Laser treatment for a beard

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

Hi, we are a couple from Toronto. My boyfriend is a crossdresser and he is planning on using laser to remove his facial hair. His skin is Type II.

Our question is simple what is the best (in terms of permanent hair removal) laser technology /model to remove a beard?
We did some research and we were debating between LightSheer (Diode) and GentleLASE (Alexandrite) ? Or is there a better option?

We are planning on using electrolysis after laser to remove any remaining hair.

Another question for people in the greater Toronto area is if you know clinics that have good reputation and one which would be crossdresser friendly.

Thank you

#2

GentleLase is anytime better. You might need a YAG laser for chin and upper lip hair. GentleYag is one of the best YAG lasers. You should look for a clinic which has both the lasers- GentleLase AND GentleYag OR GentleMax(both the wavelengths/lasers in one machine)

#3

Thanks for the reply… what are the advantages of GentleLase(Max) over LightSheer?

Thanks as always for the help, we appreaciate it.

#4

LAgirl has mentioned that while LightSheer can be a good laser, it is more difficult to operate and easier to miss spots because it requires an up-and-down compression method to be most effective, but many techs do a gliding technique instead because it’s faster.

I think that for male facial hair, a good yag laser like GentleYAG, or Cynosure Elite (yag side) would be best. Edokid has mentioned that a yag worked well for his facial hair, especially where the hair is deeper and the GentleLASE did not produce shedding. Yags go deeper and work just as well on dark, coarse hair so I think you’d be good with that. If the hair eventually gets too fine for the yag, you can switch to the alex, or just switch to electrolysis which you said you were going to do anyway.

#5

Also, LightSheer is usually 9mm or 12mm spot size, whereas GentleMAX has 15mm and 18mm, Cynosure Elite has 15mm, and the Elite MPX has 15mm and 18mm. Larger spot sizes are best for the face because it lowers the chance of missed spots and therefore patchy results. Larger spot sizes also go deeper, which is important for treating male facial hair.

#6

http://www.bogomoletsclinic.com.ua/en/?view=txt&div=en_news&id=54114290204

#7

Electrolysis from day 1 is your best bet for beard. I’ve removed most of mine with laser but it takes a lot of work and my chin and upper lip have had no reduction. I started with alexandrite a bit with GentleLASE then Apogee Elite. All hair would shed except chin and upper lip. So we switched to Apogee Elite Yag which would cause all hair to shed since it goes deeper. I’ve done probably 12-14 sessions in total and have literally no hair on my cheeks or neck anymore, but my chin and upper lip have had maybe a 5% reduction. Even with the alexandrite and sometimes yag, I’d do a full treatment then have to go back 2 weeks later for another treatment as only half the hair would shed from the one treatment. I don’t really believe that it’s possible to remove the hair there with laser. I’ve had enough treatments to know…

Also just because a laser has a 18mm spot size doesn’t mean they will use it on you. From my experience clinics want to use 12mm on the face, or 15 if you request it. 18 is pretty big for face, too big for upper lip etc so don’t really make a decision based on that.

#8

Edokid, can you please tell me your settings for each session? I would also like to know how you spaced the treatments.

#9

I’m not sure what the settings were sorry, I don’t keep track. I believe with the yag it was 15mm and then 25 joules and I think similar with the alexandrite. They were really high, had to use numbing cream and still hurt like mad even with that. I spaced the treatments pretty much when I had regrowth, but typically around 8 weeks or so maybe 10. For the first maybe 3-4 sessions I had to always go back about 2 weeks later to treat the entire area again since only half the hair would shed.

In terms of the results I’ve had they’re really amazing, I never have to shave my neck or cheeks, it’s just chin and upper lip that won’t budge. With the alex on my first sessions I’d get no shedding there or very little/patchy. When we switched to yag I’d get 100% shedding, but the reduction has been very little. Now I’ve done a few sessions just on my chin and upper lip using the alexandrite and I do get full shedding there, but again still no real drastic change so I feel like I’m wasting money doing it. Might try electrolysis but I think that will be painful so not sure what to do.

#10

Thanks for the reply.

Would it be possible for you to call up the clinic and ask for settings? It would be really very helpful.

Can you tell me what spot size they used with the Alexandrite?

I suggest you have a patch test with YAG laser WITH 10mm spot size, 40+J, pulse width 20ms or less if your skin type is IV or BELOW.

#11

It was 15mm with the alexandrite as well. The very first treatment was with 12mm at 35 joules on the yag and I didn’t get good shedding so we upped it to 15 so I don’t think that the lower size on the yag will help. Either way though I’m not too concerned because it’s literally upper lip and chin, so even if I don’t shave for 2 weeks, the places that I have hair are normal almost like a goatee. It would be worse if it was the opposite. I may do electrolysis eventually to finish up but there’s other areas I’d rather treat first :slight_smile:

#12

OK :slight_smile:

#13

when you say that the hair in chin and upper lip don’t shed you mean that a week after the treatment they don’t fall at all? or do they fall and grow back some days later?