I am a male in my early 20s interested in reducing the amount (density) of facial hair that grows on my face. My hair grows in thick and coarse black and my skin is slightly olive (I am not tan now)
I have had two sessions on my face and three on my neck using the Gentlelase Laser (not the Yag version). I don’t want to remove the hair completely on my face and was wondering:
Do you think the Gentlelase laser is the best one for my skin/hair type?
how many sessions do you think I will need to significantly reduce and lighten my facial hair so that I don’t have to shave everyday (I hate having the 5 o’clock shadow right after I shave)
How many sessions to completely remove all of the hair on my neck.
During my last session, the person treating me shot the laser on areas of my neck where I never grew hair. Now I find that hair is starting to grow there… is this possible? If so, how long will it take for it to be totally removed again?
Yes, many people have had INCREASED hair growth from LASER treatments. Many of their stories are here on this site.
If you wanted to reduce the amount of hair that grows on the face so that one can shave less, one to three full clearances via electrolysis would do that very well, and would offer you full permanent removal on the neck areas.
Please put your location in your profile so that those who know who is good in your area can help you out with local practitioners near you. The job I have discussed here would require anywhere from 20 to 50 hours of electrolysis spread out over 9 months, provided the practitioner had any speed and was using thermolysis.
Say again? Why would the laser tech shoot an area on your neck if there was no hair growing there? It is not rare for laser to induce hair to grow where there was no hair. We’ll just add your story to the list of stories already posted here and on other forums. Sorry about that happening to you.
GentleLASE is an alexandrite laser and is best for you. GentleYAG is a Yag.
What happened after your first two treatments? Did you see all treated hair shed? You should have if they were effective treatments. If you’re getting effective treatments, you would probably need 4-5 spaced 12 weeks apart to reduce the growth and make you not have a shadow.
You should specify to the laser operator not to treat any areas with very few or not hairs to avoid inducing growth.
I don’t deny that this happen, but I think it would be fairer and more accurate to say that “some” people have increased hair. I think the word “many” can be misleading.
If 2% of people have this happen and we assume that 3,000,00 people are doing laser hair removal, then we would have 40,000 people with the problem. So that number would be many, on the other hand a 2% rate is quite low.
I am not sure what the rate is. I don’t think anyone knows, but a recent study discussed here showed a very low rate. My estimate is that the percentage is quite low. Of course, we need to differentiate those with true increase in hair versus those with a transient increase that frequently occurs during the first few treatments.
You may have a good point, but it APPEARS that there has been increased reporting of laser-induced hair gowth on this board and another board you are very familiar with. I will report that just two days ago, an electrologist from Australia asked the question on the AEA forum if other electrologists were seeing clients with laser-induced hair growth. We are, and unfortunately, it is good for our business.
We electrologists are in a unique position to feel the pulse of the hair consumer. In my practice alone, I’m cleaning up areas that were treated with laser, usually on a woman’s face, where they come in incedulous that they have more hair than when they began after getting lased. It’s not a pretty site and I have to work so very hard to get them cleared as they look at me with a crooked eye, not trusting that yet another permanent hair removal method is really going to be permanent. Instead of my usual 12 month time span, we are seeing each other for an average of 14 months, since there is so much hair. I’m in the process of going through charts to keep a count. This isn’t anecdotal stuff that seems to be happening to “some” or “many” people, or however one wants to describe it.
I am a proponet of laser hair reduction even though I am purely a probe electrologist. Laser has it’s place. It does not have the reach and cannot go the distance that electrolysis can. It is important not to play with words or to leave words out when talking the truth to potential laser reduction clients. I am not getting the sense that laser contracts worldwide are highlighting the POSSIBILITY of the outcome of laser-induced hair growth and this is what is ticking people off. You as a physician are in a powerful position to bring this fact to life with your colleagues. Informing prospective clients about this allows them to decide.
So many laser providers appear to be surprised when clients report this “rare phenomona”. I think by now, the word would have spread and it would not be possible for anyone to be surprised. I have yet to see a glossy magazine article report that laser-stimulated hair growth COULD be a side effect. When is that going to happen? If it wasn’t for the invention of the internet (thanks, Al GORE) there would be spotty understanding of laser-induced hair growth and many laser consumers would left alone thinking that they were the rare case. At least, they know now that isn’t the case.
In all my years as a laser hair removal provider, I have not seen laser induced hair growth on a MAN’S NECK. This mostly happens if one touches peach fuzz on a woman’s neck and sides.
On skin type 4 , it can occur on the upper arms. On male customers, yes, it may happen under certain conditions.
Most honest providers do include " risk of stimulating hair growth " on their disclaimers as adverse effects from laser hair removal. Our disclaimers have not changed in 5 years.
Thanks for your feedback so far. I definitely had some induced hair growth on the sides of my neck. How many treatments will I need to remove it?
As for my face and neck, how many treatments to “remove” the thickness/coarseness of my facial hair? I still want to grow hair, just not as quick/thick/fast… 3 treatments?
I know someone said to go for electrolysis but I’ve already started treatment using the Gentlelase laser --that said, is that the best laser for my hair/skin? As an aside, I’ve dont laser treatment using this laser on my chest and it has been fairly effective. In 5 treatments on my chest/abs, much of the coarseness and density is away -I still want to remove it all and I still get some growth --any ideas how many more sessions I will need?
Oh, since someone asked, I am in Queens/Manhattan so please let me know if there is someone you recommend who had a cheap price and is Good.
how many treatments depends on the area and te hair type on that specific area. in general, for a reduction 3-5 treatments are sufficient for most. for removal of as much as possible, around 8 treatments.
If you wish, you may come in, I can look at the SIDES OF YOUR NECK and if need be, do a treatment for free. I repeat, I have never seen laser induced hair growth on the front neck of a male
patient.
Thank you for your offer! I’d love to come in a show you. I don’t have a problem coming in, it’s just that I’m a student so funds are tight. If it is really free, like you said, then that would be great!
Also, do you have the Gentlelase laser there? How much would you charge for my face/neck?
Come in and see me. Your first treatment would be free. Our pricing would be similar to whatever you are currently paying. However, our intention is not to steer you away from your current provider, just to make sure that you are being treated properly.
Yes, we have the Gentlelase Plus as well as many other lasers in our facility.