It's go time! Starting LHR

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

Well I finally chose a clinic for my LHR of underarms and extended bikini. It was a pretty good consult, the nurse practitioner was very informative, allowed me to ask questions and asked me a lot of questions about my history with waxing and shaving (had I ever gotten hyperpigmentation with anything else)and even sat there while I read all the disclosures in case I had any questions about them.

So all that was great, then it started to make me a bit nervous. The rest just seemed really rushed. She said that everyone starts with a package of 3 treatments spaced about 6-8 weeks apart (which seemed to regimented and not personal), but 6 are typically needed so after the first 3 you pay a la carte (the price per treatment is the same in the package or if you pay per treatment). So that’s what worried me, the “they already have your money” situation LA girl talks about. I have personal recs from several people who are quite happy though so we’ll see how the first treatment goes next week!

#2

Can you post details about your skin type, machine they’re using, and settings here as well?

If you could keep your future posts in this thread, it would be great to have in one place so we can easily follow and refer back.

Thanks and good luck!

#3

Thanks LAgirl, you’ve been an awesome resource. I’m going in for the first treatment in 2 days. I’m nervous about putting the lidocane gel on after shaving, but other than that I’m ready!

I’m a II-III skin type, probably closer to a III. I’ll be treated with the Candela GentleLASE Alex machine, with the possibility of also being treated with the Lumenis Lightsheer diode depending on what seems more effective to them. 12mm+ spot size on both.

I’ll post here again with actual settings they use and again after a few weeks on shedding.

Thanks for the encouragement!

#4

Good Luck ChicagoHarriet!!!

Looking forward to hearing how it goes for you.

#5

We recommend shaving 1-2 days prior so that there is a little stubble and it’s clear exactly where to treat.

There is no reason to be treated with LightSheer really if they have a GentleLASE machine. GentleLASE has an 18mm spot size. Why are they treating you with a 12mm on that machine? If they want to use 12mm on GentleLASE, keep in mind that max on that is 40J. You want to be as close to that max as it’s possible while still being safe.

#6

Well one down! I have to say, it hurt more than I thought it would (or remembered from getting a spot test done). I sort of scoffed at the lidocane cream, but next time I’ll definitely apply liberally and let it sit for a bit!

GenleLase Alex, 18mm spot size, 60 joules (though at one point on my bikini it looked like the screen said 50). The smell of burning hair wasn’t pleasant, but she warned me about it. She mapped out a grid, and though I was laying there wondering why she wanted to zap the same place again, it felt like she did good overlapping. We’ll see I suppose. It went by fast, though treatment time for underams and full bikini was 30+ minutes.

The one thing I was weirded out by was after I was done she said that she usually recommends returning in 6-8 weeks, but thought I would do well coming back in 5. does that sound right?

#7

Actually, waiting the 6-8 weeks is better. I’d wait closer to the 8 as this gives more time for the new hairs to grow. Laser is only effective with hairs in the growing stage. If you go too soon, there should be some hairs there to zap but waiting a bit longer will give time for other hair follicles to cycle back into the growing stage. It is just more efficient that way. If you wait too long, then you have the problem with hairs leaving the growing stage which means laser will not work on them. I recently saw a hair growth chart showing the approximate cycles of different areas of the body. I am sure LAgirl or someone will have the link.

#8

Hi Harriet,

Bit confused - if you are familiar with the recommendations on HairTell, you will know that longer waiting times than those suggested by clinics are recommended.

For underarms it’s generally 8-12 weeks. Generally it starts off as 8 week intervals and then draws to 10-12 weeks.

For the bikini area, 10-12.

After the hair sheds, you should be hair free for a few weeks. At week 5 you should still be hair free or hairs should just start to come back. It takes a few weeks for the full hair cycle to come through. I have helped relatives and friends with scheduling their treatments and what I generally tell them (and what they find) is that hair starts coming through slowly, then for a week or two a LOT comes through all at once, then it slows down again and you notice not much more is coming through. This is when to schedule your next appointment.

My friend waited until 12 weeks after her 5th underarm treatment and at that point she was thinking that she wouldn’t have a 6th because there wasn’t much hair present. By week 15, much more had come through (and it is obv in anagen), so she’s going for a 6th.

You really have to monitor what’s going on and plan accordingly.

#9

  • That joules number is not correct. On 18mm, max is 20J. Can you find out the right number?

  • You don’t need to plan when to come in. You’ll see when you have enough hair grow in after shedding. For these areas, it’ll be 8-12 weeks from this treatment. You won’t have much to treat at 5 weeks and it’s not worth paying for a full treatment to treat a couple hairs.

#10

Thanks for the advice!
I’m a bit nervous about putting my foot down and changing my appointment after I see appropriate regrowth. The nurse practitioner stood there while I made the 5 week appointment. Blarg.

I’ll find out the right settings, spot size was 18mm for sure.

#11

I’m sure you talk to the receptionist when you call. Plus, things happen. People reschedule things all the time. You’re not forced to do anything you don’t want to do, or shouldn’t feel like it. Call and say something came up and you’ll call back when you know your schedule.

When I go for appts and I’m asked to make a followup one, I just tell them I don’t know my schedule yet. You’re the customer here. Don’t let anyone make you forget this.

#12

So it’s been 15 days since the treatment, and I’ve been totally neurotic about shedding. I keep convincing myself that spots were missed and then I swipe at the hair with my fingertips and out it comes! Ah-mazing. Wish it only took 1 treatment!

I will say that it’s now becoming blatantly obvious to me that I’d have very little regrowth to treat at 5 weeks since I think it’ll take another several days to finish this shedding.

so glad I have you all and your advice!

#13

Just had my next underarm treatment at 7 weeks. i had plenty of growth to treat! I had also let myself forget how much it hurts, but this area only takes her about 15 minutes so not too bad. 20J/cm2, 18mm (I took a picture of the screen).

things that still worry me:

  1. couldn’t tell if she was annoyed that I wasn’t doing my bikini at the same time (she did sort of remind me not to let it grow too much before treatment)

  2. I asked her if you increase the joules if spot size decreases on the gentlelase. she said no.

  3. my bikini has a decent amount of regrowth at 7 weeks.

#14

If you increase the spot size, the joules don’t decrease. The “impact” of the joules decrease. All variables are adjustable and don’t automatically increase or decrease.

#15

Sooooo I took a 7 month break from laser to rebuild my pocketbook, but now I want more!

I’ve had 3 bikini treatments and 3 underarms treatments with a Candela GentleLase and the reduction I had seems to be sticking, my bikini is much sparser and my underarms I only shave periodically now (though I could use more reduction).

I could go back to the same place, but they get great business and have never so much as offered a slight discount so I’m tempted by a living social deal at a place that has what they call the “gold standard” 810 nm diode. Is that the same as Soprano XL? I went to research it and saw that someone had done a schematic an rated this treatment higher than alexandrite due to lower risk of hyper/hypo pigmentation and less pain. thoughts?

#16

810nm diode could also be LightSheer diode which is a very good laser in GOOD hands. Soprano XL doesn’t get very good reviews here.

If I were you, I’d stick to GentleLase unless the difference in pricing is huge.

#17

I had treatments with LightSheer and hated it much preferred Soprano XL. Had much more coverage and shedding with Soprano. However if your hair is as thin as you say on your underarms where you don’t have to shave that often, it’s probably not dark or coarse enough now for laser to work. Depending on how much there is you may want to just do electrolysis and know that the hairs are ALL 100% gone for good.

#18

So I made the switch! There was a deal-of-the-day type deal for a place with a brand new LightSheer Duet and great reviews so I had to give it a shot. I have one more GentleLASE session on my bikini. and Then I have 3 sessions pre-purchased with the LightSheer that I’ll probably do 2 underams depending on shedding and one more bikini and see where I am after that.

The place with the GentleLASE machine where I was going was just too much. $100 for each underarm treatment and $190 for each extended bikini (not brazilian).

here’s hoping I still see results!! perhaps in time for the honeymoon…