I had the underarms done on Feb. 16 and a touch up March 1 for the same area. The machine used was a Gentle Lase PLUS and settings were 16 joules/18 ms 18 mm spot size. By the way I have a type II skin (darker end). After full shedding around March 1 my skin is still smooth and white…this is great! I am very optimistic. The laser technician told me I will need maybe 5 treatments in total. The only downside is that I have to go back for touch ups since I had missed spots, but the tech. does them at no cost and she is very courteous.
A week ago at another Spa I had my 2nd bikini sessions and already experienced almost full shedding. The Coolglide laser (Yag) was used and the setting used were: 60 joules 10 ms 10 mm spot size and 90 joules 10 ms and 7 mm spot size. I notice her work is almost perfect no missed areas because her overlap is good.
Yesterday I had a treatment for lower legs at the same setting above and they are kind of swollen at certain area where the hair is coarser and denser. All follicles have a red dots and the skin is raised like an orange peel.
The only thing is they want me to go back after 8 weeks for my third treatment.
I already approach the tech about it and she wasn’t please at all with my request. She also told me she wants my treatment to be successful as much as me. I know she is genuine since she takes a 1:30 hr to do just the lower legs and does such a good job.
I guess if I decide to space out the treatments I will have some issues… I still want to see when the hairs start to grow. Also maybe it’s not a bad idea to space the treatments for 8 weeks since I read hair on the legs can take up to 16 weeks to grow therefore the 12 weeks interval may not be that useful anyway.
But one thing for sure I won’t go in 8 weeks if I have no hairs.
8-10-12 weeks is a good time frame to return for your legs.
So glad to hear this feedback and it makes a real difference when people go into hair removal with a strong knowledge base on what to look for when purchasing laser treatments. Same goes for electrolysis.
We always invite our posters to recommend good businesses that deliver expert care in their area so others may prosper without too much frustration. Would you care to mention your laser spa/office? Sorry if you are repeating this information.
Sounds like youv’e had some good treatments there, the settings on the YAG are good and it’s good she’s lowered the pulse to one that is more applicable for your skin type. Just to let you know, the GentleLASE has a pulse of 3ms, which is set and can’t be adjusted. However, I do know there is another type of setting to do with timing, so I think that may be what the tech meant by 18ms.
And 1 and a half hours for lower legs is excellent, she really must take her time! Sounds like you may have a keeper there. In regards to the time spacing; I found personally that my hair came back properly on my legs between 10-12 weeks. Where I get my back treated, at the first Laser clinic I went to the nurses originally told me 6 weeks, however I told them I wanted 8 weeks, which like yours, they weren’t very happy about.
I found that I ended up leaving it to a week before the treatment then extending it by the number of weeks that were appropiate. Now it’s got to the point where the girls at the reception say “So when would you like your next appointment?”, instead of “So would you like to book your appointment for 6 weeks time?”.
If you still find you have problems with your tech, go in and show her your legs (unshaved) after 8 weeks and if there’s no hair, then she should get the point that it’s more appropiate to be spaced longer. Although, some people may find that the hair can grow back in 8 weeks, this is rare and is far more likely to be 10-12 week or more.
Anyways, either way it sounds like your having some good treatments and it’s good that the laser tech touched up the areas that were missed (btw, it’s not that unusual to have the odd missed spot after treatment, but it’s great when it’s touched up for you )
A note: GentleLASE doesn’t have adjustable pulse. It’s steady at 3ms. So you were treated at 16j on 18mm spot size.
7mm spot size is really somewhat too small. The high joules do compensate for it somewhat, but it’s still hard to achieve permanent reduction with such a small spot size. Plus, if you can handle those high joules on a Yag, there is no reason to be treated with a Yag since it won’t benefit you much once the hair gets finer after a couple treatments. I would just stick with GentleLASE for all areas if I were you, unless you have some other reason for spreading these treatments out.
8 week is ok for legs to start. However, for all areas, just go when there is enough hair to be treated. I wouldn’t talk to them about it ahead of time. Just call and make an appt when you feel you have enough hair to treat. Or if they’re really adamant about it, make an appt and then reschedule it for whenever you want.
I can’t switch laser from a Yag to Alex because I bought a package for legs & bikini at the clinic where they have the Yag.
I don’t have any regrets because of the price was great and the tech. is very good. I also know someone with same skin type as me who had very good result with her bikini with the same machine & technician.
I am planning to have my leg lasered (1-2 times) with the Alex after the package is over.
I don’t know about the spot size 7 mm; I guess I just trust the technician. When she sets it up this way, most hairs are just popping out and I have instant shedding. It feels more powerful (it’s more painful). I could always ask her to set back the spot size to 10 mm, but joules will decrease and no shedding on the spot…
The big part in settings on the Coolglide is actually the pulse. 10ms is pretty low and good. It can probably go a bit lower too. Otherwise, I think arond 70 joules and 10mm spot size will probably be better longterm.
I experienced full shedding on all areas (legs, bikini and buttock) except for some missed spot at the bikini and buttock area.
She touched it up at no cost and looked at the area missed so next time she will be more careful.
I have a lot of pepper spots. I guess exfoliating will be the next challenge.
I think I will stick to the same settings since it’s very painfull and my legs are kind of swollen after the session.
I booked my next appointment with the receptionist in 10 weeks ; no issue so far.
What about your coarse ones, do they shed right away?
I must say I have a mixt of coarse and fine hairs as pepper spots but I noticed the coarser hairs comes out faster than the finer ones.
Last two sessions everything came out at the end, so I guess I just have to be patient, drink a lot of water, exfoliate and apply a good body lotion.
Hope one day most of these pepper spots will just be history…
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