I have been doing laser hair removal for 10 months and had 4 treatments and it’s becoming apparent that the treatment is not working for me. I’m going to a well-known, reputable chain in the DC area. I went in for a consultation and they said that laser hair removal doesn’t work on 1% of people and it looks like I’m one of the lucky ones.
They have switched between pain-free and ‘pain’ lasers each time (first and third treatments were ‘pain,’ second and fourth were pain-free). Could that impact the results I’m seeing?
They are using an IPL but I don’t know much more beyond that.
Has anyone had a similar problem? any advice?
Is you hair coarse and dark? What skin type are you? What are are you trying to treat? Have you taken before and after photos? Would it be possible to find out what IPL they are using and the settings accompanied with it?
If you didn’t feel any pain, it is possible that they aren’t using high enough settings, if you are a good candidate of course.
IPL’s generally cannot achieve as gooder results as a true laser can, which is down to the make up of the actual device itself.
Regards,
Benji
How do you figure they’re reputable? Is that just based on what they’re telling you?
The fact that they’re using an IPL is already telling me that they’re not that concerned about providing the best results for their customers.
Also, there is no such thing as a pain-free laser or treatment. It’s just marketing. If the treatment is effective, it hurts. It sounds like the settings may have been too low.
Are you stuck in a package or can you switch? There are several recommended places in and around DC on this forum if you run a search.
What is your skin and hair type?
Thank you for the replies.
They are treating the bikini area. I have a fair complexion - burns then tans. My hair is dark and somewhat coarse.
I learned today that the ‘pain’ laser is not IPL but the pain free is - so they’ve been switching back and forth between IPL and a real laser. They suggested that since the treatments aren’t working I could apply the balance of my package toward another treatment … but what about the $1,000 I’ve already spent. urgh.
I’m going to try to insist they do four treatments straight with the ‘pain’ laser and see what the results are.
Does that make sense? I’m not sure they’ll do it, but it’s worth a try.
I’ve had IPL’s done and laser. They both hurt like crap depending on the area. The laser a little more so, but it cracks me up to read about clinics trying to sham people with this marketing technique.
No pain no gain!
Can you call and ask for the names of the machines they have and post them here? It’s impossible to help without knowing names. All lasers are “pain” lasers at effective settings.
You have a good combination of area and skin type for LHR. However, it needs to be a good machine and good settings to get results, and you’re not getting that.
The ‘pain’ laser is a Palomar and the ‘pain-free’ is Iso-lase. They wouldn’t give me the settings. They told me I was welcome to purchase my records … can you believe they asked me to pay for my records? ridiculous!
Find yourself an Alex Gentlelase, and you will get results on that area with dark hair.
Im sure others will agree…
Palomar is an IPL. Isolase is an IPL as well I believe.
It sounds like you need a better clinic with better machines.