First of all I want to thank you all for all the information you provide. I also want to assure you I have read the FAQ, questions to ask a practitioner, how to find a practitioner in your area as well as posting a question here and getting some help. I started with months of reading up on electrolysis and I started that. Now I’m extremely anxious to start laser on my legs and bikini but just can’t spend months reading this forum like I did in the electro forum. I’ve had it with painful shaving and the bloody mess that happens everytime I try. I’m hoping you can give me a crash course in LHR on my legs/bikini and what I need to know and ask.
I am hispanic/italian with very dense, coarse, black hair on my legs and bikini. My skin is medium dark. I know I need a ND:yag laser but I’m having one hell of a time finding one in Sacramento. (That’s not the thing I need help with though.) What are some of the things I need to understand before starting? I had one consultation and didn’t know what to ask. I ended up not going back because the girl that did my consultation told me she could laser my full legs and bikini in 30-45 minutes. I know enough to know that is not possible if you do a good and careful job. I do not understand overlapping though. She also told me that shedding doesn’t happen. I know that common sense tells me she is wrong. I’m bummed because that clinic had a great laser, the GentleMax! Please explain spot size, pulse and joules variations for someone like me. I’m still unclear on the concept. I do know that machines come with a guide but I want to better understand how the combos can be tweaked to get the best results. I want to start right away but I feel overwhelmed by the information out there and I want to be informed before I start. Thanks a million!
Legs and bikini can be done in that amount of time. Only doctors can operate LHR devices in California. 30j is the highest setting using an 18mm spot size. The higher the joules the better. Shedding take 2-3 weeks. Candela’s website has a feature where you can find practitioners by machine.
The reason I thought it would take longer is that the girls that do the booking for LHR book two hour sessions for full legs alone. I posted before about my consultation and lagirl responded about how long her legs took and it was more than 30 minutes and she didn’t do full legs! Are there different methods/machines that could account for such a big discrepancy in the amount of time to laser an area?
Thanks for the tip about the Candela site. I have tried it. Many of the places are no longer in business. Of the ones that are in business many don’t have the Yag. The only one that I found through the Candela site that has a Yag in my area is the place I already went to for a consult. I think I’ll start over again with a search in an adjacent major city. I’m sure I’ll have more luck if I search in the bay area.
The above is not true. Doctors are not the only ones who can operate a laser in California.
I would recommend you do some Google searches using “GentleYAG Sacramento” and “Coolglide Sacramento”. I’m sure you’ll find a couple more clinics.
How experienced was the person with whom you talked to? Was she the one who is actually going to perform the treatments?
I had my lower legs done at 18mm spot size and it took about 45 mins. There was overlapping by about 10% (the laser has sort of a circular head so overlapping means to zap a bit over the previous circular area each time to make sure not to miss any spots).
I would check out a couple other clinics and also ask what settings they’re planning to use. You’ll need a joules setting (usually a number between 20 and 50 on a Yag, depending on the machine), a pulse setting (usually 3ms-100ms number), and a spot size setting (usually 9-18mm).
It sounds like they’re not very experienced, especially if they know nothing about shedding. But maybe you spoke to a sales person rather than someone who will be treating you and knows the machine.
Believe it or not the person I spoke to was a laser tech (not a salesperson and not a doctor)! She was one of a handful with varying experience. I thought that the doctors did the laser treatments at this clinic but I was aware than doctors are not the only ones that can operate a laser in CA. I’ll keep looking around to find another clinic. I can’t imagine they don’t exist. Worst case scenario I have to drive a little. Since it’s only once every 3 or so months it’s not a big deal.
Is the idea to start with a lower amount of joules for thick coarse black hair and increase as the hair gets finer and harder for the laser to spot? What would be an ideal setting to start with assuming type IV or V ethnic medium dark skin and extremely dense, coarse black hair being treated with a yag with a spot size of 15mm or 18mm?
The best settings for all types of hair are usually using the highest joules, largest spot size, and smallest pulse duration your skin can safely handle. That will involve using previous experience and testing your skin specifically.
There is no benefit really to starting out low. And when the hair gets too fine and sparse, you’ll need electrolysis, especially given that you’re using a Yag laser.
Check out yelp.com, citysearch.com and Yellow Pages, and call around. I’m sure Sacramento has a good number of clinics using a Yag. So does SF if you’re willing to drive out there. My friend received great results at Aura Spa in SF with GentleLASE. I don’t recall whether they’re using a Yag as well. But she was doing her research, she found many places using Coolglide and GentleYAG in SF.