My Laser Success story (so far)

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

Although kinda embarrassing, and I can definitely see the middle age spread happening in these pictures. I hope they will help someone.

So we start here, Sept 2000

4 Treatments later, Lightsheer 30J, 33J, 35J, 35J we got to here.

After 6 treatments, 2 different clinics. I stopped Aug 2002, and this picture was taken June 2011 just before I started again. (Hence me looking fatter :frowning: )

From this point on I went with the Gentlelase 20j (the max) and 18 Spot size.

This next picture is after 2 treatments (total 8), and 16 weeks after the 8th treatment. Just before I had treatment number 9.

The final picture was taken end of Feb 2013. The last treatment (so far) being May 2012.

So I hope these pictures inspire or help someone. All in all I spent around Ā£3000 ($4500) as each treatment was around Ā£300. Taking about an hour or so each time (less with gentlelase)

So the tips I would pass on.

  1. Have the next treatment only when new hair starts to show.

  2. Have as higher joules as possible (the more j the more it hurts, so at first you might have to start lower) but obviously the higher the more effective the treatment.

  3. If the centre wants to start very low, walk away. 16j Is a reasonable low level on Gentlelase, anything below that, I wouldnt bother.

  4. Once you find someone who seems to be careful (ie doesnt miss loads of hairs) stick with them if at all possible. I personally have never found a centre that does touchups. This maybe different in America.

  5. In my experience laser has a reducing effect. You can see this in this picture. The left is the picture I took after my very first test patch. As you can see big thick hairs on my shoulder. The right is after treatment 6, less and finer hairs. Definitely reduced.

http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/3377/shouldero.jpg

I am not a doctor, and not in the hair removal business. So you should take my tips in that context, and always seek advice from a medical practitioner. I have been burnt by a laser applied by someone who didnt know what they doing (who thought she was the best nurse in the practise) and zapped hairs missed in a previous treatment without shaving them. Seek out professionals and not people who do beauty treatments.

#2

Over the last few weeks, JohnSheff, your toxic comments toward this group (electrologists) has become very clear. And, more specifically, those which were directed at Michael Bono, who I consider one of the great innovators in modern electrology, and yes, a good friend.

Iā€™m no longer ā€œfeeding the trollā€ I will not be answering any of your questions, and will not be reading any of your posts.

#3

Im not going to feel the troll either, which is you.

#4

For $4,500 spent from 2000 - 2012, thatā€™s 12 YEARS, you still have a lot of hair! I magnified the pictures and you are still very hairy. Is that what you call success after spending $4,500?

#5

Iā€™m not finished with this post, but take a look:

August 2012
Back pre- electrolysis, except for a cleared patch on upper left shoulder

DSCN0616-1.jpg1024Ɨ768

6 months later: (actually, 5 months because he had to miss most of December)

e5c19979-bbb3-46cd-b5e7-bee2836505b3.jpg768Ɨ1024

Stats are coming!

#6

Ole !! :confused:

#7

Mike, I edited the quote part because it wasnā€™t quite 7 months to that point, more like 6 months.

[size:11pt]Total Insertions made to date of 2-26-2013 : 193,190 [/size]

[size:11pt]Total Time through July 31, 2012 - Feb. 26, 2013 : 8,729 minutes or 145.48 hours or 29 five hour days.[/size]

[size:11pt]Total paid through 2-26-13: Aprox. $10,005 (excludes sales tax that I have to charge)[/size]

This man is cleared on his shoulders and upper arms, too. The next phase involves catching any new hairs that come to the surface. He will be finished and baby smooth by this summer. His hair is removed, permanently removed, not reduced.

This is not easy work and I can see why most electrologists shy away from cases like this. The client is dedicated and goal- driven. He will be hair-free - no guessing - GUARANTEED, put a certified stamp on his forehead! He will go on and live his life with confidence and smoothness.

Because the outcome is certain, you must jump a higher hurdle and pay more. If one is happy with a reduction where you still have a lot of hair on your back, shoulders and upper arms, I am truly happy for you. This man did not want laser because he didnā€™t want to gamble with the possibility of laser-induced hair stimulation. Besides, he had too much gray hair mixed in with the light brown and black hair.

If you want to call this archaic, slow and expensive, my client may argue with you. He would stress the positive and that would be, he got what he paid for - a baby smooth back that makes him feel better about taking his shirt off, all within a year of consistent effort.

Remember the story about the tortoise and the hare? Michael Bono has a picture in his book and that sums all this up very well.

I will update this clientā€™s outcome for the next two years, but I already know what it will be.

#8

My God! What a childish behaviour and lack of respect to the professionals on Hairtell.
Andrea and James: Isnā€™t it time to stop this madness and delete the new virus on Hairtell called JohnSheff?

JohnSheff, your angry and resentful words canā€™t come from a person who have had success with hair removal.

I think you still have a massive hair problem, why else would you be this upset and frustrated?
The paradox is that you are taking it out on the only people that can help you: the electrologists.

#9

12 years hahaha its 10 hours of treatments! How many hours did that example take?

And why pray tell do you feel the need to attack me? No personal attacks? Very hairy? Cheers, thats very supportive of you. Im sure people reading your attack will be be encouraged to use your services, arent people with nursing licenses supposed to be a little more professional? Do you have a professional body, that perhaps I should contact?

#10

My God! What a childish behaviour and lack of respect to the professionals on Hairtell.
Andrea and James: Isnā€™t it time to stop this madness and delete the new virus on Hairtell called JohnSheff?

JohnSheff, your angry and resentful words canā€™t come from a person who have had success with hair removal.

I think you still have a massive hair problem, why else would you be this upset and frustrated?
The paradox is that you are taking it out on the only people that can help you: the electrologists.[/quote]

Yes of course, when I use to same words back that someone used to me, Im the childish one. Yes makes perfect sense.

#11

Sweet boy1989,

For me, I donā€™t take offense. I am always happy to engage in any discussion no matter how tense it gets. Many consumers learn by such exchanges. Could things have been worded better, most certainly, yes. I am hoping to convince John Sheff to think a little deeper about the only thing earth that can help the hairy when all other methods have failed to deliver completely or even half-way.

We are strong people here and understand many personality types. Thank you for your concern though.

#12

John, your comments above are noted. Now what do you think of the pictures and stats that I posted?

#13

To be honest, I hadnā€™t realised that success story posts were to be attacked and ridiculed and contrasted with electrolysis stories.

But in a way Im happy, as you are behaving exactly the way Ive been saying these last few days.

#14

I think I wouldnt want to spend 150 hours in pain. The money is nothing, $4500 thats what I earn every 2 weeks.

#15

Good for you! This man was not in pain. He could not lay on the table for five hours if it was too painful. He had no injections or topical numbing. Thatā€™s why I use the Apilus Platinum and quality probes like the Laurier IBP or Ballet Gold. The set up is not archaic or painful.

I may be able to recommend some electrologists in the UK who could help you with more hair removal if you want to go farther.

#16

JUST on the topic of hair removal, I personally donā€™t think John needs further treatment. We donā€™t need to go after each and every hair, thats a bit extreme, some hair remaining looks natural.
Now just leave it alone and hope that it doesnā€™t come back over time!

#17

If that is what he wants, that is what he has received. Yes, having the hair reduced that much is success to some and I go on record for having said that in another post. His opinion is the one that counts because it is his body and his money.

#18

Guys, people are allowed to post what they consider their success stories with laser here. Letā€™s not turn this into a battle of laser vs. electrolysis. There was no mention of electrolysis in the original post.

#19

FYI: Another thread seemed to be locked this morning after John Sheff asked me and Josefa to post some stats doing backs or large areas with electrolysis, so, this thread tied into the thread we were locked out of ā€¦ So, his questions were answered over here in accordance to what HE ASKED for. Maybe you should check out the thread so you understand why this happened. There is no battle, but comments will be addressed as they need to be when a poster denigrates electrolysis as being archaic, slow and ineffective. We are expected to be truthful here, after all.

#20

10000 dollarsā€¦

Woah.