Hi, I am new to these forums. After my 4th session of laser on my legs and I’m not seeing results. I told the clinic after my third session that I was not getting any shedding but they said this doesn’t happen to everybody. Got my last session 2 weeks ago and looking at my legs today, I still have lots of regrowth and not many bald patches (shaved on saturday) Some backround info: I’m skin type 1, dark hair treatments 6 weeks apart and the machine they are using is soprano xl, I’m in Ireland and using this clinic.http://www.therapieclinic.com/ireland/
Its very popular over here.The technicians have used high setting on the machine all through my treatments and it has hurt a lot.I am just looking for some advice please.
“High” settings is a relative term. One clinic may think they’re high, another may not. Plus, there are several variables that constitute a “setting”, so it’s hard to tell what they consider “high”. Can you find out specific numbers?
Shedding takes 3 weeks. Whatever hasn’t shed OR is growing as usual (legs often see pepperspots, which are hairs stuck in follicles - but they’re not growing) after 3 weeks has been missed or treated at low settings.
6 weeks apart is too early for legs. Legs have long hair cycles and shouldn’t need treatments more than once every 12 weeks or so if things are being done correctly.
Please let us know if any of the hair is growing as usual at 3 weeks (not just stuck in follicles). Also, please call them and find out the settings used. Joules, spot size, and pulse width would help most.
Are you in a package or can you switch clinics?
How coarse is your hair?
Hi, Yes I can call and find out what settings are used. They told me in the clinic that 6 weeks apart is plenty as I have plenty of hairgrowth by then to warrant another treatment. After the treatment the hair grows back as normal after a few days, (no shedding). My hair is fairly coarse, esp on lower legs. I paid €950 for full legs up front so can’t switch clinics unfortunately
Shedding is a must. If you’re not getting shedding (or just pepperspots that remain for many weeks until the next cycle comes through) and the hair is growing as normal, something is very wrong.
After shedding completes at week 2-3 post treatment, you will be hair free for quite some time on the legs. There shouldn’t be anything to treat after 6 weeks. I was told 12-16 weeks by LAgirl and I can confirm that before this, there wasn’t enough hair/it was obvious the next hair cycle was still coming through.
Did you not have a test patch? Generally, it’s best to wait until the test patch has shed to ensure you’re being treated proper and then 12 weeks later, that test patch area does generally look sparser than the surrounding area. THEN it’s wise to go ahead with treatments.
thanks for replies. I did have a patch test done in lower leg, I didn’t notice shedding on it to be honest. The clinic never mentioned that I should experience shedding either, I brought up my concerns with the manager after my third visit and she assured me I would see results and told me not everyone sheds after treatments and she herself didn’t when she was getting laser done on her own legs. I haven’t had any hair free period at all during any of my treatments.Does laser not work on some people? I thought I would have been a good candidate for it.
Laser works at good settings. It doesn’t sound like that’s the case here. Plus, this is a newer machine and we’ve noticed that some clinics don’t know how to use it properly to get patients results.
yes, the clinic is only open since September. Its one of a chain. I think I need to call then asap, will mention the settings.I hope they give me a few extra sessions, have only two left on the package I booked
Well, to be honest, some users on here describe the Soprano as a ‘piece of junk’.
In my own opinion, I wouldn’t even bother with a diode laser (like lightsheer) if there is the option of an Alex or Yag.
If the clinic are claiming shedding is not necessary, I’m not sure how you will convince them they are not treating correctly.
Too bad you didn’t find hairtell before starting LHR.
yeah I should have researched soprano a bit more as well. Don’t understand it as these clinics are opening up all over the country and in the UK and Australia as well-they must be doing something right! it could well be the technicians too though
They’re buying the machines and advertising to get people in. Then they make them sign paperwork that says they don’t guarantee anything and continue treating at useless settings and explaining to the patients that not getting much of a result is normal and they should just continue getting more treatments (and paying them).
thanks again for all the advice. I think I have just wasted my time and money. I forgot to mention earlier that the treatment times are also very short in the place I’m going to-20 minutes for full leg. I think I will call in at the weekend and see what they say anyway.
Sounds like they’re missing at least half of your legs, so it’s probably a combination of that and low settings. Full leg treatments should take 1-2 hours.
Wow, the quickest I’ve had my legs treated is 1hr and that was by a tech who missed spots. Usually it’s about 1.5hrs.
Hi again, was in for my 5th treatment a fortnight ago. Told the technician all my concerns, they said they will assess me after my 6th treatment and give me a further two treatments for free. I found out the settings used:
Session 1, 32j
Session 2, 32j
Session 3, 34j
Session 4, 36j
Session 5, 38j
Pulse width 3hz. I wasn’t able to find out the spot size, but its single pulse mode (Soprano Xl). The technician said they don’t go higher than 44j in their clinic. I have some peppershots at the moment but no shedding as yet.I presume the settings they used were too low to get any results, anyone familiar with soprano settings?
3hz is not correct for the pulse width. Can you recheck this?
I had lower legs treated this past weekend and it took her about 1 hour (a little bit more).
That was the pulse width written on my chart, will have to wait till my next session to find out the correct one then as they won’t tell me over the phone. My full legs took 35 minutes the last day. they said all their treatment times are quick because of their machines, so nothing I can do about that but I will insist on having higher settings next time
That’s the challenge with Soprano is you don’t know how long is enough. My full legs were also done in around 35 minutes or so. I did my underarms, and they spent a good 3 minutes on each one, and I had full shedding. Both my legs took maybe 35-45 minutes total and I had no shedding. The amount of time they spent on such a small area like underarms didn’t equate to the amount on my legs.
Pulse width is measured in milliseconds. 3hz is for frequency.