Gonna Get Laser - Advice Please - Pics Attached

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

Hello,

I decided I am going to get laser hair removal and am ecstatic. I think I am a skin type 2 or 3, possibly a 4 (pics attached). I realize that an Alexandrite laser would be best for me but I don’t there there are any in my city. I know there are at least a couple of lightshears and Nags. I am going to call everyone tomorrow and start booking consults.

Can you confirm Alexandrite would be my number 1 choice, followed by lightshear.

I plan on having my back shoulders and tri’s done. I think it’s all coarse enough but I have attached pictures.

Thanks so much. I have been sooo self conscious for soooo long.

#2

It looks like the image uploads failed, here are some links:

http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/6629/img7379t.jpg
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/1228/img7366n.jpg
http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/4326/img7374w.jpg

#3

Hey, you should let us know what city/cities you are in or live near to, there are people from all over on these forums and they’ll be able to give you an idea of where you could go.

Your skin looks fairly light, but if your approximation of 3 is correct then a diode laser (e.g. light sheer) would be just as effective as an alexandrite laser (e.g. Candela gentlelase). However, if your skin IS type 4, you might find that the diode laser is more suited to you than the alexandrite.

Other things to remember are; the skill/knowledge of the operater, their ability (they operate the machine - they have to agree) to use settings on your skin that are high enough to produce long term hair reduction, and that male back hair has a propensity to grow back thicker (laser can sometimes stimulate hair growth, a male back is a more common area for this to happen, though I’m in no way saying that it is a definite).

And then, the price. For your back you could be looking at $150 or more, per treatment, and needing quite a few of them.

Goodluck :slight_smile:

#4

also… I think you mean yags, not nag. It’s short for nd:yag though, so I guess as far as contractions go, you’re not wrong :wink:

#5

You’re a skin type 3 I’d say from the pics. Alex is the best laser, after that I’d probably look at Yag, LightSheer isn’t that great. Yag is good but only on very coarse hair, as it penetrates the deepest. Any laser will work well on your areas though but the 3rd picture seems too fine, not sure if that’s your shoulder? Hard to tell what all the pics are of.

#6

You should add your location to your profile. Also, read our advice at the link below on how to find a clinic near you. It includes helpful links for zip code searches.

The first two photos show coarse dense hair, so you should get good results there. The third photo shows relatively coarse hair, but it seems more sparse. I would be concerned with inducing growth on that area. If you treat it, make sure it’s with high settings and ONLY on the spots with actual DENSE growth.

LightSheer diode would be fine. The problem is that it’s not easy to use. As long as you find a good clinic where the tech knows what they’re doing with whatever machine they use, you should be ok.

#7

Thanks everyone for your thoughts.

I am in winnipeg canada but could look at driving to grand forks north dakota.

I was expecting 400ish a treatment and 10ish treatments. It is what it is. I hate the hair.

Someone mentioned Yag for me. I thought they were best for darker skinned people. I know there are lightsheer and ELOS??? In the city.

How can estimate the odds of it making my back worse?

The last picture was my tricep and it was shaved in the past couple days.

#8

Oh by the way I have done extensive googling for local clinics and will call every clinic in the city

#9

Don’t do ELOS it’s not laser it’s a joke, not permanent so skip it. As LAGirl mentioned LightSheer will work but make sure the person knows how to use it as it’s harder to use than an alexandrite for example.

Yag will work, it’s best for dark skin people because it’s the only laser for dark skin people. It will work on light skin, I use it on my face, but only on very dark coarse hair. An alexandrite is able to get finer hairs which is why it’s preferable.

#10

So would it be safe to say that a lighsheer is better than Yag(for me), if I have a skilled operator.

It would difficult and expensive but I may look into driving as far as 8 hours to Minneapolis or flying to toronto if alexandrite is really the key and u all strongly recommend it.

#11

My clinic in Toronto is amazing and very inexpensive if you go that route. I’d try with LightSheer first though before going through that expense!

#12

I don’t think you’ll have a problem finding a clinic with an alex. Look for someone with Apogee, GentleLASE, or GentleMAX machine.

All things being equal, LightSheer is better than Yag, but it’s not so easy to find someone who’s great with LightSheer. You need to find someone who’s used it for a while and uses compression and doesn’t glide too fast.

You won’t need 10 treatments if they’re good. 6-8 treatments is what most need on coarse dense hair.