Decided to have laser done on back and upper back trap area. Went through first treatment with gentleLase 18 spot 18J made me grit teeth but skin tolerated fine. I am fitzpatrick 3 with course black hair and am older in 40’s. I don’t have alot of hope with this as I don’t see many stories regarding back hair removal success if any but I decided I have to try something. I’m only 3 days later and already feel stubble coming in the treatment areas.From what I have researched this laser is the best for black course hair and if it doesnt work I will not get results from any other laser. Since my skin handled the 18J settings ok should I ask the Tech to bump to 20J for next treatment? Also would like to hear from men who have had any success at all with back hair removal
You’re getting a good treatment. Those are good settings. The stubble is treated hair coming out to shed, so everything sounds fine. Please let us know if all hair sheds in 3 weeks.
If i shave the area now would I still be able to determine amount of shedding?
Yes, though shedding happens faster if you let it grow because the hairs can rub on clothing etc to help them out.
Should I have them bump next treatment to 20J or is there not much diff between 18 and 20? Week in so far and growth seems to have slowed but definately coming back in. What bugs me is even on this forum I dont see many men speaking of back hair removal success meaning a significant reduction. Are there any know instances?
20J is better but 18J is very effective. If it doesn’t work on 18J, it’s unlikely 20J would make a difference. Yes, there are some success stories:
http://www.cosmeticenhancementsforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3909
No need to go up in joules. Those are good settings. Please try to be patient for 3 weeks to see shedding happen. You can’t judge anything at this point just yet.
Yes, plenty of success stories on the right type of hair. Many men treat the wrong hair type (not coarse and dense). http://www.cosmeticenhancementsforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4107
Lagirl what about that chance of induced hair growth on any finer hair areas with the higher 18J setting? I heard that a lower setting may cause this but also heard the higher setting would not. Just concerned with a chance of induced growth of any finer hairs treated on me as they treated my entire back.
You shouldn’t be treating any finer hair to begin with. You have a chance of experiencing induced growth at all setting levels on fine hair. Fine hair should be treated with electrolysis.
Is the induced growth more prone with a certain skin type?
Do you mean oily, dry, normal when referring to skin type ?
No I meant fitzpatrick scale I read darker skin types are more prone to induced hair growth. Im Fitz III. On another note I also read hair that is starting to come back in a week after first treatment that is stubble is hair that is new and wasnt treated. I hope thats not the case cause still looks same density to me
Some say darker skin is more prone to it, but it can happen easily to anyone with finer hair. Don’t risk it.
You can’t tell anything 1 week after laser treatment. Growing hair and hair coming out to shed looks the same. Shedding typically doesn’t start until 10 days after the treatment.
10 days in and the regrowth is very slow on my backs flanks but upper back seems to have some slowness in regrowth but not much. Is slow regrowth a good sign? I dont think I will shed by 21 days as the hair is to short right now and doesn’t seem like it will grow out enough in next 10 days or so to shed? Usually with like a cream to remove the hair 10 days afterwards would be much longer than it is now post laser.
LOL. You are worrying too much! Stop observing your hair and just use a loofah in the shower for next 2 weeks. You’ll be fine.
You can’t predict what will happen at 21 days. Please just be patient for now. Can’t judge anything at this point yet. There is NO way to tell anything right now.
if you’re serious and a gambler go for it. If you can swallow a loss and not necessarily get anything in return get dialing 
you pays your money you takes your chance
Question I have is in regards to shedding. Ok I hear shedding occurrs like 3 weeks after treatment. In my case my back had been completely shaved before treatment and im 2 weeks in with stubble and no real length to any of the hairs, in fact i can barely feel the stubble. I am wondering if when you were talking about shedding in 3 weeks if that is referring to laser on existing hair that had not been shaved? I only have a week for 3 weeks since first treatment and I can tell you know there is no way with the regrowth I have that it will become long enough to shed.
Sounds like the hair has stopped growing, it will take some time to push it’s way out of the follicle (the shedding). This is a good sign!
Please wait 3 weeks and exfoliate to help the hair out. If it’s not growing as usual after 3 weeks, it was affected. Sometimes, you see pepperspots, but they come out later.