SUCCESS STORIES: HairlessinLA, RJC2001 etc CAN YOU POST FOR OTHERS??

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

Hi,

I just thought it would be a good idea to start one thread of posts about success stories. I keep seeing them from people like hairlessinLA and RJC2001 among other posts, but they are hard to find.

Can you guys and anyone else who is happy with their laser results and have had no significant regrowth in several years post on this thread, so we can keep it up and make sure it’s at the top of the page? Maybe include areas done, skin/hair type, and type of laser.

I think this would be very useful for anyone looking for success stories and we could direct people who are looking for these to this thread. Unfortunately, there are just not enough people who are coming back to do this after they are done with treatments.

Thanks a lot. Your input is greatly appreciated here!

#2

Yes, this is a good idea. Perhaps you can also include how many treatments were done on each area. Thanks! =D

#3

Here’s my story:

I started with one laser center at a prominent So. Cal. University. They were working on my back, my full legs and my abdomen.

Then, one treatment, I had two new techs and had a bad experience. Nothing serious as far as the lasers are concerned. It’s a story that would be better told in the mature section.

So, I switched places. I went to Epione in Beverly Hills. They have two doctors and all the techs are nurses. The doctors are nice, but I felt that they rushed the procedure a bit. I always requested the nurses after the first two treatments and they were great.

I had a 5 year package plan! (Yes, they had such a thing back then… but no more!) It was 2 years of as many treatments as I needed and a nominal fee for treatments for the following 3 years.

At Epione, I also included the pubic area (something they refused to do at the first place). I basically had everything done from the waist down in the front and from the neck down in the back, plus the shoulders and collarbone area in the front.

I went about every 6 weeks for about 2 1/2 years. I was VERY hairy. I have some white and gray hairs on my back that they were unable to treat… as well as some blond hairs that the lasers of that time were also not able to get. I went through a laser upgrade during the length of my treatments and I believe, although I wouldn’t swear to this, that I finished with the Alexandrite laser.

It’s been at least 4 years since my last laser treatment. My back and especially my legs have remained virtually hair-free. My upper chest and abdomen have had some regrowth. Hardly the forest it once was, but there are some hairs. The pubic area had quite a bit of regrowth. I thought maybe there had been at least a thinning, but my electrologist didn’t think it could have been much.

I’m very happy with the results I got with the laser. I can’t imagine how many hours of electrology I would have needed to clear the mess of hair that I had. Now I am getting the remainder cleared with electrology. We are concentrating on the pubic hair, but have moved on to other spots toward the end of the sessions. I usually do 2 1/2 to 3 hour sessions every 2 to 3 weeks.

That’s my success story. I’m expecting the rest of my electrology experience to be equally as pleasing.

#4

Very Good. Thanks for a careful, thorough account of your laser experience, hairless.

Do you recall how many treatments TOTALLY you have had, included with a time frame (number of sessions from what year to what year)? Also, what was the cost for the five year package along with the nominal charge for cleanups at the time?

You fit the pattern of what I have seen in some clients in my practice. Certain clients reach a point where laser hair removal has diminishing returns, in certain areas where it works. Thereafter, the hair that still remains, though lighter and reduced, needs to be punched with electrolysis.

Dee

#5

Very Good. Thanks for a careful, thorough account of your laser experience, hairless.

Do you recall how many treatments TOTALLY you have had, included with a time frame (number of sessions from what year to what year)? Also, what was the cost for the five year package along with the nominal charge for cleanups at the time?

You fit the pattern of what I have seen in some clients in my practice. Certain clients reach a point where laser hair removal has diminishing returns, in certain areas where it works. Thereafter, the hair that still remains, though lighter and reduced, needs to be punched with electrolysis.

Dee

Yes, that has been my experience too. Anyone seeking hair removal just has to realize that all hair removal methods (the legitimate ones) have their advantages and disadvantages.

BTW, Balius has not posted in some time. He had similar experiences to mine.

RJC2001

#6

You would even do better if you could include before and after shots.

#7

You would even do better if you could include before and after shots.

True, but unfortunately I didn’t think to do that ahead of time. Maybe some others will do that.

RJC2001

#8

I’m going to have to do some more research, but here’s what I found so far:

I had 15 treatments in 1999 and 2000. For most of them, we alternated body parts. Toward the end, each session was full body (except chest and arms, which I didn’t do).

2000 is when they end, so I’m pretty certain that was year 3. I believe after the first two years, it was $100 each time, but again, that was for almost full body.

I’m going to have to go back farther to find out how much the five-year plan was.

As far as before and after pics… I can do “after”, but I’d have to go back in time to 1997 to do “before”. I might be able to show you my chest to give you an idea of what I looked like all over. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

#9

After shots are still great… surely we all know what skin looks like with hair just shaved. The sides of my face (sideburn area) used to be gray skin, even after shaving, because of all the dark hairs just under the surface. Now, my face just looks NORMAL, except for a few dozen chin hairs that are still being stubborn. My tech has been giving them an extra special beating and it’s making a difference.

#10

just moving this thread up for others to read…

#11

[quote]You would even do better if you could include before and after shots.

True, but unfortunately I didn’t think to do that ahead of time. Maybe some others will do that.

RJC2001 [/quote]

I have the Before pics, but I’m still waiting to take the After set! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Hopefully not much longer now though… I’ll post them up when I stop treatment.

#12

Just moving this thread: http://www.hairtell.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/1511/an/0/page/20#1511 up for others to read. Some good success stories in there, you just have to make it through the introductory fray.

#13

I am male with about a type V skin type (African Am. --quite dark but still tans). My hair is hormone driven so it is(was) course. My practitioner has treated MANY African Americans, which is rare but important.

My tech used an Nd:YAG long pulse laser of some kind. I can’t recall the settings. I have never had a bad reaction with this laser or any other side effect (so far). I’ve always used ‘emla’. The face hurts more than the chest/stomach. Again, my practitioner is very skilled and experienced. Because of all the variables to consider, I think this is the most important thing.

I have had about 4-5 treatments to the torso and beard with about a 60-70% reduction over all. At this point I’ve experienced rapidly diminished returns. However, the hair is thinner, grows slower, and is smooth when shaved – not stubbly. The ‘shadow’ is gone. Ingrowns were at first more numerous but now are rare. This result has held for over a year. The abdomen was the most successful area. My goal was REDUCTION and in other areas my goal was to reduce ingrowns. Over time, this has been a success.

Research this site well. I can not emphasize practitioner experience enough. When my tech talks about their experience with clients it sounds like a summary of the LHR section of this website which was a good indication to me.

Good luck.

B

#14

Since someone has just asked for male success stories, I am bumping this thread back to the top so new people can read it.

#15

bumping this up again

#16

Here is my SUCCESS STORY with underarms.

[BTW, it has been so amazing! It has been two years since my initial round of laser treatments, with two touch ups since then, and my UAs are hair free!]

My initial treatments were in the fall of 2003. I had three successive treatments with the LightSheer Diode, spaced about 7 weeks apart from each other. I don’t remembe the fluence but she kept increasing it, and i didn’t use emla or topical anesthetic as i am very stoic. But it worked! After the 3rd treatment I was completely hair free for about 6 months.

Then I started seeing some re-growth, which grew to about 10-20% of each underarm. At that point, it was my year anniversary of my first treatment, so i went for a touch-up treatment in October 2004.

After that one touch-up treatment, i still had a tiny bit of regrowth (less than 5%). So i went for my last touch-up treatment this past July 2005. I am now hair free for the moment at least!

My skin type is probably 2 or 3: i am caucasian and very fair skinned, burns easily then tans, brunette with hazel green eyes.

Even though there has been occasional regrowth, i am personally delighted with not being a slave to the razor for my underarms, and any small regrowth has been so easy to shave off that it hasn’t been a problem. I suppose it is a matter of expectations and the cost-benefit for a lady of having hair free UAs.

fuchsia

#17

thanks for sharing. I’ve had 3 treatmets on underarms and can report the same results. for me, it’s awesome too since I resorted to waxing before because shaving just never provided me with a clean look without a shadow.

Can you recommend a clinic in your area for someone who might be looking there?

#18

The Adams Center in Boston, MA, http://www.adamscenter.com, is where i go for my hair removal. They are top notch and i feel very safe with them.

The elimination of shadow alone is amazing, as is the reduction in coarseness and significant reduction in hair. Even though there is slight regrowth that i have had to return for, i feel it has been worth it. When i have needed to shave, it was just a matter of passing the razor over the area without water or shaving cream. No more nicks scratches, redness, shadow, etc.

This last time (my 5th treatment), the nurse practioner told me that i should not have to come back again for UAs.

fuchsia

#19

Looks like we’ve had the same great results <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Same thing with a razor for me right now. Only maybe 20 light fine hairs on each armpit that can be shaved with just one swipe without water or shaving gel. it’s great!

this thread is becoming very informative. hope, this will continue and newbies will be able to find a reputable place in their area quickly by searching the archives.

#20

bumping this up…

Andrea, maybe we should keep this at the top? Or create a new thread called “Success Stories” to keep at the top?