Ok so i cant decide between electrolysis and laser… what do y’all think would be the best? i want to get my neck, chest, shoulders, and my cheeks done
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w303/ssp209/DSC03035.jpg
Thanks!
Laser would definitely work especially on the neck and cheeks there as it’s very dark and coarse. You should get good results with laser if you use an alexandrite like a GentleLASE or Apogee Elite.
Your chest and neck are great for laser. Can’t tell your skin type. Looks like about a type IV or maybe darker? That will determine the type of laser. You may be too dark for an alexandrite.
Cheeks are coarse enough for laser, but the hair is relatively sparse and the area is relatively small, i.e. precision will be difficult with laser. If you’re concerned about getting an exact outline you want there, I would go for electrolysis since it removes hair one by one and can shape it the way you want it. With laser, you don’t have as much control over shaping.
Your shoulders have moderately coarse hair. I would try laser at high settings, but have modest expectations. You’ll get a good reduction, but I expect a bunch of finer hair will be left. Also, make sure they don’t touch any areas with more sparse and finer hair on this area to avoid stimulating more growth.
All of this could be done with Electrolysis assuming you had a good practitioner, and had the time and patience to get it all done. It would not be quick, but it would be sure. I can say that I have cleared worse.
-Edokid: How many treatments would it take to get a good amount removal on those area?
-LAgirl: I’m probably a dark type III/light IV, would that still be good for and alex laser? And for the cheeks i dont really care about outlining just as long as the hair gets removed… or atleast reduced to the point were i wont have to shave there every 2 days.
-James: i was thinking after the laser treatments that i would get electrolysis on my upper arms, cheeks and shape up my moustache and the hair on my shoulder that the laser didnt get and maybe do the upper back a little. Do u know any good electrologist in the central valley(209)? or maybe the bay area?
Anyone know of any good laser clinics in the central valley? All i found was American laser centers and Advance Laser Clinics
Thanks!
Your skin looks almost the same colour as mine and I’m considered type 3, maybe a high one but still 3 and I get treated with alex.
As for number of treatments its hard to say. Generally 5-8 but depends how much you want to remove. For your neck and face it’s probably more since those hairs are stubborn. That’s why electrolysis on your cheeks might be better if you just want to remove a bit of it. If you wanted to do the whole face then laser first for sure.
You’re a good candidate for laser, but cheeks and shoulders may be tricky. I can’t tell your skin type at all (I’m bad at that), but if you’re truly a III then you could go with alex or diode. Please stay away from American Laser Center.
edokid: on my neck i want all the hair gone and i guess a reduction on my chest to were it doesn’t look hair maybe a 60% reduction. how long till im done with all the laser treatments for those 2 areas if i did 5-8? months? years?
MagicalPrincessKitty: Im half east indian and half hispanic so im guessing a dark III maybe light IV? and whats the scoop on American Laser Center? they a scam?
So i asked some laser clinics what laser they use and these are they ones they got:
1)Alma Harmony XL w/cool contact
2)Gentle Yag Laser
3)Gentle Lase
4)Cynosure Elite which icorporates both an Nd:YAG laser at 1064nm suitable for all skin types as well as an Alexandrite laser
5)LightSheer™ Diode Manufactured by Lumenis
anyone know if any of those lasers are good?
i think i’ll just get my neck and chest done with laser and do the rest with electrolysis
Thanks
hi,
I have the same hair dense ( maybe abit finer and sparse) illmatic has on the cheeks area … how long does it take for electrologist to get rid off them ? how many hours ?
I have no clue about the Alma Harmony XL, but the other lasers you listed are all reputable lasers. I am partial to GentleLASE myself. But the LightSheer is okay if you’re too dark for an alex, I think.
American Laser Centers are “chain stores” with a high rate of turnover. They do not have properly trained technicians or good lasers. It’s like the McDonald’s of laser treatment. I have yet to find a single happy client. Plus, once they got a hold of my email address, they started spamming me constantly.
Stay away from American Laser Centers!!!
Harmony is an IPL. It’s one of the better IPLs, but still an IPL.
Out of the ones you listed, GentleLASE and Apogee (Cynosure Apogee Elite is the full name of that machine) would be best. GentleYAG and LightSheer second best. I would do consultations with #3 and #4 and ask what settings they would use etc. Use the form below, link 3. Then report back on your experience and how confident you felt in their skills.
So for my skin type GentleLASE and Apogee would work?
If you think you’re closer to a type III than IV, then yes. But the clinics will have to test settings and see how high they can go. If your skin can’t handle good settings without burning, you’ll need a diode or a Yag.
That Apogee Elite is both an alex and a Yag, so they have the advantage of being able to use either one.
Harmony XL is a somewhat not successful attempt to make an IPL work in the same method as the Soprano XL diode.
So harmony XL is crossed off the list. Thanks!
LAgirl: Im thinking im more of a IV than a III since i’m indian. How often would i have to go in and get treatments on my neck and chest? About every 2 months? or is it sooner?
The Clinic with the Apogee Elite charge $229 per treatment on the chest and $159 per treatment on the neck
http://www.andrevlaser.com/home
The clinic with the GentleLASE and GentleYAG charge $250 per treatment on the chest and $99 per treatment on the neck
http://www.cvderm.com/hair_removal.html
those prices sound reasonable? or too expensive?
And i talked to 2 electrologists. Diane Edgemon from livermore said $88 per hour and Sharon Roman from stockton said $60 per hour. Both use Short-wave (Thermolysis) and Blend
My clinic uses Soprano XL diode laser and we charge $129 for chest and $59 for neck but I’m in Toronto. I would think you can do better.
Those are not out of line. They’re about average. You can also bargain. Most prices are not set in stone.
Since you’re Indian, you’re definitely at least a type IV because you have underlying pigment. I would only use a Yag. So check out that GentleYAG place. I doubt your skin can handle effective settings on GentleLASE (at lest 14-16J on 18mm spot size) without burning or pigmentation.
One quick electrolysis question… what is a full clearence?
Full Clearance = removal of all hairs in the treatment area that are visible from conversational distance away.
First Clearance = First time the entire treatment area reaches Full Clearance (depending on the treatment area, this could be done in one sitting, or it could take weeks, or months depending on how one goes about the work)
Final Clearance = Last Full Clearance, after which the area needs no more work, or just touch ups requiring minutes at a time one to three times a year.