Advice on my LHR Journey

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

Hey guys,

Great to have access to this forum and see that other people can relate to these concerns.

I had my first laser treatment on December 3, 2015 with a Candela GentleLase (do not know the settings) on my back, shoulders, and upper arms. Results were good and hair is starting to grow back now. However, I completely underestimated my pain tolerance and was very uncomfortable during the treatment…I cannot go through that again. After some research and visiting some places I have come to the conclusion that I want to continue my treatments at a new place that offer the Lumeins Lightsheer Duet. It is less painful, considerably cheaper, and faster…agreed? Thoughts?

Here are some pics:

1y9z6g.jpg1600×1200

29h1jd.jpg1536×2048

2aajy1v.jpg2048×1536

2wc3ept.jpg2048×1536

2b89qo.jpg2048×1536

2jcxtg.jpg960×1280

2ytrx5d.jpg1536×2048

1z3b0jk.jpg1536×2048

In the pictures, you can see that my hair is black which creates a stark contrast from my skin. Since I had my upper arms and shoulders done, my arms look out of place now…should I treat my arms to blend in? Lastly, my chest and stomach is very dense (in the pictures the area is trimmed) and would like to get a nice even reduction in the area. Anyone have experience or knowledge on treating the chest/stomach area? My main concern is to keep a natural and even look.

Thanks

#2

There is no technology out there currently on the market that provides PAINLESS permanent hair removal. What you’re planning to opt for is an inferior diode laser that is set to lower energy settings. The same diode laser can hurt as much as the Gentlelase if the settings are aggressive.

Go back to the Gentlelase which is a superior laser for your skin type. For pain management, the strategy is to not reduce energy levels but to use a topical numbing cream like LMX 5% or EMLA. The only way to assure best possible outcomes with laser is to get the most aggressive treatments your skin type can handle with each session. You will need 4-6 treatments for a good reduction on your chest and stomach. I don’t think you will get any results on your back because the hair is too sparse.

#3

fenix,

Thanks for your response. Yes, I understand there is no technology out there that is painless; however, I actually had my second treatment today with the Lightsheer and I was significantly more comfortable compared to my first session with the GentleLase.

The picture of my back here is actually 6 weeks after my first session with the GentleLase. It may be hard to tell in the picture, but the hair is reasonably dense there (as you can see the rest of my body is very dense as well). The settings for my treatment today were 10.2 with the Lightsheer. Not sure where that falls on intensity though.

You really think I would be wasting my time and money continuing treatments with the Lightsheer? I have read of people getting great results with this machine and most of all I can tolerate it.

Thanks

#4

Fenix is dead on about effectiveness, go back to the gentlelase if you are going to do laser.Also the first session always hurts more than subsequent sessions so you may not have as hard a time of it with the gentlelase .Lidocaine cream will help immensely.

I’m not the biggest fan of laser effectiveness wise but using the RIGHT laser makes huge difference

Seana

#5

Since I had a treatment today, I will have to wait at least 6 weeks before going back. I will evaluate the results then.

The areas treated today were my back, shoulders, and upper arms. The after effects seems to by much less intense than my first treatment with the GentleLase (many more follicles were raised and red). Today, the areas are red and the individual follicles as well; however, some follicles seem to not be effected. Can this be because they were not active for this treatment?

*I can post pics if needed

Also, Seana…based off my pictures do you think my arms can be thinned out with electrolysis without having to do a full clearance?

Thanks

#6

vmv243 absolutely they can be thinned out with electrolysis, and elctrolysis is the way to do that. Laser isnt designed to thin in the same manner, electrolysis takes it hair by hair.

there can be a lot of reasons why a hair may be unaffected. Different colored roots, out of phase, or just not enough energy. I wont confess to being much of an “expert” with laser or why certain follicles die and others just the same dont.

Seana

#7

So its been over 24hrs seen my second treatment (with the Lightsheer Duet) and the redness has pretty much completely subsided. The redness and raised follicles from my first treatment with the Candela GentleLase lasted much longer.

Now that the redness has subsided, I can see some of the tips of my hairs throughout the treated area. I can’t quite remember what the area looked like after my first treatment. Any thoughts on how my treated areas should look now?

Thanks

#8

To be honest, and as blunt as this may sound, I’d suck it up and go with a Gentlelase. Yes it hurts, but it’s probably the best laser available for pale skin and dark hair.

What you’re asking us to do is to try and justify whether or not you got sufficient treatment based on how the treated site looks. The problem with that is that it’s too subjective. If you want to know if you’re getting good treatment, I would advise calling the place you got treated with the gentlelase and the place you got the lightsheer duet treatment, and ask for settings used (namely joules/fluence, spot size, and pulse width). That’s the only way to know for certain if you’re being treated properly.

#9

Brenton - Using the GentleLase seems to be the general consensus. The settings for the Lightsheer was 10.2 joules, does that mean anything? In regards to my first treatment with the GentleLase, I am not sure.

You think there is any harm in bouncing back between lasers? And have you had any experience with numbing creams…are they actually helpful?

Thanks for the advice

#10

Is that the one with the giant laser head or the small 9x9 head? To be honest, I don’t know because that’s the one laser with such a giant size that it’s hard to figure out the equivalent between that and the Gentlelase. It certainly may work (looks like 12J is the max), but I can’t be as certain on this one like I can for gentlelase.

There’s no real harm on it I could imagine, provided that the treatment spacing is appropriate, but most people aren’t usually bouncing between lasers. I’ve done numbing, and to be honest, unless they’re going to inject lidocaine into you (which even that doesn’t fully numb all the pain), it’s not really worth it. If the place will numb you for free with cream, I don’t see why not to do it, but it’s not going to make a big difference.

#11

The Lumeins I was treated with was 22 x 35 mm.

Its been two days since my second treatment, and I am starting to have my doubts about this treatment. The area treated (upper arms, shoulders, back) seem to have a number of hair shafts showing just above the surface…they do not budge when pulled on. I was under the impression that the hair is either removed or burned off during the treatment and the only time hair becomes visible is during their regrowth or shedding phase…correct?

#12

I did a total 6 treatments on back/shoulders with the Lightsheer about 10 years ago. (Disclaimer: one or two of the later treatments might have been another laser because I seem to remember them wanting to try something else). It hurt a lot so they weren’t holding back. The place I went to is very credible, has physicians with dermatology specialization on staff, and has been in business for a long time.

My hair is very dark brown, but not completely black. From your lower arms you look just like I do now. I’m guessing your chest and stomach is trimmed, but except for your fitness you look just like me when it comes to growth patterns and amount.

It always grew back 1-2 months after treatments. There might have been some slight reduction, but not that I could notice at the time or now. I realize that more hair comes in with age, so again, insert disclaimer here.

I’m not trying to discourage you, and I would also tell you not to expect any major effect until you’re into the 3rd+ treatment on the areas you are doing. But a case like my lack of results is indeed a possibility even if everything is done ‘right’.

#13

Hey Joheu,

Thanks for your response. Can you confirm you were treated with the Lightsheer Duet (22 x 35 mm spot size)?

Its been probably close to a month since my second treatment with the Duet on my (back, upper arms, shoulders). There seems to be a reduction; however, still will need more treatments. My concern now is that there is a pretty stark contrast between my upper arms and lower arms (you can see in the pics on the first page). Would anyone be able to weigh in on having their arms treated? I would only be looking to reduce the hair count since it is quite plentiful on my arms. I’m not sure if this part of the body is more risky or not…thoughts?

Second, I am really trying to muster up the courage to treat my chest as well. You can see in my pics that I have a full chest pattern that is quite dense. Those that have had their chest/stomach treated…can you shed some light on whether or not you experienced an even looking regrowth pattern? Again, I would be aiming to reduce the hair count on this area as well.

Thanks

#14

I don’t believe the duet was around ten years ago, I am sure it was a different model that joheu used. I will agree with you in that the duet has very little pain associated with it. I have done my back, chest, stomach, armpits, upper arms, and brazillian area with it and the only area that had any pain at all was a few areas around the twins. I will also say that I do have a high pain tolerance, so that may play into it also.

As far as thinning it out, you are better off using electrolosis for that. You could try laser but there is no fine control over it and it would more than likely come out patchy.

When it comes to shedding, I have noticed the hairs start to fall out in about 7-10 days but they really start coming out after about 2-3 weeks. I haven’t finished my treatments yet so I cannot tell you how well it worked yet but so far so good.

#15

It has been a long time, so it might indeed have been a different Lightsheer. Possibly the Diode. I’m sorry about the confusion, I did not pay much attention to technical details at that time.

#16

Hi vmv, I know its been a couple months since the last post and I was just wondering what progress you’ve in terms of your upper arms. I had stimulated growth there and now have gone to a different, much more qualified, laser technician and am currently getting it removed but there still seems to be this stark difference between top and bottom so was just wondering how you’re going about this as it does not seem natural at all to me.