Switching to another laser to finish the job.

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

I’m not happy with this place I’ve been going to. I’ve had 4 diode treatments there and 1 ipl treatment for my 5th session on my legs. I was not happy they used ipl on me just b/c they overbooked and another client was in the diode room.

I found another place that uses the Gentlelase Alexandrite laser. If I switched to them to finish the job, will that be safe/effective? I feel like diode is taking too long or the technicians aren’t skilled. some hair is gone but I still have to shave everyday and have quite a few course hairs left.

what do you think?

#2

It’s not just about the machine. You need to find someone who is experienced at setting the settings correctly and operating the machine correctly. You know this by seeing if your hair sheds 3 weeks after each treatment. Everything should.

#3

The woman at the other place is a doctor and I think she performs the treatments herself…but I just want to make sure switching to another laser is SAFE/EFFECTIVE

and should ALL the hair on the area shed? b/c some hairs DID shed while other hairs didn’t. does this mean the technician missed spots?

#4

Whether she’s a doctor or not has very little to do with her ability to do LHR well. You need someone who does it all day everyday. Please read the FAQs below. If you don’t want to make the same mistake again, do the choosing carefully, after checking out at least 3-4 clinics with the right laser and asking lots of questions.

#5

Not very many places around here have the alexandrite though.

#6

Around where? What are you using to search? Please list your location. Also, run a search on this forum for your city or state etc. Others may have recommended something in the past.

In the FAQs, we provide lots of links for finding clinics.

#7

Houston…I’m sure some other doctors will use alexandrite but I can’t afford to do something again without some kind of a warranty. most doctor’s offices won’t give you two years of free treatments if the first 4 sessions don’t work.

#8

There are tons of clinics in Houston. Please use the links below my post to find them. Check out Smooth Solutions as well. The owner used to post here a lot (sslhr).

It’s not about guarantees. It’s about asking questions and getting test spots AND most importantly learning about the procedure yourself (using this forum) so you know what settings work best and what to expect. You don’t need to spend a lot of money. You can have one treatments and see how shedding goes. All treated hair has to shed within 3 weeks after treatment. You can try this with a free test spot first.

#9

Well…it sort of is about guaruntees. I have lost some hair but there are a lot of spots that still have hair. Because I did not buy a package I don’t get the warranty…meaning if I stay at this place that uses a diode laser…I have to pay more money to have more treatment…because there is still some hair here…and its thick and course

#10

That guarantee would have been useless. If they don’t know how to do 1 effective treatment, getting 20 of them still won’t get you any results. With good treatments, you’d only need 6-8 treatments spaced every 3 months.

#11

I guess this one place just isn’t good…so now I have to leave them.

I’ve been getting treatments every 4 weeks. and its a different person almost each time. I just think they are missing spots. and I’m really upset they just totally used an IPL on me without even notifying me before hand.

#12

It would be best if you posted your story in one thread. I just replied to all your questions in the other 5 threads you started, including addressing this 4 week spacing (BAD). It’s not just about missing spots. You’re basically only seeing a few spots affected - that’s the more correct way of explaining what’s happening. Missing spots would mean about 10-20% of the area is missed - meaning only that much doesn’t shed within 3 weeks. At 4 weeks, with good treatments, there should be nothing to treat.

Once again, PLEASE read the FAQs I wrote below. You need to learn what to expect from the procedure in order to find someone who knows what they’re doing and be able to tell that they do.

#13

going in every 4 weeks sounded a little weird…when I got IPL on my face/chest/abdomin…I went in every 6 weeks… every 8-12 weeks sounds a little long.

#14

8-12 weeks is not long. It’s appropriate. These aren’t random numbers. They’re based on length of hair cycles as each body area has different ones. Legs have very long cycles. Face has the shortest cycles and is the only area that may need treatments every 6 weeks.

I had legs done myself btw along with several other areas, and I never NEEDED treatments more often than 10 weeks apart. For bikini and underarms, I started at 8 weeks, but didn’t need treatments until 10-12 weeks after a few treatments. That means you won’t have enough hair there to come in any earlier if treatments are good.

#15

I’ve never been hair free on the legs since I started getting treatments. So there was always hair there every 4 weeks. So that means the place I picked doubled-sucked.

I’m so stupid

#16

You’re not stupid. Most people just fall for the glossy ads and sales pitches by ruthless clinics who want to make money and will tell you anything to do it.

If you’re going to continue with LHR, put in the time to educate yourself using the resources we provide here and take the time to pick the best clinic with the best skills and machine.

#17

In my opinion, for a client it is almost impossible to tell one machine from the other, that is if we assume the clinic tell the client which machine they use on them.

Ill be honest, even for me as a clinic it is very hard to keep track of all the machines.

#18

I don’t understand what you’re saying. There are only 4 possible types of machines and most clinics only have one or two types. It’s not that complicated. We explain everything in the FAQs.

#19

The Internet is enabling consumers to become more educated in products and services, and they do ask questions about equipment, training, experience, etc.

Laser manufacturers are more than happy to keep you informed on their equipment.

Membership in ASLMS and attending their conferences would be beneficial. http://www.aslms.org/