I would like to have my fairly heavy beard removed (or at least very, very greatly reduced)permanently. I have dark hair, fairly light skin, although I do have some grey hairs in my beard as well. I’m in my 40’s. Can anyone enlighten me as to the best laser method to use? I know, at best, laser can only do hair reduction, but that might be a good start. Since this is on my face I want to avoid scarring. Many thanks for your help.
Electrolysis clients have told me that laser was very painful and brutal on their skin. You have a lot of hairs groing close together, and even if you use minimal laser settings, it can be too much to bear. Try a patch test first and see how it goes. Also make sure they don’t lower your settings beyond the point where it gets ineffective.
Reduction claimed be lasers might not be what you think it is. The FDA classification of permanent reduction, is in 4 - 12 mo after stopping treatment. They did not test it beyond 12 mo. If it all comes back in 24 mo, why bother at all?
Get these questions answered before investing your hard earned money.
Why not do electrolysis instead, if you’re looking for permanent hair removal?
i also have fair skin and dark, thick hair
i am actually in the process of having this done w/laser…i’m on treatment #3, and i’m not totally satisfied at this point. it seemed that most of my grew back after treatment #2 (just had #3 done so it’s hard to tell at this point how effective that treatment was.)
things i didn’t like:
-the settings used, i felt like i was fed excuses as to - in my case - why the “power” of the laser wasn’t increased at this point …i felt like “what’s the use in me coming in”…if it’s not removing hair at this setting, then the power needed to be increased.
-my face looked awful - like it was bruised. expect to look pretty bad for at least 7-10 days after it’s done.
-it hurts bad…plus it stinks
Will, what type of laser removal are you using?
I am having my beard reduced with the Aurora. I just had my 4th treatment 3 days ago. So far I have a really good reduction. I have no desire to have the beard completely removed, but wanted a much less heavy beard. I am really impressed so far, and the best part is I can go out in public right after the treatments, and have very minimal trauma to my skin. Read my other posts if you want more info. As far as Electrolysis goes, on a heavy male beard, you will entire a life altering world of torturous treatments, potential scarring, and constant hiding of healing skin and thousands upon thousands of dollars payed over years of treatments. Each treatment of electrolysis, while only a half hour or hour, will include prepping your face with topical anaesthetic, travel to the office, and a possible wait in the office, done over and over and over. Electrology would become a painful and humiliating lifestyle. The treatments with the Aurora take about 20 minutes, hurt a little bit, and then you can go on with your life. So far the results seem permanent. Even if I have to get a touch up treatment once a year, my god, compared to the nightmare of Electrology on the face! By the way, I don’t see anywhere that mentions the FDA monitoring Electrologies reults for 2 or 5 years to determine clearance for permanency, why do electrologists on this Forum keep insisting that laser needs to be held up to these standards? In fact, it is my understanding that much of the FDA’s clearance for Electrology to site “permanent removal” was Granfathered in when the FDA was formed, based on testimonials from Electrologists. I might be mistaken, but I thought that Fino Gior’s copyrighted stardards for permanet removal are for hair to be studied over a nine week period, or something like that? In any case, not years.
Redhead, did you use an anaesthetic cream on your beard when undergoing Aurora treatments?
Yes, although I’m not sure of the name because the Doctor provides it. I show up about a half hour before my appt. and he applies it. When I was doing Electrolysis I used a compound that was prescribed called triple creme(?), that had to be covered with seran wrap to work. This stuff does not. I use it because the face is so sensitive, but when I get my chest and back treated later this year I don’t think it will be necessary based on a patch test I got, that I could barely feel.
Has anyone used Lightsheer to remove a beard? I seem to be hearing good results with that laser. I am looking for a good practioner in San Francisco, if anyone has any recommendations.
I have used the diode once on my beard, but because of the difficult color of my hair I did not continue with treatments. I can tell you it really, really hurt, and took a feww weeks to heal. A user named Bebba posts in this Forum, and is having her face treated with the Diode, with good results. Try to find some of her posts. I think the most important thing is to find a really experienced and involved Laser Tech, so finding someone qualified in your area should be your most important job. I would think that San Francisco should have a lot of people with experience, and hopefully someone on this Forum can help you find one. If not you could start looking around yourself, and check back with this Forum to discuss what kind of places you are thinking about, and see if people have any suggestions or input.
I am using the LightSheer Diode Laser - glad to hear that it’s working for some…I’ve gotten the impression that it’s hard to predict who it works for…right now the “jury’s out” on if it’s working for me.
Willl, I knew you were talking about the Lightsheer when you mentioned the “brusing”. It was a pretty brutal treatment, the one and only time I had this machine used on my face. I have had many treatments(3 or 4) with the Lightsheer on my chest, back, and arms. I had a permanent reduction in size, color, and coarseness of hair. By permanent, I mean that these results have been stable for over 5 years. I did not see much “removal” of hair because of my problematic hair color. People have different responses to Laser and Electrolysis, and I think that the skill of the practitioner is of utmost importance. Even then, you still might get less then optimal results for other reasons, some unkown and some undetected (like hormone levels). So far my treatments with the Aurora are like my treatments with Electroysis, in that in addition to having finer regrowth, I am also seeing actual removal of hair. The difference of coarse being nowhere near the time, money or trauma of Electrolysis. Willl, do you mind if I ask what your hair removal goals are (complete removal or just a big reduction)?
redhead, i couldn’t agree with you more about the importance of the practitioner. the first time i had it done, the practitioner that wouldn’t up the setting on my third try had missed some spots the first time. i had splotches of hair that wasn’t even touched! luckily the #2 visit was done by someone that covered my face completely; plus, she didn’t have a problem upping my settings.
i’ll be honest with you…a reduction in hair would be fine with me, although permanent would be nice. right now, with what i’ve seen so far, i’m happy tosettle on the reduction, though.
I definitely think you should expect the reduction to be permanent. Permanent removal of some hairs (If you have dark hair), and a permanent reduction in others. It’s just that complete and total smooth removal (if you needed that as a result) would have to involve a lot of Electrology at some point no matter what. I would think that if you are a good candidate for Laser and have a good practitioner, that you have chosen the most logical way to achieve your goals. If you find areas, at the end, that need to be evened out and made more symetrical, you could maybe use an Electrolorist like sort of a landscaper.
Hey, I am a young male student who also became tired of shaving all the time. I browed this forum a lot in the past year or so and found a lot of good information before I actually underwent the procedure.
My experience with beard reduction has been pretty positive. I had three treatments with a yd-nag (sp?) laser 10 weeks apart and have noticed about a 15 percent reduction in the density of the hair after each treatment. It was a pretty uniform reduction and the amount that remains is good because i can still grow a beard if i want to. The effect seems permanant but it has not yet been a year since my first treatment. Ill just have to wait and see i guess.
When it comes to beard removal, I think that the experience of the practitioner is key. There is some really good information on this forum on this subject, and you should run a search function to read some good past posts.
I found a good doctor in Chicago (Dr. Ghidorzi) after researching both this forum and talking to other people. Try to find someone who has had the procedure done. And ask plenty of questions during any consultation with a specialist.
Tell us more, Ghost!
-
Did you experience much pain/bruising?
-
You say you’ve got enough left to grow a beard if you want to. That’s the kind of result I’d like, but I’d heard that the beard tended to end up quite patchy. I certainly wouldn’t want large clumps of hair on one area, and nothing in another… How have you found this?
I also have fairly thick hair on my face and am looking for a treatment for permanent reduction. I have had 3 IPL treatments and have seen some reduction, but it is very patchy (some spots have very little hair while most of my face seems uneffected). Does this patchiness happen with laser treatments? Also, I experience a lot of bumpiness on my skin for about 8-10 days after treatment. Does laser have this effect?
Hi willl
I seem to agree about the pain, the red spot too. In fact, for me it’s been 7 days since my first treatment with the ND:YAG at 35/30 and I still ahve red spots on my cheeks/neck. You can see images here: Images . However, it seems like a slow process. Did you get a similar reaction?
</font><blockquote><font size=“1” face=“Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif”>quote:</font><hr /><font size=“2” face=“Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif”>Originally posted by willl:
<strong>i also have fair skin and dark, thick hair
i am actually in the process of having this done w/laser…i’m on treatment #3, and i’m not totally satisfied at this point. it seemed that most of my grew back after treatment #2 (just had #3 done so it’s hard to tell at this point how effective that treatment was.)
things i didn’t like:
-the settings used, i felt like i was fed excuses as to - in my case - why the “power” of the laser wasn’t increased at this point …i felt like “what’s the use in me coming in”…if it’s not removing hair at this setting, then the power needed to be increased.
-my face looked awful - like it was bruised. expect to look pretty bad for at least 7-10 days after it’s done.
-it hurts bad…plus it stinks</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size=“2” face=“Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif”>
Thanks for sharing your photos, Markov!
I have just had my 10th Lightsheer treatment. I am now in a 4-month “maintenance” mode, and schedule my appointments that way even though it would look better if I went every 3 months instead.
The short-term results are excellent, nearly 100% of my black hair fall off, but some does grow back.
On my upper lip I get near total regrowth after maybe 2 months, I don’t know why. On my cheeks and chin I get maybe half of what I used to have before I started the treatments 2 years ago. And on my neck and throat I get something a third of what I used to have.
Maybe I should stop going but I am addicted to the “clean” look I get in the weeks following the treatments…