23 considering laser but have several questions..

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

I’m 23 and considering doing laser removal on my shoulders, chest and abs. I initially wanted to have a “thinned out” for my chest, but after speaking to 2 technicians, they told me it’s either everything has to go in the area or it will look patchy because hair will fall out inconsistently due to different cycle growth.

In my research, I found out that lasers are better than IPLs and that Candela’s GentleLase is one of the best lasers on the market now especially because of its largest 18 mm beam. I have been quoted a price of $1,800 for GentleLase 6 treatment package and between $250-$150 touch ups price.

Here are my concerns and questions

  1. A dermatologist told me that I’m between a III-IV for a skin type and that on a safe side, he would recommend using lasers for dark skin and not the GentleLase. At the same time, the doctor’s technician told me the opposite. She said I’m perfect candidate for GentleLase and that she had a lot of patients with my skin tone with no problem on gentlelase. So now I’m confused who is right a doctor or a technician?

  2. How permanent is it? Will I get results for life or is there a reasonable chance that I will get regrowth after 2 or 5 years like I have been reading online? The tech told me that due to hormonal changes as an adult, you might get some minor regrowth later on, but that is what the “touch ups” are for. She told me not to worry about getting full body of patches in 5 years that doesn’t happen.

I had a patch test done with GentleLase and the rubber band claim that I read everywhere was misleading, the 6 bursts felt like a taser and I couldn’t handle it. The patch test was done on lower abdomen and she told me some areas are more sensitive so she can use a cream to numb the area, but what if I can’t handle the pain all over the body and you can’t use a cream all over due to risks.

#2

Gentle Lase also makes a YAG laser, so perhaps that is what the technician was referring, not the alexandite. The derm was correct.

No one knows how much hair will be affected and no one can predict the future as to how stable you will be. Know that, once a hair follicle is disabled, it is probably disabled for your lifetime. There is no guarantee that the follicles nearby will not become active somewhere in your life span. Same goes for electrolysis. People that get an area cleared and finished within 9-18 months may stay stable for years and then a hormonal event or genetics kicks in where one starts noticing NEW HAIR GROWTH. At least that NEW HAIR GROWTH is not joining the old hair growth to add to the problem. That is why doing something now is not a bad idea and accepting that there may be more hair to come later on is an accurate way to think. You just need to maintain an area(s) as needed throughout your life cycle.

Laser hurts if it is done correctly. It has to in order to deliver enough heat to the bottom of the follicle in order to disable a follicle.

Dee

#3

You should consult with more facilities that have more laser choices. You may perhaps start with a Gentleyag and then switch to a Gentlelase. Thinning the area IS POSSIBLE with the right treatment parameters.

#4

That place did have a GentleYag as well, and the technician told me that I would be wasting time and money because it will not be affective like the gentlelase on my skin type. Ye, I’m trying to look for other places in the city which offer these machines with reasonable priced services.

Am I allowed to post pictures here to show my skin type and hair density?

#5

We love pictures! Go right ahead!

#6

[img=http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/6761/52024682.jpg]
This is where I’m somewhat most hairy because I might have trimmed in the time period of the photo.
[img=http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/3541/img1436450x600.jpg]
This one is around 3 months after waxing for the summer.
[img=http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/476/62215072.jpg]
Same but no flash to try to give more accurate picture of skin tone, and no I don’t have a tan. The lighting in the room might give a more “tanned” look than the skin is.

#7

You look like you can use a gentlelase treatment. However, I would suggest something like a GENTLEMAX that has adjustable pulse. This way, you can get a safe Alexandrite treatment with a good depth of penetration without hurting your skin.

#8

Is GentleMax like a Yag designed for darker skin? Do treatments costs more on it than GentleLase since it’s newer machine? In general, is it smarter to buy package deals for treatments or individual treatments?

#9

GentleMax is a combo laser, GentleLASE + GentleYAG. A GentleLASE alone has an unchangeable pulse width. In the combo unit, the pulse width is variable, making it safer and more effective to use the alexndrite on you if you are more of a type IV.

Packages usually are cheaper, but smarter?..not necessarily.

#10

It sounds like the tech knows what she’s talking about, which she should since she’s the one doing treatments. GentleYAG will still work, but best on the very coarse hair. GentleLASE is more powerful and will affect more hair from the start. You shouldn’t get patchy results if they overlap properly by 10% or so when treating. You will be able to judge the coverage by the shedding. If a good portion doesn’t shed within 3 weeks, you need to make sure they give you a touchup for free at that point.

You look light enough for GentleLASE judging by those pictures, given the lighting is realistic.

I wouldn’t buy a package just yet. I would do one smaller area first and see how shedding goes. Ask what settings she’s planning on using on you. You should also check out 3-4 other clinics to compare things before you start anything.

And yes, LHR hurts, especially on coarse dense growth. Get a numbing cream and ice afterwards.

In terms of future growth, LHR at high enough settings will kill the current hair for good. But your body will develop some more hair into your late 20s. So you may need some touchups later. It won’t all go back to what it was before or anything. Just some NEW growth once in a while.

#11

LAgirl, do you mean that GentleLASE can affect less coarse hair? Could it be worthwhile to use it on arms with dark hair and light skin, for example? Hoping to save some money here…

#12

No laser will affect fine hair. If the hair is somewhere in between, there is some chance sometimes that GentleLASE can affect it. It just depends. I wouldn’t count on it. For some hair it’s worth trying, for some it’s not. It really depends on each specific situation.

#13

Does a good tech use some sort of marking before they start with the laser so not to miss areas like drawing quadrants with a marker? Should I request a tech to draw them so they won’t miss spots?

#14

Yes, they can do that with a white or red pencil. You should shave about 2 days beforehand so there is a bit of stubble visible.

#15

I had a look at your photos. you don’t look very hairy on your shoulders (although the photos don’t give the full picture).

Remember the shoulders for men are one of the most hormonal parts of the body. If the hair is fine and sparse I would not touch it with the laser because you might stimulate more hair in that area.

#16

I don’t see any pictures of shoulders at all. They’re all from the front…Do you have closeups of the shoulder hair?

#17

Sorry I missed the new posts in this thread. I’m going to wait for my shoulder hair to grow out to the max so the photo can be somewhat more accurate than it will be now. I know for sure that my shoulder hair is not as coarse as the chest or abs.

How common is it that if the laser hits finer areas it will stimulate new hair growth? Even if the laser stimulates new hair growth, can’t you just re do that area later on? Also, I understand that lasers can’t pickup the light pigmented hairs, but why don’t lasers successfully target finer dark hairs like they do with coarse hairs? Wouldn’t it make more sense that a laser beam should transfer more energy into less hairs, than having to spread the same beam energy over more hairs?

#18

Laser works by being attracted to pigment. Coarse dark hair has the most pigment. The finer the hair, the less there is to target, so the less energy is delivered to the follicle, i.e. not enough to disable it permanently.

Male shoulders is one of those areas that experience induced growth often. So I wouldn’t risk it if I were you and go straight for electrolysis there.

#19

I had time to take more photos and make a gallery. Most pics are without the flash and some with the flash to show difference. The shoulder hair is as full as it gets and chest and stomach hair is not trimmed and pretty much fully grown. I also took very up close pics of my ab area to show red acne/bumps as a result from ingrown hair caused by waxing. These bumps/marks are not going away completely since May of this year. I have tried TendSkin and other products to make the marks go away. If I start treatment now, will I risk damaging/scarring my skin while these ingrown hair bumps (acne on shoulders) still persist? Do I have to wait till my skin is completely cleared or it is not a problem during laser treatment?
http://img136.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=img1521n.jpg

#20

The shoulders have very little hair and it’s somewhat coarse, but not too dense. I would really leave that for electrolysis. It’s not a lot of hair to treat with it at all and will be gone for sure.

The front of your body is definitely good for laser.

Don’t worry about the ingrowns. Laser will be great for those areas as it will push the hairs out.