Visit frequency

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

Hello, I live in southern cali and went for my first session yesterday. The guy that performed the treatment was very good it seemed. I am about a Type III, maybe maybe, Type II but I tan pretty easily and my hair is pretty dark an course. The area to be treated is my upper back. They are using a GentleMAX, Alex laser.

I did some research before but did not pay attention to all the settings on the machine. He started with 12J and when he saw I could easily handle that, he bumped it up to 14 (because I kept asking if it will help). So the majority was with 14J. I am not sure the spot size or much of the other settings, I looked but wasnt sure that im looking at.

Overall I liked what he had to say, except. He is recommending I come back in 4 weeks for a total of 4 sessions now and probably 4 more later in the year (Nov-Dec time frame) mainly because I am out in the sun ALOT during the summer and he wanted to break it up. He said I could go with the YAG laser and he could treat me with a slight tan but with the Alex, he could use a higher setting.

I question this frequency really and whether or not it will be effective.

Also, next week (7 days after treatment) I will be in the sun on a sailing boat, do I need to make sure to wear something to protect my neck or is 30+ SPF enough protection?

Thank you!

#2

THIS answer may help with with some of your questions…sent kindly to me from stoppit&tidyup :

Next, treatments should not be every 4 weeks, you should be hair free at 4 weeks!

Now, let me try to explain how the process works. You shave prior to treatment (usually the day before), so that none of the Laser’s energy is wasted on the portion of the hair above the surface. You have the treatment. After the treatment, the effectively treated hairs (which should be nearly all in a coarse, dense area), will start to shed. You think they are growing normally (but a bit slower), when in reality about 2 weeks later when they have emerged a few mm, they start to fall out.

At about 3-4 weeks post treatment, all the treated hairs should have shed. Then, depending on the body area, you will be smooth and hair free for some weeks. Then, the next growth cycle will start to emerge and the hairs are natural with tapered ends, not stubbly! Once all of this growth cycle emerges (another few weeks), it’s time for your next appointment.

Now it’s this period of hair growth that they say you should only shave.

For me, I did not shave during this period. I wanted to monitor how the hair is coming through so that I would know when to go for my next appointment. For somewhere like the bikini like, hair will start to come through 6 weeks post treatment and by 10 weeks post treatment it will be time for the next treatment. So 4 weeks of putting up with hair (natural, not shaved) is not a big deal imo.

I hope that has cleared things up a bit.

#3

I understand its different for everyone. I want to listen to this guy but what I read on here directly contradicts what he is saying. Should I just say I dont want to go back until so many weeks (wait until I see the good re-growth)? Also, I think he is trying to cram me in before the summer hits and I get sun on me… Any thoughts on what I should do here?

I feel like my hair grows pretty fast but he doesnt know that. Please advise. Thanks.

#4

I have done some more reading. He mentioned the max Joules was 20, so since he was using the GentleMAX, that means it was an 18mm spot size, right?