Starting Laser - Here we go

samsarcen · May 10, 2011, 2:47pm

Thanks everyone for the posts,

I am just getting confused now. I read the FAQ’s well before deciding to move forward with laser. I red the posts, PM’ed some members here for advice (ie. Edokid) prior to making the decision.

Like I said, I wasnt able to post a pic (which I should have now that I am confused) prior to my appointment. I dont know if the settings are correct for me, but prior to my appointment, I read that 18J to 22J is common and good for someone with my type. I believe LA girl said that. Like I said, it seemed to work as I could smell the hair burning and feel the “zap” over the area where hair use to be.

Anyway, I thought I was a good candidate. Currently all the red spots are gone. Its been 6 days since my laser appointment. I do see “stubble” not black spots, but “stubble” on my chest, not so much on my abdomen. Is this common? Read FAQ’s and other posts and it seems common, but I wanted to know…I think I will try and post a pic if I can.

TIA

bmanx06 · May 10, 2011, 5:12pm

It’s too early to tell how the treatment went. You have to wait at least 3 weeks for shedding to take its course.

Miro383 · May 21, 2011, 3:24pm

Hi LAgirl, here are the promised photographs:

Explore MIro383

divingin · May 22, 2011, 8:00pm

Hi Miro. Just read your signature…are the LHR treatments not working for you then? It says your results are thicker, coarser, and denser hair growth? Im thinking of getting my back, shoulders and upper arms done - last thing I want is hair to be even thicker and noticeable then before! Be really interested to know how you have found the treatments.

ayshachaudhary · May 22, 2011, 9:00pm

divingin - the male upper back, neck, shoulder and upper arm is susceptible to induced growth.

divingin · May 22, 2011, 10:44pm

ahh not what i wanted to hear. appreciate your honesty all the same. have a look at the thread i started for my own case - there’s a picture of my back. Also going to post some pics of my upper arm and shoulders so i can get some more advice.

Surely if the hair on my shoulders/upper arm is already coarse and thick, there’s not much more growth to be induced??

Anyway, would be really grateful if you could provide some feedback RE the pics im posting tomorrow. I’ve read your posts on here already and you’ve offered some great advice.

LAGirl · May 23, 2011, 2:21pm

Hi Miro,

The hair in the photos is very dense, but not very coarse and relatively light in color. I would expect to get ok results, maybe up to 50% or so removal, but I wouldn’t expect close to 100%.

I would only recommend treating that hair with an alex machine. You could try a 15mm spot size too - some think it may work better on finer growth because it doesn’t penetrate as deep.

Miro383 · May 23, 2011, 6:17pm

In my case it didnt help, at first induced a lot of hair and after maaany treatments with GentleLase the hair got a lighter and thinner in collor and less on the neck and shoulders, but nothing what was promissed to me - before the first treatment there was much less hair,…

Here are my pictures if you want to look: http://www.hairtell.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/83690/Male_back_shouders_neck_threat.html#Post83690

I should take some on the beginning, I just have photos after the stimulation after 1. GentleLase treatment.

It would be good to post your pictures. If you decide to try for laser, I can say GentleLase is much better machine, I wouldnt for go for the 9mm LightSheer.

bmanx06 · May 23, 2011, 10:39pm

You didn’t mention a few things (the pulse width used on your LightSheer treatments, time between treatments, whether or not the hair shed each time, etc.), but two red flags stand out from your specific circumstances:

Body hair continues to develop well into your 20s and even 30s. You started laser at age 21. Hence, even after the treatments, there’s every possibility you developed NEW terminal hair in these areas.
Upper arms, shoulders, posterior neck - these regions are all prone to induced growth.

LightSheer is harder to use, so your lack of results could have resulted from that + the reasons above.

As mentioned, your chest hair is dense but not very coarse. Your skin type is very light and probably amenable to high alexandrite settings. You weren’t treated with an alex on your chest, but high settings (18-20J) at 18mm could be effective here (40-70% reduction, perhaps).