"Accidental" hair removal with YAG... Thoughts?

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

I am a male who has been undergoing laser treatments for sun-damaged skin on the neck and face. My laser technician recently tried a new setting on me, using a Cynergy Cynosure. It has a “multiplex” mode which does a double-shot of PDL and YAG laser in each spot treated. 10 days or so after the treatment, I noticed complete hair loss in places that had been targeted by the laser. The laser was applied in a spotty approach since the treatment was supposed to be for skin lesions.

The following settings were used:

Multiplex Mode
Spot size: 7
PDL Joules: 9
YAG Joules: 30

PDL pulse width: 10 ms
YAG pulse width: 15 ms
Delay setting: short
125 pulses

Unfortunately, because I have a very dark and coarse beard, the lack of 5 o’clock shadow in specific small spots on my jawline and neck is now very awkward and noticeable late in the day. It’s been 6 weeks and the spots are still bare. Will this hair ever come back?

Based on some web research I would expect a larger spot size, fluence, and pulse width would be needed when using a YAG to permanently eliminate hair. I have coarse dark beard hair and light skin, so I am a type-III skin or lighter. I know only time will tell but hoping for some other reassurance other than what my laser office says. Thanks…

#2

I’m not aware of settings on this laser and hence, I can’t tell you with 100% guarantee that the hair will come back. But I guess it will, as the 7 spot size is too small to cause any permanent damage to deeply rooted male facial hair. It might become somewhat fine though …which shouldn’t be a major concern since the hair from the next 2 cycles will be thick and make up for it. You should be fine.

#3

Thanks mumbaigirl, I hope you are right that it comes back, but also thick enough to look semi-consistent with the rest of my face.

I’ve been reading everything I can get my hands on about laser technology and it actually seems surprising I had the shedding with the small spot size. 7 weeks now though and I still have to shave at least one if not two times a day to bring down the shadow on the adjacent areas so as not to look like a blotchy freak. This is not fun. :frowning:

#4

:frowning: I can understand…Be patient. Things should even out in the next 4 months.