Mistruths about Laser Hair Removal?

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

Hi everyone, I’m re-posting this as I didn’t get a response. If anyone is willing to take the time to read and share their views, I’d be very grateful.


Hi everyone

I'm completely new to this forum. I'm a woman in my mid-twenties who has severe hirsutism. I'm currently getting a combination of electrolysis and laser treatments and I'm spending well into the tens of thousands of dollars just to be able to achieve some sort of normalcy. 

I have had my full legs lasered (thighs grew back a little so I had to get top up treatments)
Bikini (also grew back but fine with top up)
Brazilian (hair completely grew back)
Underarms (hair is significantly reduced but quite a bit left, still have to shave/wax)
Stomach (hair grew back)
Lower back (mostly fine)

I'm currently getting the following areas treated with electrolysis
Whole front torso, from lower abdomen to breasts.

I should also mention that my hair is dark and skin fair.

I originally also wanted to treat my lower back and buttock cheeks and anal area with electrolysis but now that I have almost spent $15 000 (112 hours in) and am no where near finished, I would like to try laser on the buttock and anal area first to see if it would make a difference. I would have liked a 100% permanent solution but I've already spent almost 7 months doing electrolysis and so much money and it just feels like it's taking over my whole life. I don't know if I can handle much more of it. Therefore, I really wanted to give laser in that area a go first.

The only thing is my electrologist keeps frightening me with her views on laser. She's a very experienced woman with years in the industry and I don't know why she would deliberately lie to me, I can't believe she would do that. I think if she truly believed in laser, she would probably offer the services herself, as she seems very passionate about hair removal. However, she keeps telling me things like, there's all this medical research that proves laser hair removal will give you cancer, that she has clients whose faces have lost their collagen and they appear to have broken down, that they almost look like the skin on their face has melted. She says things like, doctors she knows tell her they would never offer laser hair removal to the public if they had it their way as it's so dangerous, they only offer it because it's of commercial interest to the hospital. And she constantly says that even though I've been happy with the results on my legs, I will have to keep doing it forever and it will eventually all grow back if I stop.

The thing is, this really freaks me out. You have to understand, I have hirsutism and whatever hair removal methods I go for, they will be life long, I think I will be dealing with this problem for many years to come. I don't want to get cancer. Or destroy my skin. But I need some sort of a solution to my hair problems as I've never participated in any sports, I used to be a water baby and now I haven't been swimming in over 10 years and I want to know what it's like to be in a loving relationship, but because of my hair problems I never let anyone get close to me. I'm desperate for a solution.

Can anyone tell me therefore, is there any truth at all to what my electrologist is saying? Should I persist with the electrolysis even though it might mean another full year of 6 hour treatments every week, with the pain and scabbing and HUGE cost (which is going to leave me in a fair bit of debt I might add). Or should I just finish my torso and breasts and get my buttocks and full brazilian lasered?

I really feel lost right now, so any guidance and truthfulness would be very very welcome.
#2

Hi venusdaystar

Laser hair removal is a very good technology, it is safe and can provide good results. As an electrologist I see it as a sister treatment to electrolysis, for larger areas it can provide an effective treatment in much less time than it would take for electrolysis.

I am not sure why your electrologist has these concerns about laser hair removal. Unless she can show you a published, scientific, peer reviewed medical study indicating that there is a clear association between laser hair removal and cancer and the loss of collagen, then there is no basis for this belief or opinion. I suspect that this electrologists is threatened by laser technology and likely thinks that it will cut into her business.

I would seek out a different electrologist who is more open minded, just because someone has been practicing for a long time does not always mean they are a true professional. If
this electrologist is trying to sway your opinion and/or actions for your treatment plan, I would question does she have your best interests at heart or is she looking out for her interests?

Good luck to you.

#3

I truly believe in the good effects of laser hair reduction and I am an electrologist who does not perform laser. In the state of Ohio, I could become certified, but I do not desire to do so at this time. The truth is, I have plenty of work and a good portion of that work is related to people, men and women, who have gotten all they can hope to get out of their laser treatments, but are still not satisfied. So, they must resort to the only method on earth that can effect fine hair and light hair that laser cannot “see” and that method is good old steady friend - electrolysis.

If the hair on your buttocks is dark, but fine, I sincerely think that you are throwing money away on laser. You will not be satisfied. Is your electrologist willing to work on you for a couple hours worth using a modality like thermolysis which would be quicker in removing a greater number of hairs? I am assuming that she is already doing this and you will have to be patient and be reassured along the way. You have to really want this. Yes,it is hard sometimes, but it does work if all is done correctly.

You really have no other choices for permanently affecting smaller hairs or hairs that are not really dark, dense or thick. Electrolysis is your ticket.

The feedback from many for lasing thigh hair is not positive, whereas, the feedback for lower leg hair is mostly positive. I treat many underarm cases with thermolysis to clear the fine, numerous light hairs that are untouched by the laser.

There is NO EVIDENCE that laser hair reduction causes cancer or skin “melting”.

You are wanting large areas done. How much time are you investing each week? How much surface area are you clearing? Do you want every visible hair treated or just the visibly troublesome hairs?

#4

Hi Dee, the hair is a combination of both coarse and fine, there’s quite a lot. I guess the look I am trying to achieve is that I would like to get it down so that I can’t really FEEL the hair. My logic is, if it’s sparse enough and fine enough that I can’t noticeably feel it, I can just get it waxed in summer or dye it blonde. I’ve done some other readings in the forums and I’m also interested in what Carmella said - that laser is a sister technology to electrolysis- so the sense I am getting is that a combination of both electrolysis and laser is probably the best way to go about it?
I spend about 6 hours a week getting electrolysis sessions, I’ve been doing it for almost 8 months now at $140 per hour for 32 needles (I’m getting galvanic multi-needle done). I asked my electrologist whether thermolysis would be good for me particularly for my face where I have a lot of peach fuzz and although she has the machine, she said there is a 95% re-growth rate with thermolysis, so it wouldn’t be worth my money. Not sure if this is also untrue…I’m starting to realise she has some very strong opinions.

Thank you so much, both Dee and Carmella. It’s really reassuring to hear your views especially as you’re both electrologists. Thinking about it now, I probably allowed her to freak me out when I should have known if there was any truth to those claims, it would be documented somewhere and so far, I have looked and I can’t find a single thing to support that premise.

#5

Hello Venusdaystar! If you share your location, probably somebody could advise you a good electrologist.
Also, many electrologists here proved that they have almost 100% kill rate with thermolysis.

#6

This is what drives most of us to the brink of insanity. Comments like this and prices like $140 per hour keeps me active on HairTell . Multi-probe galvanic for peach fuzz! For any hair, it is not needed. Thermolysis alone can bring you home and bring you home for far less time invested and money spent. Please find a new electrologist. Check out several if you are lucky to live in an area where more than one practices.

Multi-probe galvanic is highly effective and it requires much skill to “mind” all those wires hanging over the client. If they sneeze and all the wires fall out of the follicles, Oh Nelly! Again, there are better ways to do this to achieve the same purpose.

I can feel the earth move under my feet right now. Oh wait! It must be Josefa in Spain reacting to the 95% re-growth rate with thermolysis comment!!!

#7

Well the earth is moving under my feet too! $140 per hour? Multi needle on Peach fuzz? No doubt about it: thermolysis (and the IB probe) is the way to go on most facial hair; especially the "peach fuzz. 95% regrowth … WHAT? No way!!!

I have to go swimming now to get over the “stroke” that post caused me! Folks, the “modality war” is insane; we need to get over it!

#8

  • You don’t provide any details on the LHR you received, but I suspect they weren’t optimal treatments. The areas you’re describing should have permanent removal without any regrowth if treatments were done well with a good machine and good settings. Can you please post laser type, how many treatments and how far apart, settings used (spot size, joules, and pulse width), how long it’s been since last treatment, etc?

  • Any hair that’s fine and NOT COURSE cannot be affected by laser. So you need electrolysis for it. Buttocks on women usually falls into this category

  • Those claims by your electrologist are completely made up, unfounded and false. There is zero evidence to suggest any of that. It’s sad that some “professionals” choose to spread misinformation. It’s not helpful to anyone.

If you haven’t already, please read the FAQs below asap.

#9

Interesting comments about multiple-needle galvanic. While the modality itself is highly effective (especially with computerized equipment) the treatment progress is so slow, it’s like shoveling snow with a teaspoon. (I recently sold a computerized MNG epilator) Clients are easily discouraged and will give up. Like other practitioners on this forum, I have moved through various modalities, hoping each time I had found the one that was most effective. After 32 years as a practicing electrologist it is my conclusion that efficacy is based on the skill of the practitioner, NOT the modality or machine.

#10

I’m based in Sydney Australia and I work in the CBD. After reading all of the above, I’m rather disappointed that perhaps this woman has been feeding me a lot of misinformation. I actually have an appointment with her today, so I think I might speak to her and discontinue my treatments there. I will look for somewhere else to get my treatments done. I know $140 an hour sounds excessively expensive although I called around and this seems to be the standard price, I think perhaps it may be because Sydney is a very expensive city with high cost of living. I can part with that kind of money if I knew there was a reasonable finish line given the amount of hours I’m putting in. 8 months ago it was my goal to be finished by summer so I could go swimming by Christmas time. A lot of the hair left on my torso is also peach fuzz but dark and straight and noticeable against my fair skin. To think that this woman has delayed me and put me through unnecessary pain for hours on end is extremely upsetting (the sides and ribcage are unbearably painful). I’ve heard that thermolysis and blend are less painful than multi-needle, still uncomfortable but still not as bad, is this true?

Thank you everyone for your comments, I really appreciate it. I will let you know what comes of my next move.

#11

There are posts here by SydneyGorilla who had very successful full body laser treatments in Sydney, with photos of all phases. You may want to check it out.

Thermolysis (especially flash) would be much faster. 8 months is still a bit too fast to be completely done, but you should be well under way by that time with good electrolysis. I would count on 12-18 months to be completely finished.

#12

Give laser a try if you like. At least 3 or 4 times to see if it works for those areas. The hairs around anus will most likely grow back due to the dark skin colour.

Your lady may be referring to certain websites such as real life and a site called iplandlaserdamage. Some of these people have stories where they felt their collagen has disappeared or “melted”. Typically these lasers aren’t used for hair removal unless its an IPL with or without RF. These are the peoples opinions and I don’t think they have yet been medically proven to be caused by the lasers. One never really knows who or what to blame until it is scientifically studied, so it could be true for some of these people?

#13

Hair doesn’t “grow back” due to skin color issues. If the hair is coarse, it can be treated with the appropriate laser even if the skin is dark.

#14

I disagree, dark skin mixed with coarse hair whose color that is similar or slightly lighter in colour will have a high regrowth rate. Even YAGs still need a decent contrast in colour/melanin between skin and hair(must be darker obviously) or the hair loss is minimal or worse burns occur.

Labias are a good example: typically the skin is darker and the hairs are often lighter than the pubic hairs on the pubis mons. The labia hairs thin and some do disappear, but there are quite a few stubborn stragglers left behind. Sometimes this occurs with the anal area too.

Tans are the worst for fast removal results even though YAGs can be advertised for safe treatment for hair removal with a tan. Darker skin with lighter hairs is a slow and expensive way to go for laser hair removal.

#15

Light hair shouldn’t be treated with any skin color. Laser only works on coarse dark hair. The skin is always lighter than the hair if the hair is actually coarse and dark.

#16

Of course, but many people have hairs with varying tones and shades going on in an area. Above example: Labia’s can often have a mixture of dark/light brown and dark blonde hairs. It really depends on the ethnicity of the person.