I do laser on my face and arms. In the four years I have been doing this, I go 1 time each week for 20-30 minutes each week. The laser destroys the hair, which does not grow back for about 4 weeks. My skin is very clear for the 4 weeks and works better than any other hair removal method. Even though the hair seems to always come back, it has never come back thicker or more, so that is a good thing. I will have to probably do this for the rest of my life. I am not interested in electrolysis because there is just too much hair, and I don’t want to invest the time or money into electrolysis - it is a personal choice. So, rather than doing waxing, I have just chosen to do laser for my hair needs. My only concern is what I would do if my current laser technician for whatever reason does not practice anymore, and if someone else would give me such a good deal in the future knowing that I come in 1 time each week for this amount of time.
Why are you having weekly treatments? I have never heard of anyone having LHR so frequently.
wow! once a week, why?
You don’t want to do electrolysis because there is too much hair and you do not want to invest the time and money? Of course, this is up to you. But let me bring this to your attention. The time and money you are going to be spend on Laser for the rest of your life is going to be a lot more then what you will invest in electrolysis treatment. Electrolysis is permanent and you are looking in investing 12 - 18 months of your life. basically you won’t have to worry about it again. You won’t have to spend once a week every week for the rest of your life visiting your laser technician.
You are right, in that most people don’t do LHR so frequently, but I do it b/c it makes me feel better to be hairfree and is worth the 30 minutes I put in each week. I may take off a week here and there however, :).
I have done electrolysis in the past and did not like the process, plus I did not have really good results. I just see my weekly laser as a necessary evil to cope with my hair issues and feel secure with my body.
You’re wasting a TON of money by going weekly. You only need to be going every 6-8 weeks. You’re welcome to post a picture of it and we can tell if we think it’s coarse enough for laser, but if you’re unsure if it is, then it’s probably too fine.
Wow. You’ll be lucky if you dont get skin cancer. That much treatment isnt good for your skin. 4 years…weekly? Is it scarred much?
You’ll be lucky if you dont get skin cancer.
She’ll also be going against the laws of physics if the laser causes skin cancer
Laws of physics?
Maybe so, but there are also “laws” of biology (somewhat more applicable to human skin). These “laws” (?) often give us little surprises along the way … usually when you think you have the whole thing figured out.
The frequency used in a laser machine is non-ionizing, meaning it can not damage DNA (the particles don’t have enough energy.) That’s physics. It’s the same way that listening to the radio doesn’t lead to cancer… radio waves are non-ionizing. Or if you want to be technical… biophysics
Having treatment this often would make it impossible to determine if there has been any LHR induced hair occurring. I would love some other opinions here, regarding this particular aspect. The area has never been without treatment for longer than 2 weeks over a 4 year period. How can the client be certain that she has had no laser stimulated hair growth?
I’m pretty sure everyone knows this, i.e., laser is not the same as, say, X-ray!
I’m saying that there are sometimes unseen and unexpected results from procedures. The medical books are full of these little “surprises.”
One interesting relatively new finding: “inflamm-aging.”
Lots of data on-line of course. I discussed this with a few laser experts and, indeed, continuous inflammation can “age” the fibroblasts. I suppose that too many laser treatments could “age” the skin prematurely … or maybe not. TIME will tell.
I remember when breast implants were considered 100% safe because “silicone is neutral.” At Dr. C’s last plastic surgery meeting (two weeks ago)… evidence was presented showing that even the saline implants are not “all that safe” either.
That is an interesting hypothesis and as you say,only time will tell.
Brenton, you have to remember that I am treating several areas - lower arms & hands = 1 treatment, upper arms and shoulders = 2nd treatment, and face = 3rd treatment. Rather than going 1.5 hours in a month, I just go once a week, and I find that this is a better deal. I know that I should be able to then take off 1.5 months for regrowth, but there are always hairs coming up that I want to treat. I get a good deal on this routine, and I am no longer depressed about my life and can do things that I could not do before. I have done electrolysis in my past, and I dislike the pain, time, money, and the fact that I had too much irritation after treatments that I sometimes couldn’t go out. I would rather not show pictures, as I already know the hair is too fine for permanent removal with laser.
Hi Seana,
Sometimes, if my technician is on vacation or doing other things, I will go 2 - 3 weeks without a treatment. And sometimes I will cancel an appt. if there is not that much hair to treat that week. But I don’t think I will get skin cancer. And I have had 0 scarring. I just see this as a necessary evil I have to be happy about my hair situation in my life. It is a sacrifice, but it has worked for me. I am just fortunate that I have found a technician who gives me a good deal for this routine I have chosen to cope with my hair loss.
Hi C’Oconnel,
Yes, I have had certain areas without treatment for a max of 2 months either b/c I was doing other areas, or my technician was on vacation. I am positive that there has been no more growth, as that would be very bothersome. The hair has gotten finer and finer it seems, and there has been reduction but not permanent removal.
Just remember everyone, I have done years of shaving, waxing, electrolysis, and laser, and I finally feel happy in my life with this routine that I believe works for me. Yes, it does suck that I spend 2 hours each month on laser and have to pay for this, but hey, life could be worse. What I am working on right now is trying to skip a week without freaking out about hairs on my body.
By the way, I cannot afford to laser my legs or bikini, so these areas I have waxed once each month. But I cannot wax my arms or face b/c my skin reacts too harshly. Laser is what works best on my arms and face.
Just a quick thought…wouldn’t it be great if someone like me owned my own laser and could either do it myself or have someone else do it for me??? 
as I already know the hair is too fine for permanent removal with laser.
Then why are you going with laser??? You’re just doing a very expensive treatment and knowing you won’t get results. You’re wasting your time and money. I don’t know how to be clearer about that
Financially she may regret this in the future, but right now as far as she is concerned, she has found a way to manage her problem. A 30 minute weekly session of electrolysis over 4 years, would remove every hair on her face and body,permanently.