Questions about my package deal

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

Hi everyone,

Glad I finally found this website but wish I had found it sooner before my first appt this morning. sigh Anyways, I had purchased a Living Social deal last month at $99 for 5 sessions of laser hair removal at a Medi-Spa here in Los Angeles (The Stevens Institute - part of Marina Plastic Surgery Associates headed by Grant Stevens, M.D. in Marina Del Ray). This deal was limited to just a few body part offerings (upper lip, chin, underarms, basic bikini, etc) so I went with 5 sessions for my underarms since this is my first experience with LHR. I have very dark brown/black, coarse hair that leaves a shadow after I shave and being Japanese and medium-fair (about MAC NC20-25 in make up terms) I figured I was a good candidate. I think I’m skin type III but since I’m Asian does that make me type IV? (Confused??). I didn’t ask a lot of questions at my session today so I wish I had more info but I know they used a Cutera Nd:Yag laser and they had a nozzle blowing cold air on the area. I don’t know the setting she used and there was no patch-test done. I did feel the snapping pain, which was stronger than what I expected it would be and the area was slightly red, slightly puffy (but subsided quickly), and still a little sensitive to touch. I see the black “pepper spots” that LAgirl refers too and I’m hoping the shedding goes well this week.

When I went to schedule my next appt, the receptionist told me that the technician said to schedule between 4-6 weeks. This is the time frame they mention on their website, but I did feel a little uneasy since I’ve read that most appts are 6-8 weeks apart if not longer. My hair DOES grow very fast though so will that mean that I will still have a successful session at my next appt in 4.5 weeks? Is this just a way for the place to get more $$ by rushing my sessions too close to another so that I use up 5 sessions with not much success and then pay out-of-pocket for several sessions afterwards? What should I look for in the hair behavior to know it’s the “right time” for my next appt so I can re-schedule it if needed? What settings should I ask for next time knowing that they use the Cutera laser? Sorry for all these questions, I’m quite new to this but determined to make it worthwhile and inspired by other people’s great results. If it is just a scam, at least I also got a gift certificate for a $125 facial included in my package…haha! I didn’t even know it came with it when I purchased the deal! :wink:

#2

Disregard my post. I read through the FAQ’s a few more times and a few other threads and I think I have a better idea of what my hair should be like for my next appointment. I will definitely reschedule to push my 2nd session to at least 8 weeks.

#3

Let us know how shedding goes in 3 weeks. That machine is good (popular Yag laser). You’re probably between III and IV if you’re light-skinned Asian due to underlying pigment. Avoid tanning that area.

I would call and ask for settings being used (spot size, pulse width, and joules). You picked a good area to treat. Underarms respond well since they have coarse and dense growth.

Schedule the appt when you have enough hair to treat again. You don’t owe them an explanation. You can be “busy” etc. :slight_smile:

#4

One think I would add is that I don’t believe 5 treatments is adequate for permanent hair removal…

#5

Of course you would say that!

I was done on my bikini line and lower legs in 3 treatments. I was done 2 years ago. All that remains are some very sparse and very fine (finer than my tummy) hairs.