My first laser treatment (Coolglide) - Good & Bad

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

I had my first ever laser hair removal treatment on July 31st 2007. I am very skeptical about the permanency of laser, but was getting tired of slow electrolysis treatments (which were generally successful). I have type 4 skin, and was treated with the Cutera Coolglide.

The areas I had treated were between the ends of my eyebrows and hairline (sides of forehead area), and lower back. Both places had kind of fine hair, although the lower back did have some remaining long hair that electrolysis didn’t kill or that were in resting phase when I had the area treated with electrolysis many times.

Total cost was $179, and the doctor recommended not buying the 6 at cost of 5 bulk package, as I might not need more than 3 treatments. If I do end up needing more treaments, he will reduce the price.

The good:

– The doctor performed the treatment, while his nurse looked on. For the second treatment, the nurse will take over. The doctor was professional, and as I said earlier, honest enough to not make me buy the bulk package. I wore eye protection goggles when treated on the forehead.

– Treatment was completely painless on lower back, and minimally painful on forehead.

– After six weeks, none of the treated hair on my forehead had grown back (and I didn’t check the lower back). So, I moved my second treatment date that was in mid-September to the end of September. This past week, it seems like most of my forehead hair has grown back.

The bad:

– After treatment, my forehead area (which was treated at 50j/cm square, 20 msec, 10 spot size – while the lower back was treated at 60j/cm square, 10 msec, 10 spot size) pained for a few days. Moreover, even 7 weeks after treatment, if I press my fingers firmly to the treated part of my forehead, I seem to feel that there is a bit more pain and sensitivity then there should be. Or maybe I a imagining it. My nerve there also seemed to show a bit after treatment, but again, I could be imagining this.

The doc took before pics of the forehead area, so lets see.

For now, I just want to know how deep the Coolglide’s laser goes underneath the skin (how much further, if at all, than the end of an inserted electrolysis needle?).

Any other opinions and advice about the cost, settings etc… are very welcome.

#2

I hope you wore eye protection goggles the entire time you were treated, not just when treated on the forehead. Of all the lasers, this is the most dangerous laser for eye protection. Even when treating a site all the way at the other end of your body, there is still risk of eye injury.

#3

Yag laser is not good on the fine hair you’re describing. I wouldn’t expect this to lead to great results, though I guess you can try if you don’t mind spending the money. 10mm spot size is pretty small. Yag laser is 1064nm, so it doesn’t go that deep, especially at 10mm. And yes, you should be wearing goggles the entire time.

#4

For my lower back treatment, I lied face down with the face in a bowl like plastic enclosure (with a small opening to breathe through and for my nose!). No way I could lie my face in there wearing goggles.

No feedback form others with experience using the Yag?

And by the way, the hair on my forehead is not exactly fine, but thin like a woman’s mustache.

#5

by thin do you mean sparse? otherwise, thin=fine.

#6

In many states that would be a violation of the safety protocols. In other words, you can not have someone not have eye protection. Lying face down is not eye protection. For example, what if that person suddenly sat up, at the same time that the pulse went off. There is risk of a eye injury.

I agree that the risk is minimal, but that particular laser uses a very coherent beam, which if it bounced off of something in the room could damage one’s eye. Something to think about.

#7

Had the second treatment today (only on forehead area, cost was $90). This time the nurse treated me. Same settings, but a bit more painful – and yet, reaction so far seems same as before.

She told me that the burning hair smell was great, and that I had no pigment changes from the first treatment, which was also great. Moreover, she said that I could just call for future treatments when the hair grew back instead of setting 6 week appointments – since my hair is taking longer than normal to grow back.