Best settings for Apogee Elite MPX

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

Hey everyone I’m new here been lurking for awhile. Done a bunch of laser previously here in Vancouver with the Apogee Elite laser. I’ve done forearms, face a bit underarms etc. I’m 27 years old male, and high skin type 3, pushing 4 since I have a native/european background. In the winter I’m type 3 and always do alexandrite, but even now it’s been 2.5 months since I’ve actually tanned in the sun and my tech still thinks I’m too dark for alexandrite that I need to wait a bit.

Anyway, I jsut found a new clinic that has better prices but uses the new elite MPX system. I’ve emailed my old clinic to find out my laser levels used previously and can post here soon but the new clinic is asking me what settings I used before and seems knowledgeable. I was treated with GentleLASE before which I know has a really low pulse width, but I’m pretty sure with the elite, they use something like 20 or 25ms for pulse which seems high. I know I can handle more so I wanted to try to tell the new clinic that I use higher settings than I actually do. Does anyone know what the minimum settings on it would be on the alexandrite mode or the multiplex mode for best results? This laser has the 18mm spot size, but just wondering what the max pulse width should be, the minimum joules etc? Just so I can compare to what I’m being treated with now. Thanks SO MUCH!

#2

I would really just go in and have them see you first and suggest aggressive settings. That will help you figure out whether they know what they’re doing. I don’t know the max settings for the MPX and I’m not sure if they can use just the YAG settings or it has to be both alex and Yag at the same time. If it’s the latter, you can’t really compare things apples to apples.

On GentleLASE, max on 18mm is 20J with 3ms fixed pulse. You don’t mention the joules on the Apogee Elite, which has the 15mm spot size…

#3

Thanks! I only didn’t mention joules because I’m waiting to hear back from my clinic with my actual settings.

From Cynosure’s website it looks like you can do either Alex, Yag, or the combination of both, but on the combination you can only use 15mm spot size, the 18 is only available when doing alex or yag. It also seems to have different settings and different minimum pulse width.

It says for alex it’s 0.5 to 300 msec for pulse width and at 18mm max joules is 22J. Yag is the same but 27J at 18mm. For 15mm it says 30 and 40 respectively.

When it says 0.5 msec do you mean the GentleLASE is 0.3? Or that it’s 3.0? Apogee ELite is 0.5 msec as well and I seem to remember that GentleLASE was lower. That’s the one area I know is iffy, I’m pretty sure I’m treated at something like 20 or 25 msec but will find out.

Do you know the max joules for 15mm on GentleLASE or Yag? Checked their website but it just says up to 100J doesn’t have a chart for each head size like the Apogee.

Also they already told me they definitely use agressive settings and wanted me to find out what I’m being treated at now so they can match those settings, which is good, but I feel like I can go a bit higher, that’s my issue really. I don’t want to tell them one thing and have them stick to those settings if I can handle more. I guess it will be easier once I know my settings!

Actually I have some settings I wrote down this was for my face with Yag, 15mm spot size, 20ms pulse width and 25 joules.

#4

That helps. Hopefully, Chris will jump in here since he knows this new machine well.

0.5 is another pulse measure. It’s not the pulse width, which is 3ms on GentleLASE and usually 5ms minimum on Apogee machines.

On 15mm, Max is 30J on GentleLASE and 40J on GentleYAG. GentleYAG has an adjustable pulse width though.

#5

You must be on the darker side since they are using a 25 msc pulse width with the Elite on the Alex side I assume. The MPX for HAIR REMOVAL starts at a 5 msc pulse width.

They can use the MPX in the Multiplex mode with a YAG/ALEX combination with the 15 mm spot size. That would give you FANTASTIC RESULTS.

However, I do not give settings over the internet unless I can see you. Since the center has an MPX, ask them to be treated with a YAG/ALEX combo with a BLEND appropriate for your skin tone and hair condition.

#6

Awesome thanks Romeo. See the reason I ask is that I know GentleLASE has a 3ms pulse and I went to one clinic first and did my face, underarms, and forearms all using GentleLASE. I don’t remember the settings off hand but they were 18mm for sure, and for joules I’m not 100% but I know they were pretty high I think 18 or so.

I didn’t have any issue at all that’s why I was more just wondering if 25ms on the Elite alex is too high. I believe even when treated with the yag they use around 20ms. Do you think the blend method at 15mm is better than 18mm on alex alone?

Just did a quick google image search of celebrities to try to find my skin type before taking a picture, this one here of Zac Effron is pretty much exactly what my skin tone is:

Actually should just add as well, that’s mostly my skin tone right now but I do get lighter. Just had a shower and realized I still have a tan line, that my actual skin tone with no sun exposure is much much much more white.

#7

Larger spot size is always better. And unless you’re not pale or are treating deep hair, treating with just the Alex is better.

#8

Hey everyone still waiting to hear back from my clinic they keep saying they’ll send settings but haven’t yet. I know the machines are different but on GentleLASE if I was treated at 18mm at 20J with the of course 3ms pulse width, is that somewhat comparable to the Apogee MPX 18mm alex at the same settings? I’m almost positive that the settings they’ve used before on me was 15mm alex (this was apogee elite not mpx) around 30J but something like 20-25ms pulse width. I’m almost positive it’s at least 20ms for pulse width.

That just seems so high to me. Do you think it’s comparable to GentleLASE on MPX 18mm alex if I was to tell them I’ve been treated at 5ms or even 10ms? Or do I run the risk of burning myself? I just figure if I can handle GentleLASE at 3ms shouldn’t the alex on apogee be no different?

#9

They’re both alex machines, so settings would be comparable, i.e. the settings on the Apogee were a bit lower.

They’re still good settings, but the GentleLASE setting is slightly more powerful.

#10

Okay thanks. My biggest thing I guess I’m wondering is if it’s okay then to go to my new clinic and say I was treated at 5ms on the apogee. If they’re the same it shouldn’t matter, just didn’t want them being like no that’s impossible or something if they’re rated differently etc.

#11

If you could handle those settings on GentleLASE and your skin hasn’t changed, there is no reason you shouldn’t be able to handle 5ms.