How to find the right laser place

[Hypatia]

What to look for when gathering information and selecting?
Which machines are the good ones?

Thanks
Hypatia

[Kate]

What to look for when gathering information and selecting?
Which machines are the good ones?

LightSheer and CoolGlide, IMHO.

Personally, I like the idea of a medical doctor operating it, rather than a tech. Not that most techs aren't just as skilled, but I figure the doctors have more at stake and REALLY don't want to risk a lawsuit by damaging you.

I've found that most places are willing to bargain. Find the lowest quote in your area, then ask the place you LIKE the best to match it.

~Kate~

[Hypatia]

I've been checking out the "med spa" concept, where doctors work on your beauty. Maybe that's my best option.

The aesthetician I've been going to at the regular salon had an M.D. degree back in the Soviet Union, but then the ethnic Russians like her were not welcome in her former Soviet republic after their independence - so she came here. A Soviet medical degree is not accepted for practicing medicine here, I guess.

Then I was reading the book Fifty and Fabulous by Zia Wesley-Hosford, and she recommended finding an aesthetician from the former USSR because they usually have medical degrees. I was like, "YES."

[Melissa-kitty]

Be nice to your technician, and remember to tip! It makes a big difference in service!
Blessings, Tara

[Caroline]

Considering the couple of bad experiences I've heard about recently...
Make sure that wherever you choose does a test patch before treating a large area.  A questionnaire about your skin type simply isn't sufficient.

[Hypatia]

Pardon the noob question--this has probably been discussed here already--but what is it about LightSheer and Coolglide that makes them better than the alternative?

[seldom]

Pardon the noob question--this has probably been discussed here already--but what is it about LightSheer and Coolglide that makes them better than the alternative?

What you need to look for is very dependant on skin type.
The Candela lasers are also very good as well (Gentlelase, GentleYAG and GentleMax(which is a YAG and Alexandrite I think is thier series).  (The reason people do not mention them is because they have not encountered them, you can throw them in with the lightsheer or coolglide, I don't know why I am the only person mentioning it.  It may be because that is what my tech has.)

With that being said, you want the tech to have BOTH a newer Alexandrite and a ndYAG laser.  If they are skilled they will know which one to use.  If they don't have both...go somewhere else. 

It is some people prefer Lightsheer and Coolglide because that is what they encountered.  Do not make it a requirement.  If they have a gentleLASE or gentleYAG it is just as good.  Just make sure the equipment is medical grade.  The Lightsheer, the Coolglide and the Candela's are all used by dermatologists and all highly recommended. 

An experienced tech is just as good as a dermatologist, but they are also harder to find. 

[Hypatia]

To answer my own question, and hopefully to help others, I found this page of helpful information:

http://www.laserhairremovalreview.com/5methods.html

Once I had this to refer to, I was informed enough to negotiate with the different laser places to suit my exact needs.

The first one I went to was Reveal MedSpa - they use Light Sheer and it is more promising for my olive Mediterranean complexion. They look professional and their price tag shows it. If you go to Reveal, be prepared for some sticker shock. I arranged financing. Then I found a small independent laser place that uses a secondhand Candela (Alexandrite type machine). They charge less than half the cost of Reveal. So I got back to Reveal and showed them the other place's prices. They cut me a deal which is competitive with the cheaper place.

According to capitalist ideology, competition is good for the consumer - Yes, it is, but only if the consumer does some homework and informs herself.

After reading the information in the above link, I began to doubt the Candela would be much help for my needs, because of my complexion. I talked it over with the nurse who runs the place, and she said she knows Dr. Jay (who wrote the informational page) and he hates Alexandrites for some reason. Anyway, I scheduled a test at her place and then I'll make a final decision. I tested at Reveal and had no problems. Comparison shopping is kind of tricky when there's such a wide disparity in both pricing and technology, but I'm nearly ready to begin.

[seldom]

From what it sounds like the Candela would be bad.  Alexandrites are only for those with fair skin.  Plus it sounds like an older Candela.  If it was a gentleYAG I would tell you there would be no difference between it and the lightsheer.  Alexandrites and olive skin however do not mix. 

To be honest I can't use a YAG.  The tech flat out said, the skin is too fair and too sensitive.  Even the Alexandrite has to be put on a lower setting.

It is working though. 

[Hypatia]

Yeah, I went to that place for a test today and the head nurse said she ain't gonna do my face with her Candela, my face has gotten too much sun. She said come back in the autumn. I said no way can I wait that long. She gave me the phone number for a place that has YAG. For my face, I will just go back to Reveal because they cut me a deal. I decided to use the cheaper Candela place for my body hair because my skin is lighter there. They tested on my back. Owww! It was fine. Owww! No worries. OOWWWWWW!!! No, it doesn't hurt too much. I told them the pain of getting zapped cannot begin to compare to the pain of going around with beard all the time. I can't wait until the day when I throw that disgusting DermaBlend into the trash can.

The nurses today were really nice and kept calling me "she." So I figured they were fine with trans. But then on the way out I noticed they also had a few books by the door... and displayed prominently was Why Gender Matters by Leonard Sax. It was a bit of a shock. That's one of the most regressive, backwards, reactionary books on gender to come out recently. Sax wants to stuff girls and boys back into stereotypical gender roles, force boys to play football instead of reading books -- so they don't become OMG GAY, men are rapists by nature, it's women's duty to preserve their maidenly virtue, etc. What could they have been thinking? This was in a conservative Republican area, maybe that's why?