Hello everyone, some advice needed, ive just had my fourth session for hair removal on upper arms, forearms and hands, some hair on traps and little hair on back near where hair continues from upper arms, im asian, but id say not to fair not too dark, my question is that, even though the fluence that i have been treated with is high, last session 7mm spot 100j at least i think as its set for this spot size and apogee elite can go upwards to 200j with 5mm (as in their on site spec) i do not experience shedding, well not the amounts ppl have commented on in these forums, im not even sure if its reduced hair, but it definitely is thinner and appears less if you know what i mean. Should all the treated hair shed? In some areas im light enough prob for low fluence alexandrite as im sure apogee elite allows this, as edokid said this helped with his shedding and seemed to be having same problem with Nd:yag, i have pmed him before but i cant find him as registered user anymore, where are you dude? I have still yet to ‘shed’ from this session i had 7 days ago most ppl says it starts around day 10? So ill see if anything is happening around 2 weeks time? My tech admitted my results were not the norm, saying it will just take longer and its probably genetics? He is very knowledgable though and dont believe he is in it just for the money as he dont even advertise and hes choc a block full all the time with many happy patients. If i dont shed like normal this time should i ask if he can use a low fluence alexandrite and see if that helps? Ill get pic up in due time if i shed.
You’re a bit confused…
smaller spot sizes are less effective than larger ones, and consequently require higher fluences (ie, on GentleLASE 20J on an 18mm spot size corresponds to 30J on 15mm).
You should only be treating coarse, dark hair. Doubtful you have that in all those areas. With Nd:YAG, the hair may not even shed if it’s not coarse enough. Not a good idea to treat areas prone to induced growth (see FAQ). Low settings on alex would be a waste and could induce growth. Your only other option is electrolysis.
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Are you male or female?
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How much of that hair is actually dense and course? Those areas don’t tend to have very coarse growth. Can you post a photo?
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You are confused about settings. You want to be treated at large spot sizes. The single digit ones you’re using are ineffective. Is this something you suggested to them or something they normally use? You want to use largest spots size and highest joules and lower pulse width that your skin can handle. It’s a combination of all three. Joules being high alone doesn’t equate good settings.
Sorry im male, so most of it is course growth but has got finer with treatments, i always thought that, however the apogee elite apparantly does not work like that, there is maximum fluences per spot size, erm see here
http://www.cynosure.com/products/elite/pdf/Aesthetic-Trends-Article-Apogee-Elite.pdf
Scroll down to the table on page three, fixed no, also i didnt even know that it was capable of them fluences!
If he can change these parameters, then yeah ill ask him to do that and reduce the pulse duration and see if that has any effect, im only gonna go in for six sessions so whatever reduction has been achieved as long as it looks natural i can live with that, upper arms i prob will follow up with electrolysis, im in the uk so i wouldnt know where to start with that to be honest, will electrolysis yield better results and why?
Im also planning on getting legs done the hair is coarser there and should yield better results no? Again would just like reduction…Have added couple pics, hope they come up ok.
LEG
ARM, yet to shed, 7 days after laser…fourth treatment.
Not sure what you’re asking here. Again, smaller spot sizes are less effective. When you go down in spot size, you have to raise the fluence to compensate. That’s why the lower spot sizes have higher maximum joules. It’s not just the joules that matter, but also spot size and pulse width.
Legs respond very well. You should get good results there if treated correctly. You could ask to get a test spot with the alex, but it’s dubious your skin could handle high enough settings for effective treatments.
Lots of UK contributers here. Run a search to find reviews on electrologists in your area, or post a query in the electrolysis section of the forum. Electrolysis is permanent when performed correctly.
Ok thanks for you help, ill ask him to see if we can use a larger spot size, to be honest this will prob be my last treatment on forearms, ill still contiue to get upper arms and hands done to try and get the most reduction, what spot size, pulse width and joules do you recommend on the Apogee Elite considering i am four treatments in? Would the same settings be fine for upper arms?
Hi there mate. Which clinic do you use? I’m an asian male looking to get my back, shoulders and upper arms done. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Cheers.
pmed you.
You should use the largest spot size they have (probably 15mm for this machine) and whatever are the highest joules your skin can handle safely with that spot size.