Help. Am I being mislead?

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

Hi. Bit of background info.

I’m pale skinned
40 year old man
coarse hair on back and shoulders
Groupon customer
booked 6 sessions of IPL with skin studio Cardiff. Wales, UK

OK had my first session for full back 3 weeks ago. It lasted 25 minutes. I have waited 3 weeks before posting. I have neat strips of hair missing from all over my back.

I phoned skin studio to complain.
They assured me they did my full back in 25 minutes
They assured me the patchy results are correct.
They say all treated hair does not fall out after 3 weeks. It depends on its growth cycle.
They stated I had paid less for this service. Are they insinuating I should expect less of a service?
I think they might try to remove me as a customer.

I would like to know are they telling the truth regarding hair loss?

Can somebody please show me a quote from a reputable body that supports the theory treated hair sheds after 3 weeks?

What rights do I have to insist they provide me with the service I have paid for?

Please bare in mind I live in the UK. Any help much appreciated.

#2

I cannot show you a quote but it is a definite that properly treated hair will shed. If it does not shed, it is due to being missed, settings not being high enough, or the hair not being suitable (too fine, not dark enough).
So, for example, on my legs, all the visible hair shed. On my arms, the finer hairs generally did not but this was expected - there’s no way Laser would be able to eliminate them.

If the remaining hair is really in ‘strips’, it sounds to me that they did not overlap properly.

They are trying to say that only anagen hair will shed, which is not true, hair in all cycles should. Then you should be more or less hair free until the next cycle starts to come through.

I really hate all the groupon IPL deals. They seem worth it but they really aren’t. Laser over IPL anyday.

Not sure what I can tell you really. Full paying customers have the same problems you are encountering.

#3

All hair will shed regardless of the growth cycle, only hair in the anagen phase though is permanently killed, the rest just falls out. Strips is a big indication of missed spots. You could try telling them you just went to another clinic for their opinion and they said it’s clearly missed or something. Otherwise I believe Groupon has a refund policy where they will give your money back if you have issues with the company so you may want to check into that.

#4

When I say strips I mean there are 1 inch strips where the hair has gone. In between those are areas 3 inches in width containing hair!

I believe 25 minutes to do a full back is a clue to how poor a service I received. To be honest I am absolutely livid. And now they are trying to say they have done nothing wrong. Are they having a laugh?

#5

I am also a groupon user at another clinic which uses IPL and not all my hair shed after 3 weeks.

I actually can tell which hair did not shed due to being missed - because 6 weeks after they look like I have not shaved, and which one did not shed due to settings/IPL - those look completely different - straight and short.

You have to take a look and figure out the reason for hair not shedding. If it is not due to it being missed, I don’t think you have much of a case here. IPL is the culprit and you probably knew what you were buying. Also, groupon does not refund redeemed groupons - believe me I tried.

I regret buying my groupon - I think my tech has no clue what she is doing in regards with settings and she missed some spots. I have not had my second appointment, but when I do I am planning to talk to her about missed spots.

Also, it does seem that 25 minutes for a back is too short. I bought another deal for underarms (and this time it is gentemax) and my first appointment is going to be 45 minutes, 30 of which is for treatment of much smaller area than a back.

#6

Striping means they missed spots.

These clinics don’t care about getting your results. They already have your money. That’s the bottom line. You’re not going to prove anything to them. They probably don’t care.

I would stop these treatments before you induce more growth. Can you post photos? Few men have hair coarse enough for laser or IPL. It worries me that they treated your entire back too given that you state that your entire back is not covered with coarse dense growth.

Btw, a full back takes at least an hour to treat.

#7

I thought laser and IPL was meant to reduce/remove hair? Is this not the case for men with back hair?

#8

Hi sim, I was going to mention the same as LAgirl. That in my time on these forums, it does not seem that male upper back and shoulder hair responds well to LHR/IPL and it can induce new growth or strengthen what is already there. Many men decide to go for electrolysis in these areas instead.

As a female, I chose not to Laser areas where women have experienced induced growth such as the face and upper arms.

#9

Does age have any impact? As a 40 year old i’m not as likely to see any new growth. Also the hair on my shoulders is unusually coarse.

#10

Most men have only sparse growth on their backs and shoulders, or hair that’s too fine for laser. The problem with treating these areas is that laser and IPL can induce MORE growth. We don’t recommend treating anything on these areas besides patches of coarse dense growth for this reason. This area is the one where men complain the most about induced growth.

Laser doesn’t care about your age. It works by targetting pigment in the hair. Only coarse dense hair has enough pigment.

#11

I believe that Skin clinics schedule their appointment every 6 weekds. I believe that what they do is actually do half a job - ie only laser around half the area and then when you go back for your second treatment after 6 weeks (when actually if the job had been done properly you shouldn’t have any hair there) they simply mop up what should have been done in the first treatment - hey presto you have paid for two treatments when you should only have paid for one!

Please take pictures of the unshed areas and if you would like me to help you get your money back, then I gladly will. I have done it for quite a few clients, its relatively easy (HMG was the easiest!).

Please PM me if I can help.

I think you are more at risk of induced growth from and IPL. Why would any clinic choose and IPL over a Laser? Money and nothing else.

These groupon deals are just a rip off - I have had them on the phone again to me this morning trying to get me to offer a deal but I wont - cheap and nasty.

#12

Thank you for your very kind offer. I may take you up on it but hoping I wont have too. While I am concerned about increased growth I am hoping IPL will work for me because my shoulder hair is coarse. Though I remain unsure of how dense ‘dense’ is meant to be?

The hair on my lower back is less coarse but its certainly not fine by any means so unsure how to proceed with that.

#13

Can you post a photo? It needs to be coarse and dense like underarm or bikini hair.

#14

Today I received an email from the owner of the salon saying they were refusing to continue with my treatment. They say it was due to abusive language I used during the phone call I made to complain. Anyone who knows me knows I would never use abusive language.

I phoned them back and asked them to prove it which they cannot or will not. The salon manager then accused me of being abusive again when all I did was say how unprofessional I found their service.

They quite simply know they are dealing with someone they can’t deceive and have decided as a groupon customer I’m not worth the hassle.

I will post the email for you all to see. Please let me know what you think

#15

Here is the email. Please let me know your opinions: -

[i]Dear S*****,

I have been forwarded your concerns with Skin studio from J*** my Salon manager.

I have worked with various diode lasers, ipl and epl phasers for the past 5 years and have owned many machines and treated over several thousand clients. Your reaction to the treatments is normal (in fact very good) as we would only expect a 3 - 5 % hair reduction per treatment.

I can confidently say that no area would have been missed as all of my therapists are highly qualified and we pride our selves in our service,

First treatments are carried out with caution for the possibility of skin sensitivity and reaction. I see your treatment was performed on level 15 (very high start) where our equipment’s highest setting is level 20 which is only used for pigmentation removal.

It is common that most hairs will fall out after treatment but not all the time , in particular first and second treatments as the hair is still very strong and can take several treatments to be treated successfully.

I have spoken with all staff and your abusive language has caused much offence and I will not allow a client to make any of my staff feel threatened or uncomfortable. I therefore refuse to continue with your treatment course. I have informed Groupon of the reason you will not be completing your course. You may take up your refund with them.

Regards,

N***************
Salon Owner

The Skin Studio
Advanced Treatments, Advanced Results

112-113 glebe street
penarth CF64 1EB
Tel: 02921250221[/i]

#16

I would ask Groupon for a refund (they do it pretty easily) and move on to a clinic that actually knows what they’re doing. Unfortunately, it’s pointless to explain to these types of clinics that they’re not doing things right. They’re not used to customers questioning anything either since most consumers don’t do any research and rely on their “expertise”.

#17

I agree with LAgirl. Ask for a refund from Groupon. I know I have said in the past that Groupon does not refund partially redeemed groupons, but I believe in your case they will make an exception. Just make sure that you explain your side of the story. The emphasis should not be on clinic not doing their job, but on clinic refusing further treatment after falsely accusing you of abusive language just because you raised some concerns about the treatment.

#18

Skin Studio are now refusing to refund me as well as refusing to continue my treatments.

Consumer Direct (a government advisory company) have suggested it would be helpful to get expert opinion on the results normally expected to be seen from the type of treatment I had.

Is anyone prepared to provide a statement along with a name and business name?

#19

Sim,

did you contact Groupon? The refund should be through Groupon, not through Skin Studio.

#20

Since the charge originates with Groupon the refund needs to go through it. You should not have to many problems getting the money back from Groupon since it prides itself on customer satisfaction.