Harmony XL

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

Hi guys,

Some of you know me from this forum and some may not. I have shared some of my successful and unsuccessful ventures at hair removal over the years on here.
Over a year ago I started electrolysis on my upper middle back and shoulders and have had exceptional results. Honestly, even after everyone on this forum drilling into my mind that “patience” is what you need more than anything when it comes to electrolysis it was still frustrating at times. But let me tell you, when you near the end of your treatments and realize hair is finally gone and it will be gone forever, it is a more rewarding experience that I can explain. So HANG IN THERE!
Anyway, I have a lot of hair on my chest and stomach that has always bothered me, not as much as my back and shoulders but I still hated it. I had 6 treatments with a Lightsheer laser 7-8 years ago on this area and did not get very good results. That was before I knew about this forum and things to ask as far as settings, type of laser, etc. I can’t say for sure that all of the hair grew back, but most of it did. It really bothered me for a long time that I had been scammed out of all of that money. Until I discovered this forum and realized that not educating myself made me partly responsible for not getting good results and that relieved some of my resentment about losing that money.
When I was in Chicago last month I went to a clinic there that was owned by a friend of a friend who offered me a price I could not refuse. He treated my chest, stomach, and face with a Candela GentleLase. Such a good deal that I thought the fact of having that hair gone for 6-7 weeks is worth it, whether it would come back or not. So then after returning to Ohio I thought to myself that I really did want to try to keep this up, even though I knew that prices in and around my area were more that I could afford. So I began to check around. The average cost for one treatment at most of the clinics was $500-$700. I just couldn’t afford that….no way.
Then I found a doctor in a town just 25 minutes from where I live who recently just began doing laser hair removal so I called and the price was RIGHT up my alley! But when I ask what type of laser it was the nurse told me it was a Harmony XL. So I jumped right on here to find anyone who had an experience with it. I was disappointed when I first found out it was an IPL, but from what I understand it is a different type of IPL? In fact it is specified as an APL. But I thought for that price I can take a chance and then post on here my experiences with it. So I went in a couple of weeks ago and while filling out my paperwork I was surprised when one of the forms that I signed off on was an actual guarantee from the doctor that after completing 6 treatments I would see a substantial reduction in the amount of hair. I never ask for this and was very surprised. Call me a pessimist, but I’m just going from past experiences and did not believe I would get permanent hair removal from this machine.
Now on to my first treatment. All I can say is WOW, it hurt more that any other treatment I had in the past, and my skin reaction was much more apparent that anything I was used to. To put it in basic terms, she fried me like a fish! I left there thinking that if that didn’t destroy some hair follicles then I don’t know what would.
So this Hamony XL has got me pretty intrigued so far. And I will be reporting back here giving you all updates as my treatments progress. I really have a good feeling about this doctor and this machine. I’m hoping that I am in for a surprise!

PS: Sorry about the long winded post.

#2

Hiya,

So glad to hear that you got results with electrolysis. Thanks for reporting back.

I don’t know anything about the Harmony, the signs are good. But don’t let the guarantee throw you. Especially if the wording was not of the type, “6 months after finishing your 6th treatment you will see a substantial reduction in hair”. Plus ‘substantial’ is all relative.

#3

  • This is an IPL, but it’s one of the better ones.

  • If your hair is dark and coarse and your skin is light, you should get decent results even with an IPL.

  • Let us know how shedding goes.

  • What parts of the face are you treating? That’s the only area I would be concerned about. This machine probably won’t penetrate deep enough to get all the hair, which can leave you with patchy results. It’s very important to get touchups at 3 weeks for anything still there then to avoid this.

  • How often are you going in?

#4

-My hair is fairly coarse, but not as much as it use to be. And it was just starting to come back in after I had the treatment with the GentleLase in Chicago. So it was even less coarse than it was before. My skin is not normally light, but I can get it that way. I’m one that can tan very easily and quickly, and rarely burn. But I have found that using an acne face wash on my chest and stomach that contains benzoyl peroxide a couple weeks before a treatment I can get my skin a few shades lighter. I also avoid the sun like a plaque during this time.

-Shedding has already started as it’s been just a little over 2 weeks. In fact there are just sparse hairs here and there which I know will come out eventually from my past experiences.

-I am only getting m chest and stomach treated now. I have decided not to continue my face at this time, for the exact reason you said. When I had it done in Chicago I kept thinking that it was going to be so nice not to have to shave for several weeks. But instead I am forced to shave every day because of how patchy it is. Many times on the weekends I could skip a day if not two and not shave at all, but now when I do that there is no way I can go in public with the patches of hair here and there. People would look at me like I had mange. The hair on my face is very coarse, very dark, and there is a ton of it. The follicles are layered on top of each other basically. And getting it lasered was by far the most painful hair removal process I have ever had. And this coming from someone who sits for 6 hours a month getting poked with an electrologist needle.

-And I scheduled my next appointment in 6 weeks, as recommended by them. However, if I do not see any hair coming back in at that time then I should postpone my appointment until I do…correct? I know that the hair serves as a conductor and it really makes no sense to get treated if there is no hair there.

#5

  • You should wait 8-12 weeks for the body areas. Face may need more frequent treatments. I wouldn’t do what you did now…i.e. don’t go while the hair is still too fine and barely there after your last treatment. Waiting longer is beneficial. Let the hair get more coarse.

  • I wouldn’t just stop face treatments if you are seeing patchiness now. You should even it out with frequent treatments asap. Otherwise, it may stay patchy for good. You can use a numbing cream.

#6

So 8-12 weeks huh? Thank you for clarifying that! I was wondering recently how these lasers do not end up limiting themselves in effectiveness if the hair keeps becoming more fine with each treatment. So that makes total sense!

Do you think that continuing on my face would even be worth the money, not to mention pain with this type of IPL? I know that you mentioned it may not penetrate low enough to kill the follicles. I really don’t know if I want to make any more financial commitments to another project right now. Because I am still be treated with electrolysis on a regular basis also.

#7

  1. IPL can be more painful because the lack of monochromatic light results in more epidermal heating. Numbing creams can be helpful on face. As long as the hair is dark and coarse, you can continue with the treatments. However, be mindful that you most likely need electrolysis to finish. As mentioned, you shouldn’t stop now so as to avoid patchiness.

  2. The 8-12 weeks is recommended due to hair cycles. It’s not that lasers aren’t effective at earlier intervals, it’s just that there shouldn’t be any hair to treat then. 6-8 weeks is fine for the face.

  3. Would discontinue the benzoyl peroxide, due to increased skin irritation and risk of post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. It’s not necessary.

#8

If you’re going to even things out with electrolysis on your face, then no, don’t do any more laser.

#9

You guys are awesome! Thanks for all the useful info.

If only everyone checked this site before dropping a ton a ton of money on hair removal there would be a lot more happy consumers.

The monochromatic light must be the reason that it was more painful than laser. I noticed a big difference even in my skin reaction. After having my chest and stomach done it was uncomfortable for me to even wear a seatbelt on the way home. But by the time I got home (about 30 min. drive) the redness and irritation were mostly gone. Small price to pay if the follicles are actually being destroyed.

Now to my face. I called the clinic and the price was nearly double what I am paying to have my chest and stomach done, I was actually surprised at that. So I definitely cannot afford to have that done right now. I guess I can live with the patchiness for the time being. I know it was probably pointless, but I tried zapping it with my Silk’n over the weekend at home. However, I had tried using it on my face in the past and it didn’t work at all. But I thought maybe since the hair was reduced in places from my last laser treatment that maybe it would work a little this time at least. But I won’t get my hopes up. :confused:

#10

I go tomorrow for my second treatment with the Harmony XL and I was looking up info about it on the web because as I stated at in my first post I am a bit curious as to how successful my results will be. Considering this particular machine is classified as an IPL.

But I noticed some information in the list of specifications when it comes to that various handpieces used for hair removal. One of the handpieces (Alex 755 nm) says it uses Alexandrite technology. Isn’t that the technology used by some of the actual laser machines? Like the Candela GentleLASE?

Here is the link: http://www.almalasers.com/media/pdf/harmony_xl_brochure.pdf

There are two handpieces you will see listed that may be used for hair removal it states. The SHR and the Alex 755nm. Is it possible that the Harmony can convert to a genuine laser rather than an IPL with just the change of a handpiece?

#11

The Harmony XL has tons of attachments, so it’s best to check with your clinic to see what they have.

Indeed, there is an alex attachment, but the spot size is 5mm if I recall. That is too small for hair removal, but is fine for other applications like vascular lesions.