My LHR Diary

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

So, I had my first treatment last night. I am treating my chin (female) with the Apogee Elite Alexandrite Laser by Cynosure.
The settings that were used - 10mm, 15 Joules and 24 (can’t remember is this # is for the pulse or fluence).

I was extremely nervous, but Maria (person doing the procedure) did a great job of making me comfortable.

She got me to lie down and took another look at the area to be treated. She went over my medical history to find out if anything had changed since my last consult visit (ie. medications, skin care products etc…). She cleaned the area and shaved the hair in one spot that was a little too long. She applied a cooling gel to the area and explained everything as she was going along. She started by doing one “zap” and stopped to make sure I was ok and then continued.

The procedure only took a few minutes and when she was done she continued the cooling with the Apogee attachment and then used a nice cooling wrap on the area (I was concerned with the area being red so she wanted to make sure the area was sufficiently cooled to help reduce redness.)

I was red, the area looked a litte sunburnt and was a little tender and yes it felt a little warm, but not bad at all. The zaps were not bad at all either. I had “laser” done a few years ago, and it really hurt - turns out it was actually an IPL. Needless to say I was happy this was about half the pain I experienced before. Not to say it was painful, but you definitely felt it.

It took about 1-2 hours for the redness to go away then it was just the hair follicles that were red and inflammed. I saw a few little pepper spots last night and today. the follicles are still a little red this morning, but nothing major.

All in all, a good experience. My second treatment is in 4.5 weeks.
I’ll keep you posted :slight_smile:

#2

Forgive me for adding this and copping up the flow of your experience, but it may help some viewers who are lurking and trying to make some decisions.

This is an insert to compare and contrast this chin situation using laser verses electrolysis:

The skin reaction sounds similar to what one would look like after electrolysis with a skilled practitioner using MicroFlash or PicoFlash thermolysis. Both use thermal energy to target growing hair. Both have to go through the same growth cycles that Mother Nature presents in order for hair to be affected.

Differences:

Laser - one must wait and hope for hair to shed and pepper spots can be seen until they move up and out of the follicle.
Electrolysis - hair is treated and lifted out. Do not have to wait for shedding to occur. There is no appearance of hair when you leave the office.

Laser - cannot see the accelerated lighter hairs or darker hairs that may be a problem down in the near or far future. Cannot see colorless anagen bulbs.
Electrolysis - can treat and remove every offensive hair no matter tbe size or color. Can treat hair that is transitioning to become larger and more noticable in the future (the nip in the bud approach).

Look forward to hearing more. You have chosen a decent laser for your work.

#3

Yay, It’s been a week and I’m starting to shed :slight_smile:

#4

A little biased, no?

#5

In what way(s)? Short comments leave a lot to be desired.

#6

Was just joking with you Fahey.

#7

Then add an emotion like this :grin: next time. Okay?

#8

12 days since my treatment and I’m almost completely done shedding. New growth will probably start soon.

#9

Heading for my second appointment tomorrow. I have been done shedding for a while now and a few hairs have started to pop up. I really don’t have much regrowth yet and contacted my laser technician to see if I should put off my appointment. She suggested I keep the appointment and she’ll take a look and see if I should wait a little longer.

I’ll keep you posted!

#10

Had my second appointment last night. All went well. She increased the settings (however I forgot to ask to what - I’ll find out and let you know for next time) and it did hurt a little more. I found the overall redness went away a little faster this time, but the hair follicles themselves looked a lot more red and irritated. Took some time for the “spots” to calm down.
This morning, I still have spots, just not as noticeable. There are a couple that look like they have a little whitehead on top like a small pimple.
I’ll keep you posted :slight_smile:

#11

Hi everyone. It’s been almost 5 weeks since my last appointment. I have probably 30 hairs or so that are currently visible. The underside of my chin stays hair free the longest and the hairs that are growing back seem finer. The sides of my chin are the areas where the hair returns the fastest.

All in all, only a few hairs showing up after a few weeks is nice. I can shave and have it last a good 2-3 days before I feel the need to shave again.

I’m due for my third treatment on Jan 30.

#12

So, I’ve just finished my third appointment. I forgot the settings used last time so I made sure to find out this time what they were.

So, first treatment was a fluence of 24 and pulse width of 15. The second visit was 22f and 10pw and this visit was 28f 15pw.

We decided this time to go back to the original pw and increase the fluence - or I could have chosen to do the 22f and 10pw again. I was really red last time and ended up with a purple bruise on my chin, so I chose the decreased pw and I’ll see what happens. I think my tech would have rathered to keep the pw at 10 but like I said we’ll see what happens.

I’m red right now, warm too. Couple of pepper spots, follicles look raised and inflammed. I’ll keep you posted!

Oh, and I waited 6 weeks this time, my technician said she’d rather see me every 4 weeks or so. I’ll see how the regrowth goes this time :slight_smile:

#13

I just finished my 5th laser treatment. Settings used were a 10 spot size, 10 pw and 24 fluence. All went well. Same results as before, lots of heat after treatment, red area and now the follicles are red and imflammed. I’ve been using Aloe after my treaments and that really helps with the redness.

I’m noticing a huge improvement in the amount of hair. The hair that is coming back is definitely more fine and sparse.

I have a consultation tomorrow for electrolysis. I have a few random hairs on the sides of my face I’m going to start having treated.

I’ll keep you posted :slight_smile:

#14

everything sounds good. thanks for the updates.

#15

6th appointment. Settings used were a 10 spot size, 10 pw and 26 fluence. All went well, same results as before. Waited almost 8 weeks between treatments this time because I’ve been thinking about switching to electrolysis. I’ve decided to have at least one more laser treatment before switching.

At the same appointment I did have some electrolysis done as well. A few random hairs on the side of my face and 2 on my neck/throat area.

#16

The information in your signature is really useful and a time saver. Thanks for the update, ale!

#17

So laser or electrolysis?

#18

For your situation?

#19

Yea as in, is it better overall for laser or electrolysis coz in this one, electrolysis was used in the end.

#20

well, I chose to have 6 treatments of laser on my face, strictly on the chin and underside of chin. I had very dark and coarse hair. I was worried about induced growth, I was worried about burning and I was worried it wasn’t going to work.

I started the laser last November and have now switched to electrolysis. I still have a lot of treatments ahead of me (probably a year). The laser reduced the amount of coarse hair, the hair I have now is more sparse and lighter so the laser will no longer be useful, it’ll be a waste of time and money.
I’m continuing work on my chin and I’ve added the sides of my face as well (which wasn’t lasered)for the dark noticable ones.

The laser was a good choice for my first few treatments, I’m glad I did it - BUT, and I stress this, do your research. Find a good laser and an even better technician if you decide to go this route. Only do the laser if your hair is dark and coarse like a mans beard. You mentioned you had hair all over your face which you want to treat - if it’s fine hair it’s not worth getting laser just start from the beginning with electrolysis. Most technicians will tell you different cause they see $$ signs, but the more informed you are the better results you’ll get.

As for skin reaction, they are pretty comparable. Laser - my skin got more red after a treatment and much more heat than electro. which would subside after about 4 hours - follicles were red and inflammed for 24-48 hours. Electrolysis - red and a little swollen, redness subsides after a treatment - most redness gone within 2-3 hours, red follicles for a little longer. Skin looks a little reddish, only I would notice, for a few days.