I have a consultation with a place in my area, and the Palomar Intense Pulsed Light system has me weary as I have never heard of it. Does anyone know anything about it?
Charlotte
Don't trust it.
Do laser instead.
I went for IPL with a Palomar machine about 12 times about 3 years ago. It got rid of the black hairs and left the white. It's still that way except for a few stray black ones. Since having SRS and starting injections, it seems my total hair situation has improved. I recently (2 weeks ago) spent two days plucking my facial hairs and started combining daily plucking with Vaniqua. There's starting to be nothing to pluck and I haven't shaved since then. Keeping my fingers crossed, but so far...so good! Totally better than I had hoped for. I thought it would take much longer to get these results.
I too started with the IPL system.
I didn't have that much facial hair to begin with but I wanted to kick-start my hair reduction and feminization. It seemed like a quick way to get rid of the hair.
I did research quite a bit and while it is effective, by FDA rules, they cannot claim permanent hair removal. They can claim permanent hair *reduction*.
As Rava said, it does very little for light/grey hairs. Whoever you go to should probably make that very clear to you. Recently there has been a development of a new drug that can be used in conjuction with IPL and causes the roots of the hair to get darker and allow more energy to be absorbed from the flash. I don't know what the status is of this additive.
It did remove virtually all the dark hairs on my face, but I had quite bit of grey hairs. Now I'm in doing electrolysis to remove the rest. Because of my facial hair in the first place and the IPL, I'll only have to spend about 10-20 hours under the needle.
For me it was a good compromise.
-Sandy
I've read it gets the ok, I cant remember what they had at the first laser clinic I went too. What ever it was it was terrible...I'd have to check but it may have been an IPL (Intense Pulsed Light). I know no one seems to know the Alma Laser 2007 (SHR) laser, but it is AMAZING. I think my Laser Lady said theres only 1 in Canada...I had 3 treatments at one of the most highly regarded Laser Clinics in Toronto, there was hair reduction but very little and I looked burnt after. With the SHR (Sure Hair Removal) I've had 3 and my face is so smooth, there's still hair but it grows so slow now and is so sparse that it doesn't bother me much. Just 3 treatments and I feel like I can finally relax and not worry so much about people noticing a shadow, not to mention I don't need to shave as much. Oh those first 3 treatments at the old laser clinic where done 5 months prior to starting with the SHR Laser, and almost all the hair reduced then came back. I can't believe it myself I still can't, I took a chance with a lady working from home doing laser+electrolysis from her basement. I pay almost nothing compared to all the bigger laser clinics and the results are fantastic. I guess I found a good one....please try to find someone using this laser in your area and you can't go wrong...did I mention unlike other lasers the one I mentioned is less painful and won't leave you looking sun burnt....god I sound like I'm trying to sell somthing :laugh:
I ended up finding a doctor here who offered me a very inexpensive rate ($300 for the first session and $200 for others with touchups being $50 or free) who uses CoolGlide and so far I am extremely happy with the results after only 2 sessions. I was looking for Lightsheer but it was far more expensive.
Charlotte
Quote from: Amy T. on June 22, 2007, 01:44:55 PM
Don't trust it.
Do laser instead.
Quite true. I had many sessions with it and it wasn't effective. Go for laser which is far more effective.