Settings for Thinning

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

Hi,

I’m skin type IV with coarse hair on chest and abdomen and I’m interested in doing 1-3 sessions for thinning. A few questions in mind:

1- Would the only difference from total-removal scenario be the number of sessions or the settings should also change?

2- What would be the recommend settings (Laser Type, Energy, spot size) in both cases (thinning and total removal), if different? Is any other parameter relevant?

3- For a given energy, is it right to say that the smaller the spot size, the greater will be the effectiveness of the laser in killing the hair?

Thanks in advance

Cheers
Marcus

#2

It’s best to use a Yag laser for this on any skin type since that type of laser will affect just the most coarse hair. Settings should still be based on your skin type as usual. And yes, you will only need 3-4 treatments until you’re satisfied.

It’s important to make sure the clinic overlaps well and touches up areas if many are missed at 3 weeks in order not to end up with patchy results.

Large spot size is always more effective.

#3

I went to this great clinic www.skinfirst.com.au

There prices are pretty affordable and they use the gentlelase laser. They have one of the newest gentlelase systems. I had 2 treatments on my face,neck chest and abs and i only have baby hairs left. They charge by the area. They don’t con you and start chit chatting like the other places that charge per 5 minutes. I tried out so many places in the past and they all cut corners. I just hate bad service.
Marcus give them a call they are in Brighton Le Sands next door to civic video (02)9567 7546 www.skinfirst.com.au

#4

Thanks LAgirl! Your comments are always very helpful!

I have my first session on chest and abdomen scheduled for next week. Last week I was at the clinic and had a nice conversation with the doctor in charge, who seems very experienced and objective. His initial suggestion was also to use YAG for thinning but after some discussion we have agreed to do a small area with the Alexandrite. However, he believes that, by using Alexandrite, there is a chance (though small) of having patchy results, even after only one session. What is your opinion?

We did a test spot with Alexandrite (16J and 20 mm spot size) and it went well. Would there be any reasonable settings at which YAG or Diode could achieve similar power and have similar effectiveness?

All the best
Marcus

#5

David81 - 2 treatments and you’re done? Either you’re not a real consumer (since you’re posting basically an ad for a clinic and this is your only post) or you haven’t waited long enough for new hair to show up.

Marcus - I don’t understand why they think there is more chance for patchiness with an alex. Patchiness has nothing to do with the laser type. If anything, a Yag could produce more patchy results since it won’t affect as much hair as a more powerful alex laser would.

There is no 20mm spot size. The highest is 18mm.

Alex lasers are the most powerful.

#6

I may have got the wrong spot size.

I guess, according to the doctor, patchiness is more likely to occur with Alexandrite because it kills coarse and thin hair whereas YAG would kill only the coarser ones. Therefore, by using Alexandrite, there may be areas which will end up fully hairless (patchy. This will not happen with YAG since thin hair will be left “untouched”. It makes sense to me. What do you think?

When I look at my chest I don’t seem to see any thin hair. It all seems very thick. Is it possible to have an area with only thick hair or there will always be thin hair involved?

#7

Patchiness basically happens when hair remains “untouched”. With regular treatments, hair synchronizes so it all appears and sheds and appears again at the same time. Patchiness is caused by messing with the growth cycles, so that different hair in different phases of growth is growing in different patches.

Of course you can have all coarse hair. It usually won’t get all killed 100% with one or two treatments. Once again, hair cycles are important. As long as all hair is treated and sheds at the same time, you shouldn’t experience it on any type of hair. All hair should shed, finer or coarse. Finer hair just won’t be damaged permanently.