Suggested Settings and Treatment Spacing

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

Hello

I’m getting treated at City Skin and Laser Clinic in SF. It has great reviews on Yelp and i have been satisfied with my results so far but I think the settings were too low and I am worried about the permanence of the results. I’m using Candela Gentlelase with 18 mm sport size and am almost certain I’m a III on the fitzpatrick scale. For my first session they talked me into using only 10 J because my hair was very dark and it was my first time. They also said that I would be moved up 12 or possibly 14 J for future treatments and that 16J was the maxed they used on anyone. On the gentlelase treatment guide it says i should be getting treated with 10-16 J based on my skin type (http://www.laserpartnersok.com/uploads/GLP_Treatment_Guidelines.pdf).
I’m a male getting my back, shoulders, buttocks and chest treated. My goals are 90%+ removal on back and shoulders so i have purchased a package of 6 treatments+3 touchups. 70% hair removal on butt have purchased a package of 3 treatments and may add more if need be. And 30-50ish% reduction of hair on chest so I’m purchasing each treatment one at a time and seeing how it grows back in. My next treatment is coming up soon and will be 9 week since my previous. What Setting should i use 12,14 or 16J and how long would you suggest to space the treatments?

Pictures: chest with hair sheared with #4 clippers about 4 weeks prior.
Back about 3 weeks after treatment.
Sorry about no pictures of back hair but i haven’t let it grow out for years. Similar thickness and color of my chest hair.

Results form first treatment: red irritable for 2ish days. Started shedding from 10 days to 21 days after treatment. Could notice hair start to grow back about 35 days after treatment albeit much more slowly, lighter and thiner.

Thank you!

qwerty Attachments

chest image.jpg

back image.jpg

#2

Thanks for sharing Woody!

I am very interested in seeing how the chest hair regrows before you do the next treatment, and then subsequent again. Based on your posting, you are 35 days in after your first chest treatment, which could show some of the regrowth?

Thank you!!

#3

Your skin looks light enough to handle 16J+. I think everything bellow 16J doesn’t produce permanent results on the body. If they can go up to 18J/18mm for the rest of the treatments, that would be best situation for you at this point. 10j is absolute waste of time and money and probably very risky if you treated your back on those levels. Low energy is linked to induced hair growth on upper backs for males. As for spacing, 8-9 weeks apart between treatments is good for back and chest area.

#4

Thank you for the information. Just wondering where did you get obtain this knowledge? Also they said that the highes they used on anyone was 16J does that still have a chance of being effective and if not do you have any tips for talking them into a higher setting. Thank you!

#5

My information is from reading past topics on laser settings here and from personal experience when I was getting laser treatments. They started me on 16j and progressively increased settings with treatments because it was safe to do so with my skin type and they were experienced to know that themselves. I can’t predict what type of results you will get from just 16j. I’d have them go higher to have better chance of effective treatments. Many clinics are overly cautious so they stick to very conservative settings so that they avoid burning clients but at same time they sacrifice on effective treatments due to fear of trying. Ask them to do a test spot for 18j/18mm and convince them that you are OK with potential side effects. If you are not tanning, you should not get any burns from that setting.

#6

Okay. I Plan on asking for 18 J next time. Did you use anything to numb the pain because I’d imagine that if i felt some discomfort with 10 J, 18 J might be unbearable. Once again thank you for your advice.

#7

If they said they won’t use higher than 16J on anyone, they’re not going to use 18J on you even to test. If you can get them to 16J, stick with it since 16J is high enough. I’ve been using a Gentlelase at 18mm/16J, and the results have been fantastic.

#8

Awesome! glad to hear you got good results. What skin/hair type are you and what area of the body did you get treated? Thank you!

#9

I’m around a II-III (somewhere in there). I’ve mostly been using laser for my arms and legs.

#10

How many sessions have you had on your arms for example?
I wonder if after 6 or 7 treatments you achieve all the results that are possible?

#11

I want to say I’ve had 5 on my legs and 4 on my arms thus far, but I can’t remember for sure.

#12

.

#13

Still looking for more feedback. What was the meaning behind just posting a period?

#14

You were given very good information. Get the clinic to test and then use higher settings, or switch clinics. There are plenty in SF to choose from. Treating at low settings is a waste of money. If you can’t handle the pain, you should be using a numbing cream, not ineffective settings.

#15

So would you say if I can’t get them to do at least 16J I should switch clinics? Thank you for everybody’s help getting rid of this stuff would mean a lot to me.

#16

Yes.