I need some advice starting laser hair removal!!!

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

Hello everyone, I am a 22 year old hispanic girl with a lot of dark black hair on my face, chest, back, arms, and legs (I have light olive skin color-probably type II or III). I have gone to the doctors several times to know if it’s a medical issue but they all said that my hormones are fine and I don’t have PCOS (they said it’s probably genetic and I agree with them since my aunts are very hairy).

I want to start laser hair removal on my entire body and I have found a place that uses both the gentlelase and lightsheer lumenis.

My main concern is that I don’t want to do my entire body in 1 session since it will probably be very painful and the laser technician will get tired and try to do it quickly which means that she will miss some spots. I believe that I should break down each session into 3 areas so that it will be less painfull and the laser technician won’t get so tired and miss a lot of spots. Do you guys think this is a good idea?

Also, I’ve been reading about how each laser session for the face is spaced out approximately 4 weeks apart and the body is usually spaced out 6-8 weeks apart. What if the hair does not grow after 4 weeks on the face or 6-8 on the body? Does that mean the treatment is not effective?

#2

Light olive skin would probably be closer to a III-IV, but maybe you’re closer to a II-III. A picture would help. I like the Gentlelase a lot and have gotten good results with it, but depending on if you’re the proper skin type, it may not be good for you (you will need them to use 18mm spot size and at least 16J, and a light olive skin color may not be light enough to go that high, but I could be wrong about that.)

I strongly advise you against doing your face. A lot of women experience induced hair growth on the face. You’re better off with electrolysis on this area. The hair needs to be coarse and dense (on women, legs are the best example of this, whereas on guys, facial hair is the best description of this.)

For most body areas, you should come in after around 8 weeks or so, or once enough hair is growing back (which should take 8 weeks if proper settings are being used.) Legs can go longer (i.e. at least 12 weeks.)

What you should do is visit each place, get a test spot, and tell us the settings they used, and we can tell you if it’s strong enough to get hair permanently removed

#3

Is it true that once you get several sessions done, you will need to wait longer between each session? (for example, after your 5th session on your legs, you will need to wait 14 weeks for the hair to grow in order to get your next session done?)

Thanks for your advice! I will update you on the settings used!!

#4

I’m not fully sure, but it might be true. You’ll be able to tell regardless because you will see some hair regrowth, and when there’s a good amount of regrowth, you should go again.

#5

If you go to a clinic and have a package of 6 treatments it works out cheaper if you have multiple areas done rather than paying for individual treatments. Modern lasers such as some of the Cynosure lasers are very fast. I have had 4 treatments for stomach, pubic, half legs and armpits for skin type 1 or 2 ,it is not very painful and takes about an hour and a half. It feels like a mild electric shock. The skin after each laser pulse is blasted with cold air to prevent burning.You will smell burning hairs which is quite normal. I had a problem with an area they missed continueously so I went in and they told me that it would be put in my notes for some extra treatments…After your first session and successive treatments there need to be enough time for new hair to come through. Its no good firing the laser at bare skin. Before you go for a session you will need to shave. Where the hair is thickest is where it will be the most painful.After a session my skin goes pink then fades within a few hours leaving little red marks around where the hair follicle were. These disappear within a few days. The laser technician won’t get tired as they are experienced and have probably got another 6 or more clients to see after you. The face is usually 4 weeks because facal hair grows alot quicker and if it does not grow back after 4 weeks it means you have to wait until it does. You may need more that 6 sessions on this area depending how much hair there is. I find that shedding starts about 10 days after treatment and can carry on for another month for some areas such as legs.Don’t let your laser technican pressurise you into having treatments every 6 weeks. You need to judge whether there is enough hair coming through to warrant a treatment especially in the later sessions when the hair really starts to thin out. After your treatment is over you may have a few awkward hairs left that can be finished off with electrolysis which is more painful than laser but worth it for hairless skin. Good luck.

#6

I can help you in this. One of my friend was having the similar issues like Unwanted hair growth in her chin and her nose.She started her treatments long ago. Now she is almost fine and looks pretty good.

Renewal MD uses the elite Sciton® BBL (Broadband Light) laser for laser skin care treatments and Permanent Laser Hair Removal, Skin Tightening & Skin Care Solutions.

#7

^ Nice advertising there!

#8

Thank you for all your help :slight_smile: I have some images of certain areas where I have all of my hair grown out. Howver, I am not sure how to include them in my post. Can anyone tell me how?

#9

Go to a website like tinypic or photobucket, upload them there, and paste the link here. At least to me that’s been the way I’ve done

#10

I included pictures of my arm, back, bikini, face, and thigh. I think these pictures show my true skin colour and hair type. I only shave the hair (even on my face) and never wax for a year now.

Based on my skin colour and hair type for each area, can anyone recommend what settings to use on the gentlelase and lightsheer duet? (my technician has both but gentlase prices are more expensive, I am still not sure which laser to choose!)





#11

I’ve read stories where there is stimulation of the hair caused by the laser which causes the hair to become darker and thicker. I have fine black hair, but dense on my upper stomach and I am not sure if I should laser it. I don’t want to risk the chance of stimulation but I do shave the hair since it is noticable.

Also, I have dark, black hair around my nipples. Is it safe to laser the hair there even if that area is darker than my skin colour?

#12

The hair on your arm and back look too fine for laser. You are going to need electrolysis for those.

The hair on the bikini and thigh look coarse enough for laser.

As for your face, you really don’t have much hair there. I would just go straight for electrolysis there, and I don’t think that would take a super long time to clear.

To me, your skin type looks more like a 4, so Gentlelase won’t work for you. I would go with the lightsheer, or if you happen to find one, a GentleYAG which I think is a fantastic laser. In reality, your tech should be the one who determines what laser is better suited for you (I’d be surprised if she said Gentlelase.

The lightsheer Duet has 2 settings, a 9x9 spot size and a 22x35 spot size. For the 22x35 spot size, the max fluence is 12J and the lowest pulse width is 30ms. If they use the 9x9 spot size, they should use (I believe, don’t quote me on this) at least 35J (not sure about pulse width – I think there might be an “auto” setting which is commonly used?)

Perhaps if you’re willing to share your location, someone might have a recommendation

#13

I would not attempt laser on your back or face. The hair is not course nor is it dense. Risk of stimulation is always there especially for women with darker skin. You are definitely darker skin type III possibly even Type IV. The only way to know if your skin can handle certain settings is to do test patch. No one will risk giving you settings advice online. Your tech should be experienced enough to make that judgement. Your last pic looks course enough for laser to give results.

#14

I had about 4 treatments on my face and neck 2 years ago so there is some patches of skin with no hair. All is I know is that I will probably be doing laser hair removal for the rest of my life until something newer comes out.

Thanks for your replies everyone!
I am going this weekend for laser hair removal on my arms so I will update you on that.

#15

Hi everyone, I have been taking diane-35 and spironolactone 50mg/day starting December 2012. I noticed that the hair on my back and chest/stomach has thinned out. If you check the post I made earlier in this thread, I posted a picture of my back hair in November 2012. Below is a picture of my back hair FULLY grown in Feb 2013. I think there is a slight difference! :slight_smile:

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