My Treatments – GentleLASE, Type III

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#21

Yesterday I had my first session on my beard. The hair is very dense and dark. The settings were 12mm/22J. We applied “EMLA” 1 hour before. The pain was bearable, but still it hurt. After the treatment my face was on flames. I wish I could just stick my head into the freezer and stay there forever. I put some ice on it every 20 min for the first hour and after applied pure Aloe Vera gel every 1 hour. Today my face is ok. Still a little red but nothing compared to what was looking like yesterday. I read that this area is prone to patchiness, due to inexperienced tech not overlapping properly, or not using the correct laser or settings. Whatever the outcome I will report the results. Is 12mm/22J a good settings for beard? I am attaching pictures I took 30 min after treatment.

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd120/pavelny/face/LHR_2008-10-2417-35-15.jpg
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd120/pavelny/face/LHR_2008-10-2417-35-43.jpg

#22

If you want to try to minimize patchiness, you really should be using the largest spot size, which is 18mm.

Right now, definitely ice the area as you’re doing. Also, you’re not very light at type III, so make sure you stay out of the sun and use sunblock since this area is always exposed.

#23

@lagirl

Hi, I’m trying to send you a message(wanted to ask your opinion on something about settings) but it says your inbox is full or something like that.

I’d be much obliged if you could give me some advice.

Thanks in advance & apologies for the off-topic.

#24

I just spent 45 mins cleaning out my mailbox getting it down to 450 msg from 1500. Have at it!

#25

Using a 12mm guage, I would be concerned that the laser is not penetrating deep enough. The joules are also low.

#26

I am assuming they used lower power because my beard is so dense. I am going to see how the shedding goes and let you know. Right now (5 days after my treatment) the skin is fully recovered, the hair start growing very - very slowly, evenly, and it is hard in touch. I’ll keep you posted guys.

#27

You were right pdeco. The treatment on my beard was unsuccessful. The hair from the cheeks and also the neck shed all, but the chin and mustache no. I suppose the hair on the chin and mustache area is more deep (and the laser didn’t get to it). So higher settings must be used. Its been 2.5 weeks since my treatment. The hair now grows very slowly. I am going again this week. Will try higher settings with 18mm, and hopefully will get the hair that left.

#28

Pavel,

I would use 18 mm spot size with perhaps 18 joules so that you can get more penetration. By the way, 18 joules would be the maximum I would use based on your skin tone.

#29

Thanks Chris,
I will go for a test patch with 18J/18mm. Its going to hurt a lot I suppose. But its worth it. Thanks

#30

Chin hair is the most difficult to remove. Good luck with your next treatment.

#31

You do know that if you are looking to remove chin hair, you will be needing electrolysis sooner or later if the idea is zero visible hairs on your chin from a conversational distance, don’t you?

#32

wow your photos look impressive. It seems like you got very good results from laser.
does this mean the hair will stop growing at this point because i would be more then happy with that reduction, i dont find the sparsness very bad either some peope have random hair patterns dont they? but like somebody suggested finishing with electrolysis sounds a good option where you can control the outcome.

I had laser on my beard area and it was succesful on a big area of my face, the hair has hardly grown back apart from a few stubborn areas it has been 8+ weeks, could you tell me what these settings mean because i dont understand them, this is what my technician told me was used: 25/15/40/40

thank you

#33

Sounds liek 25 joules, 15mm spot size, and 40ms pulse

#34

Line up with (go on the hunt) for a skilled electrologist pretty soon. You will need electrolysis for this area in the end to refine things at best if laser works decently well and at the most if laser fails to conquer these tough, stubborn hairs. Just some a hint of things to come for lased chin.

#35

Hi guys,
The idea is not to have zero visible hairs, but to have an even reduction on my beard. I am happy with the laser results on my body, but my beard is going to be a whole different story. I had a test with 18mm/18J on Monday and it seems that I can handle it, because now 3 days later I have no side effects. Shall I wait to see if the hair sheds or just to go for a session right away? I had a treatment with 22J/12mm 3 weeks ago, which was unsuccessful because not all shed. In fact the mustache and chin does not shed at all. Not even a single hair. Did I mess up the hair cycles already? PaleBoy which are the stubborn areas? Chin and mustache? I will definitely need electrolysis on my beard to even things out, but I was hoping to have a few laser treatments and then go on hunt for a good electrologist. I am also sharing some photos below (from my first session - 12mm/22J). Those pictures are 2 weeks after my treatment. You can already see the patchy pattern. Regards

#36

Can a topical anesthetic. EMLA or Lido 4% and do the first 3-4 treatments 18mm and 20j if possible. 18j for the first session wouldnt be bad. After that you should notice a difference in the hairs texture. That is generally when it is smart to go to 15mm spot size and to increase the joules to 25 maybe depending how your skin reacts.

Depending on the practitioners knowledge and skill level you should be able to achieve great results, but male beards take upwards of 10 treatments.

You do not want to treat your face without a numbing agent!!

Good luck.

#37

Since you didn’t have shedding at those settings, you’re fine to go in now though I would personally wait to see how this setting goes and what kind of shedding you will get. No reason to hurry really. 18mm 18j or 18mm 20j are highest and good.

#38

yea ~ the stubborn areas for me was :
-mustache and chin
-the area below the jawline directly below the side burns
-and also directly below the chin on the neck area

i have no idea why but laser on my face was very bearable in fact i only felt noticeable discomfort on the centre section of the mustache area ( like two zaps ). i confused by this, i thought that maybe the setting used were too low (25/15/40/40) thats why i didnt feel any pain. “numbing agent” lol i definately do not need any of that!

Re-growth has not been much. i am going for another treatment in the next week or so hopefully… it will be for treating a much smaller area now ( not including mustache and chin ) mainly to get areas that wernt got last treatment. Should i ask for a higher setting this time? my skin looks to handle it very well.

~note, my face looked and felt fine within minutes of treatment, my neck was a bit red, but it all settled very quickly and easily ( maybe due to practioner skill, the person is said to be one of the best in the country )

~and sorry to invade your post Pavel, hopefully we are helping each other on this :]

#39

I am taking lagirl advice and will wait to see what sheds at 18mm/18J. Its been one week since I had the test. Probably by the end of this week I will notice some shedding, and in 2 more weeks I will have an idea how good the test was. Yes, pdeco, I will use Emla cream (5%) because I can’t handle the pain. and the mustache (as PaleBoy shares) is quite painful. PaleBoy you are welcome to “invade” my post any time :slight_smile: Anyone is. That’s why we are here, to share our experiences and gain more knowledge on the subject. As far as settings are concerned you probably know that you should go as high as possible but at the same time to be safe for your skin. And since this is face its quite dangerous. on 15mm that will be 30J but you should make a test first, and your tech will know better given the fact that he knows your skin. Maybe some will refuse to treat at such high settings. But if you are happy with the results and you see shedding and even reduction after each treatment (take pictures) means that he/she know what is doing. Beard is very hard area to treat from what I read here. And overlapping and settings are very important. and tech need to have experience on treating specifically this area. Unfortunately mine does not. Regards