My Laser Treatments 26/F/UK, Type IV

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#21

LAgirl - I’m not trying to argue with you but for my ethnicity I am certainly not in the minority! I have a very large extended family and I’m one of the less hairy ones! Haha… and I come from a part of the world with a HUGE population.

I know that you are very informed in regards to treatment settings. I have also been treated higher than 25-30j (also please note that the pulse width is short) in subsequent treatments but nevertheless, my treatments have gone very well in most areas. So even though you may think they are low, if they are working they must be okay for me.
I don’t think many people can claim to have an almost hair free bikini area after just 3 sessions and 10 weeks later - as in NO regrowth on most of it. I used to have to wax every 2 weeks.
I am done with my underarms and 80-90% of my bikini - the hair left is in one concentrated area!

I may be eating my words a year from now but I will be quite happy to admit that and keep everyone here informed.

#22

  • I didn’t say “minority for your ehtnicity”. I said “minority for all women”

  • That pulse is not super low. GentleLASE pulse is fixed at 3ms and Apogee goes down to 10ms.

  • Just because the hair sheds, doesn’t mean it’s been damaged permanently. That’s why it’s recommended to get treated at the highest settings your skin can handle safely.

  • Yes, it’s not surprising the settings are working fine on the most coarse dense hair. I suspect the hair you’re having issues with is not as dense and coarse as your bikini and underarms, which is where the difference in settings comes in and probably needs to be adjusted. Finer hair needs more aggressive settings.

#23

To your last point. The hair I am having issues with (on my front thighs only) is coarse (comparing it to lower leg). I am not even trying to destroy the finer hairs as they do not bother me.
After 2 treatments on my full legs, the “coarse” hair on my lower leg is gone with large patches of no regrowth. However, there is hair on my front thigh that is still coarse (comparing to the now gone lower leg hair). THAT’s the hair that’s causing me issue. Last treatment I was treated at a higher settings on the front thigh too.

If it’s not damaged permanently, when should I see hair return? I started my underarms July 2009. I have less than 10% hair left, is it safe to say it will remain that way?

#24

If you only started in July 2009, there is more than 10% of hair left. You’ve just not waited long enough yet for the next growth to show up. It will, even though it seems like it won’t. Give it 12 weeks or so and you’ll see more hair come in. You’ll need at least 9 months of treatments there, usually at least 12 months or 5-6 treatments on underarms.

#25

Sorry. July 2008. It has been 14months and 6 treatments.

I had my third leg treatments yesterday. Lower leg at 40j/20ms and upper at 40j/15ms.

In reply to the above:

The Aogee Elite has spot sizes of 12mm or less for the Nd:Yag part of the system.

These are lalaka’s settings:
Black (MAC Skin Shade NW 45) Female
Fitzpatrick Skin type: VI
Cutera Coolglide
Start - April 9,2009 (6 treatments): Bikini, Stomach
1st Treatment : 30j/25 10mm (stomach), 30j/30 10mm (upper bikini), 30j/35 10mm (lower bikini)
2nd Treatment: 31j/25 (stomach), 30j/30 (upper bikini), 30j/35 (lower bikini)— Spot size unknown (sorry!)
3rd Treatment (August 20): 31j/25 (stomach), 30j/30 (upper bikini), 30j/35 (lower bikini)

As you can see, she has not been treated higher than 30j with the pulse width either 25ms, 30ms or 35ms. My pulse widths have been shorter than this. I have mentioned before that at this clinic they prefer to reduce pulse width before increasing the joules to increase the deposition of energy in this way.

#26

She’s African-American and a type VI. Your settings should not even be close to hers.

40J/20ms is decent. I definitely wouldn’t go higher than that if I were you.

Once again, just make sure you’re being treated at highest settings your skin can handle safely to guarantee permananent damage to the follicles. There is no benefit to starting out low.

#27

[b]Various updates:

Renew Medica[/b]
At my last appointment I did indeed find out that the pricing structure had changed without any notice regarding this at the front desk nor the website. There are two price lists - one for peak and another for off-peak times. On top of this they do now offer courses (6 treatments) at a reduced price. I was disappointed to see them employ this strategy as it goes against all the reasons they used to give for not doing this. However, for an informed client it will be beneficial; for example, one would expect to have at least 6 underarms treatments therefore buying a course would save you money.

In addition, my favourite aesthetician Clare, has taken a year off to travel. I managed to book my 3rd full leg treatment with her just before she left. She told me 2 other aestheticians were also going with her, although only for 3 months. She advised me to book with a lady called Tamsin, when I asked who she would recommend in the meantime.

My treatments

Underarms: Had my last treatment (no.6 on 8th July), just over 17 weeks ago. Both underarms have some hair left, although it is sparse and varies in thickness (mostly fine). The left has more thick structures than the right though. I decided to have them finished with electrolysis. Today I had my first underarm electro treatment - 15 mins on my left underarm. My electrologist was impressed to see how little growth there was. In 15mins she managed to clear most of the left underarm with Blend. I guess I would have only needed 5mins more for the remaining visible hairs.
My next appointment, I will spend 15mins on the right underarm.

Bikini Line
Again, my 3rd ‘proper’ bikini treatment was 17 weeks ago. When I had my 3rd full leg, most of my bikini area was still hair free with the exception of what were most probably some missed patches down below, so she did those spots only.
In the areas that were last treated 17 weeks ago, there is some growth but it’s mostly clear. I have some verrrry fine hairs (finer than on my stomach even) that I can’t feel and I can only see under bright light. And some random coarser hairs that I can count on my hands - I may clear them with electrolysis at some point.

Full legs
Had my last treatment about 6.5 weeks ago. Still smooth since shedding although some very fine hairs have been coming up. Excited to see how much more comes through in the next 7 weeks.

#28

Hi everyone,

Just though I would update with a pic.

This is a picture of my lower leg 10 weeks after my 3rd treatment:
[My Lower Leg

](http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/1871/lowerleg2.jpg)

The most dense patch seen in my previous pic has definitely cleared up. There is still hair on my lower leg (has been coming up) but it is really quite fine - it doesn’t feel stubbly when growing back after shaving. There are some thicker ones on the outer side of my lower leg, just a patch below the knee. I may have that Lasered for a 4th treatment(if they agree to do it cheaply), otherwise I will have that treated with electrolysis when I can afford it.

So, after 3 treatments I’m more or less done with laser on my lower leg.

I am going for a 4th treatment for my upper leg, mainly front of thighs. The hairs that have come up in the last 6 weeks or so are quite coarse. Coarser than anything remaining on my lower leg. It sounds weird but I always had more dense hair on the front of my thigh than most of my lower leg. I hope a 4th treatment will be my last on this area. Just along as the hairs remaining are fine, I will be happy.

I’ve had 15mins of elecrolysis on each underarm to clear the remaining hairs. So far it’s been 6 weeks since electro and there are just a few hairs that have come up that need zapping. It feels so good to have smooth armpits all the time!

#29

Hey your posts have been very interesting and thanks for the updates. Do you know if your clinic treats men with type 4 or type 5 skin and how good the results have been for men?

#30

It treats both men and women to type V. I’m sorry I don’t have any information on how good results have been for men as I don’t know anyone personally.
I think it’s positive though, that nearly every time I go there, there is at least one man waiting for or coming out of treatment.

#31

Your treatments sound great and in line with everything we recommend here. Glad you’re happy with your results!

#32

Where is your laser clinic and do you recommend it? I want it namely for legs. I don’t think my arms are suitbale because althought hey are dark hairs, they are thin.

#33

Hi Stopit,

Wow, those are some great results. I’m really pleased for you :slight_smile: , that your hard work paid off!

Did your sister manage to try out the clinic near her University?

Pokka x

#34

Pokka - Thanks hun! As for my sister, not yet. She was busy with university work and would have made a consultation for the week just gone but didn’t because of the snow! As soon as the weather is okay (and therefore trains) she will hopefully be going :slight_smile:

ihavehair - It’s Renew Medica Oxford Circus branch (info was on the first post). I would have highly recommended it a year ago. It’s still good but you have to keep on top of it now - their price structure, who you have treatment from etc etc.
I am going to start my forearms soon too, the hair is a mixture. I’m hoping to get rid of all the coarse hair so I can get away with not waxing so often - if I want to maintain it at the moment I have to wax every 2 weeks. I will take picture and keep the thread updated so we can see if I manage to get a decent reduction or not!

#35

That is near me so I’m thinking I should go there?

By the way how do people know what skin type they are? Is it from the consultation? Oh and how much do you pay in comparison to electrolysis, is it more or less?

Thabk you for your reply and I am sorry for asking everyone so many questions!

#36

By the way how do people know what skin type they are? Is it from the consultation? Oh and how much do you pay in comparison to electrolysis, is it more or less?

Thabk you for your reply and I am sorry for asking everyone so many questions!

Hi!

I learnt about my skin type via a dermatologist, though this was because I had very irritated skin with red patches for a while.

Don’t apologise for having Q’s, I (and I’m sure others on this forum too) am very happy to be able to help in any way I can :slight_smile: and know how confusing all of this can be at times. This is the only place I found with great information on electroloysis. I am eternally grateful to those who created and/or contribute to this forum. I will also go in so far as to say, this forum literally saved my skin - thanks to Bec! :wink: There is so much info, marketing and advice, some conflicting with others, out there that questions are a natural outcome.

Pokka x

#37

Thank you!

#38

That is near me so I’m thinking I should go there?

By the way how do people know what skin type they are? Is it from the consultation? Oh and how much do you pay in comparison to electrolysis, is it more or less?

Thabk you for your reply and I am sorry for asking everyone so many questions! [/quote]

There is no harm in going for a consultation and test patch. They will inform you of your your skin type. A test patch on your leg would be a great idea, since you don’t seem to wax (from your other posts), you will be able to see the reduction just from 1 laser treatment.

Laser, where it works, is much much cheaper than electrolysis. If you can make your appointments at Renew Medica before 3pm, you get off-peak prices too.
So far I have spent £820 on full legs. It may be another £160 if my thighs need a 5th treatment but definitely no more than that.

For underarms, I spent about £350 on Laser and so far £40.50 worth of electrolysis. I imagine I won’t spend more than another £40 of electrolysis over the next few months (just a few minutes worth of treatment every 3 weeks).

#39

You judge your (approximate) skin type by the Fitzpatrick Skin Chart. You can Google it. It’s also in the FAQs at the link below. As I’ve mentioned in all my previous posts to you, you should really read the FAQs in detail before having any consultations. If you don’t know this information, it will be hard for you to judge who is good and knows what they’re doing.

#40

I have a question for anyone that can answer (LAgirl?)

Ok so yesterday I had my 4th Leg treatment (upper leg plus an area on the front of the lower leg) yesterday.

[As an aside, the aesthetician was really helpful in swapping things around; trading back of thighs for the area on the lower leg where there were still coarse hairs. She even did my big toes. And it was £145 off-peak!]

Anyway, I had a test patch for my forearm too. She said the hairs were quite coarse for a forearm and therefore suitable. She did 3 different settings. The first 2 barely hurt, the 3rd was comparable with the feeling when I had my thighs treated; painful but bearable.

Ok, so a while after I left, it started stinging so I had a look and the area of the highest setting was all a red blotch, basically like I had a mild steam burn. It hurt all day until I went to sleep. Today it isn’t hurting but it’s still red and I have loads of tinyyyy (smaller than pin prick) cut like scabs over the area, kind of like I’ve grazed the skin. As far as the area being tanned, my arms have not seen any sun in months.

So my question is, what do I do? I clearly can’t use the highest setting. If I use one of the lower settings, can I expect it to be effective at all? I’m not looking for a huge reduction, I just want all the coarser hairs gone so was just planning on 2-3 treatments.

Thanks for your help!