Question
I want to start doing laser and have 2 questions:
1. i called a doctor's office about getting laser and they told me that it would be $250 just for the consultation and $150 for the test spot. is that a bit pricey? i figured a consultation would be free. if it's that expensive just for the consultation and test spot, i can just imagine how much they will charge. any thoughts?
2. anyone have any positive/negative experiences in the boston area? i'm very worried about wasting my money on someone who doesn't know what they are doing, or getting burned or something. any feedback will be greatly appreciated.
Answer
I want to start doing laser and have 2 questions:
1. i called a doctor's office about getting laser and they told me that it would be $250 just for the consultation and $150 for the test spot. is that a bit pricey? i figured a consultation would be free. if it's that expensive just for the consultation and test spot, i can just imagine how much they will charge. any thoughts?
2. anyone have any positive/negative experiences in the boston area? i'm very worried about wasting my money on someone who doesn't know what they are doing, or getting burned or something. any feedback will be greatly appreciated.
Answer
I'm not from nor am I familiar with Boston. However, I don't think I would go to a doctor's office to have LHR, especially for those prices. I would think that a metropolis as the Greater Boston area there would be plenty of competition and you can find a good place to have LHR for a lower price -- and a free consultation. Remember, because a person is a doctor, does NOT make them a good LHR technician. Also, the doctor will more than likely have a nurse do the procedure and charge extra simply because it is in a doctor's office.
A good place to start is the finger-walking section in your phone book. Or you can try google "Laser Hair Removal Boston" and you'll get some hits.
Answer
I can't speak for everyone, but almost all of the places that I checked out in my area did a free consultation (Cincinnati)... actually, the place that I decided on did a free consultation plus a free 1st 15 mins of treatment, which included chin, upper lip, both underarms, abdomen, and bikini line. She went really fast to be sure to cover all general areas that I wanted done, so some spots here and there were missed, but it was nice to have an idea of what to expect ... I am seeing shedding, so I know the laser actually worked on me before paying for additional treatments...
also this place lets me pay by time spent, so I will be paying $250 for 15 minutes of laser treatment. A different place wanted me to pay $900 upfront just for my chin treatments alone, was a national chain, and I didn't like the idea of paying all that money without knowing if the laser would even work on my skin type. I guess it depends on how big of a test spot your doctor is going to laser... an entire leg, that's a good price, but I would ask questions before paying that much money.
I would look around before committing to any treatment. I would make sure you know what questions to ask at the consultation, I found a lot of my questions just by reading posts on this site. Good luck! Kaitlyn
Answer
you're in a big metropolitan area. there are many clinics over there. what you were quoted is absolutely ridiculous. most consultations and test spots are free. the only other way i've seen places do it is charge about $50-100 for consultation and test spot and then credit that amount towards your first treatment. definitely look elsewhere. you can try running on search on this forum for recommendations. also, check the candela and cutera websites for provider searches. what is your skin and hair type? it would be most helpful for u to determine what laser to look for first and that's based on your skin and hair type.
Answer
thanks for the responses everyone. i thought that seemed pricey, so i will definitely shop around. it's so hard to judge the different places out there, but, i guess it's all part of the process.
blink: to answer your question about hair type, i think that i am around a 2 or a 3 on the Fitzpatrick chart. i know there are tons of posts on this forum about which product is best for which type of skin, so i'll just read around.
thanks again everyone! this site is great!!
Answer
run a search for "boston" on this forum and read through the threads. there are a few recommendations there like this:
