I am an xxtremely hairy 38 year old female and I have decided to try laser therapy for my facial hair. I know electrolysis might be a better option for permanent removal, but the area is so large I have to do some clearing before I follow up with electrolysis. I also know that I am a decent candidate for laser because I have pale skin and black hair (except for the greys).
There are a lot of semi and unskilled laser hair removal salons out there. Can someone tell me how to find a good (well informed, well trained, experienced, not simply certified) laser hair removal technician in southeast michigan?
Is the hair coarse?
Please read the FAQs at the link below. That will answer all of your questions. There is also a sticky post on the forum with questions to ask at your consultation.
Can you submit a picture? There are skilled electrologists that can deliver more than you think they can. The face is not a large area. I would be concerned about stimulating more hair to grow with laser hair reduction. You admit that you will need electrolysis at some point, so why not start out with electrolysis as it can do it all.
The hair is extremely coarse. I don’t have a picture, but I can supply a more accurate description. I am fully bearded, from the base of my neck up to my cheekbones with full sideburns. We’re talking about very thick, coarse, curly, black, hair in a 1 1/2 to 2 sq foot space. I tired electrolysis a few years ago and, while I did see some improvement, it involved grueling two hour sessions every week for an entire summer and it only made a dent in the growth. I have some ideas on where to start (american laser centers), but I know the results can vary a lot depending on the skill of the technician.
Okay. Thanks. Good luck with laser, but ALC??? There seem to be many negative posts about this place on this forum as well as another hair removal forum, so be careful.
Have you had a medical evaluation recently? Maybe you are covered with hair because of an internal problem that needs to be discovered and fixed. Too much hair in the wrong places can be a health issue more than cosmetic issue.
Dee
I have had a medical evaluation and I have a genetic disorder. I was diagnosed at U of M hospitals and I tried what was considered the best treatment at the time. It had a lot of side affects and never corrected the hair growth. I stopped treatment and the doctors I have seen since then have agreed that the healthiest thing is to live with the hormone imbalance and address the hair growth as a separate issue. Thank you for the feedback on ALC. I have read some of this forum, but not all and I was not aware that they have received negative feedback. I would be so interested to hear if there is a laser treatment center in SE Michigan that has a good reputation.
run a search here for Michigan. Also, first read the FAQs so that you can understand what laser type is best for you. There are also suggestions in the FAQs on how to find a good clinic with that machine.
Have you seen an experienced endocrinologist? There are several medications that can help control the growth.
Thank you for your help. I ran a search and came up with my own posts. I haven’t tried to look for a michigan based hair removal forum so I might try that.
I did see a team of endocrinologists when I was 17. I was tested up, down, over, and under. I even had a few hospital stays so they could measure hormone levels all through the night. Three years of steroid treatments followed this and all I really got out of it was steroid side affects. I went on the pill at 21 and off of other stuff. I am happy I did. I tried Vaniqua for a while, but it just wasn’t designed for a problem as severe as mine. It might work as a follow up with the electrolysis, but I have to start with some major clearing. I have to do a 15 minutes shave with a triple blade razor and a super heavy make up job to not turn heads when I go in public. I appreciate all the help from the forum. If you guys get any feedback from MI folks, please let me know.
If you don’t mind me asking, what is the genetic disorder?
congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Severe cases can cause androngeny at birth. I have a milder late onset form.
Without knowing your skin type, it’s hard to recommend a particular laser. But here’s what you should do. Go to Candela Corporation website and run the provider search by entering your zip code and selecting GentleLASE laser if your skin is light (type I-III) and GentleYAG if your skin is darker (type IV and darker). You can read the FAQs to determine your skin type. Then, check out at least 3-4 clinics and report back here what your experiences at the free consultations were so we can help you choose the appropriate clinic. Your goal should be to find one that’s experienced, has a good laser, and cares more about your results than the money (many don’t at this stage). Don’t sign up for anything until you’ve checked out at least 3-4 clinics.
Also, keep in mind that you may need touch ups once or twice a year if your condition is not controlled because your body will likely to continue develop some hair over the years.
Spiro is one drug that many take for PCOS symptons that helps stabilize hormones and control hair growth. Also, some birth control pills like Yasmine can have some effect.
Thank you so much for the information. I can’t find ALC listed on the candela site. I will ask them if they have this laser since I have scheduled a consultation on Mon, but I will cancel right away if they don’t. Oh, I am probably skin type III, with a lean towards II. I am quite pinky pale and I freckle, although I will tan if I work at it. I searched under Gentlase. I am going to start with appointments at two laser clinics. I may be wrong, but it seems like laser clinics would have more experience with this than a doctor or plastic surgeon. Thank you so much for being willing to share the information you have gathered. I will definitely take the list of questions you have compiled with me and I will keep you posted on my progress.
Before you choose ALC, keep searching here, the other forum, and check out the link below. ALC is known for their so called contest in which everyone “wins” 3rd place, pushy sales tactics, non-refund contracts, and horrible customer service (after the sale, of course).
http://search.bbb.org/Results.aspx?n=american+laser+center&add=&c=&st=MI&z=
I have nothing to gain from the advice I am offering you. Understand that this is based on a lot of experience. You can get good results from laser hair removal but in your case it will take more time and be harder to get there.
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Do not use ALC. The laser they use is not a very good one and they are not interested in how well you respond. They are only interested in how well you pay. I don’t doubt that there are people who work for the company who are decent individuals and do care, but we are talking about the company not an individual.
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You need to be on an alexandrite and the only one I would recommend is the one from Candela.
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You want experience in providing the laser treatment but you also want to go to a center or doctor’s office that will offer lower prices for maintenance or follow up treatments. With your condition it may take more than the standard number of treatments to get the results you want and you want to go somewhere where they will charge you less (or even nothing) for the additional treatments you may need. For you, in the long run, that is more important than the experience (assuming they are using a Candela alex and using it properly).
Unfortunately, I can’t recommend anyone in Michigan.
Thank you all for the help, again. I will cancel the appointment with American Laser Centers. While price is a consideration, it is not the deciding factor. I have waited a long time to address this problem and I would rather pay a little extra to get the proper equipment and necessary skill to make it worth my time and expense. I know follow ups will be necessary and probably for the rest of my life. That is something I will take into consideration also. Thanks to lagirl, I have a list of 10 places in my area that have the GentleLASE and four of those look like a comfortable place to start. Two are laser clinics and two are doctor’s offices.
Completely agree. Read the reviews on ALC here. The “consultation” is basically a hard sales pitch where they try to sign you up for thousands of dollars worth of treatments. They also try to convince you that the price is a bargain by making you believe that you’re getting some sort of a discount, but you would actually be paying the same or higher prices than anywhere else. Prices really don’t depend on anything but what the clinic decides to charge. So don’t assume anything at your consultation. The cheapest clinic can end up being the best one etc. Don’t base anything on prices.
ALC is not on the Candela website because they don’t have those lasers. They use lasers by a different company and they’re overall not as good.
You should check out both clinics and doctors’ offices. Check out the form on this site with questions to ask at your consultation. Judge only after you’ve been to the clinics.
GentleLASE is a good alexandrite laser and would be best for your skin type.
I cancelled today’s appointment with ALC. And…I slowed down a bit to rethink an endocrinologist’s visit. The most recent visit I had (when I was told to address the hair growth and leave the rest alone) was probably not the best educated endocrinologist I have seen. And, quite frankly, she seemed to have a chip on her shoulder about being asked to see me. I think she might have told me what she whatever would get me out of the office quickest. I am visiting some CAH websites to try and determine if I can get rid of the hair without meds. I’ll keep you guys posted when I go for my consultations and thank you for all your help.
you would still need laser to get rid of the hair you currently have. if you find some sort of drug, it will help control FUTURE growth, but you will still need laser or electrolysis to remove whatever is already there now.