Candella YAG or Gentlelase for male legs

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

Hello there !

I’ve read this forum for a while and the independent feedback helped to convince me that laser hair removal was definately ‘legit’ :slight_smile:

Thought I’d ask some for some personal advice as I’m torn by a couple of options.

I’ve decided to dive completely in and remove/reduce the hair on my legs too.

My dilemma is that I’ve had great results thus far with the Candella Gentlelase for a full male Brazilian. Based on advice from largely this forum, I ensured treatments were on a decent setting of 18j with a spot size of 18. I also had treatments consistently at a minimum of 8+ weeks. Thus far I’ve noticed a huge reduction in re-growth i.e. probably 90%+. Appreciate it ain’t over till the fat lady sings for several months afterwards, but so far so good and I think everything is on the right track - esp as I still have 2 treatments paid for and remaining.

My legs have had considerably more exposure to the sun than my ‘privates’, so I had a spot test. The technician started with 12j and only went to 14j after I basically convinced her too and accepted all risk. She point blank refused to even do a spot test at 16j. She proposed I use a Candella YAG laser instead and I also had some spot tests done at relatively high YAG settings - specifically 26j with a 18 Spot Size and pulse of 3.

The pain levels for both GentleLase & YAG were absolutely fine and there was no irritation, marks, pigmentation or any adverse symptoms afterwards…

I’m hesitant to switch from the Gentlelase as I’ve had great results thus far.

Guess my question boils down to what is better and more likely to result in permanent results ?

  • 18 Spot, 14j, 1.5 pulse on Candella Gentlelase… OR
  • 18 Spot, 26j, 3 pulse on Candella YAG

My background is southern european and probably a Skin Type II or III. But as I live in Australia, I generally get no shortage of sun over summer and do tan - esp on my legs.

Feedback or advice much appreciated and thanks again for contributing to such a fantastic resource.

Mark

#2

Gentlelase as a fixed pulse width at 3 ms, so the 1.5 you are referring to might mean the repetition rate. 14J is about the minimum required on Gentlelase to get permanent reduction, so you can indeed get results with the Gentlelase. Since the time inbetween treatments will be 12+ weeks, the next time you go in will actually be once the summer months are over, so if your legs untan (is that even a word?) by then, perhaps she will go back up to 16J which would be better and ideal.

According to Romeo, who is the laser expert around here (when he shows up haha), this is his quote:

“A NDYAG laser will not produce long lasting permanent hair reduction on skin type 1-2. It will thin out the hair but you need to finish off with an Alexandrite laser.
Yet, if the hair is fine and thin, it is challenging to remove. Therefore, an ALexandrite laser is ALWAYS the preferred method of starting a treatment on skin types 1-3.”

Hope that helps!

#3

Thanks and that does help!

I glanced at the gentleLase display & likely read the wrong setting. Thanks for correcting :slight_smile:

Interesting that the YAG doesn’t work as effectively on skin types 1-2. I’m after thei most effective couple of treatments to remove the bulk of the hair. Not going to be displeased if only fine hairs remain.

#4

Candela GentleLASE.

26j on 18mm spot on YAG is pretty useless.

I’d wait till the tan fades away. And start with at least 14J on GentleLASE

#5

Booked a GentleLase appointment for this thursday. It is winter in Australia and my legs have being largely out of sun since Feb (4.5 months). They are still a little tanned from a beach hol in Feb, but they probably won’t fade much more and my 14j spot test was fine. So going ahead & will request/push for 14j, then hopefully 16j in 3 months before start of next summer.

Relatively low settings but better to be safe than sorry and hopefully this is sufficient to be permenant!

#6

Full Legs done today with 12j in the end as it was the new/upgraded [color:red]GentleLase PRO[/color] machine. Technician warned it was stronger than the equivalent non-PRO GentleLase so I played safe.

During the treatment, she also commented that the hair was singeing beautifully (don’t hear those two words together very often!).

12 hours later, I still have red follicles/bumps, so good sign and hopefully sufficiently strong to be permanent.