Question about American Laser Centers

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#21

actually i just read this post by “julia270” about the $599 unlimited package that assara is now offering. (assara def did not have that deal when I was being treated there 3 or 4 months ago.) i’ve just posted a question on another section of this site asking julia if the $599 unlimited/month deal includes EVERY part of the body. (she seemed to suggest it does, but im trying to confirm.) if it does, i’m going back. assara’s location is a bit further (they are rockefeller plaza), but if there are no strings attached to this $599 deal, I may have no choice than to return. (im currently paying more than $599 for just back and shoulders.)

does anyone know if it’s a problem to go back to using the apogee elite (which i would probably use at assara’s) if i was recently getting treated using the diode?

#22

Apogee Elite can actually be better if they’re using a more powerful alex setting on it (this machine has both an alex and a yag). So if you’re light-skinned with dark hair, it’s a good thing.

#23

I have been going to American Laser Centers for two years…it is pretty decent, and I have had good results. The only thing I hate is that there is like no way to change an appointment. They are usually so booked up, it is hard to switch appointments. I just feel that is the worst part about the one here in Michigan that I go too.

#24

how have u experianced the hair growth while going to them? is it true that after one apt you seem some results, so like you knew it was going to work for you?
is it true that after the apt you have 2 weeks of hair falling out, 6 weeks of nothing, 2 weeks of regrowth?
do you happen to have any pictures of a before and current that youd feel comfortable showing me?
thanks so much!

#25

Tom, isn’t the hair you’re wanting to remove on your back and somewhat light and fine? Just want to make sure you’re not comparing apples and oranges. Hair of different color and coarseness on a different area, woman vs a man, etc are all very important factors to consider.

#26

here is a picture of where i am at right now after letting the hair grow out 2 weeks. i know i should have let it grow out longer so that you guys could get a better sense of what it looks like now but heres the best i could do.
http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/image.php?07b1e452f5.jpg

also here is a picture of me before ive had any work done. this is a better idea of what the hair would look like (i think) if i were to let to fully grow out. since ive been going to my electrologist they have mainly been working on the hair on my upper back closer to my neck and shoulders. so i think if i were to let to fully grow out, the hair on my lower back and sides would still be pretty close to this style of hair.
http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/image.php?d365cfdac2.jpg

when i do have my free treatment on my back, is there anything i can try to see so that i can know if it is going to be effective for me? like after the 10 weeks of waiting, what should i notice after the single apt, to signal to me that this will be a faster/cheeper method of hair removal than my electrologist?

#27

If you experience shedding of most of the hair 3 weeks post-treatment, that will be a good sign to start. by most, i mean 85%+.

I can’t see anything at the links…they don’t seem to work. Can you try uploading to www.photobucket.com? You can even take the provided HTML and post it here so the picture will appear within the post.

#28

Not working for me either.

#29

hmm wierd sorry about that guys i tried that one because i wanted the website to keep the size of the image so you could zoom in and see it. photobucket has been weird for me in the past tell me if these work, they are showing up for me… hmm
Before:
After:

once you click them there is the option to view original size so u can zoom in
thanks so much for all your input and help guys! im just so sick of how long and costly electrolosys is!

#30

Well, I hope laser helps you, since you are not satisfied with electrolysis, Tom.

Not every electrologist can handle a man’s back. You had two working for you. If you were able to devote 2 hours a week to electrolysis and the electrologist used a large probe size and microflash thermolysis with good intensity and accurate insertions, you may have had a different outcome, even with one electrologist working on you. Any area that was cleared has to be given close attention at each appointment to KEEP the area cleared (maintained). This is the strategy for getting faster results. The strategy is just as important as the skill demonstrated by the electrologist OR the client may give up.

I do hope you can get relief with a good LASER program, but our laser friends will have to help you there.

Thanks for the pictures, as always.

Dee

#31

Quick question: I live in NYC and not long ago started Assara’s unlimited program (http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/3/prweb509709.htm).

Does anyone know if there health risks in lasering the entire body? I am really averse to hair (except hair on my head) and am taking full-advantage of their new program. I’ve been poking around the web, but haven’t found any useful info on health risks (or lack thereof) associated with lasering 70-80% of one’s body. Is there anything interesting out there on this topic?

Many thanks.

#32

julia, i responded to your question on the other thread that you posted.

tom, the hair at the top of your back and on the sides is probably coarse enough, not sure about the fine hair in the middle etc. you can definitely reduce the top and sides. im not sure if i would touch the other areas with laser. if you are going to do it, diode would only be able to handle this in very good hands, i.e. with very low pulse and high joules and up and down method (not gliding), done slowly while pressing down each time etc. really, an alexandrite like GentleLASE would be best and sslhr would probably say can handle most of that hair, though only in very good hands as well. you would still need to finish with electrolysis if you want 100% removal at some point. that’s my opinion. good laser in good hands at very high settings, and selective on the areas treated (your skin seems very light, so should be light enough to handle high settings)

#33

okay cool, i dont know much about laser, is the laser - lightsheer diode by lumenis equivilant to the alecandrite like Gentlease or sslhr?

#34

sorry, “sslhr” is a member here on the forum. he owns a chain of clinics in TX and is very knowledgeable on the subject.

Alexandrites are most effective for hair removal. Diodes are not as good. They can get you good results, but most of the time you can get better results with an alex. Their only limitation is that they can only be used on light skin, which you have, so that’s not an issue. GentleLASE is one of the best alexandrite machines out there because it has the largest spot size (tip of laser) and lowest pulse settings.

Please read the FAQs to learn all you can about laser before you jump into any treatments: www.hairremovalforum.com/faq.cfm . this is all explained there.

#35

hey i have a question i havent seen addressed here yet. so my old electrologist was talking to me about a procedure i was thinking about having if the laser doesnt work for me. is it true that i a doctor or plastic surgen can scrape the skin far enough down on my back so that the hair does not grow back? essentially no more back hair…? has anyone heard of this? i know it is drastic, but i was hoping that if anyone knows ANY info on this that they could tell me… scaring? price? healing time? who to look for, to have it done? anything at all?
thanks guys!

#36

WHAT!!! No!! Was your electrologist licensed?! What was her credentials? Are you sure you understood this correctly?
You’re talking about your back, right?

#37

that sounds crazy. so either you misunderstood or I would be sort of scared of this electrologist.

#38

I think he is referring to a follicle scrape - if I am not mistaken, this is sometimes done during SRS for hairs that were not removed in advance.

#39

SRS is not for a man’s back though…

#40

Yes, I understand and I’m aware of the scraping for SRS, that’s why I was wondering if Tom misunderstood. This won’t help him for his back hairs. Ouch.