American Laser Skincare

They refunded all the money they owed me.

After not being able to get prices for their services on line or over the phone, I decided to go ahead and book one of their free consultations. When I got there, I quickly realized I had walked into a high pressure sales situation. The woman told me what the prices were and was pressuring me to sign a contract right then to commit to the hair removal services. When I told her I would need to talk it over with my husband first before committing to spending so much money, she tried to push me to call him at work and talk it over now… with her in the room. When I stood my ground that he didn’t need to take time out of his work schedule to talk about my unwanted body hair, she tried the angle of pushing payment plans and asked what I could afford. I couldn’t get through to her that it wasn’t a matter of what I could afford monthly, it was what I was willing to pay for the services altogether. She seemed irritated at the end when I wouldn’t sign up as if *I* was the one wasting her time. She could have made both our lives easier by telling me the cost over the phone and that they had payment plan options.
My advice? If you go in, get ready to stand your ground or you are going to be pushed into a contract.

I felt compelled to write this review after having a friend recently tell me of a horrible experience at an American Laser. I also had a very bad experience several years ago. I went to a consultation at American Laser with the manager for the Velashape service. I spend THOUSANDS of dollars in advance. When I went to start taking my treatments, there was a different esthetician each time that I went in. When I went to my second treatment I realized they had no idea what they were doing. She started performing a completey different service on me than I had the first appointment. So therefore I was completely confused as to what the correct treatment even was! This continued to happen for over a month. I had to question the esthetician each time and tell them what treatment I was SUPPOSE to be getting. I called the manager several times only to not have my calls returned or after eventually getting ahold of her, her promising a different type of service which never happened.
I lost thousands of dollars and should have filed a report, but instead just chalked it up as a BIG LESSON. I did not even finish my services that I paid in advance for, I never knew if I once even GOT the service I paid for and nervous to put my body in the hands of such incompetence.
I have no idea how their actual laser services are, but I DO KNOW that not only were they incompetent, but the customer service was horrible. I would be VERY nervous if I were you to go here. I would at least certainly not go there for any service other than laser. Velashape, etc, go somewhere they know what they are doing!

This place is surely the biggest rip off ever! I started going there for my upper lip. It sounded reasonable for a 2 year contract of unlimited visits when there is no guarantee of how long it will take to remove the unwanted hair. They omit telling you that you can only go once every 4 to 6 weeks. And, you can’t go in if you have been in the sun or taken antibiotics recently. So figure this; if you buy from somewhere that has a special for 6 sessions at $ 99.00 (you see them all the time) it’s actually a much better deal than all the unlimited sessions for $ 600!!!
Not only that, I was talked into doing other areas where I spent $ 2000 because they were pushy telling me it was the best offer ever. Granted, they did let me continue treating my upper lip for another year. However, after all that, the hair is still there!
Just like some of the other comments I read, they burned my skin (I have scars around my ankles), and every tech did things differently. I had my lower legs done, and each tech would stop in different places above my knees. Sometimes it was 1 inch above (really, who would stop there?) sometimes it was 3 to 4 inches above. I still have plenty of hair around my knees.
The best results I got was my underarms. But, my daughter got the same results spending $ 200 (2 Groupon’s).
The office staff is inconsistent. They rarely answer the phones when you call, and usually no one greats you when you walk in. If you leave a message for someone to call you back, don’t expect a call because they are too busy to listen to the voice mails. There are no mirrors in the treatment rooms, and no hooks to hang your clothes, even though they just remodled to update the office.
When my 2 years was up you can bet they tried to get me to sign up again!!! I might have been crazy once, but I won’t do it again!

I have been having laser hair removal for over two years now at this location, spent over $ 4500 with this location and I still have a lot of hair left. I went every 8 weeks as instructed, had them set the laser on the highest settings and I have had extremely disappointing results. So when my two year contract was up I was told by the manager, Rachel, that they would need to start charging me for any other appointments. I told her I was not happy with the results, that I still had a lot of hair left, and she told me there was nothing she could do. Even though the FDA defines laser hair removal as the removal of 80% or more of the hair, and Rachel agreed I still had 30−60% of the hair still remaining in the different areas, there was still nothing she could personally do. She then told me she would speak with her boss and maybe get me another 2 or 3 sessions but it was a long shot. It has now been two months since she said she would get back to me and I am extremely angry. I will never spend another dollar at this location because I was ripped off so bad. Their lasers are very old and do not work well obviously and the customer service is terrible. If anyone decides to use them then consider yourself fair warned.

This place is a rip off. I spent $ 2200 for laser hair removal in two areas. I went every 8 weeks for two years and I still have hair. It maybe removed 30% of my hair. I found their practices to be inconsistent. Each time I went a technician did it differently. Sometimes it was very painful and other times not at all. I would never recommend them. Do not waste your money. I have a friend that went to another spa and after only 3 treatments her hair was removed and it only cost $ 100.
Another friend went to ALC and they burned her face with the laser, she currently has blisters. Do not let them ruin your appearance.

DON’T GO HERE. It is the worst company that exists on this planet.

This is the worst place to ever do business with. I signed up one day and called the following day to cancel due to all of the poor reviews I read. It’s been over 2 months and I still have $ 3000 on my credit card because they havent credited yet. I heard in the beginning it would take 4 – 6 weeks to see my credit, then 8 – 10 weeks, and today I just heard 10 – 12 weeks! This is completely unacceptable! I’m getting calls every day from the credit card company and I have to keep telling them that I am not paying because I dont want it to look like I’m confirming the charges. Apparently, that doesnt seem to matter. Do not go to this place. Go to a real dermatologist.

There are NO stars to offer this business. They con you into their office because you won a $ 300, no $ 400 if you come in tomorrow discount and you don’t even know if it works or not. then they lock and load the$ 3K for 4 treatments. Well, I’m fair skinned. I looked like someone ironed my face in little one inch rectangles. My face swelled up, forget the pain and agony, the LIE was that the «redness would last 24 hours». I am self employed and had to give up work from Thursday until the following Tuesday, cancelling out $ 675 in prepaid conferences to build my business.
What a disaster. There must be something illegal about their approach to clients.
1. to «FORCE» multiple visits when you don’t even know if the first one is worth it
2. contesting you had a bad reaction — like «too bad» you have to continue to suffer.
3. No regulation or state oversight.
People are suffering enough economically, they don’t need people just scamming them.

I’ve been coming to ALC for years for various laser hair removal treatments. I started at the location in Washington and have since moved here to Austin I went to the one in Cedar Park a couple of times but found it hard to get to and I didn’t like techs there. The central Austin location is waaay more convenient. and the techs are better. The lasers are always up to date and have improved over the years to be less and less painful and more efficient. It is in a clinical setting so don’t expect a spa, relaxing experience. There giveaways are real and not offered to anyone. It’s a random drawing. I won I think it was $ 500 off any treatment.
I have almost always had a great treatment except for when I’m scheduled with the one tech who used to be at Cedar Park. Ashley…who rushes through the treatment and doesn’t seem to know exactly what she’s doing. Everyone else is awesome. They do hair removal and lasers to make your skin look younger. IT is a pain in the ass that someone doesn’t always answer the phone to schedule an appointment. So it’s best to make one while you are there… they fill up fast. They just got in this new treatment that I’ve been wanting to try but it’s pricey for skin tightening. One of the techs had it done and I could see the difference. Yes it is an expensive things to have done but if you pay for waxing services then if you add it up, it turns out to be less in the long run because once the hair is gone, it’s not growing back. If you have light skin and dark hair you will get excellent results. Blonde hairs take a little longer and darker skinned people it takes longer too.
There is covered free parking.

THIS PLACE IS A SCAM!!!
This place does not even deserve one star in my book. I decided to give this place a shot and go to the free consultation because I had won a $ 300 discount to this place. I have previously had laser work done before, but they said that it would be good with other services. And they also had a buy-​one-​get-​one service, so what the heck, right?
When I first walked in I sat in the waiting room for 10 minutes before anyone even greeted me, but wasn’t a big deal. I just grabbed one of their new patient clip boards and started filling that out while I waited. Once Heidi showed up to the front desk she had the nerve to say to me «Are you having a rough day?» I was perfectly fine up until that moment. You don’t ever insult someone like that.
Once she had me in this little sales room with a table, laptop, and chairs I then began to see what this place was all about. Once I told her that I had done laser work before and showed her my underarms she told me that my laser work wasn’t up to par, and that her spa had so much more to offer me.
The offer you ask… Over a $ 1000 for laser treatments on my legs! That is also a half off discount she gave me and subtracting the $ 300 coupon I received. WTF!!!
Then I asked about her skin rejuvenation. This is when I pretty much walked out of her office when she gave me a final offer of 3K for 4 treatments.
Heidi is rude, unprofessional, and condescending. Plus, if you’re going to try to sell a product make sure that your skin looks fabulous to promote. She had told me that she needed another treatment done on her face soon (no shit). Her skin had brown and red splotches all over it, and I think it had something to do with the products she was selling. Once I realized that I had noticeably better skin than her I knew that this product either didn’t work or it ruins your skin.
If you’re thinking about getting laser done then I would get on one of those groupon sites where you can get daily deals and get usually 50% off services. I loved the last place I went to get laser done. They are professional and courteous. If you are going to spend that much money on services, then you better damn well get some respect!

So I purchased a package a few yrs back, but only because they called me and told me I had won some great package. Well great package maybe but i still ended up paying more than $ 2500. So i started treatment and it hurt, in which they said it didn’t but I even have tattoos and i would say it’s pretty painful. Well then I got prego and they stopped my sessions and I req refund, but ooooooooooooohhhhhhhh no, that wasn’t going to happen, i just had to take a break. Well I stopped treatments for 9 months but they weren’t really working anyways so I wasn’t upset. Well then the SHOCKER, i missed an appt. THey charged me a $ 80 no show fee. What the F*#^. They are on my time… hello i’ve already paid yall like $ 3000 and i know those techs don’t make $ 80 an hour. And on top of that my treatments were never on time. The techs would walk, talk, breaks and then do my treatments in which took maybe 20 mins but I argued and argued it and then made the decision to stop treatments because i’m not paying them more than i already have and hell it wasn’t even working. So point made, if i’d known what I know now back then, wouldn’t have done it and geeeez if they’re making $ 80/​hr then i’m in the wrong business.

I live in Austin and i’m embarrassed about the reviews. I’m going to go there next week and record what happens. Anything I should ask or make sure to get on video?

I’m with Tiff T. on this one. 2 stars for 2 years. The only reason I like this place is that they give you a 2 year guarantee, which means you can receive treatments for up to two whole years, which is very cheap compared to other places. But, you will have to put up with PUSHY salespeople and FAKE «specials.» FYI, I also «won» a $ 300 gift certificate mentioned in other reviews.
Every time I go in there, they tell me «We’re having a Buy 1/​Get 1 special this month – ONLY this month!» But then, the next month, they’re magically having the same special. And when you tell them you don’t want it, they say, «Oh, you know WHAT? We’re actually doing Buy 1/​Get 2! But it’s only today!» like they just pulled it out of their asses or something.
The head woman keeps repeating «You know I’m not pushy. I’d never push you into it.» But then she does! I told her «Sorry, I can’t afford to get another area done right now» and she says «WHY NOT? If you can afford a cup of coffee from Starbucks every day, you can afford this.» Pushy? I think so.

After having had 14 treatments over the course of a year and a half, I had no hair reduction. I requested a refund, after doing 3 additional treatments as part of the condition for the refund. I came in to get photos so that the request could be sent to «corporate.» Now, no one will return my calls. I concur with others who have reviewed this establishment that the ethics are poor. Not only do they rarely (if ever) answer the phone, they do not return messages. They charge outrageous prices to have such poor regard for customers.

This place doesn’t work… need I say more? I went and went and went and went and even the «two year guarantee» didn’t make it work. Don’t waste your money or your time. What a rip off.

My daughter «won» a $ 300 gift certificate at a make-​up store open house. She went for her consultation to find out about it and was told that it actually was basically a credit toward one of the packages and there is really not anything that costs only $ 300 — so in order to use it, she would have to spend another $ 700 or so. I am going to do more research and then spread the word about this operation. I certainly will call the Better Business Bureau and maybe go further than that. I would give them zero stars if I could. I would say — Don’t go here!!!
Update — I googled American Laser Center Austin and found lots of people who not only got snookered financially but also had bad results from work done. This is a national operation apparently and this stuff happens all over.

Okay, ALC does have a two-​year guarantee that allows you to continue treatments even after the regular treatments are over in case it doesn’t work within the «normal» number of treatments. (Hence, the second star.)
But what they’re really great at is acting like the hair-​removal extension of a car dealership and pressuring you into signing up for services you don’t even need, then when you want to cancel it because it costs so much for little return, they bilk you out of 10% of the price you signed up for. With prices around the $ 1−2k range, this is about an iPod! Even the manager hid behind policy and wouldn’t waive this for me despite the fact that I did not receive any treatments for a new service before I canceled.
The customer service is a bit lacking: I’ve had problems reaching an actual person when I call the office. Also, at least one of my treatments left me with burn marks on my legs, but even if I complained to them, they would probably just do nothing and point to the warnings about their services.
The verdict: When I’m done with my treatments, I’m out of this joint. I do not recommend this to any of my friends, and that includes you.