Yag or alexandrite warm/cool undertones?

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

I recently had my first bikini laser treatment with the ND:YAG Gentlemax PRO laser. I was surprised when the technician recommended this because I have very pale skin. Its a pale yellowy/greeny skin tone, if that makes sense. I have green undertones, but I’m very light.

It just still does not make sense to me, why the technician would choose the YAG laser instead of alexandrite, because I am even lighter than some people with a ‘pink’ skin. Is the alexandrite really THAT dangerous? Does it have to do with undertones rather than the darkness of the skin?

I also have very dark coarse hair. I’m just very worried that after 10 treatments I will have thrown away all this money without results. Then again, I feel like the technician would know from experience which laser works best for who and I wouldn’t want to burn my skin.

I added a photo of my skin in the attachment. I’m Eastern European. I tan quite fast, but I do get burns as well.

#2

You’re an ideal candidate for Alexandrite as you don’t appear to be darker than skin type II. I was a skin type III and had all 8 laser treatments in Alexandrite going as high as the highest setting of 18mm spot 20 joules. If your laser tech is scared to use Alexandrite on you, then it just tells me lack of good training and experience. Skin tone in bikini can be darker than upper torso and face but I doubt that you’re so dark that Alexandrite is dangerous

#3

I got a consultation at another clinic, and they recommended the alexandrite laser, so I will be stopping my treatment at the other clinic. However, this clinic has a 14mm laser. Does it make a difference whether its 14mm or 18mm? It should only take a difference in the time each session takes, right?

#4

What model of laser was it? The spot size actually does matter. 18mm penetrates deeper than ths 14mm so usually 18mm provides a better treatment.

You could consider running a physician search on Candela laser product (Gentlelase/GentleMAX). Those lasers work great. Scroll to the bottom here:

http://syneron-candela.com/na/patient-information

Search for “Gentle Series” in your zipcode and look for places that use Gentlelase or GentleMAX

#5

I see, thanks you for informing me, Brenton. The technician then misled me by telling me it makes no difference.

I can’t seem to find anything in my country(I live in West-Europe) on the website you posted.

But, what is a Candela laser product? Is it a brand? Or a different laser? The first clinic I went to, where I was treated with ND:YAG, they called it a Gentlemax PRO laser, however, I am not sure about ‘Candela’.

Also, now I’m doubting whether I should go with my first clinic where I already started the treatment (with supposedly Gentlemax candela) and demand that they treat me with the alexandrite (I’m scared they’ll burn me because they chose to treat me with ND:Yag)

Or whether I should go with the second clinic, which recommended me an alexandrite, but has a 14mm laser instead of a 18mm one, and its not gentlemax.

I just want whatever is the most effective and aggressive in permanent hair reduction.

#6

“Candela” is the name of the manufacturer.

The Gentlemax PRO is one of the models made by Candela.

#7

I can’t seem to find any other candela gentlemax pro lasers in my country. Theres another clinic with the laser Elite MPX, from which I haven’t gotten a consultation yet.

I called the laser clinic I got my first treatment at, to ask whether I could be treated with the alexandrite, but they kept insisting that since I am eastern european, I am ‘‘pigmented’’ regardless, and should be treated with the YAG otherwise its dangerous. Apparently the alexandrite should only be used on western/north europeans.(very short sighted in my opinion but whatever)

Anyway, the hair on the treated area has begun to fall out since my last (and first) treatment with the Yag, about two weeks ago. Does this mean the yag is effective on me, regardless of my light skintone? Should I just continue with the Yag laser then anyway?

#8

YAG can be effective, but it will depend on settings. You should ask for the pulse width, spot size, and joules/fluence. That’ll go a long way towards determining if you’re having effective treatments

#9

It seems that laser techs in your country get training from the same source but the info they’re taught is bad. So when you go to consults don’ tell them you’re Eastern European if they only treat Northern Europeans with Alexandrite.

#10

My ancestry is Eastern European, my skin tone is somewhere between II and III on the Fitzgerald scale. Given the histories of the migrations that had occurred in my kinfolks’ locales, it is quite possible that my mostly Slavic family tree has Mongolian, Jewish, Turkish, or Rajasthani branches. Fascinating to think about! Anyway, without me mentioning anything about my skin tone, an electrologist who had also performed laser for some of her clients remarked that my skin had an “undercurrent of pigmentation” and that laser would be less than optimal for me. I had undergone a few YAG treatments elsewhere before starting electrolysis. From what I have subsequently learned on this forum, the settings were not strong enough; the treated hair all fell out but most of it came back, but at least it was considerably finer in texture.