I’ve opted for trying out two laser centres for test patches. Apologies this is an especially long long!
This is a well known chain mentioned here before. I called their main number to ask which of their clinics had the Gentle Yag and to my surprise was told that all their London clinics have a Gentle Yag. But when it came to paying over the £25(refundable) consult fee I changed my mind about which branch I wanted to go to and said I would have a think and call back. When I called back I got a different operator and was told that only two of their London clinics had a Gentle Yag and the two clinics that I was interested in had the Lyra. I was miffed as I would have trekked all the way only to find that they had the wrong laser! I then booked one of the two with the Gentle Yag and was told to turn up 10 minutes earlier to allow for form filing.
The clinic was very nice and clean I disliked the choice of music though :-)) I waited for the receptionist to finish with someone who had a query over money and discounts they didn’t seem to be getting very far. When she came free the receptionist then gave me a set of forms to read and fill in. Though the list read a bit like a on your own head be it warning and if you don’t like it leave now! I was impressed with it in that they don’t pretend that everything will definitely be hunky dorky. It included comments that fine hair may be stimulated, that hypo/hyper pigmentation though rare can happen, hair may still come back etc. must stay away from sun, skin must be clean pre- shaved a few days before hand, you cannot expect to be treated by the same nurse they will change etc. In fact it seemed to include just about gripe that has been discussed on these boards about treatments anywhere.
The nurse was on a time slot and she told me that we would have to get on with it and she was pretty much no nonsense in her approach and told me she had been using lasers for 8 years. I had to then listen to her comments about laser and hair and look at a diagram (though she know that I had had laser before) and she then went on to tell me that I would have to use their products a pack of stuff that included aloe vera and water sprays and it seemed to be almost case of if you don’t use it and your skin has a reaction well you should have used what we were selling to you. I didn’t ask the price. When it came to the pricing of tests she was honest in that she told me that if an area is small that they will not do patches but they will decide that for instance if the area of fore arm requiring clearance is the equivalent of a face they would charge for a face etc. I had been worried that I would need to pay for a whole half arm. Plus she said that as most of my hair has now gone that I probably would not need to buy a package and I should just pay for a couple of sessions. She then pointed to the laser and I said that’s not a Gentle Yag that’s what I was told you had she said no its been taken away we now use the Cynosure Elite it’s a yag don’t worry she didn’t know why it had been changed but they always have the latest equipment etc. . So chaps if you are looking for a specific laser call the clinic itself! She took a couple of pictures. Then did three patch tests the last one on the fairer part of me was a bit higher but even then I barely felt it . My goodness either the Elite is way superior to the Coolglide on the pain front or the settings were just low. When I then asked what settings she had used she told me we don’t tell clients otherwise they start trying to dictate the settings and pushing them up I am the practitioner and I know what I am doing. I wasn’t upset by her reply I found myself respecting her for it she had already came across someone who knows her stuff. She told me to come back after five days that would be long enough to work out the impact on the skin she also confirmed that I would not get the same nurse each time you get who you get. I asked about hair on the face she said it can be done on darker skin but I forgot to say to her can you look at mine and give me your opinion on the fine hair (am kicking myself for that). As she led me out she was still asking if she had answered everything I needed to know. I was left feeling very confident in her she left me to talk to the front desk to hand in my form and find out further about prices etc. and that is when it all went down hill the two women standing at reception who had to be motioned over to deal with me by another women who was busy with a client when she saw me standing there just didn’t come across at all well I think one of them may have been new and they put me off I am worried that if and when I go back I will be getting one of them operating a laser on me a smile would not have hurt them (I know employers can only do so much sometimes). If I knew I could have the test nurse every time I’d happily go back and forget about the Gentle Yag.
The next clinic is a sole operator and has the Gentle Yag but I am now already thinking do I really need the Gentle Yag. Will post back.