Have an appointment 10/26 for Gentle Max & have Qs

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

I decided I want to be treated with a Gentle Max and I found a place that has one. I live in Nor Cal and the place is in So Cal but I have family there and I’m willing to travel. I have an appointment on Saturday but I had a phone consultation today. Although the doctor sounded knowledgeable, she said some things that contradict what I’ve read here. Please see if you can answer my questions. First the background… I need the YAG laser due to my dark tanned skin. I am a medium to dark brown color with very dense, black, coarse hair. I will be treating my full legs and brazilian bikini. The doctor does the treatments and she wants to start treatment at 10 joules with an 18mm spot size. If my skin handles the first treatment well she will raise the joules to 12 or 14. She said the pulse is automatic not adjustable. She also said treatments should be spaced 4-6 weeks for all body work.

Now for my questions.
First of all, am I wasting my time treating at 10, 12 or 14 joules or is that what I need on Genlte Max YAG to not burn my brown skin? As I mentioned the hair is black and clearly visible under my skin even when I just shaved. I mentioned to her I thought 10 was low but she is concerned with burning, hyperpigmentation (I am prone to this) and hypopigmentation. Also, is it true the pulse is not adjustable on the Gentle Max?

My second question is whether spacing my treatments out every 4-6 weeks is too short. I know I will have to wait and see if there is enough hair for another treatment but assuming there is and assuming I stuck to a 4-6 week schedule am I doing harm to my treatment?

Last, am I crazy to travel for LHR? The doctor I spoke to was surprised I plan to go al the way to LA to be treated by the Gentle Max. What other YAG lasers give consistently great results? Thanks for reading this and TIA for your help. It is much appreciated as this is a big step for me.

#2

Yes, those settings would absolutely be a waste of time, especially on the Yag. And that schedule is not good. That’s a classic example of having good equipment and not knowing how to use it properly. You need both variables to achieve results.

And yes, I think that’s a bit insane to travel to LA to get treated. There are TONS of clinics using Yag machines in Sacramento, SF and everywhere in between. There is absolutely no reason to do this. Also, GentleMAX is not the only thing you can use. It’s new and most clinics won’t have it anyway. It’s basically a combo of GentleLASE and GentleYAG, so why not just go for someone with a GentleYAG machine as most here do? Also, Apogee Elite and Coolglide are good Yags with good feedback and will get your great results in good hands. Please don’t jump into this without good research and checking out 3-4 clinics in YOUR area.

Also, I want to recommend you start just with your bikini once you find a good clinic. Legs are expensive and you can save a lot of money and trouble if the clinic doesn’t work out and you want to switch. At least you’ll test them on a cheaper area to make sure they know how to get you results first.

Did you read the FAQs? Did you read the “how to find a clinic near you” post? There are plenty of links to help you find a clinic. Google is good too. You can also run an Advanced search here and see what has been recommended in the past. Check out the www.cosmeticenhancements.com forum as well. There are more recommendations there too. Run a search there.

Please do this slowly. There is a lot of money and time at stake.

There are definitely good places around Palo Alto and SF even if you don’t find anything you like in Sac. However, it’s a big city and I would be surprised. Do this systematically. Make phone calls and note type of machine, experience of tech, price, etc. Then pick a few to visit in person.

#3

The doctor is protecting you. When you say you have dark tanned skin and also prone to hyperpigmentation that is going to set off alarms!

Get test spots done. The MD has no idea how your skin is going to react and is smart not to risk it. If your serious about LHR, stop tanning and when your in the sun use a strong SPF.

Is 10,12 and 14 joules low? Yes, absolutely but you are not giving her any other choice. Since your so far away, doing test spots and having you come back a few days later is not an option.

I would find someone local and do test spots.

#4

Thanks. I am staying far away from laser clinics. I called several doctors offices in my area but none had a laser that could treat dark skin. The only doctor’s office I found with a Yag charges exhorbitant prices and did not seem to know what they were talking about ( ex. the laser tech told me shedding does not happen). I haven’t looked in the bay area. I used Candela’s site to find a gentle max. Maybe I’ll just look for a gentle lase or look in the bay area.

What would be a good schedule for legs and bikini if not 4-6 weeks?

#5

The GentleMax is pulse width adjustable.If you are Indian , you can , subject to test patches , be treated with 18 spot size, 10 msec pulse width and 18 joules. With a smaller spot size, you can go higher on the energy.

The Gentlemax has a screen that gives you parameters, once you enter the skin tone, tan, hair density, etc. Once you are there, the Doctor can put those parameters in and use the guidance given by the Gentlemax device.

#6

You can use Candela’s site to find GentleYAGs too. Have you tried that? And in our sticky posts, I provide links to finding clinics with Coolglide.

You can also just Google “Sacramento GentleYAG”, “Sacramento Coolglide” etc and see what comes up. I’m sure you’ll get a few clinics that way.

#7

Here are just some clinics I found with a Yag in your area:

CA Skin and Laser
Stockton: 1617 St. Marks Plaza, Suite C
Lodi: 999 S. Fairmont Ave., Suite 120

Longevity
2377 Gold Meadow Way, Suite 100
Gold River, CA 95670
3104 Sunset Blvd. Suite 3C

Physician’s Laser
Rocklin, CA 95677
E-Mail: info@mdlaser.info
Phone: 916-625-9131

#8

Thanks lagirl. I did look at Candela’s website and Cutera’s as well for places that have Yags. I also did a bunch of internet searches for Apogee, Cutera Coolglide and Candela Gentle Yag. I called 15 places in the Sacramento area today that I found using the above searches and found only 5 of those places actually have Yags for LHR. One of them (Physician’s Laser that you listed) says she would likely use her Prowave IPL on me instead of her Coolglide (I don’t understand why)! I’ll check them out. I’m still going to go to my Saturday appointment in studio city. Then I’ll compare with several of the places here in Sacramento. I’ll need help with settings for the Cutera Coolglide and Apogee Elite though. I have a sense of what settings would be appropriate on the Gentle Max but not on the Apogee Elite or Coolglide which the Sacramento places I found have.

Thanks again for all of your help and support. I appreciate it. That was very kind of you to do some research for me. I saw it after I had done my own today. I too found Physicain’s Laser. Longevity however does not do LHR. The other place is about and hour away. Again, that was really sweet of you. Hugs. :slight_smile:

#9

An hour away may be better than 8 hours away, right? :slight_smile: My friend used Aura Spa in SF too and I believe they have GentleYAG too. That’s only 2 hours way and seems more reasonable than 8 to me too. But I guess it’s your choice. You really don’t want your clinic to be hours way just in case something is wrong and you want to come in. Or if you need a touchup 2-3 weeks later.

Either way, do ask for joules, spot size, and pulse settings. Also, did the person with Prowave actually see you in person? If not, they may change their mind once they see you. It’s really hard to judge how dark you are just from the decription you provide over the phone.

There are lots of clinics in LA with GentleYAG. I would check out a couple of them as well. Also, there are a bunch with Coolglide and Apogee Elite as well. LaserAway in West Hollywood uses Apogee Elite I believe and their prices are pretty good.

Here’s a thread by someone who’s checked out a bunch of clinics in LA with Yag lasers: http://cosmeticenhancementsforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7854&highlight=los+angeles+yag

Like I said, I wouldn’t put all your effort into GentleMAX. There are barely any around at this point. Plus, it’s not any different then GentleYAG for your needs. It’s the same thing. Either one would produce same results all else being equal.

Generally on Coolglide or Apogee Elite Yag, pulse varies from 5ms to 100ms or so, spot size 9mm to 15mm, and joules go up to 60J or so. Higher joules, larger spot size and lower pulse are most effective.

#10

Btw, here’s a clinic in Sacramento and they have a big variety of lasers including a Coolglide Yag: http://www.skinlasers.com/laser/treatment/?page=hair-removal

Someone else recommended it on another forum and said they were best in town. Judging by the good variety of all laser types they have, that may be true. You can read it here: http://cosmeticenhancementsforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3377&highlight=sacramento

#11

Thanks lagirl. The Sacramento clinic you link is the one I went to for a consultation. For full legs they charge $1100 for the FIRST session only, $1000 for the second and $900 for each subsequent!!! That is SO above market price it is obscene. Furthermore the laser tech I spoke to claims that shedding only happens in rare cases!! They have a really good reputation but I’m not sure if it’s for LHR. They have about 5 techs that rotate and the one I spoke to didn’t seem to know what she was doing.

I am actually looking forward to meeting the lady here in town that has the Coolglide and Prowave. We only talked over the phone but she seemed knowledgeable and was one of the only ones that didn’t recommend spacing treatments 4 weeks apart. She says she normally tries both on dark skin and whichever one works better is what she sticks with. I think she uses them both.

I’ll be back with updates on my consultations and seeking help on choosing someone. I will absolutely keep Aura in mind.

#12

Prowave is an IPL. I wouldn’t have them use it on your dark skin. I would assume the settings would have to be very low to avoid burning you. IPLs shouldn’t be used on people with skin darker than a type IV. Coolglide is a good Yag in good hands.

Some people don’t know spacing because the laser manufacturers tell them to have people come in that soon. My doctor said that at first and I just didn’t follow and came in when I felt it was time.

On the legs, you often don’t see a lot of shedding, especially if you keep shaving them. Hair pops out of the skin and some remains in pepperspots and comes out slower than other areas. It depends on how coarse the hair is too.

Those prices ARE very high. I agree.

#13

Your posts are always so helpful lagirl. Now I understand why so many clinics recommend 4 week appointments when everything I read here is to the contrary.

I also didn’t realize why legs wouldn’t really shed like other body parts. Now I feel bad for being so harsh on the laser tech. I still can’t afford that place though.

#14

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