claim — and the questions to ask before you book anywhere.
A high-quality laser hair removal treatment combines a medical-grade dual-wavelength device (such as the Candela GentleMax Pro Plus with 755 nm Alexandrite and 1064 nm Nd:YAG lasers), a trained physician or laser specialist, individually adapted settings, integrated cooling, and a 6–8 session protocol spaced 4–6 weeks apart. The device alone is never enough — operator skill is the single biggest variable in the final result.
Not every device marketed as a “laser” is actually a laser. Most beauty salons use IPL (Intense Pulsed Light), which is light — not a laser — and produces noticeably weaker, less consistent results. This is the single most important distinction to understand before booking anywhere.
Not all laser systems are equal. Most beauty institutes still rely on IPL or lower-powered diode lasers. These technologies may temporarily slow hair growth, but they often struggle with finer or deeper hairs, hormonally-stimulated growth, darker skin types, and long-term consistency.
Medical-grade dual-wavelength platforms — Alexandrite combined with Nd:YAG — are considered the gold standard for permanent laser hair removal. At I Care Clinic, we use the Candela GentleMax Pro Plus, which combines a 755 nm Alexandrite laser (optimal for Fitzpatrick skin types I–III) with a 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser (safe for all skin types, including IV–VI and tanned skin). The system is FDA-cleared (510(k) K133283) and CE-certified for permanent hair reduction across all skin tones.
Two clinically validated wavelengths in one device, integrated Dynamic Cooling Device (DCD), spot sizes up to 26 mm, and over 25 years of peer-reviewed evidence behind the Candela Gentle platform. It is the same device used in leading dermatology centres across Europe.
Even the best laser device, though, produces mediocre results when used incorrectly. Which leads us to the more important point.
This is the biggest misconception in the market. An experienced laser physician using proper protocols will outperform an inexperienced operator with the same — or even better — equipment.
Laser hair removal is highly technical. The practitioner continuously adapts energy levels (fluence), pulse duration, spot size, overlap technique, cooling timing, and treatment intervals. Those settings depend on skin type, hair thickness, hair depth, hormonal influences, recent sun exposure, and the specific treatment area.
A male beard is not treated the same way as fine facial hair in women or leg hair on lighter skin. A standardised “one setting for everyone” approach almost never delivers premium results — and it is one of the main reasons patients come to us after a full series of treatments elsewhere with little to show for it.
“The single biggest difference between a great laser result and an average one is not the device — it is the person operating it. We have seen patients come to us after 10 or 12 sessions elsewhere with minimal results, only to discover the settings were never properly adapted to their skin and hair type.”
— Dr. Uliana Ramazanova, Aesthetic & Laser Physician, I Care Clinic Tervuren · 15+ years of experience
Not every patient is an ideal candidate. The best clinics do a real consultation before booking the first session — not after.
Important factors include hormonal influences (PCOS, thyroid issues, post-pregnancy changes), current medication, ethnicity and skin type, hair colour and density, previous laser or IPL treatments, and underlying medical conditions. Hormonal hair growth, for example, often requires maintenance sessions even after a full initial series. Blonde, grey, and red hairs respond less predictably because they contain little melanin for the laser to target. Recently tanned skin significantly increases the risk of burns or pigment changes.
A serious consultation does two things: it protects you from realistic risks, and it sets honest expectations.
We will tell you upfront if laser is not the right solution — that conversation is part of what you pay for.
One excellent session does not produce excellent results. Hair grows in cycles, and laser energy only works on follicles that are in the active (anagen) growth phase. Since not all hairs are in anagen at the same time, multiple sessions are necessary.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, patients typically see a 10–25% reduction in hair after the first session, with most people requiring 6–8 sessions spaced 4–6 weeks apart for optimal long-term results. A 2024 study published in Dermatologic Surgery found that 88% of patients achieved at least 70% hair reduction after six sessions when treated with a medical-grade laser by a trained operator.
Timing between sessions matters as much as the settings. Treating too early wastes a session on follicles that have not re-entered the active phase. Treating too late lets the cycle reset. We track every session with photographs and adapt the protocol based on response — not a generic schedule.
Cooling is not a nice-to-have. It protects the skin from thermal damage, allows the operator to safely use higher (more effective) energy settings, and makes the treatment substantially more comfortable.
We use the Candela GentleMax Pro platform combined with the Zimmer Cryo 7 cooling system. Throughout the treatment, the Zimmer unit blows a continuous stream of cold air (around -30°C) onto the skin, protecting the upper layers and significantly improving comfort. Because the skin stays cool, we can safely work at higher and more effective clinical settings — which translates into stronger long-term hair reduction and, in many cases, fewer sessions than systems relying on weaker cooling.
Laser hair removal delivers concentrated energy into the skin. Done incorrectly, it can cause burns, hyper- or hypo pigmentation, scarring, paradoxical hair stimulation (more hair growth in treated areas — a documented complication in darker skin types with the wrong settings), and incomplete results.
This is why medical supervision matters. At I Care Clinic, every laser hair removal treatment is performed within a medical clinic, supervised by a physician, with protocols built around your specific case. The cheapest treatment is rarely the safest — and almost never the most economical once you factor in the number of sessions needed.
A premium laser clinic is not premium because of marble counters and curated lighting. It is premium because of what is invisible to the patient: medical training, calibrated equipment, individualised protocols, time spent on consultation, careful documentation of every session, and consistent follow-up.
The end goal is not just hair removal. It is safe, predictable, long-term results — delivered in an environment where patients feel listened to, properly assessed, and never rushed.
If you have read this far, here is concretely what to expect at our Tervuren clinic.
Many of our patients come from Brussels to our clinic in Tervuren — just 15 minutes by car via Avenue de Tervueren (E40 Tervuren exit), or via tram line 44 from Montgomery. For anyone looking for laser hair removal in the Brussels area but preferring not to be treated in the city centre, our location in Tervuren offers quiet consultations, free parking, and the same medical standards as the best Brussels clinics.
→ Permanent laser hair removal — main treatment page
→ Facial laser hair removal (upper lip, chin, cheeks, female beard)
→ Leg laser hair removal
→ Arm laser hair removal
→ Related read: Will your hair really stay away permanently?
→ Meet Dr. Uliana Ramazanova
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