Question
Hi,
I'm new to this forum and it seems like a great help specially when there is sooo much confusion with the diff. laser centers.
I had laser done on my face about a year ago (7 treatment package) by an aesthetic working with a dermatologist, but the result wasnt very effective. I'm thinking of getting it done again. I'm skin type 4.
I recently went for another consultation in Frisco, TX which offers a lifetime gurantee, i.e. after the inital payment, if hair grows back, they'll continue with the treatment. They use the Candela GentleLase Plus. For my face she quoted a package deal of $1500 and for the neck $800.
I just need some advise on this, and also if anyone has used this center before. I feel like I wasted my money the first time ($1000) and do not want to make the same mistake again. The frisco center did seem good, but I'm still nervous about redoing this. Is it possible that they may close their office down, and then the lifetime gurantee will mean nothing? After the ineffectiveness of my 7 treatments, I've become very skeptical of the laser procedures, and just want to make sure I invest in the right center.
Please help.
Thanks!

Answer
Hi,
I'm new to this forum and it seems like a great help specially when there is sooo much confusion with the diff. laser centers.
I had laser done on my face about a year ago (7 treatment package) by an aesthetic working with a dermatologist, but the result wasnt very effective. I'm thinking of getting it done again. I'm skin type 4.
I recently went for another consultation in Frisco, TX which offers a lifetime gurantee, i.e. after the inital payment, if hair grows back, they'll continue with the treatment. They use the Candela GentleLase Plus. For my face she quoted a package deal of $1500 and for the neck $800.
I just need some advise on this, and also if anyone has used this center before. I feel like I wasted my money the first time ($1000) and do not want to make the same mistake again. The frisco center did seem good, but I'm still nervous about redoing this. Is it possible that they may close their office down, and then the lifetime gurantee will mean nothing? After the ineffectiveness of my 7 treatments, I've become very skeptical of the laser procedures, and just want to make sure I invest in the right center.
Please help.
Thanks!

Answer
The Gentlelase is a good laser. And there is no reason why you can't get good results if you are truly a good candidate. But if you are really a type iV, then the Gentlelase isn't a good laser for you. They will need to keep the power down so as not to burn you and this will make the treatments less effective.
You are absolutely right that a lifetime warrany is only good if the place is still around. Also, consider that a place that hasn't been around more than a year at the most doesn't have much experience and sure the heck doesn't know what to expect down the road. They are relatively new to the area.
There have been quite a few places in the Frisco/Plano area that opened up in the last six years and are now gone.
The bottom line is that there is no free lunch. That laser they are using uses cryogen spray which adds up in cost every time you use it, whether they charge for the treatment or not. If they are providing free lifetime treatments, at some point, they will either have to quit providing those free treatments or figure some way to recoup their costs. Or go out of business like many others who had similar offers.
I would suggest that you check other places in the area before making a final decision.
Good luck

Answer
I agree. With a skin type IV, you need someone with a Yag or a diode laser to be more effective. And also curious, what type of hair do you have? Coarse or fine? sparse or dense? Electrolysis is an option and a lot of times much better for fine and sparse hair.

Answer
Thank you all for your help. My hair is coarse -- its not overly dense. I do sometime bleach it and get my face waxed every 2-3 wks.
sslhr and blink888 do you have any suggestions for places in dallas or houston that are good experienced Yag or diode laser users?
With all my research on electrolysis it seemed like theirs a lot of cases where people got scarred and i'm afraid of that.
I can continue waxing every 2 wks --- but it's just so painful and laser seems like a good investment for a longer term.
Thanks.

Answer


Answer
if you read this forum, there are several experiences of women reporting more hair as a result of treating sparse fine hairs on their faces with laser. i personally would suggest to get laser done only if you really have coarse dark dense areas with hair on your face and be very careful that they don't touch any vellus hairs or areas with fine hair if you do have laser again. also, lower settings seem to have something to do with this as well. and with skin type IV, they can't use high settings on you. try using the search feature above to find some recommended places.
btw, electrolysis in the right hands doesn't cause any scarring. i'm getting both laser and electrolysis done. it's often a preferred method to remove hair on a woman's face due to what i mentioned above. with a good electrologist, you won't have any issues. it's possible to get burned with laser as well if someone doesn't know what they're doing. the most important thing in either case is to find someone experienced and knowledgeable.

Answer


Answer
i don't know any places in that area. try the Cutera website and run a provider search there. have you tried searching for "dallas" using the search feature on this site? also, try that on the other 2 forums like this.
with brown skin, Coolglide which is a Yag is suitable. other Yags are Sciton, GentleYAG (run provider search on Candela website), Lyra-i, Apogee Elite, etc

Answer


Answer
There are a number of people in the Dallas area (specifically Plano/Frisco) who use a YAG. Some have been around for years and some are fairly new. I really can't give you any names as that would be a conflict of interest, but I think you can just look in the phone book, look in the Dallas Morning News, listen to the radio, read D Magazine, or look at Plano magazine to get some names.
Call them and ask around.
I'm not a big fan of the Cutera YAG. We use to own two but got rid of them. My only real complaint, and it is in my mind an important one, is that they do not have a good system of cooling. They use a gold plated contact cooler, but the laser doesn't go through the cooler (as it does with a sapphire window cooler) therefore you cool either before or after, but not during the laser pulse. You really can't use them with an air cooler and their approach to contact cooling isn't terribly effective. There have been some reported complications due to that system.

Answer


Answer
Hi blink888, sslhr and other experts,
You have answered some of my questions previously... and I really appreciate everyone's help.
I need your insight on the following...
Uptil now I was thinking of doing laser on my face, but now I'm curious about electrolysis --- since it is permanent. I'm in Dallas and went to the following website suggested by blink888 but not sure which electrologist is good or how to tell.
Currently, I bleach the hair in between my waxing treament (which needs to be done every 2 wks) and it seems to make it grow longer. My hair is dark and its quite dense on my lower cheeks and jawline, and I have a pretty fast growth
What would u advise? Would you recommend Laser or Electrolysis? Also, I'll be moving to either Houston or Austin in August and would that be an issue with the treatment? I could probably come to Dallas once a month only.
Thanks

Answer
it's hard to tell from your description what type of hair you have. if it is coarse and dark on light skin (type III and lighter) like a man's, then i would start with laser and finish with electrolysis. if it is more fine, which sounds like it is since you're able to bleach successfully, I would go with electrolysis all the way. you should try several electrologists to compare their techniques. you'll see differences.

Answer
That website is very outdated, and those that are listed paid to be listed. Go to (The Society of Clinical and Medical Hair Removal) or (International Guild of Hair Removal specialists).
There's also Texas Association of Hair Removal Specialists at which has a directory of members.

Answer