A guy's treatment diary

Hair Removal Methods Professional Electrolysis
#41

Still going with electrolysis on my right side. It’s looking really good in term so having little regrowth even 3 weeks between treatments. We are down to just a small patch on my lower back as the last remaining “new” area. Soon I will be doing regrowth only my entire right back and some of my side (the part I care about). I’m down to 4 hours a month.

There is still a lot of hyper and hypo-pigmentation, but I think the skin quality has improved a bunch since my last photos. I still have these strange white spots in places where a hair emerged from the skin. And there are some places where I think I am scarred a tiny amount. I believe this is mostly on my upper arm and shoulder, although this could just be a consequence of being the only place I can actively observe. Nevertheless, the spotting is not visible from any normal distance. One thing that’s encouraging is that a lot of the red spots are going away on the upper body, which to me means that so much of the skin problems is related to hair regrowth pushing on skin from the underside. Now that the hair is gone, the skin is looking better. Lots of red marks remain on parts of my back where the electrolysis is more recent and the hair is not totally dead yet.

Still looking for a laser provider, and I really want to get it done soon because my left back is killing me in shirts. I love the way a smooth shoulder and back feels. I’ve entertained the Tria…

#42

Have you checked out LaserAway? They use Apogee Elite alex, not GentleLASE, but it may be worth a shot.

Have you checked out any more places with GentleLASE in town?

Here are some places that have it I believe:

  • Image Care in Beverly Hills
  • Laser Institute for Dermatology www.shamban-md.com
  • James Sternberg MD
  • Naficy K Mitchell MD
  • Cedars Sinai 310 659 8771
  • Epione (hairlessinla on this forum got results here 6+ yrs ago)
  • John Gross MD
  • T.R. Dermatology and Laser in Encino
  • Joshua Wieder MD
  • Envy Laser in Sherman Oaks
  • Beautech Laser Cosmetic in Studio City
#43

I’m going in for another consultation with a guy in downtown LA next Saturday. Hopefully it’ll be inexpensive and he will be willing to give it a go. It’s a GentleLASE MAX, and I’ll be pushing for the alexandrite. If the stars align, I’ll have begun phase II of the experiment.

#44

Thanks for your dedication, bryce. I’m sure many were tuning in to phase I and will keep watching phase II.

Dee

#45

Today I was treated on my left back and shoulder using the GentleMAX / alex using 20J/18mm/5ms. The nurse considered using 18J/3ms, but opted for the latter instead. Compared to 2-4 hour electrolysis appointments, the pain was laughable.

Price was extremely fair. Advertised per-session price for full back was $200, shoulders $125. They charged me half of that, since there was only half to do. Total price $162.50.

In and out in an hour. Will describe the shedding in a few weeks.

#46

Good settings. Everything sounds good. Looking forward to your results and analysis. And it would be nice to have another recommendation in LA for someone who’s using a good machine at high settings. This sounds like it may fit the bill. There have been a bunch of people looking for a Yag in LA.

#47

I have to say, it was the most pain-free transaction with respect to terms and conditions that I went through. Every place I ever went for a consultation had me fill out a ton of paper work. This place was different. There was a Fitzpatrick scale paper that asked a bunch of questions and assigned scores (that was the first time I’ve seen that). They asked for basic billing info (NOT SSN, which I fight not to hand out, so that was a plus not to have to hassle with that). Finally, this was the only place that did not have me sign a mandatory arbitration agreement. This was important to me as a consumer rights activist, since those companies almost always find in favor of the corporation–even on appeal. Plus the nurse was cute ;).

#48

That’s definitely interesting. I have yet to find a laser place that doesn’t require you to sign that arbitration agreement. Are they new in this business? GentleMax is relatively new. Do you know if they used other lasers before?

#49

Is the GentleMax by Candela? What is it?

#50

It’s a relatively new machine by Candela which is basically GentleLASE and GentleYAG in one. Kinda like Apogee Elite, but with bigger spot size.

#51

Laser treatment #2 coming mid-January. It will be 10 weeks since my first. I had a great hair-free 8 or so weeks, although she missed a few spots. We’ll be sure to get them all this time. There’s a good bit of growth now on my upper left back, and very little on the lower back. I guess they grow in at different rates. Hopefully there will be enough growth everywhere at week 10.

Unfortunately my electrolysis has hit a snag. My practitioner became seriously ill and has not been able to work, and I have not had electrolysis since late September of 2008. I haven’t had the desire to find a replacement and just hope she gets well soon so as to be able to continue our work. I have to say, there isn’t a whole lot of any any hair growing on the upper right shoulder and back, which is pretty nice. The lower right back and side has much more growth because these areas had about 50% fewer hours done.

I am still disappointed with my skin quality on the electrolysis side. There are hundreds of tiny (prick mark) to mid-sized (pin head) white spots. Some are flat, some have a minor bulge. There’s also some red spots, which probably have a hair that wants to get out. It will probably take years to recover on the skin, or I may need to get some other treatment to shed these bad layers of skin. I just hope it’s not permanent. This phenomenon appears most prevalent on my shoulder and upper arm. The mid back looks very clean.

#52

Laser treatment #2 today on my left back and shoulder. Minor to moderate pain, but much less of a reaction this time. The hair was thinner diameter for sure, and there was less of it. So I think less pain makes sense. 20 J/cm2, 18mm spot, and 5ms again. Lots of pepper spots that were lodged in the skin literally exploded out. That was somewhat fun to see.

Will let you all know how things shape up in another 6-8 weeks.

I need to find another electrolysis practitioner asap, too.

#53

Laser treatment #3 today, 10 weeks after #2. Same laser, new practitioner, lowered the 5ms setting to 3ms, so I was getting maximum power in minimum time. And I felt it. Lower back is responding best, I think. I haven’t seen a hair there in months.

The new tech said I looked scarred all over my right side from the electrolysis. I bet she’s right. I think the treatment energy was too high. Might have to get some microdermabrasion to help with that down the line. But still very little hair growth on that side.

#54

I am sorry to report that last month my electrolysis practitioner, Mary Albrecht of Riverside, CA and a graduate of AIE, passed away of lung cancer complications. She explained to me that she was sick last September and we stopped treatment at that time until she could recoup. I got to know her pretty well from all our time on the table and feel sad she’s gone.

#55

Condolences to you Bryce on loosing your new friend. It is sad thing indeed. Years ago. I was shocked to hear that my electrologist died of pancreatic cancer. She kept it very quiet and died soon after her diagnosis. To this very day, I am sorry that I never got to hug her and tell her good-bye. I think about her everyday as we were very close.

#56

I know how you feel.
My first electrolysis provider was a woman that I wished I could have Sunday Brunch with every week. She talked me into learning the trade from her because she wanted to pass on her business to someone who she thougth would learn it well, and care about the clients. Sad to say, I broke her heart by not buying out her business when the apprenticeship was over (I really only did that to humor her, as I really did not see myself doing this as an occupation) and she sold to someone who never really got as good as she was.

Later I found out why she was doing what she was doing. Whereas I thought she was just looking forward to spending comfortable days traveling and laying on the beaches, she was in fact dieing and had wanted me to carry on her work.

Years later, I was brought in as an emergency fill in for a person who was having back surgery, and was thought to be unable to continue with the profession. None of this person’s clients wanted to see that strange dude they didn’t know even though they were told that there was no knowing when, or IF their beloved friend would ever remove another hair again. The only people who ever did see me during that stint were those who talked to their beloved provider from the hospital bed, and the clients of mine who followed me to this other state to continue their treatments. (hey, if you are already flying in, and the cost is the same, does it make a difference what city you are flying to?)

It is strange how there are some people you meet, and your life is changed. I tell people that although the sign says that I do electrolysis, what I really am is a Professional Best Friend. I don’t know many doctors who are regularly invited to their patients weddings, much less asked to participate in the ceremony and sit at the head table.

Big hug to you Bryce for your loss. Trust me, I know how you feel.

#57

I have to get this out. I am not too happy that I will have to leave my electrologist and continue the treatments somewhere else. It has been hard on me the last few weeks. She is just such a wonderful person to talk to, and I will miss that. I don’t know how to tell her how much she meant. (No I am not in love with her, it’s just like James said you meet someone and your life changes) :frowning:

#58

Quick update:

Jun 8, 2009 - Laser treatment #4, 18mm, 20J, 3ms

Aug 17, 2009 - Laser treatment #5, 18mm, 20J, 3ms (there was less regrowth this time, and less pain during treatment).

Still have not resumed electrolysis on the right side.

#59

Bryce, have you tried anyone I reviewed here for electrolysis in LA? Tina at Zap, Robin Harris, or Sabrena Smith? Give each of them a try and see who you like best.

Btw, can you recommend the laser clinic now? It’d be great to have a GentleMAX provider in LA in the mix here. It sounds like they’re willing to use high settings, so that’s always great to have in the back pocket for others here.

#60

Hi Bryce:

I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your friend.

I consider my electrologist to be a good friend and I
would be extremely sad if something like that happened to her.