Lightsheer Duet

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

I live in the Los Angeles area and I am considering laser hair removal at a couple of clinics. I have previously used gentlelase for treatments, with which I have had good results.

I have noticed a number of clinics are now using the Lightsheer Duet for treatments, and in the consultations I’ve had phrases like “state of the art” and “latest technology” thrown around, but I have no idea about the potential effectiveness of this laser.

Clearly it is less painful (I had a spot treatment) and faster, but neither of those things matter much to me, I care more about results.

Are there clinical studies demonstrating the effectiveness of this compared with alexandrite or regular diode lasers? Does this seem like an effective laser?

#2

One place in particular recently switched from Gentlelase to Lightsheer Duet. They offered me a really good deal, and they seemed very professional. I believe they still have the Gentlelase machines; if they offered to use those for touch-ups, do you think it would be worth it?

#3

I don’t know. The lack of clinical trials has me wondering. It’s kind of a shame that these companies are making a switch before there seems to be real scientific evidence backing their decisions.

Maybe I’ll just wait til I find a place that still uses Gentlelase, and has a good deal. There’s bound to be one around here.

#4

The Duet is still a diode and should be as effective as the LightSheer providing the right settings are used. It still fires one pulse unlike something like Soprano XL which changes the technology completely. I’ve never used it and would prefer an alexandrite for sure over it, but it does look interesting. I’d much prefer to use the duet on my legs since it would go so fast. From watching their videos it shows that it doesn’t hurt as much because of the vacuum effect. It’s sucking your skin up tight into it and then firing. My guess is you feel more of the suction feeling than the actual laser pulse. I’m at my parents right now and the internet is brutal slow but I remember their video explained it better, something about because the skin is stretched out it helps better target just the hairs or something along those lines. Depending on the area treated, I’d much prefer GentleLASE or Apogee but if I could do my legs with the duet for the same price or lower I’d definitely want to try it out personally.

#5

Well I have some time to decide. I think I’ll call the clinic tomorrow and see if they still do any gentelase treatments; if not I might pass.

I only found one article referencing a clinical study where it seemed to be successful:
http://www.modernmedicine.com/modernmedicine/Modern+Medicine+Now/New-low-power-lasers-for-hair-removal-rank-high-on/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/702766?contextCategoryId=40175

And there is apparently a clinical study just getting underway at UC Irvine:

It will be interesting to see the results of that, but I’m not sure I should invest money on a treatment before much (if any) clinical research has been done.

It sucks because the deal this clinic offered me was pretty good, and they seemed very professional compared to other offices I’ve visited. I wish they hadn’t decided to change lasers, as that’s the only thing that’s holding me back.

#6

I’m sure their videos are biased but it does show the entire area being covered, because the laser doesn’t just fire downwards it shows it almost reflecting on the sides to cover the whole spot size. There’s videos on YouTube of it against the Apogee which is definitely exaggerated such as the start where they say they’ve been icing the Apogee patient for 5 minutes before the treatment to prep them which of course isn’t necessary unless you have virtually no pain tolerance. It definitely beats the Apogee in terms of speed though, which I’m sure it’s comparing to the 15mm spot size since I don’t think the MPX was out yet when the video was made. However, I use the MPX and 18 vs 15mm isn’t really THAT much faster. If it takes an hour on 15mm then it might be 45 mins or so with the 18.

Again I’ve never used it and I don’t like diodes and wouldn’t want to be treated by LightSheer (the original). What I’m going by is my first IPL treatments on my stomach which was with the Lumenis One IPL and it’s really been probably my most successful area treated even compared to the Apogee.

#7

  • I wouldn’t waste much time looking at studies. There simply aren’t many around in general because they’re expensive and the ones that usually get done are sponsored by the manufacturers and aren’t unbiased.

  • LA has dozens of clinics using GentleLASE. I don’t know that I would take the Duet over GentleLASE in a city with so many options.

#8

So I suppose this is off topic, but since I am looking for Gentlelase, where would you recommend going? (Since it seems like you’re from LA, given your name)

I’ve started looking but if you have any specific recommendations it would be appreciated. And if this has been covered somewhere else here, please refer me to where.

#9

There are several threads on the forum with recommendations in LA. I went to Dr Babapour in Beverly Hills, but you’d have to ask him for higher settings as he can be conservative. Dr Hamilton gets good reviews as well. There is also a clinic in Downtown LA that’s been recommended. They have a GentleMAX. The name escapes me, but I believe bryce on this forum used it. Just run a search here using Advanced feature and expand to several years.

There are dozens of other good clinics too. You can look up reviews online at sites liek Yelp.com. Candela website gives a list of providers by zip code search.

#10

Its been almost a week since my treatment with this machine. My hair is growing back super sharp. I’ve never had hair like this after any hair removal treatment. Including shaving. Is this normal for this machine or is it just happening to me?

#11

The hair is not growing. It’s shedding. And it’s normal for it to look like that.

#12

I really want to thank you both (LAGirl and ihatebodyhair) for your advice. I ended up saying no to the clinic that offered a good deal on Lightsheer Duet. I called Dr. Babapour in Beverly Hills but his prices were more than I would’ve liked.

But I found a clinic called Countours in Mission Viejo that had Gentlelase, had a number of very affordable packages. I had my first treatment today, and it was performed by an MD (previously I’d only had it done by technicians). They also said I could come back in for touch ups for free if they missed any spots.

The MD was really thorough and I don’t know anything about settings but apparently he cranked the settings to the max they would go on the gentlelase (he called it “star wars” settings) which is good because I care more about results than pain.

Thank you for advising me to be patient, because it was definitely worth it.

#13

Can you call them and ask for spot size and joules? “High” is relative. There are a number of factors.

#14

What is good spot size and joules for type 1 or 2 skin and thick dark hair?

That way I’ll have some sense when I talk to them. They seemed like the kind of people that would be willing to work with you on that.

#15

The largest spot size is 18mm. On that spot size, 20J is max. With that skin type, if it’s correct and untanned, you should be able to handle max or close to max settings.

#16

Grr I was hoping this machine would work on me but it hasn’t. First treatment I had no shedding whatsoever. Monday will be 3 weeks since my last treatment and I got about 40% shedding in my brazilian area. That’s the only area to shed. Now I have to wait a few months to get money for an alexandrite laser. Until then I have no idea how to remove this hair. Shaving is torturing my skin :frowning:

#17

It’s impossible to judge the machine without settings being used. The best machine can be useless at ineffective settings.