Ok, I have a question and I need some answers from you great folks who have been through the process. I just went on the 10th for my first treatment ever. (During my consultation they told me the laser they would use would be the GentleLase plus.) When I got there they said they would be using an Elos laser for the first treatment since it works better.
The process was very painful around the chest/nipple area, the rest was manageable. Now, two days after the treatment I have stubble and some red spots.
My question is what is to be expected now? I understand the hair sheds approx after two weeks?
They also told me that the GentleLase would just singe the hair completely so after that treatment I would be totally smooth. This is what laser they will be using on me as of my second treatment.
I didn’t understand why they didn’t just do it with that treatment the first time? What do you guys think about my treatment plan? Good? Bad?
Also, how is your experience with the GentleLase? Does it hurt?
GentleLase hurts, but it is worth it. You can’t permanently kill hair (if you are a good candidate for laser) with a smile on your face, unless you use numbing creme, of course. Skin side effects are common with anything that disturbs the happy environment of the skin. It will subside and good aftercare will help it subside much faster.
Did they explain all this to you? Did they clearly define why an IPL was used on you first, to be then followed by an alexandrite laser later??? Do think the alex laser was down for repair?? Ask them these questions. Elos (IPL) does not usually work better than an alex, that’s why I’m wondering if the alex was broken. I would ask for a refund on that first treatment, but will let lagirl have the final say on this one. With the pain and skin side effects you describe, it almost sounds like you were treated with the GentleLase! I’m wondering about this actually… hmn.
Yes! I have my suspicions too which is why I wanted advice! No, the Alex was not broken. They said for my skin type the Elos would help, however during the initial consultation she did not mention this. My skin is fairly white, not like caucasion white, but nonetheless, it is light and my hair is dark black. The hair on my chest and stomach is coarse as I had been trimming it with an electric shaver.
They said the Elos would work better for the initial treatment in my case. They would see the results, and then decide if they will use that first on my back as well, or go sraight with the Alexandrite laser.
I don’t know, I thought I was being schilled at first, but this place has good reviews and have been doing since 11 years.
I’m so confused :S lol
Also, does the Alexandrite hurt? And does it singe all the hair off as they said or will there be shedding?
Oh, based on your description in the FAQ, I’m a type IV.
Also, it is normal to have a person working on with the laser and for the other person observing? I felt quite weird at first, but we all had a good conversation. My initial impression was that she was there to see the ELOS laser in action, thus making me a guinea pig, no? I don’t care but if it was done on me on purpose when the Alexandrite would have been more effective, that would make me upset.
The Gentle Lase is an alexandrite laser and a darn good one at that and yes it should hurt in order to be effective. I just don’t know why an IPL was used on you. Being that you are a type 4, you should be treateed with a yag laser like a GentleYag, not an alexandrite or you will get burned. Better hash this out with them.
Are you sure they actually have a GentleLASE machine? It sounds suspicious to me.
What in the FAQs makes you think you’re a type IV? What’s your ethnic background? Is the area you’re treating not tanned?
Is the hair you’re treating all coarse? Is the hair dark?
All effective treatments hurt. Elos is not a very good machine and is definitely not great for darker skin types. It was actually created to treat light colored hair, though no one has yet reported results on that type of hair with it.
If I were you, I would insist on getting treated with GentleLASE for all treatments. And find out what settings they’re planning to use on it, joules and spot size. You don’t necessarily need a GentleYAG even if you’re a type IV. That’s on the edge of skin types and settings need to be tested. You may very well be light enough for good settings on GentleLASE. Either way, if you can handle good settings on Elos, GentleLASE shouldn’t be a problem either.
Yes, I am sure they have a GentleLase machine. That is what they should be the first time I went there. The laser covers an area of 18mm.
I am southeast asian and no, the area being treated is not tanned, in fact, I consider it fairly white.
My concern now is that the hair looks like it was just shaved and is growing back. What is to be expected during the shedding phase? I was supposed to start my back and shoulders this coming week but I think I will wait because I am a little bit skeptical at this point.
What if the hair doesn’t shed? :S
And can someone please clarify this question for me, I have asked it twice… with the GentleLase does the hair completely get burned off? Meaning I won’t have any stuble or anything? Just smooth skin?
Treated hair doesn’t usually start shedding until 1.5 weeks or so after the treatment. So you need to wait before you can judge the treatment. For the first 1.5 weeks, it just looks like it’s growing, but it’s actually coming out to shed.
All treatments have the same reaction afterwards. Hair still needs 2-3 weeks to shed. This is not any different with GentleLASE.
If you’re Southeast Asian, you have underlying pigment in your skin. So yes, you are a type IV most likely, which means that GentleLASE at high enough settings may or may not be safe. Have to test at various settings. Elos is definitely not something that should be used on type IV.
