Comet Laser and Aurora Laser

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

Hello everyone,

I’m an MtF transsexual, and I have been in the process of having my facial hair removed for well over two and a half years. I’m a very very pale blonde, with type IV being a possibility, except I don’t have the dark hair of course.

I first tried the alexandrite laser, and it was worthless for me. nearly $2,000 of treatments and $300 worth of Meladyne later, I realized they were scamming me and I never went back.

I started going to an electrolysist who used thermal as the method. She started slow and I seriously did not notice any difference after 30 hours of electrolysis on the left side of my face, near the jawbone.

I’ve read a bit about the Aurora and the Comet, and I was very excited about those. The prospect of not having to sit through hundreds of more hours with electrolysis was great, and the fact that there was someone using the Aurora in my area was even better.

I experienced shedding on my face, which was sweet, and the hair seemed to grow slower, which was odd. Nearly three weeks later, it seemed to start all over again, where the hair began to grow. In some places, especially up near my orbital bones, there used to be small white hairs that are gone now, and the hair around my jaw line seems much thinner. I’ve read that the Aurora has lower fluencies than the Comet, something like 25j rf and 25j light, while the Comet does 50j and 50j. I’m not sure if I should continue on with the Aurora, or see if I can find someone using the Comet in the Morgantown/Pittsburgh/Wheeling/Erie region. I’d probably be even more willing to go if it was proven that this would work, but so far I’m skeptical because, I don’t know…I just expected there to be more than one or two missing hairs after the first treatment. I think I’m being paranoid, especially after being ripped off by the last laser person, but…what do I do? Does anyone here know of anyone in the Eastern Ohio/Western PA area that uses the Syneron Comet?

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#2

there is no proof and no people on this forum with blond hair who have actually seen any results with either of these lasers. i would strongly suggest a good electrologist for fastest and most definite results at this point in the technology.

#3

The Comet gives much faster bursts of alternating laser light - radio frequency cycles. Faster bursts gives a better synergy of energy hitting the follical. And at 50RF/50Joules, it’s going to pack a much stronger wollop than these other laser systems. It’s kind of a whole other animal. If you do pursue it, I would recommend scouting New York, Philadelphia, and possibly some of the neighboring college towns (Hershey) for a Comet practitioner. Possibly Syneron can get you a list, or just start doing the legwork with a phonebook. It’s better to drive out of town to a good place, than to take what you can get locally.

There’s two of us here that are being treated with the Comet. Gdubber, and myself, Mantaray. We’re both in San Diego. There’s a ton of laser hair removal places here. He’s had one treatment, I’ve had five, a sixth on December 14. If you’re going to give the Comet a try, and I would sit down and have a serious talk about starting treatments at 30-40J/50RF. And make sure they know what they’re doing. Don’t be shy, ask about technique that will be used. If they don’t have a smooth sweep with the gun, it’ll hurt like hell, because if they “stop and pull”, way too much heat builds up.

Type IV skin with pale blonde hair isn’t a real good combination for laser. The laser will be targeting your skin, not the hair. You’ll be relying almost entirely on the RF component, which probably won’t give you the result you want. That alone isn’t enough to knock out hair on large levels. The laser and RF are best when they can act synergistically, otherwise, it’s half-a-laser. You’re too dark skinned for short pulse, and your hair’s too light for the laser to differentiate from the skin. I’m sorry you threw away the money with Alexandrite treatments. It’s almost like you deserve your money back. They should’ve known. By taking in clients that clearly are not good candidates, they subtract from the reputation of LHR.

Mantaray

#4

Ick, I’m sorry for being so dumb. I seem to’ve made an error.

I’m basically an eastern european. I have skin so pale that my veins can be seen through it. I burn and never tan, with lots of freckles. I think that makes me a Type I, right? IV is what very dark skinned people are, I believe. ^^

Anyways, I live in Pittsburgh right now, and so I figured there may be one around here, although I can’t be absolutely sure.

#5

As Mantaray posted above, I have had one treatment with the Comet so far. I have had very good hair reduction with it, but the hair I am treating is dark. If you are a skin tone I, then you can be treated with higher fluences. I had my treatment at 30J/50RF. Have I noticed any blonde or light hair removed? Yea, a little, but not nearly as well as the dark hair.

And by the way, if you go to the Syneron website, you can fill out a form and they will email you a list of practitioners with the Comet in and around your area.

To me, it’s the best choice for hair removal via laser, but you still might have a hard time getting blonde or light colored hairs removed.

#6

I’m also being treated with the Comet. Very disappointing. I have used lightsheer on my underarms and bikini area and it worked great. But I’m using the Comet on blonde facial hair and after 5 treatments, I haven’t noticed any difference at all. It’s very frustrating. I have only paid for one treatment and they haven’t charged me for the other 4. I have tried to contact the manufacturer to ask their advice as to whether there is any purpose to keep on trying or should I just consider it another failure. All I get back is a form letter giving me names of practioners in the area. Very annoying!! Does anyone know if there is still a chance of it working if 5 treatments have failed or is it just a big waste of time and never going to work for me. I wonder why some people have had success with blonde hair while others have not. I’m not sure how you would rate my skin type but I am light skinned with freckles (but no freckles in the area being treated). I have tried electrolysis but I was going 4 hours a week and it was barely making a dent and I just don’t have the time to sit there for 4 hours a week with very little results.

#7

As posted here earlier ht2003, you need to at least post what settings are being used.

#8

Where are the postings of anyone having good results on BLOND hair with Comet? I haven’t seen any…I do not believe there are.

#9

I’m also being treated with the Comet. Very disappointing. I have used lightsheer on my underarms and bikini area and it worked great. But I’m using the Comet on blonde facial hair and after 5 treatments, I haven’t noticed any difference at all. It’s very frustrating. I have only paid for one treatment and they haven’t charged me for the other 4. I have tried to contact the manufacturer to ask their advice as to whether there is any purpose to keep on trying or should I just consider it another failure. All I get back is a form letter giving me names of practioners in the area. Very annoying!! Does anyone know if there is still a chance of it working if 5 treatments have failed or is it just a big waste of time and never going to work for me. I wonder why some people have had success with blonde hair while others have not. I’m not sure how you would rate my skin type but I am light skinned with freckles (but no freckles in the area being treated). I have tried electrolysis but I was going 4 hours a week and it was barely making a dent and I just don’t have the time to sit there for 4 hours a week with very little results.

I’m assuming that you had the Lightsheer treatments on dark hair? The Comet should do at least as well on dark hair, since it uses the same type of laser, with the addition of RF energy.

If you can tell us your treatment settings, we can get an idea if you are being undertreated.

For more information, check out the following links:

Comet Frequently Asked Questions

Aurora Treatment Parameters

Note the following passage from the Aurora FAQ on the syneron website:

How is the Aurora DS effective for apigmented hair?

The treatment protocol for white, red, grey, and blond hair is different than the treatment approach for dark hair. Multiple passes are required at maximum RF energy setting in order to disable these follicles. Patients may achieve noticeable reduction in the amount of apigmented hair with 8-12 treatment sessions. There is a higher non-response rate with these hair types when compared to darkly pigmented hair; approximately 3 in 10 patients may not have any reduction in blond hair. These non-responders should be identified after the 3rd treatment as evidenced by no extrusion of treated hairs by 1 month following the 3rd treatment session. Coarse white, red and grey hair seems to respond better than fine blonde peach fuzz.

It appears that Syneron is qualifying (maybe backtacking a bit) on their claims about removing non-pigmented hair.

Were you treated with multiple passes in a single session? It seems that this is required for poor target hairs, which is what you have. Did you feel any pain during treatments? It is possible that you were undertreated.

Clinical Results for the Comet

Elos Treatment of Light Colored Vellus and Terminal Hairs

Treatment of Poor Target Hairs

In the conclusion of the last link, they imply that coarse white hair does not respond as well. This contradicts what was claimed in another link that the coarse hair would respond better.

I have had Aurora treatments on my chest. Yes, it did get some of the coarse white hairs, but not a large percentage of them. It did not seem to affect the fine white hairs. That is why I finished up my chest with electrolysis. But it did target some of the white hair effectively IMHO. On the dark hairs, I think the Lightsheer did a better job. I maxed out on the available fluences so I reached a point of diminishing returns. The Comet probably would have worked better for me with the higher fluence available.

BTW, the Aurora uses IPL/RF and the Comet diode laser/RF

Hope this helps.

RJC2001

#10

As posted here earlier ht2003, you need to at least post what settings are being used.

I believe she said it was 40 or 42.

#11

I’m assuming that you had the Lightsheer treatments on dark hair? The Comet should do at least as well on dark hair, since it uses the same type of laser, with the addition of RF energy. [color:“blue”] [/color]

If you can tell us your treatment settings, we can get an idea if you are being undertreated. [color:“blue”] [/color]
For more information, check out the following links:

[color:“blue”] [/color]

Comet Frequently Asked Questions

Aurora Treatment Parameters

Note the following passage from the Aurora FAQ on the syneron website:

How is the Aurora DS effective for apigmented hair?

The treatment protocol for white, red, grey, and blond hair is different than the treatment approach for dark hair. Multiple passes are required at maximum RF energy setting in order to disable these follicles. Patients may achieve noticeable reduction in the amount of apigmented hair with 8-12 treatment sessions. There is a higher non-response rate with these hair types when compared to darkly pigmented hair; approximately 3 in 10 patients may not have any reduction in blond hair. These non-responders should be identified after the 3rd treatment as evidenced by no extrusion of treated hairs by 1 month following the 3rd treatment session. Coarse white, red and grey hair seems to respond better than fine blonde peach fuzz.

It appears that Syneron is qualifying (maybe backtacking a bit) on their claims about removing non-pigmented hair.

Were you treated with multiple passes in a single session? It seems that this is required for poor target hairs, which is what you have. Did you feel any pain during treatments? It is possible that you were undertreated.

Clinical Results for the Comet

Elos Treatment of Light Colored Vellus and Terminal Hairs

Treatment of Poor Target Hairs

In the conclusion of the last link, they imply that coarse white hair does not respond as well. This contradicts what was claimed in another link that the coarse hair would respond better.

I have had Aurora treatments on my chest. Yes, it did get some of the coarse white hairs, but not a large percentage of them. It did not seem to affect the fine white hairs. That is why I finished up my chest with electrolysis. But it did target some of the white hair effectively IMHO. On the dark hairs, I think the Lightsheer did a better job. I maxed out on the available fluences so I reached a point of diminishing returns. The Comet probably would have worked better for me with the higher fluence available.

BTW, the Aurora uses IPL/RF and the Comet diode laser/RF

Hope this helps.

RJC2001 [/quote]

#12

Hmmm, I guess I must have done something wrong. I posted but added colour to my replies and it doesn’t seem to have worked at all. I’ll give it another try.

I believe she said it was 40 or 42 setting. One of the treatments was done with two passes. One was done with three passes. And the last one was done by a different nurse who said she was doing it really close together so one pass would suffice.

It is very disappointing to see that the manufacturer is backtracking on the effectiveness of the of the comet to treat blonde hair. It appears that the Comet may not be a viable treatment for me and I may have to go back to using electrolysis. It is so time consuming, expensive and such a long process that I don’t really have the time to invest in it. I had a ton of treatments done and it barely made a dent. But it’s also a waste of time getting the Comet treatments if they aren’t going to work either.

#13

40 or 42? RF or Joules? There’s two settings on the Comet, and they’ll vary within the treatment due to your own pain threshhold and boney versus meaty parts underlying the skin. If I were you, I’d get a small 40J/50RF test patch done. If I didn’t see an increase in smoothness somewhere between week three and four after the treatment, I’d forget it and move on. These are high settings and should have some effect if you are a viable candidate. But just let me notify you, at 40J/50RF if the technician is sloppy, you could get burn tracks, or ‘trail arcs’. Be careful.