last laser: should I now go over to electrolysis?

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

Hi all

I am coming up to my 6th laser treatment with the same firm. I had had some laser done a couple of years ago but it was so painful I stopped. The new process is painless.

That said, I am trying to determine what is best now for me. The treatments have been well spaced out and I have been exfoliating etc. But I cannot afford this anymore. Here are my queries:

  1. I get my back and neck done. There really isn’t much, mostly on my upper back. Should I ask the clinician to concentrate on my upper back only for the hour I have? The lower back is really nothing at all, but she does the whole thing.

  2. The company says 9 treatments is a minimum, but that for permanent one needs to go over to electrolysis. Should I, with relatively fine hair, now go over there, given that I have had 6 treatments here and about 3 previously (at that other place)? Is electrolysis cheaper?

Many thanks,

Cal

#2

If your treatments are painless (without a numbing cream), I am doubtful they are actually working. Do you experience shedding of all treated hair each time? How far apart are your treatments in weeks? How long has it been since your last treatment?

Also, you shouldn’t be treating ANY area which only has sparse hair, even if it’s coarse, and definitely NOT any area with sparse fine hair. Laser only works on coarse hair.

Electrolysis works by removing one hair at a time. So it’s hard to say what’s “cheaper” and that’s not really something you should be concerned with as if you want permanent removal on fine and/or sparse hair, electrolysis is the ONLY option for that type of hair that will actually work. So if you’re serious about removing that hair permanently, you will NEED electrolysis, no matter how much it costs. There aren’t any other permanent removal options that work on that type of hair.

#3

Hi lagirl

Thanks for the reply.

The first treatments (which I wrote about earlier here) were about two years ago and were very painful, so painful I stopped. This new place is virtually painless; I get up and leave. They use a CoolGlide system, so I’m quite comfortable. They are a recognized institution here in Toronto (OMI) and have been in the biz for over 20 years.

My first three treatments were fairly close; now they are a month/6 weeks apart. The next three would be about two months apart (if I sign up). The cost, for back and neck, is about 1350.00 for three sessions.

The hair is not really coarse, save for the occasional new ones and some of the neck hair.

I know that electrolysis is about $60/hour here in Toronto, and that is manageable. The area I have remaining is not all that big, and I had electrolysis years ago, so I know what’s involved. I just don’t want to throw down another 1350.00 for something I don’t really need. The company doesn’t pressure me, but I just can’t see much difference. The hair does shed, and the exfoliating, which they insist upon, seems to do the work.

Thanks…I think I will go over to electrolysis. This helps clear my mind.

Cal

#4

Is the coolglide IPL? Gel involved? How is this compared to Gentlelase? Do you have dark skin?

I’ve read the coolglide works for dark or tan skin.

Could this be as affective as the tria? Meanings not affective at all and just a way of temp reducing hair growth.

Ok, just found some more info, It’s a yag with a 10mm spot size. Gentlelase also has a yag and my practitioner has told me that it is VERY painful, so no tan for me…

How can the coolglide possibly be painless unless the setting is on zero…

#5

Coolglide can only be painless if the settings used are low. That’s what I’m afraid is happening. If ANY laser is used properly, it should hurt and you should be willing to put up with that pain (or manage it with numbing cream, icing, pain killers, etc) if you want results from those treatments.

If you do experience shedding, there is hope. However, are you using Coolglide because you are tanned or have skin type darker than type IV? If you are not and do not, you really should be using a more powerful laser. Just because someone has been in business for 20 years, doesn’t mean that they know what they’re doing. First of all, laser hair removal hasn’t been around that long. It’s about 10 years. So if they’re using that number, they’re being misleading. Second, they are in the business of making money. They will tell you whatever they need to sell you treatments, at least on average. You need to figure out yourself whether they have the right laser and are using the right settings to get you results.

If it’s a relatively small area like you say, then electrolysis is probably a good idea. Though if you are getting shedding, I would consider laser as well. One MAJOR thing that is worrisome here is that your treatments are so close together. If they’re effective, you shouldn’t NEED treatments that early as you shouldn’t have much to treat at 1 month mark. Please wait 8-12 weeks from now on and see what happens then.

#6

Wow, this is interesting information.

The treatment I had two years ago was done with Epilas, and it hurt; I mean, A LOT. I was in so much pain I thought I might have to go to a hospital, it freaked me out. So I swore it off.

This one, like I said, is virtually painless. My skin colour is totally normal.

I wish I knew what the “right settings” of which you speak are. Sigh. It’s hard to know these things. I wish I had come here before!

Final question: should I ask my clinician to increase the laser (or whatever the term might be, to make it more effective), and should I ask her to concentrate on just the upper back?

The thing is, these places seem to know what they’re talking about. I can’t believe they’re in business this long without being called to account. They’re a rather upfront practice.
http://www.omi.yp.ca/en_CA/

They stress that laser is reduction, not “permanent removal.” But now you have me wondering if they use that line in order to say to you, after you 10th treatment still isn’t doing much, “Well, we told you it is reduction, not eradication.”

Cal

#7
  • FDA doesn’t permit the use of “permanent removal” because that term is hard to quantify when it comes to results with laser. The problem is that laser only works on coarse hair. So you’ll still have hair left in the end - the fine hair that remains and can’t be affected by laser anymore. There are also various reasons for why hair is there in the first place. And for some people, especially women with hormonal issues, removal is never truly permanent because their bodies continue to develop NEW hair with time due to the hormonal issue (so touchups are necessary in these cases). Add to that that hormonal disorders are hard to diagnose. It’s hard to explain this to new customers as most don’t realize what’s going on and don’t care. They just want the hair gone.

If I were you, I would call the clinic and ask for joules, pulse width and spot size they’re using on you. Then post it here. Settings vary by skin type, so it’s really hard to tell you what to use over the Internet. But we can judge whether they’re generally using high or low settings. Also, take a look at the FAQs in the sticky posts here and tell us what your Fitzpatrick skin type is. That’s important. Coolglide is a Yag laser which is meant for darker skin types, i.e. it’s less effective than other types of lasers that are meant for lighter skin because light skin can handle more power.