Switching laser clinics, will it have effect?

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

I have been going to this one laser clinic for about a year, having done 5 treatments on brazillian and butt, results have been great. I recently started getting the rest of my whole body done with them. My question is, I have car problems and cannot drive there anymore. There is a place in my town that I just found out and need some advice before I dump alot of money to them. Also I need to know if the laser they use will be effective for me.

The clinic I have been going to is using a GentleLase with 18mm spot size and 12-14J. I have no tan and pretty much white skin. This place I found a year ago I got a groupon for , they are a small place , and have only been doing laser for 3 years. Doctor is not in house and I havent seen him there ever in a year.

Now the clinic I am looking at switching to in my town is at a Dermatology clinic, and I have already met with the Dr (who is there every day) and with the laser tech (who has been doing it for over 10 years). She gave me so much info on laser hair removal, and I can say she knows her stuff. Now , the real question. She is using a Cutera CoolGlide Yag that is also about 10 years old. I have read conflicting reviews saying this machine is not made for my skin type and wont work, others say it will work. THey are offering me a good deal on my entire body, and they will do unlimited treatments. The laser tech is also proficiant in electrolysis.

I just need some advice before I go spend alot of money, but as of right now it seems I dont have a choice because I cannot drive to the other one anymore.

Thank you for your input.

#2

Well first off 12-14 is a little low for GentleLASE usually it should be 16-18 joules so it’s pushing it. CoolGlide is a yag as mentioned and generally not as effective as GentleLASE. It’s better for dark coarse hair like a man’s beard. Bikini line etc would probably be good as well at first since the hair is darker there but the GentleLASE can always get finer hair. If you’ve had good results then it’s hard to switch places.

Either way having a doctor on site doesn’t mean anything really. Put it this way, a dermatology clinic does everything with laser hair removal being just one thing they do. Most laser clinics ONLY do laser hair removal, so they’re doing it day in day out all day long so they have more experience with them. You could always go and do a test patch as well to see.

#3

Yag machines might not have been made considering your skin type but they do WORK on all skin types. In fact your results would be better than people for whom the machine has been particularly made(skin type IV to VI) - as it would be possible to use higher settings on you (assuming you’re between skin type I to III)

The most important thing you need to know is YAG lasers (CoolGlide and others) are not as effective as Alexandrite lasers(GentleLase and others).

Plus, YAG lasers might not work on intermediate or fine hair at all. On the other hand, Alexandrite lasers work pretty well on intermediate hair and may also work on fine hair.

#4

Thank you for responding to me. I kinda had a feeling the gentlelase would be better for me, so yesterday I searched candelas website for people in my city that have the gentle lase, and what do you know I found one. I called them up and actually spoke to the tech, and he did confirm with me the settings I was getting are pretty low. She sounds like she would do the higher settings I need. Now, I guess I shouldn’t go to the other place anymore? Even though they are giving me a great deal (300 per area for 6 treatments) I still have about 4 treatments left on my chest, legs, and stomach with them, and 2 left on my face (which am having Good results on, only chin and upper lip is left, and some stragglers on my neck) I’ve tried numerous times to get them to increase the settings an they finally went to a 12 from a 10. They don’t seem willing to work with me.

The place with the Cool glide is offering me 3500 for full body treat ,And would treat until done.

The new place I found which I’m kind I excited about, because she sounds like she will go the higher settings , is 1,000 for full body for 1 treatment. I could probably afford to do 5 treatments at this price. She also does blend electrolysis as well and has done it for 10 years, and done laser for 5. It is at a spa place close to where I live.

So I guess, even though it’s a ton more money, I will give up the remaining package I have with the other place, and spend the extra money to the new place I found that is willing to do higher settings, at least then I’d get better results with someone who knows what they are doing. I’m going to set up a consultation with her this Saturday and I will let you know how it goes.

Sound good? Orrrr should I go with the yag first for a few treatments and then follow with lase? Or just go straight to the lase? Ugh I don’t know…

#5

Are you male? If yes, I’d suggest you do not be very aggressive with settings on face. Male facial hair is very dense and thick and low settings should be used to avoid a lot of heating due to thermal conduction between adjacent follicles. How many treatments have you had on face? 4? How much reduction do you have? I’m sorry I’m not familiar with settings on GentleLase. Other people might be able to help you.

Full body laser:

Legs- Most people have coarse-intermediate hair on legs. So if you have 3-5 effective treatments spaced out properly(12-16 weeks apart), you’ll see pretty good reduction, especially so with GentleLase!

Forearms& chest- If the hair is at least intermediate , 5 effective GentleLase treatments spaced out properly(8-10 weeks apart)should be enough to give you decent reduction.

Upper arms, back and shoulders- DON’T treat UNLESS the hair is COARSE and DENSE. You might land up being more hairy!

Underarms and bikini hair is usually coarse and 4-6 effective treatments spaced out properly(8-10 weeks apart) with GentleLase should be more than enough.

I suggest you have several patch tests with the new place where they are willing to perform treatments with GentleLase on higher settings. 5 good treatments will be enough for MOST areas. Again, do not treat upper arms,shoulders and back if the hair is not coarse and dense.

You will probably need more treatments on face. Think of 8+.

Yag lasers are good only for coarse hair. So they will work pretty well on under arms, legs and bikini area but maybe not so well on forearms and chest.

All the best!

#6

mumbaigirl, I am a male. I have had about 4 or 5 treatments on my face using the Lase, and the setting was 18mm at 12 -14 J. I have had excellent results, 90percent gone on cheeks and neck, but only 20percent reduction on lower and upper chin, lower and upper lip. I was told that this is the last area to go because it is the hardest to get. I looks pretty normal even if I don’t shave, looks like I just have a goatee growing in. When I first started my face the first couple of treatments left my face looking like a mess, circles from the laser everywhere, even after I shaved you could see the circles. After reading many reviews on this patchiness on males faces from laser, they all said to stop laser at once. I am glad I did not listen to them because I am going on my 5th treatment now and its looking great now. I will say however, it hurts like freaking hell. It is the worst on my chest and on my face. Everywhere else is nothing compared to it, even though it hurts too it still does not compare.

On the top of my shoulders it is only dense in a small patch, and as well on my back there are 2 big patches on either side of my back. I dont really have a lot of back hair, and where it is it seems to mostly be in those 2 big circles and on top of my shoulders. Now, on my upper arm it is not really close together so I am guessing to not get that area done. I have had 1 treatment on my lower arms at a 10J setting, and even at the results have been good, its been about 8 weeks now and its already in its next phase of growth.

My legs are very patchy having only done 2 treatments on them, this is understandable. For my legs arms and my chest, I dont know wheather I will continue to get 5-6 treatments because I still am not sure wheater I want a reduction or completely gone. I guess it just depends on how it looks, but as of right now at 2 treatments it looks like crap.

From what I have been reading, Lase is best for me, and Lase can also get thick hairs as well as thin. I could always go and pay for 1 treatment for a yag on my face and other places where it is course, but I guess I will just see what happens with the lase. So far the lase has been good for me on my whole body, so I will switch to the place that is closer to where I live that has the Lase.

I will try and post a pic of my back and shoulders to get everyones opinion if I should get laser on them.

Thanks!

#7

You really shouldn’t be treating any of that arm and body hair with laser, especially at 10J. That’s a sure way to get induced growth and more hair than you started with. Don’t recommend touching any area with anything less than 14-16J on 18mm on Gentlelase except the face.

Also, I wouldn’t switch clinics for your face since they seem to be doing a good job on that area. It’s hard to treat.

#8

La girl, I failed to mention that from my elbows down have a lot of hair and it’s not thin either. It’s about medium coursness compared to my chest. You can still see it after shaving. I am probably going with electrolysis from elbos up, as well as for my back.

I have no choice but to switch clinics. I personally think it will be better if I do switch because the previous clinic did not want to increase my settings, and would never even think about going past 14J and kept it at 12 for my chest and legs.

The new clinic has told me they will be willing to go to the higher settings.

I will be getting my 1st treatment at the new clinic in 2 weeks.
I will let you all know how it goes.