Are all YAGs created equal?

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

Are the GentleYag, Cutera Coolglide, and the Cynosure Elite on the YAG setting pretty much comparable in quality/results?

And, can settings across these be comparable?

I was treated with the Cynosure with the Yag setting/wavelength at a certain X value of settings and observed decent results. (I was also treated on the Alexandrite wavelength/setting which is now my preference but that’s another story)

Then I was treated at another place with a different Yag machine and I observed much less pain and almost no results, and I noticed the settings had been set to much lower values, the technician advising these were safer for my skin (I’m a type III). Sounds fishy to me. I wont seek these Yag treatments anymore, but I still have to deal with finishing my package. How can I fairly discuss higher settings with this technician?

Thanks!

#2

If you’re a type III (i.e. pale-ish), you should be going with an alex laser, not a YAG. If you’re bordering on skin type IV, stick with a YAG. I just read you posted that after I already typed this, and I don’t feel like deleting it lol.

The GentleYAG (my preference) and Cynosure Elite are both good lasers. I’ve heard less about the Coolglide. The gentleyag has an 18mm spot size where the highest on the elite is the 15mm, so you may not be able to directly compare, but if the spot sizes are equal, then you’re more able to cross-compare.

Honestly, if your tech is using low settings to begin with, you’re very unlikely to persuade them to crank it up.

#3

Thanks.
I do think I’m bordering Type IV, but when filling out the questionnaire and reviewing with the tech I seemed to end up on the upper edge of Type III every time.

Her concern was that I was turning a little red. But it was literally very “little”. At the other/previous place, my skin had a much higher redness reaction and the tech would say that was ok. It always goes away after a few hours or a day at the most.

Why wouldn’t they crank it up if there are no results? Because they want to play it safe and not really interested in results, nor repeat customers? I’ll talk to them and find out more about results and what they think, hopefully they’re upfront.

Thank you again.

#4

They sound like they are being cautious. They don’t want to burn you. After reading the recent Laser Lawsuit thread, it is understandable.