Male ready to take the plunge asking for advice

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

I am a male in Rhode Island and looking to treat my back hair which I have been waxing for about a year. I have stopped waxing for about three months and am looking to take the step of permanent removal. I know that electolysis is the only permanent game in town, however I have read here in the forums that large areas like the back can be lasered successfully to reduce the amount of hair and then finish with electolysis on finer hairs.

My origin is western european and on the Fitzpatrick scale I would say I fall between types 2 and 3. Given that assessment and the research I’ve done here and at hairfacts.com, I believe Alexandrite is the way to go.

I ask for your advice on my reasoning. Am I making any mistakes in assuming laser + electrolysis is a good strategy for someone with coarse black hairs on his back back? The lure of electrolysis’s permanent results is very strong. Should I simply go with electrolysis? I would appreciate any recommendations and advice on practitioners in New England (I’ve searched the forums on this but I’m afraid the data may be a bit dated).

Thanks

P.S - Having made the decision to seek permanent removal based on info from this forum and hairfacts.com, I just wanted to assure guests and readers that I am willing to document my progress and experience here. You have all been very helpful!

#2

To do a back with electrolysis requires someone who is both good, and has some speed. While I can finish a back in 75 hours or less, spread out over 9-18 months most people can’t be assured that they can find that speed in their area.

No matter the course you choose to take, the most important part is to find well skilled practitioners to do your work, who can show you finished results and happy clients who are done with their work, and have been for more than a year or two.

#3

you are exactly the type of person who can benefit from the combination of laser and electrolysis. if your hair is in fact coarse and pretty dense, and your skin light, an alex laser at effective settings should get you on your way. then you can finish with electrolysis. the most important thing for you is to find someone who knows exactly what they’re doing. try running a search for your state here and see if there are past recommendations for clinics in your area.

#4

Thanks guys. I’ll be sure to keep posting. Thanks for the advice and I see what I can find in the forums concerning clinics. :slight_smile:

#5

Though blend is a very effective type of electrolysis, I would narrow my search down to electrologists that use flash or microflash capable computerized epilators. That’s the surest way of staying within the 75 hour or under timeline. I will add with pain-staking redundancy, for the sake of comunication, that the equipment used is only as good as the skill of the practitioner who turns it on. If she or he has surgical magnification, probe choice sizes available, halogen lighting and sets the energy levels so that the hair slides out with full bulb intact (no plucking sensation)then you are well on your way to permanent hair removal via ELECTROLYSIS and thus, you are spending your time and money wisely, THUS protecting your mental health regarding this business of hair removal.

Good luck to you (and I really mean it) because some electrologists are content with staying safe and unchallenged in their own little time warp. There would be very little need for laser hair reduction if many in my profession lifted to higher levels using better tools and techniques. Doctors and consumers would love to refer to the permanent option, but there is a deep and wide variation in how hair is removed via electrolysis (just like laser). The lack of consistency is crazy and it is unnerving for those consumers starting a search for electrolysis care. If you can’t find anyone in your area that has modernized, then you may well prefer to use the laser and electrolysis combination to speed things along.

If you find and electrologist that fits the bill, then she/he can do it all.

Dee

#6

If I could find a good electrolysis practitioner in either RI or MA, I would probably opt for electrolysis given a 9-18 month timeframe. The hair I am targeting isn’t as coarse as some other hair on my body, but it is clustered and numerous in certain areas and that made me first think of laser. Would you know of any electrolysis pracitioners in RI or MA, or even New England? I believe MA and RI license their electologists…

Thanks

PS - Can you guys refer me to an FAQ on electrolysis that explains the methods (galvanic, therm., blend)? I would appreciate it.

#7

you can read about electrolysis on the electrolysis section of this forum as well as places like www.electrology.com

for places in your area, try using the search feature here and type in your city or state etc.

#8

Did so and found alot of electrology in RI and some laser centers here: <http://www.hairtell.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/34864/page/1#Post34864>.

The post is a year old and quite useful. Now comes all the leg-work!

#9

Guys,

I have some pictures of the area to be treated. I just wanted your respective opinions on what skin type and hair it is. In my opinion, I’m between a type 2 and 3 and the hair seems coarse but is finer in the lower back. That being said should I still go the laser then electrolysis route or straight to electrolysis?

Thanks!




#10

Not all electrologists have the equipment, speed, guts, determination,strategy to plow through your back hairs. I think you may have a hard time finding someone, but I don’t know what the electrologists are like in Rhode Island. If someone has microfalsh thermolysis know how, then you are closer to your dream for permanent removal than you might ever imagine. I would not do blend, and definitely not galvanic electrolysis for this area. Microflash thermolysis is the way to tackle this if you would choose to go with straight electrolysis, but you need modern equipment and know how. I’m serious.

Thanks for the pic’s. First thought, if I were you, I’d be looking at laser first followed by electrolysis. I like the combination for what you present here. Lagirl or others will have to advise you on the laser part. I hope you are a good candidate and good luck.

Dee

#11

Most of your hair will probably benefit from good laser treatments first, following by electrolysis to finish up. the only parts I see with finer hairs are the sides of the lower back. the patches that you have with dark dense hair should be affected by laser pretty well.

#12

Thanks guys. I doubt I’ll be able to find a microflash thermolysis practioner in RI or MA, so it seems as if laser is the one, for now. Thanks for the reassurances and I’ll be sure to keep your guys in the loop and post about my experiences.

#13

hm, I wouldn’t assume that noone uses thermolysis in your area. It’s pretty common. But you should probably start with laser first anyway and then look for an electrologist. I would avoid getting the areas with fine hairs treated. Also, make sure to read the FAQs to find the best clinic with the best machine for you in your area.

#14

Thermolysis is the modality of choice mostly on the east coast, so you are in a better position than most countrywide. Look for flash or even better, a microflash electrologist.

http://www.hairtell.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/postlist/Board/85/page/1

http://www.hairtell.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/postlist/Board/68/page/1

#15

Guys,

I’ve been doing a lengthy search for places in southern New England and Boston looking for the right fit. So far I’ve had people tell me that IPL is the way to go. Here’s an excerpt from an email I’ve receive from one place when I told them that I was looking for an Alexandrite laser:

"The Alexandrite, is a laser with an old technology. It is not safe and not very effective. They retail for under $6,000 dollars. Please visit this link for your information:

http://outlet.med1online.com/p-2902-sharplan-epitouch-5100-755-nm-alexandrite-laser-hair.aspx

The new Laser technology manufacture by Syneron is the latest in laser technology for all type of skins and hair colors hair removal. The Galaxy, the cost of this system is approximately $175,000 dollars and is the most effective in the market today. A lot of places do not carry this system because of the cost. We carry this laser machine in all our clinics."

Is this true? Should I be looking at other lasers besides Alexandrite? I thought that for my skin type Alexandrite was the way to go? Help!

#16

So let me see, someone sends you a message stating that the Alexandrite laser is Old Technology (we’ll skip the safe and effective issues) and that they only retail for $6,000. Then they send you a link to a laser reseller that is selling an old Sharplan alexandrite (which was not that good an alexandrite in it’s time) from 1998 for $6K.

Then finally they tell you that they are using the Syneron IPL system that can treat all skin types and hair colors and that it is $175K and the most effective in the market today.

Hmmm . . . let’s do some critical thinking. Since 1998, there have been 9 years during which manufacturers such as Candela have improved upon the alexandrite technology. But this company ignores all that and essentially feeds you information that is (to be charitable) intended to misinform. Then they tell you that what they are using is the absolute best (can do anything) but not many people have it because it is so expensive.

The question is, should you believe them? Or better yet, can you believe what they said about the alexandrite? And based on that answer, should you believe anything else they say? You make the call.

#17

Completely agree with sslhr. In general in life, not just with LHR, you should always question what a business says if they have something to gain from it. You need to read UNBIASED sources if you’re trying to get inbiased information. For example, noone on this forum has anything to gain by helping you get good treatments somewhere in Boston.

Not that price matters, but if you are curious, you need to compare prices of NEW machines to NEW machines. For example, check prices for the new GentleLASE alexandrites by Candela, which are some of the best machines on the market RIGHT NOW. What they are trying to do is at best laughable. It’s like telling you to compare the current price of a 1980s black and white TV to a brand new plasma. Ridiculous.

Finally, emailing various clinics with open-ended questions is just asking for a sales pitch. Everyone is going to tell you they have the best machine for you. They want your thousands of dollars. There are ways to find a clinic near you listed in the FAQs at the link below. Read them. Also, run a search on this forum for “Boston” and see what comes up.

#18

ive had great results with the laser light sheer diode by lumins offered by the american laser centers in oregon. i have had 3 treatments so far and id say i see a 70% reduction already.

#19

Well I resorted to emailing clinics just a general question about the laser they use to sort out the ones with Alexandrite lasers and others without. Its been pretty good so far with replies and I’ve narrowed down the field. I just posted what they sent me to make sure; I had already suspected that IPL (for my case) and their criticism of Alexandrite lasers was bogus. I guess on second thought this may help someone who has a similar decision and is being fed what I’m being fed. Thanks for the replies guys. :slight_smile:

#20

As promised, an update…

I am still doing consultations at this point. Just came back from my first.

The good: They’re using the GentleLase, answered all my questions, and gave me a test spot. In all honesty, I didn’t feel a thing when she used the laser on my back for the test spot. The place was clean, they’re registered with the State licensing board and are overseen by a physician. Practitioner has 4 years of experience with no bad cases or patients with side effect and owner is an RN with 20+ years of experience. Offer electrolysis as well.

The not-so good: $500 a treatment. No packages. No policy for unsatisfactory results or in case of side effects.

There are another 5 places I will be contacting, mainly to see about price, what machine they use, and then perhaps go for a consultation. I think I might be willing to pay $500 a treatment but I will see if there are better offers out there. Definitely not going to a bargain basement operation though.

my $.02