Update on My Results - GentleLASE on Bikini & Underarms; Type II

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

I haven’t posted my results so far in a while, so thought I would update. I have light skin (type II) and black hair (coarse on bikini and underarms, fine but dark on stomach). So far, I’ve had 3 treatments on my bikini and 2 on my underarms and stomach area with GentleLASE. It is now 3 weeks post my last treatment. I get treated with GentleLASE by a dermatologist. Settings were 14 joules at 18mm the first 2 times and 16 joules at 18mm the last time.

So far, I’ve had about 99% removal on bikini and underarms. Those areas are getting the best results. Basically, almost everything shed during the first treatment on these areas except for very few sparse hairs. About 15% came back after 8 weeks, when I got another treatment. Third treatment was also 8 weeks after. Right now, it’s been 3 weeks since the last treatment and I have about 6 hairs on each armit that were missed and maybe 10 sparse hairs here and there on the entire bikini area (I did everything around a thong). This is GREAT for me as I always had a shadow before after shaving and resorted to waxing because of that, which caused irritation at times and lots of ingrowns. I also think I have more hair than average, so this is amazing.

The stomach area had finer but still black hairs. Darkest at the happy trail area and lighter outside of that. I think about 70% of hairs there are all gone for now, especially all the dark ones. There are a few missed spots of lighter short hairs here and there that will need to get treated next time. It was hard to get them since when I shaved that area for the first time (I bleached before), the doctor couldn’t really see where to treat, since unlike bikini and underarms, there was no sign of hair once shaved. I guess they are fine enough not to cause the shadow and the skin is thick enough there for no “seethrough” effect.

I’m glad to answer any questions if you have some. I am thrilled with my results so far and am planning on finishing all the treatments of course. I think this time, I will also wait a bit over 8 weeks for my next treatment to see if I get more regrowth and just because that’s the best way to do it. As you get more treatments, they should become less rare.

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#2

Time to follow up on my treatments. I had another treatment today and decided to try LightSheer with another doctor in the area. I went to Dr. Brandeis in Beverly Hills. He used to be a gynocologist/general medicine doctor and now does skin procedures including hair removal. His prices are very reasonable from what I found and since I didn’t have great results on my stomach since my hair is finer there, I decided to try LightSheer and another doctor this time. I paid $99 for bikini, $50 underarms, $59 stomach.

This was my 4th bikini treatment, and 3rd on underarms and stomach area. I waited 10 weeks since my last treatment this time since I didnt have anything grow back (on bikini and underarms) 8 weeks into it. Now at 10 weeks, I had a bit of very fine regrowth on bikini and underarms (maybe 10% at most and VERY fine compared to old dark coarse hair), but most of the fine stomach hair did grow back.

LightSheer was used very differently from GentleLASE. The feeling when the hair is killed is pretty much the same, but the technique was different. LightSheer is more of a rolling treatment on the skin, while GentleLASE was separate “hits”. I can see how it is much easier to miss spots with LightSheer if the tech is not experienced. Also, with LightSheer, there was a stream of cold air the whole time, while with GentleLASE small amounts of cold “hits” are released right before the laser beam “hit”. My skin looks absolutely fine. The redness was gone within half hour on stomach and underarms, and just a bit longer for bikini. The doctor used a longer pulse on my stomach since the area was just a bit tanned. The settings were 26 joules on bikini and underarms (shorter pulse) and 33 joules on the stomach (longer pulse).

I’ll give another update and comparison after the shedding process in 2 weeks or so.

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#3

Good choice. You will like the Lightsheer! Make sure they use compression too as that will enhance the effectiveness.

RJC2001

#4

Ok, so time for my update. It’s been 3 weeks now after my only LightSheer treatment (overall this was treatment #4 on bikini, #3 on underarms, and #2 on stomach). My opinion at this point is that I am not completely satisfied with LightSheer, at least as compared to GentleLASE. Now, that might be due to this doctor in particular that treated me, but I’m not sure. Basically, it looks now like a lot of areas were either missed or just didn’t shed.

The settings weren’t too low or anything with LightSheer. In fact, GentleLASE settings that were used on me with great results were definitely on the lower end and still worked. I have to account my dissappointment to the difficulty of operating the LightSheer vs GentleLASE to provide accurate treatments. The GentleLASE handle just seems to make it much easier to target specific areas. I wouldn’t say the GentleLASE doctor is any more experienced than the LightSheer one. Probably the other way around if anything. The results I received from GentleLASE treatments are very even and clean. Also, the LightSheer doctor did the perenial area this time which I haven’t touched before and although the hair is coarse and dark, it didn’t seem to have been affected at all whether with GentleLASE that type of hair around that area shed after the very first treatment. I think it might have something to do with the fact that the hair there is closer to the surface and LightSheer might have reached too deep and passed them by since the wavelength on LightSheer is higher…

Anyways, I’m going to wait a few weeks and then go in for another GentleLASE treatment. Hopefully it will be my last one on bikini and underarms as I only have a few small sparse areas that need to be cleaned up left and will cost less than original treatments (takes 2 seconds to get rid of with a razor right now without any shadows etc!) and I’m planning to seriously up the settings and focus on the stomach area. That area has sparse clean areas with about 30% or so gone I think overall. I easily clean it up with a razor as well and have no shadows either since it’s sparse and finer. Once that’s done, I’ll be very happy and hopefully hairfree <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

If anyone has any questions, as usual don’t hesitate to ask.

#5

How may treatments have you had with the Genlelase? What skin type do you have? How many joules did they use? Thanks, this will be very helpful to me!

#6

read the very first post with all this information in this string

#7

It does sound like you have had super results. I have only been using lightsheer now for 9 treatments, but still have a few hairs in the bikini area (did the whole brazillian). My question is, how bad does the armpit area hurt? Do you have before and after pictures? I am seriously considering armpits if the legs end up working.

Also my skin type if very pale, with thick black course hair everywhere…eeek. Do you think the LightSheer or GentleEase(sorry already posting and forgot how to spell it) is better for this skin type?

thanks

#8

Underarms were the least painful for me I think. Laser works very well on both bikini and underarms since it works best on coarse hair. You should get similar results on underarms that you got on the bikini area. I personally prefer GentleLASE, but if you have a good tech who is very careful at not missing any areas with LightSheer, that laser is fine as well. Either one will work well on light skin and dark coarse hair, I just think if the experience of the techs is similar, the results are cleaner/more thourough with GentleLASE.

#9

Thank you very much, lagirl, for all your informative postings as they have helped me a lot in the last few months to decide whether or not lhr was for me. I do have one question. Since you are in the Los Angeles area, would you mind recommending a good specialist? Any help would be appreciated…

-Sll
Los Angeles, CA <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

#10

what is your skin and hair type?

#11

Just giving a quick update. I just had another treatment today. This is #5 on bikini, #4 on underarms and #3 on stomach. I went back to my original doctor, Dr. Babapour who uses GentleLASE. We used considerably higher settings this time, 30 Joules at 12mm spot size on all areas.

Everything seems fine so far. The areas got red and had red bumps around the follicles, which is a good sign. The hairs that were left on bikini and underarms were sparse and fine, so hopefully this will be the last treatment on those areas. I expect to be going in for a few more treatments on the stomach area. I’m curious to see how well these settings worked on this area which is a bit more difficult to treat because the hair is much finer there.

I’ll give another update in 2-3 weeks, when shedding is complete.

#12

Hi LaGirl,

Quick question you said [color:“blue”]"LightSheer was used very differently from GentleLASE. The feeling when the hair is killed is pretty much the same, but the technique was different. LightSheer is more of a rolling treatment on the skin, while GentleLASE was separate “hits”. I can see how it is much easier to miss spots with LightSheer if the tech is not experienced. Also, with LightSheer, there was a stream of cold air the whole time, while with GentleLASE small amounts of cold “hits” are released right before the laser beam “hit”. My skin looks absolutely fine. The redness was gone within half hour on stomach and underarms, and just a bit longer for bikini. The doctor used a longer pulse on my stomach since the area was just a bit tanned. The settings were 26 joules on bikini and underarms (shorter pulse) and 33 joules on the stomach (longer pulse).
[/color]

I have had lightsheer before and there is no stream of cold air the whole entire time. It has a chilled tip but definetly no air and With the Lighsheer it is pulsed meaning they do a spot and then move down and do another pulse and spot. Are you sure this is a lightsheer machine beacause from I know it is very different then what is stated on your description. Just a question?

#13

There are various models of LightSheer lasers and different technicians use different techniques. I believe this was an older model. The up and down technique is a better approach in general, but the sliding one is faster, so a lot of techs do that instead for speed.

#14

Hi all,

Time for my update. So, my last treatment was with GentleLASE 3 weeks ago. This was treatment # 5 on bikini, #4 on underarms, and #3 on stomach. At this point, the shedding has finished and I think I am done with bikini and underarms. I would say I have 95% removal on those areas, being conservative and judging from what I see now, which is 3 weeks after treatment and right after shedding. Technically, right now it’s more like 99%. I did have coarse black hair on those areas and very pale skin. The results are amazing.

The stomach area definitely reacted much better this time around since 30 joules at 12mm spot size were used. There are still some pepperspots left, but overall the area looks much better. The hair trail right in the middle going down to the bikini area is almost completely gone since it was the most coarse and dark there. Probably 50% or so of the finer hair around that area got eliminated this time as well. I will probably have at least 2 more treatments on this area and will stay at 30 joules.

I think I will add the perenial area next time as well so that that entire bikini area is completely smooth.

I’m happy to answer any questions you may have.

1 Like
#15

LA Girl:

Thank you for posting your results and sharing other useful information. I have a question for you. How do you push your GentleLASE practitioner to use higher settings?

I tried this at one GentleLASE place. The physician promptly produced a table from Candela the manufacturer which stated the maximum power recommended for each skin type. I think I’m type 3 and the maximum power in this case was listed as 18 joules. For reasons of liability, etc. I doubt they would want to go higher than this. I think I read in your posts and RJC’s posts that 18 joules will not achieve any permanent results and the closer to 30j or more that you can get the better. The end result was that they used 15J claiming that since it was my first treatment there, they could not even do the full 18J listed in their table. So my laser project is kind of on hold since I have had 4 useless and expensive treatment so far. The only thing that I can think of is to find someone in LA since (I’ve already called almost every GentleLASE operator in the Bay area and its the same story with them all.)

#16

the card with settings that they give to practitioners is a general guideline. if the practitioner doesn’t want to stray away from that and try various options to achieve the best results for you, I would assume that they’re not confident in their skills. if they’re really afraid of causing damage, you can have them do test spots at various higher settings and sign some kind of waiver that you won’t complain.

basically, I started at 14 adn 16 joules and it worked for me at first. I used GentleLASE though and those settings are average for that machine. for LightSheer that you used, settings need to be at least 25 joules or higher. i do have very light skin and black coarse hair on those areas, so that is probably why. so technically, you will get results on the first several treatments, but for the remaining finer hair, you will need to up the settings. in the case of my stomach area, 16 joules was too low since hair there is fine. now at 30 joules, i’m starting to see more results there.

my practitioner didn’t want to up the settings at first as well, but i sat down and had a conversation with him talking about all the research i have done on the subject etc. i think he became aware that i actually knew what i was talking about and have read about others who have used higher settings with no problems. so, on my last treatment, he finally agreed. i kept asking every time i was there, but only the last time he actually said sure…just tell me what settings you want to try and i’ll do it.

are u sure you’ve explored all options? have you tried running a search on CAndela website for GentleLASE practitioners in the Bay area? Also, I think someone else posted info about a place in the Bay area earlier this week on this board.

#17

Hello all, time for my update.

I had another treatment about 1.5 weeks ago. This time I did just the abdomen area ($100) and added a perenial region ($75). GentleLASE again, 30 joules on stomach and 18 joules on perenial.

Since last treatment, most of my bikini and underarm areas are still pretty clean. There are about 30 very thin sparse fine hairs that grew in. I had 1 quick electrolysis treatment on underarms while I was in for my upper lip. Probably took care of 10-15 hairs on each underarm. Other than that, I’m really excited that I really haven’t had to shave bikini or underarms since February. I never even think about whether those areas are presentable for wearing sleeveless shirts etc, which is great. I’m currenly trying to decide if I should touch up those few fine 30 hairs or so on bikini and underarms with laser when I go in for touch-up on stomach or just treat them with electrolysis. Stomach area has been slowest in terms of results, but the hair there is fine compared to really coarse black hair I used to have on bikini and underarms, so I’m not surprised. I’m currently in the shedding phase, so we’ll see. I’m assuming I will need at least 2 more treatments on this area or so. I think the reduction has been about 50% there.

I’ll update in a few weeks after the shedding is complete.

#18

how many treatments have you had so far?

#19

all my postings are in order here. so, that would make it 5 on bikini, 4 on underarms, 4 on abdomen, 1 on perenial region. i’m also getting electrolysis on nipple area and upper lip.

#20

Just a quick update. It’s been about 12 weeks since my last bikini and underarms laser treatment and about 5 weeks since my last abdomen and perenial (first in this area) treatment. As for bikini and underarms, there is a bit of growth there, but it’s very fine and thin, nothing compared to my original dark coarse hair. You would have to look really close to see them, probably about 10% of total area. I did have a second electrolysis treatment on the underarms when I was in for my upper lip and nipple area, and that was a quick 10 minute session to take care of about 30 fine hairs on each side.

Now, the shedding is complete for abdomen and perenial. Both look good right now. Most hair has shed. Perenial reacted very well after just this one treatment. There are a few small missed spots, but everything else has shed, same as the rest of my bikini area. The hair was coarse and dark there as well. That area seems to work very well with laser, even on the first treatment. Abdomen is not perfect as usual, but definitely much better this time around. I would say there are a few missed spots, but for the most part, about 90% is gone. There are also some pepperspots in the area, but you have to look really close to see them. I squeeze them out sometimes (I know, not very good, but they bother me). If my skin was tanned, the area would probably look completely hairless.

That’s all for now. Let me know if I can answer any questions. I am thinking of getting a touch-up treatment on a few spots on bikini at high settings since hairs are fine and the missed spots on perenial and stomach as my doctor said he will do all for $50. Then, I will continue electrolysis on underarms for the few sparse hairs since it makes more sense financially now and laser can’t target those anyways.