Seems that there aren’t that many out there who have listed their success who have the same profile as me. For years I searched, and kept reading the same thing: 14J is too weak, the hair will grow back to what it originally was after a few months, lasers can stimulate hair growth, etc. So it was discouraging, but late 2011 I just went decided to go ahead with it .
So basically, I’m 31. Relatively course dark brown body hair. Obviously unsightly. I wish I took a picture. It was about as hairy as this: http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2101/2658690644_9908c96837_z.jpg
Although my skin is a bit more darker than his. Basically I have a Mediterranean skin tone. I pretty much never burn, unless I am outside at the beach, and out the entire day with no sunscreen, then maybe. Anyway, that’s my basic profile. So I will even mention where I went, it was in San Francisco, City Skin and Laser. Just ask for Ita (she is the best). They are CHEAP (relatively speaking), and I think it was like $2K or something for 8 treatments + 2 touchups which you can ask for any time within 2 years of the last treatment (if I recall the terms corrected). Don’t quote me on this, I don’t even remember exactly what I paid or the full total number of treatments.
So they started me off low, and kept me there for a while. It was wrong, but I should have insisted on increasing the power. After a while, when I realized the low setting they put me at (I think I realized that 10J was low after 3 treatments), they increased to 12J and then 14J, and simply refused to let me be treated with 16J. So I was worried, but here I am now, very pleased with the result, 4 months or so since my last treatment. It’s at the point where if I shave the hair, there wouldn’t be any feeling of razor burn. I am not hairless, and it’s clear that I have chest hair, but it’s thin. So at a distance, I look hairless. I manscape just to keep it reasonably trim. The thickness and density has reduced significantly. The hair pattern looks natural, I don’t see patchiness. I think the end result is perfect. I don’t want to be hairless. There should be some hair, but I should also not feel rough and hairy either, and that’s basically the end result.
Conclusion. A pretty hairy dude with olive skin can see great results on chest/abdomen hair with gentlelase using 14J (it was the latest machine, so I think the spot size was 18mm) after about 8 treatments. I know, only 4 months out, but so far, no complaints here. At this point, my chest hair looks just about like this (a bit thinner than his, actually): http://www.afterelton.com/sites/www.afterelton.com/files/2011/03/0307-novak-x17-credit.jpg
Warning: Obviously skill level is important. They had me stick with a rookie in one session, and I got some temporary burns and the treatment itself was patchy. So make sure you get the right technician treating you! You’ll know.