I have been going to American Laser Centers for over two years now. I have had been treated with mainly LIGHTSHEER laser, then one time Aurora (blechy), and then SUPRANO lasers.
Today for my 5th underarm treatment, and 8th leg treatment, they brought out a new laser. The AMERILASE.
Has anyone else had this laser treat them? What were the results?
I was told they no longer used Suprano, and [color:#FF0000]all[/color] the centers are using these new lasers.
Here is what I noticed:
I had it turned up and it hurt like crazy at level 30!!!
It was a very intense burning sensation, and then on the underarms, it felt like a vibration afterwards, which was very uncomfortable.
The span of area it covered was small, and it took at least 30 minutes longer for the treatment.
I got very red, though now it is not so red.
I asked, and was told this laser is so much better. I actually had to have them take it down to level 25 on one of my legs it hurt so bad. In my two years of going there, I have never experienced such pain with a laser! And I can usually stand high levels!!!
PLEASE what are your experiences with this laser? I feel that now even though I hated it, I am stuck, because they changed ALL their lasers!!!
I am just praying it does an amazing job, to make sense of the pain of this laser. Even when we turned it down to 25 it was uncomfortable…
The Amerilase has been around for awhile now, it’s a just a re-branded Syneron Comet. Either that, or so close to it that for all practical purposes, it’s effectiveness can be compared as such. ALC and Syneron entered a deal where Syneron would make lasers specifically for ALC’s use, So they just got their 810nm Diode-RF laser and called it what ALC wanted, the Amerilase.
This is a reflushing of all the hype that surrounded the Comet when that laser was introduced, complete with the ‘un-excluding of any hair types’ claim.
In a word, yes, I have been treated by that laser, at higher settings than what you got. Did it work? No. If you’re locked in a contract, I guess just make the best of it. If not, seek treatment with a more proven laser.
Mantaray
ps: You have to look hard at all this, I mean, really hard, in a scrutinizing way.
I have own the light sheer and have had treatment demo’s with the Amerilase. That is a lousy device as far as I am concerned.
I truly believe that you can count on one hand good lasers. But,
none of them have everything you are looking for. Of all the machine I have owned the Gentle Lase plus is the overall workhorse that does nice work. Too much energy lost with the Light Sheer. You program in 30J but, you don’t really know exactly what you are getting like pulse light other than the Quantum pulse light by Lumenis. That is the only pulse light I would own. I own a laser, electrology and beauty business for many years and have learned through many years what works and what doesn’t. My site karenspps.com gives alot of info
I am locked into a contract. I have had the six treatments already with suprano, and had super luck with that. Then they changed the laser. I just wish, they might have done a focus group to see what people thought of the laser, before making such a decision. (maybe they did though)
I just knew, suprano, hurt a lot less, and I could take it at high levels, and it covered a lot of space at one time. This laser is slower, and spans such a small area.
If they had offered this laser in the beginning, I would have never done the hair removal. I just did not like the experience at all yesturday. I am going to call a lawyer and check my contract. I am pretty sure I locked myself into these treatments with this laser…yicky.
haha. it’s a nice thought. unfortunately, i don’t think they take consumers’ opinions into account when making their decisions. from everything i’ve seen, the only thing they take into account is how much money they can make, in part by locking people into contracts.
Hmmm… you said you had great results witht he Soprano? I got one treatment with that and had no shedding at all-- and I;m pale and dark coarse hair (weird)— I asked them to switch me back to Aurora which produces some shedding for me after each treatment— My next appointment is in about 2 weeks-- I will see whether they switched to the AmeriLase… I might try it out… But I am kind of sick of them switchign lasers constantly —why not just switch to the GentleLase which seems to be the best one-- I don’t understand ALC…
if i had to guess, i would say it’s all about money (as with any business, but with them it seems to be at the cost of client satisfaction). they’re going for whichever company will provide them with the best price for a bulk number of machines. And GentleLASE is expensive and can’t treat as many skin types.
I think they just used very low settings on the Soprano and decided it wasn’t a good machine and rather than figuring out how to use it, decided to replace it with something they can rename as well.
Without making a comment towards the entire Laser hair removal community, I think the Syneron-American Laser Center union is something of a match made in hell. I would think that ALC, trying to establish themselves, would align themselves with a more credible, proven laser like the GentleLase. It would be interesting to know how the deal was worked out.
Personally? If someone really gave me no choice but to get AmeriLase (eLaser) treatments, I would demand short-pulse Diode component/ with highest tolerable settings. And leave the RF component completely off. No RF at all. And, focus on the bikini, underarms, and legs, staying away from abdomen, This will:
At least let you benefit from a full strength diode laser in it’s most effective pulse form.
2)Allow you to tolerate more destructive light energy without the painful lingering RF heating waves. The RF heats bone on the boney areas too you should know, very painful and not real destructive.
Allows you shedding that will be better to guage effectiveness. The RF can induce shedding just by super-heating the connective tissue, not by actual destruction of the papilla. With light component only, most of the hairs shedding will have at least had energy travel down the length of the shaft, where destruction actually counts.
Removes the risk of getting arc burns; when one of the RF polar terminals loses contact with your skin, or is less flush on the surface, creating a focused, concentrated buildup of RF conductance on one point. This causes a snapping sound, and the result can be a scar. Trust me, it’s not something you want and it is a skin damage type that is unique to this specific laser.
Spares you from unforseen damage to general tissue that may surface in future research. Bombardment of skin tissue with RF is a very general, undirected form of killing. This is the same technique used in Somnoplasty, general killing. Damage/ very premature aging, to your skin is something you want to stay very clear of.
I don’t mean to sound detrimental and foreboding, but c’mon, this whole thing is to feel and look your best, it’s not to take chances with your skin. Let us know what happens.
WOW! Thank you for all the informaation. I did noticed,
I saw sparks and a snapping sound on a few occasions. I was told that there must have been a hair that was burnt.
I felt the heat and a pulsating feeling in the underarm region, that did not feel comfortable at all.
My legs could only tolerate so much of this laser. I was seriously shivering because of the experience.
I have been going for laser treatments for two years with this company. I am surprised they just up and changed all the lasers for the entire establishment nation wide.
I have to check my contract to see if there is anything stating they are able to do that. I am sure they have more then protected themselves in their contracts long ago.
Today, 2 days later, my skin does feel soft, and shows the usual signs of after treatment. I just am praying I see superb results for how uncomfortable and long this procedure took.
THANKS again for the information! I am going to continue investigating, and seeing if these results are better, or worse.
THANKS again for the information! I am going to continue investigating, and seeing if these results are better, or worse.