First LHR experience

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

So I got my first Brazilian treatment done yesterday, which was my first experience with professional LHR. The tech used the GentleLase on me, and when I asked what setting she would use, she said that she would start off with 14, which was the lowest setting for my skin type. I assumed that she meant 14J at 18mm spot size. The treatment went quickly and there were parts that were definitely not comfortable, but the pain felt less like a rubber band snap (as I’ve always heard it described) and more like individual needles in each hair follicle. There was no gel applied to my skin beforehand, and the machine didn’t have the shot of cold air before the laser either.

The whole area was red when I was putting my pants back on, but I noticed that all pain as well as most of the redness was gone within 2 or 3 hours. My hair follicles were never swollen, and my skin did not feel sunburnt or tender. Unfortunately, I think I paid 250 dollars for a treatment at 14J with the 15mm spot size. I guess I’ll have to wait for shedding to start before I can say for sure. If the settings were indeed correct, I am amazed at how tolerable the pain was!

#2

Thanks for the post.

Do call and find out which spot size was used.

You don’t mention your skin type, but 14J at 18mm is the minimum fluence we recommend on this laser.

Starting off at a low setting is not the best strategy. They should be using the highest setting your skin can handle, as determined by test spots.

#3

Oh, sorry. The clinic actually didn’t say, but I’m pretty sure that I have type III skin.

#4

It’s not a given that they used 18mm. And if they used 15mm or 12mm, those 14J are very low. Max on 18mm is 20J, but 30J on 15mm.

This machine doesn’t use a gel or cold air.

I would call and confirm the spot size.

#5

Well, I finally got around to calling them, and apparently they did indeed use the 18mm spot size. The area hasn’t quite started to shed yet, but the hair isn’t as long as it would normally be after a week of growth.

Since my skin experienced almost no irritation and the pain was minimal, I’ll be sure to ask for more J next time.

#6

Cool. As long as everything sheds, you should still get good results from this treatment.

See if they can test spot you at some point (perhaps if you go in for a touchup in a few wks) for 16, 18, and 20J. Then, have them use the highest setting your skin can handle from there on, bearing in mind darker areas (labia or scrotum, anus, etc) may require lower fluences.