here is a quick summary of my story. i started laser treatments almost 2 years ago. i am a female with skin type 2 and am having my full body lasered. the place i go to used to only have an ipl laser. recently the location added a diode machine. i found out the hard way that lasers in general take fine hair and make them thicker. i just hated hair and wasnt told that the fine hair might get thicker…so i thought…what’s the worst thing that can happen? boy was i wrong! now my body is an absolute mess. the hairs look weird, theyre thicker and longer, and feel spikey. i refuse to be treated with the ipl machine and have just started a round of treatments with the diode. my question is…what are my options?? although some nightmare areas can be treated with electrolysis, it is unreasonable to try and fix all that has happened on my entire body with electrolysis. should i hope for better results with the diode or am i screwed? at this point, i dont even care for hair removal. i just want my hairs to look and feel normal again. is there a chance that the diode laser will take the hairs that have gotten thicker and longer and kill them or turn them finer and of normal length? on my last set of treatments i was treated with the diode at 30 joules. i know ive said this before in past posts, but i just dont know what to do. i feel lost and absolutely hopeless. its a hard pill to swallow to think that i paid all this money and invested all this time and hope to be worse off than i started. any advice is welcome. thanks.
oh and by the way…i have not seen any results practically everywhere. the only place i can see any results are on the lower part of my lower legs, and even there, for being treated for 2 years, it is pathetic how so few hairs have been killed. my full bikini is not getting affected (you cant get coarser hair than that). it boggles my mind! also, i have pepperspots in a lot of places and i cant figure out whether that is the base of the hair and it is going to come back (it always has before) or if there is ever a chance that the hair that used to be at that spot has died forever.
I feel you pain!
I have a few comments, but I’m pressed for time right now.
Where are you located? IPL’s, especially the Aurora, is not very effective. A diode, used correctly can be helpful, but I’m wondering about that even because I have so many electrolysis clients that I’m “cleaning up” or re-doing. The bikini line and underarms always seem to respond well if a skilled laserologist uses a great laser. You will always need an electrologist waiting in the wings to finish the job though.
the ipl that they used is the aurora. it sucks to know that for almost 2 years, a barely effective laser has been used on me, causing more damage than good!
In regards to removing large amounts of body hair, you may want to keep an eye on Hairy87’s electrolysis diary. He’s attempting a huge run, removing all the hair from his back, sides, arms and legs with electrolysis after unfortunatly suffering from the same fate as you in regards to the laser stimulation.
See how he gets on and decide whether you want to give electrolysis a shot, you could try the diode and see how the results come out, if the worst comes to the worst and it does nothing you may just have to grit your teeth, save the pennies and go for electrolysis full whack. At least then you know your using a method that is able to give you permanent hair removal.
Good luck with everything,
Benji
That’s just it! The Aurora is not a laser - it is an intense pulsed light. When are these light-based hair reductionists going to at least mention that increased hair growth can be a side effect in certain areas so consumers can freely decide if they want to take a risk?
Compensation should be a given when this happens.
I hate stories like this. I think we’ve addressed these in your previous posts. A certain chain clinic sells a huge package for a “full body” promising unrealistic results, even for areas with coarse hair. It sounds like they weren’t even doing their job right on those areas. What diode do they have now? If it’s the same clinic, they’re probably using one of their new Syneron machines, the company with whom they made an expensive deal. So far, we have yet to see anyone talk abour results with those machines. It usually sounds like the technicians there don’t know how to use these machines to produce results (although it sounds like at your current clinic they didn’t know how to use the Aurora either since it should have given you at least some results on the areas with coarse hair).
Honestly, if money was no object, I would recommend to drop your losses and go to a reputable place with the best laser for your skin type, after searching for an honest clinic first. You definitely CAN get results on areas like bikini. We never see stories of lack of results on area like this with very coarse hair, unless the clinic really doesn’t know what they’re doing. And these exceptions usually get fixed by switching to a good clinic.
In terms of other areas, you will have to be specific about every single area you’re talking about and describing specific type of hair you have now on each one. Most likely, most of the areas will have to be treated with electrolysis as I suggested in the first place a while back, but certain areas like legs, bikini, underarms, lower arms etc should be coarse enough for GOOD laser treatments with a proper laser.
At this point, I have given my laser clinic an ultimatum. I’m willing to try the diode laser since it might actually be able to produce the results I am looking for. However, if within 3 treatments I see no improvement, I am going to get my money back, even if it means filing a lawsuit. Not getting rid of the hair is one thing…making a client have more hair issues than they had when they started the treatments is an entirely different issue. How is Dr. Hamilton? I’ve seen his name in several posts. The hairs that have become thicker and longer and just plain weird looking on different parts of my body…is there a chance that those can be killed with the right laser…or should I just give up hope in those places? How big of an area can an electrologist cover in a 2 hour session? Right now, I’m all about exploring my options b/c I’ve had enough of the laser place I’ve been going to thus far. Thanks for all your responses…I genuinely appreciate them!
So you’re in Los Angeles? You should let us know which clinic this is, though I’m pretty sure we already know, so that others can avoid it.
Dr Hamilton in Los Angeles has GentleLASE and has been recommended on these forums. I would have him take a look. It’s impossible for us to tell you if the hair is coarse enough without at least a picture.
Electrolysis is an option, but a 2-hour session won’t achieve such a large clearance. The fastest method in good hands removes 5-6 hairs a minute on average, sometimes a bit more.
American laser centers. I’m learning that it’s not surprising that problems occur at these types of places. Just wished I knew 2 years ago. Too late for that now, so I’m just trying to make the best of it. I know 2 hours wont do much at all for electrolysis. I was just wondering if I did 2 or maybe even 3 hour sessions once or twice a week, how long it would take to clear certain areas. Right now, the worst are my face and my upper back. I think I want to start electrolysis on those places very soon because I’m tired of feeling like a freak in those areas. I just dont know what electologist to go to or what laser to use or what laser center to go to. I don’t want to go to anyplace anymore that I’m going to regret later. Too many regrets already.
I’ve tried several electrologists in LA and can recommend several. You can run a search here for Los Angeles and find previous discussions on recommendations for both laser and electrolysis clinics.
Have several consultation with each type. For laser, see Dr Hamilton (GentleLASE), Epione Beverly Hills (both GentleLASE and GentleYAG I believe), and a few others you can find on Candela Corporation website by running a practitioner search (where in LA are you located? What is your skin type?).
In terms of electrologists, I would recommend Robin Harris (Westwood) and Tina Reynolds (Westwood). There are many others too. Mary Body Aesthetics in West Hollywood concentrates on large areas for transgender clients, so they could probably book very long appointments. Layla’s is also highly recommended by my electrologist.
I think I’d bail out of that place.
I wonder if the new diode is the Comet, which is the same thing as the Aurora except it being laser instead of IPL.
I’d very seriously consider going to the place LAGirl was mentioning as the GentleLASE is a very good piece of equipment.
The new diode is probably the Amerilase - basically the Comet (diode with RF) but renamed according to their $4 million deal. There have been posts, nothing great, about it here before.
Dear Dominique,
A highly skilled electrologist using computerized equipment can do A LOT in two hours on your face. Microflash thermolysis is an awesome choice, followed by blend, if desired, after that precious first, full clearance is obtained. Electrolysis is not such a slow process if you go to someone that can do microflash or picoflash thermolysis. Lagirl has given you the lead to find electrologists that can change your life. Start taking action now. Get some consultations and educate yourself thoroughly before you go to that first consultation, so you know what it takes to get it right this time around.
amerilase sounds right. so that laser is no good?? am i wasting even more time or should i at least give it 3 treatments to see if any good can be done. i am a skin type 2 with black body hair. i have a pretty high tolerance for pain. by the way, I am located in burbank, CA. I’m trying to find laser centers and electrologists as close to me as possible so I can head there after work and get as much done as possible. LAgirl, electrologist-wise and laser-wise, who would be your top recommendation? You’re very knowledgeable and I would like to try out your recommendations. Again, thanks everyone for all your responses and help. Just as in any situation, it feels good to know that you’re not alone and that the situation isn’t hopeless. I’m just tired of fighting this battle and I’m ready to see some progress versus constantly regressing.
also, should I try a new laser first then have electrolysis clear up whatever the laser wasnt able to clear or on certain body parts like my face, should I just start using electrolysis since the laser may not work? also, any recommendations of laser centers and electrologists near burbank will help me tons!
I like electrolysis for the face and laser for certain areas of the body where it can really reduce a good amount of hair IF the hair is coarse and dark (light skin) and the laser is an excellent one AND… if the laser tech is skilled. I repeat, the electrologist needs the same qualifications as the laser tech. This is a key for success for both modalities hands down.
I would recommend to stick with electrolysis only for the face. This area is prone to increased growth. Unless you have a full coarse dense beard there like a man’s, do electrolysis there all the way. The closest electrologist that I know of to you is Sabrena Smith. She’s in Hollywood, right off the 101 at Hollywood/Vine. She’s been doing it for years, has a new Apilus machine, and is fast. Try her out. She takes credit cards too. I can’t recommend anyone in the valley as I haven’t tried them myself, but you should get 15 min sample treatments as a few electrologists there and compare them to Sabrena.
In terms of laser, Dr Hamilton is in Woodland Hills, and Epione is open on the weekends I believe. Do check out several clinics which has GentleLASE before committing to anything. And start with just one area first so you can always switch and not lose much. I would start with either bikini or underarms which get the best results.
I have just started with a new electrolygist, but she is clearing at a rate of 12-13 per minute (bikini) with a modern micro-flash system. I have done this before and this is a sustained fast rate clearing a considerably large area in 1-hour sessions and (so far) appears to be working, so I suspect that faster rates are certainly feasible…