HELP: Nd:Yag Lumenis One or Altus?

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#21

True…she keeps saying if it’s shedding then there is no need to go higher. I’ve decided to give the other clinic a try for my next session…I’m also thinking of asking for an Alex test patch (my friend and I have the same skin tone and she’s treated with Alex 12j 18mm on GentleLase, but I think it’s only 12j because she doesn’t want to feel a lot of pain). I read around the forum, that if someone cannot handle 14-16j on alex should switch to Yag? Should I get tested for that?

I know my bikini area will definitely need the Yag, but I’m wondering if I should go for Diode or Alex for the other parts? I’m very confused and probably over-thinking it :frowning:

#22

You’re not overthinking. You’re thinking correctly. If you can handle 16J on 18mm on GentleLASE, then use that. If your skin can’t, then you need a Yag. I wouldn’t bother with the diode.

Your friend will probably find that her treatments do not provide permanent results.

#23

Just got my laser session using GentleLASE and GentleYAG. It was quite painful.

Lower arms: 14j Alex
Lower legs: 12j Alex
Underarms: 14j Alex
Full bikini: a mix of 12j Alex and 24j, 3ms on Yag

all on 18mm.

I think my skin can handle 16j on Alex for arms and underarms, so maybe I’ll do that next time…legs were too painful for some reason! Although they’re very slightly lighter than my arms. Also there are signs of bruises where the laser hit (they’re actually darker/more purple in reality):

http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/217/20130225200630.jpg

should I worry?

So far my skin’s reaction everywhere else is okay - better than the lightsheer.

#24

12J is on the lower side. I wouldn’t use any less than 14J anywhere (16J+ would be ideal, but 14J should be ok.) The bruising should go away. I normally get some purple spots where some of the hair follicles are, and they usually fade by the next day.

#25

Yes, bruising will go away, but it’s a sign that the settings are pretty high for your skin type. Anything more than that may cause a burn.

Pain will get better once the hair is not as coarse and more sparse with further treatments. You can also use a numbing cream.

#26

Thank you for your feedback!

If it’s a sign that the 12j is too high for my legs, should I just use Yag for that area instead? Since I could handle 24j 3ms in the Bikini area which is darker, I’m assuming I can handle more than that on my legs. The technician said I’m better off using Alex even on 10j setting than using the Yag - which doesn’t make a lot of sense to me since the hair on my lower legs is coarse (you can see from the image).

#27

No, using low settings on the Alex is not a good substitute for high settings on the Yag.

#28

I’m starting to think that my legs are burnt! Is there a cream that I can use to make it better? 2 days before the session she tested my legs on 14j and they were fine! The spots i got yday weren’t in the same place as the patch though.

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/7074/20130226091701.jpg

http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/5383/20130226091400.jpg

#29

That looks like pigmentation, not a burn. But yes, it’s a sign that settings were a bit high. You should talk to them about it or a doctor to provide recommendations on creams etc. This will go away though regardless. A cream may speed it up.

#30

I had my touch-up session today. All seems okay, shedding so far is very good. My legs haven’t healed completely, the pigmentation is still very visible but it’s slightly faded.

Arms: 14j Alex
Legs: didn’t need touch-up and also I’m waiting for it to heal
underarms: didn’t need
Full bikini: 26j 3ms Yag (we had a huge argument over whether she should increase the 3ms or not…she says for hair removal you shouldn’t increase the 3 ms. I think the 26 was too much for me…it was more painful than my previous session but bearable. But, a small patch of my bikini area had similar signs of pigmentation as my legs…so I’m guessing I’m right about the 26j being too much, maybe if she used 10 ms for example it could have been better for my skin??)

#31

Yes, increasing the pulse width should help you handle the joules better.

Please indicate the spot size and machine with all settings posted. Those all vary by machine and are important factors. Thanks!

Sounds like you’re on your way. Glad they’re offering touchups!

#32

The 14j Alex was on a GentleLASE 18mm.
And the 26j 3ms was on a GentleYAG 18mm.

Now that it is a day later, I can barely see the pigmentation on my bikini, it’s very minor. So maybe 26j could be okay…how much do you think the pulse should be to make it a bit better for my skin? I remember you saying the closer the pulse is to 3ms the better. (I’m going to have to really fight for the pulse because she just refuses to increase it!!)

I’m starting with the Yag on my legs next time and I initially thought - from reading around the forum - that generally (22-24j on 18mm) is good enough. Now that I could handle 26j on my bikini…is it okay if I go even higher on my legs? (all of this will be tested first :slight_smile: )

Thanks a lot for the help! With your tips I feel like I’m getting better results! :slight_smile:

#33

If you can handle those high settings on GentleYAG, you should technically be able to just go with GentleLASE on everything, even at 16J 18mm. Have you tested that?

3ms is the lowest pulse width available on this machine. Anything up to 20ms should be fine.

#34

The problem is 12j on Alex 18mm caused the pigmentation on my legs which I posted a few days ago. I’m still very confused about that because my bikini area (which is darker) did not have the same reaction using mostly 12j Alex 18mm (I did also get a few shots using YAG 24j 18mm).

I am Middle Eastern so I’m guessing this is why my legs reacted that way using these settings, I’m just not sure why my bikini area can handle it. I tested my arms for 16j Alex, there was very slight pigmentation as well that did fade away around a week later.

ps. Happy Birthday! :slight_smile:

#35

Are you living in a warm climate? (Can you add your location to the profile?) Maybe there was some underlying pigment from a bit of a tan. Not sure…

Either way, those are very good high settings on the Yag, so you’re good either way.

p.s. Thank you! Didn’t realize there is an icon for that now!

#36

Yes I live in a very warm climate (Qatar). But I have been covering my legs for a long time to prep them for laser! I think they’re just naturally slightly darker and have more yellow undertones than my arms (although my arms are exposed to the sun more.

I just wanted to use Alex on my legs because of our previous discussion - that Alex is more forgiving with “moderately coarse” hair than YAG. But it seems like I have no other option!

#37

I have a question with regards to the hyperpigmination…will i have to wait for it to fade completely before I treat the area again? My next session is in early May (10 weeks apart)and I’m not sure it’d be completely gone by then (it’s improved very slightly but it’s still very visible and brown)I might start using bleaching cream if I have to…

#38

I would recommend asking your provider who can see you in person and judge. Generally, it shouldn’t impact your treatment.

#39

Some of the confusion is resolved. Turned out she wasn’t using 18mm on everything (which is what she claimed initially).

I checked the paper by chance, and I saw that there were a couple of 15mm. She said she uses 15mms for underarms and bikini area (she absolutely refused to use 18mms on them). So the 26j, 3ms, Yag for the bikini was on a 15mm not 18mm.

Now I need you to, if possible, let me know what is the minimum joules to use on a 15mm size on both the Yag and Alex. So I can try to push if the joules were too low.

So far:

arms: 14j, 18mm, Alex
Lower legs: 22j, 18mm, Yag, 3ms
Bikini: 26j, 15mm, Yag, 3ms
Underarms: 16j, 15mm, Alex (Maybe this is too low?)

My hyperpigmentation incident freaked her out. She said based on her experience, with my skin color, Alex shouldn’t do this to me.

#40

Any thoughts?

I think I can get her to raise the underarms from 16j to 18j on GentleLase and I think I can tolerate it. I just can’t seem to get her to raise the pulse width on the GentleYag, she insists on 3ms.