Both men and women develop body hair during the onset of puberty. Hair tends to get longer and thicker under the arms, on the arms and legs and in the pubic area of both sexes. During this time, men tend to develop facial hair as well as hair on their chests and backs. Some men consider body hair in certain areas, such as the pubic region, to be undesirable or unattractive. Brazilian laser hair removal is one method for eliminating unwanted hair from the pubic area.

Laser hair removal was one of the top five most popular cosmetic plastic surgery procedures of 2009, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Laser hair removal at the bikini line is a popular procedure, particularly among women, according to The Hair Removal Journal, but it is becoming increasingly popular among men as well. Brazilian hair removal is more extensive than the bikini line and typically seeks to remove all the pubic hair from the genitals, sometimes leaving a thin strip of hair directly above the genitals.

Brazilian laser hair removal functions the same as all other laser hair removal treatments. A specialized laser light is applied to the unwanted hair. The laser light energy is attracted to the melanin, or color pigment, in the hair follicle where the light energy converts into heat energy. The heat energy damages or destroys the hair follicle, retarding or preventing it's ability to grow a new hair shaft. The heat produced by this treatment can cause an uncomfortable sensation in the skin, similar to the feeling produced by the snap of a rubber band.

The time involved to administer a laser hair removal treatment may run from a few minutes to more than an hour, depending on a number of factors, including the location of the unwanted hair, the volume of the hair in the unwanted area and the size of the area being treated. Brazilian laser hair removal may add additional time due to the sensitive nature of the area being treated. The Laser Hair Journal recommends Brazilian laser hair removal procedures be obtained from a physician's office that specializes in laser hair removal procedures.

Brazilian laser hair removal is only effective in removing hair that is in its active growth stage. Since pubic hair grows in cycles, it is likely that repeated treatments will be needed to achieve optimum results. According to the Mayo Clinic, satisfactory results typically require four to six treatments spaced four to six weeks apart. Additional maintenance treatments may be required once or twice per year.

Brazilian laser hair removal is subject to the same side effects as laser hair removal treatments on any other part of the body. These side effects may include localized pain at the treatment site, swelling, redness or inflammation around the hair follicle along with scabbing or crusting of the skin, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. In rare cases, blistering, scarring, bacterial infections and changes in skin pigmentation may occur.