Scarring

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

Hello,

This is my first post and I am considering laser hair removal on my stomach and lower back/buttocks. My skin is pale, especially in these areas (type I -II) and my hair is a coarse, dark brown. I believe that makes me a good candidate? I heard that some discoloration can occur after laser treatments and/or some redding that will fade - but what about scarring? Is there a risk of it even with an experienced practitioner? I am very apprehensive about deciding on this type of treatment if there is chance I will be scarred for life and the hair grows back, please help. I do not want to keep using depilatories all my life, as they sting my sensitive skin and are messy to use.

Can you tell me if you have experienced scarring yourself or know someone who has? Any other information will be greatly appreciated! My skin is very precious to me!

Thank you
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

#2

if you could provide a picture of what you want removed, it would be easier to evaluate what you need to have removed.

You can email your pictures to me at the email address listed in my profile.

#3

Stel,
You can be a good candidate and laser can still backfire. It can still actually increase the amount of hair you have in these areas, and yes, you can get scarred. This forum has quite a few posters that ended up with more hair. But the fine print in the contracts prevents you from taking any action against the laser clinics. I had laser, it failed miserably. i would go with electrolysis. It’s money wisely spent.

Mantaray

#4

first of all, there is no increased hair growth reported on those areas. these specific areas can be treated with laser with no problems by a good practitioner.

with skin type I-II, there is very little chance at burning, even at high settings. if your hair is coarse, you should get pretty good results generally if you do your research and find a good clinic that cares about your results, and use an Alex laser (best for your skin type). you shouldn’t expect 100% removal with laser alone, but you will get a considerable reduction (80% is reasonable after 8-10 treatments).

please read the FAQs for more information on how to get the best results. research is of ultimate importance here, but scarring or discoloration is really only an issue for darker skinned people at the hands of inexperienced techs, not an issue for you:

[(http://www.hairremovalforum.com/faq.cfm)]www.hairremovalforum.com/faq.cfm

p.s. read my experience at the link below. my skin looks great and hairless after my treatments <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I’m a skin type II.

#5

Abnormal growth after laser, waist, abdomen, stomach:

http://www.hairtell.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/33566/an/0/page/4#33566

Iranianboysweden’s experience

Mantaray

#6

I am sorry to say that scarring from Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation is not only the Domain of colored folks. In fact one of the worst documented cases of facial scars we have here was on a white woman trying to remove insignificant hairs on the cheeks.

#7

can we not have this conversation over and over again? there is NO reason for scarring unless someone doesn’t know how to operate the laser machine (set settings higher than specified by the instructions for a specific skin type for example which any professional and somewhat not brain-dead tech won’t do). no or insignificant results is one thing, but making scarring a significant issue is quite an exaggeration. that’s the same thing as saying that electrolysis causes bad pigmentation and scarring. yes, it does, but when the electrologist is incompetent. noone on the electrolysis forum keeps pointing out that this is a major issue, do they? it’s the same thing with the laser operator. an incompetent ANYONE in any profession can cause issues. that’s a given. find someone who knows what they’re doing as you would with any other procedure. period. there is no INCREASED scarring potential with a laser machine as opposed to anything else. it’s ridiculous to make these statements just to discredit laser in general, which is what this sounds like again unfortunately.

#8

Abnormal growth after laser, waist, abdomen, stomach:

http://www.hairtell.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/33566/an/0/page/4#33566

Iranianboysweden’s experience

Mantaray

he says they’re longer on the abdomen area, not more dense. there aren’t more in number. (btw, this is IPL machine on skin type V – bad combo)

#9

Trust me, I am not interested in having that same argument, however, your statement seemed to say that a person with white skin had no risk.

I am sure that you would say something if I had made a statement that sounded like there are no risks when having electrolysis.

#10

[quote]Abnormal growth after laser, waist, abdomen, stomach:

http://www.hairtell.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/33566/an/0/page/4#33566

Iranianboysweden’s experience

Mantaray

he says they’re longer on the abdomen area, not more dense. there aren’t more in number. (btw, this is IPL machine on skin type V – bad combo) [/quote]

Actually, I recall iranianboysweden saying after several IPL treatments he tried the mediostar diode and that caused the burn marks and scarring. Diode laser and type 5 skin is truly a bad combo.

Here’s the link to iranianboysweden talking about his blisters after getting treated with mediostasr diode laser: http://www.hairtell.com/ubbthreads/showf…=true#Post29502

And then less than two weeks later he went for another treatment over the same areas!: http://www.hairtell.com/ubbthreads/showf…=true#Post29948
This is a perfect example of bad judgment and lack of knowledge from the laser patient, and poor technicians. The laser itself cannot be blamed.

To the original poster, get a test spot on the areas you want treated to see if you burn. Since you have type 2 skin I highly doubt you will burn but there is a small possibility. Make sure the laser tech’s start off on the lowest but still effective power settings (14 joules for Alexandrite (GentleLASE), and 25 joules for diode (Lightsheer)).

#11

Trust me, I am not interested in having that same argument, however, your statement seemed to say that a person with white skin had no risk.

I am sure that you would say something if I had made a statement that sounded like there are no risks when having electrolysis.

there is very little risk with white skin. they would have to go against all recommendations and set the settings unusually high on something like an alex laser (high being like 35-50 joules on a GentleLASE for a type I-II skin, which is not even possible unless you decrease the spot size to a very small 10mm, which is not advisable as well.) The GentleLASE specifications for example state 14-16 joules on 18mm spot size for type I-II, although they can easily treat at 20 joules with 18mm or 25 joules with 15mm with no issues on skin this light. I personally have been treated at 30 joules at 15mm spot size and I’m a type II, with absolutely no adverse effects. Risk is minimal for light skin. Risk is also minimal for darker skin with a Yag laser, which is what laser SHOULD be used on darker skin, it is stated over and over here.

Burning is only an issue when trying to use a laser meant for light skin on darker skin (alex or diode on type IV and darker) at somewhat higher settings. Then they should be careful and do test spots.

#12

I have a scar on my chin from my first laser experience. I went to my derm and she performed it with a laser tech guy hanging over her shoulder the whole time. Not only did I scar but it did absolutely nothing…my face oozed for hours. This was my first experience. I was uneducated on lasering and had to sign a contract before they began. She was charging me an insane amount, I’ve come to find out, and added on another fourty bucks for about another quarter inch of skin I wanted lasered. Bad bad bad bad bad bad bad!

Now? I am extremely happy at this spa that I’ve been going to. They care first and foremost about taking care of your skin and taking time to see how your skin reacts to the laser and finding the right settings for you. I didn’t have to sign anything and the technicians don’t actually seem like they are trying to rip you off.

It’s exactly what lagirl said…inexperienced technician…or a derm that doesn’t know crap.