I had a recent consultation for laser with American Laser Centers.  I found it to be really traumatic because I let facial hair grow out.  I had not done that in a while.  In the mornings I shave myself nearly raw and the carry a razor with me at all times.  Yes I know, I am seriously screwed up about this and need to get it taken care of yesterday.  But I digress.

Their opinion (aka sales pitch) was that they could take care of me just fine.  With them you pay a price and get 8 treatments, plus unlimited follow-ups for 2 years.  A good deal?  NOT IF IT WILL NOT WORK!  Plus I did read some of the unfavorable reports.

I keep reading so much conflicting stuff out there.  And everyone seems to think that their way of treatment is what everyone else should do.

I have found another laser place as well as an electrologist and I think I will be setting up consults with both of them.  But before I do I would really like some kind of definitive information if this is possible.

I have quite fair skin and light facial hair.  There are a small number of dark ones in there, as well as some that are close to white, but no grey.  But overall it is a light reddish blond with lighter hairs mixed in.

Other than just trying it, how do I find out if it will work for me?  What lasers (if any) should I be looking for to work on light hair.  Or, would it just be an exercise in futility?  Should I just forget it and begin electro? 

Thanks for your help!

Because you are light skinned and have light hair, don't even bother with Laser.  Go straight for the electrolysis.  It will be best in the long run.

Quote from: Kristi on August 03, 2010, 06:17:59 PM
I had a recent consultation for laser with American Laser Centers.  I found it to be really traumatic because I let facial hair grow out.  I had not done that in a while.  In the mornings I shave myself nearly raw and the carry a razor with me at all times.  Yes I know, I am seriously screwed up about this and need to get it taken care of yesterday.  But I digress.

Their opinion (aka sales pitch) was that they could take care of me just fine.  With them you pay a price and get 8 treatments, plus unlimited follow-ups for 2 years.  A good deal?  NOT IF IT WILL NOT WORK!  Plus I did read some of the unfavorable reports.

I keep reading so much conflicting stuff out there.  And everyone seems to think that their way of treatment is what everyone else should do.

I have found another laser place as well as an electrologist and I think I will be setting up consults with both of them.  But before I do I would really like some kind of definitive information if this is possible.

I have quite fair skin and light facial hair.  There are a small number of dark ones in there, as well as some that are close to white, but no grey.  But overall it is a light reddish blond with lighter hairs mixed in.

Other than just trying it, how do I find out if it will work for me?  What lasers (if any) should I be looking for to work on light hair.  Or, would it just be an exercise in futility?  Should I just forget it and begin electro? 

Thanks for your help!

Lighter hair, with light skin is not a good candidate for laser.  It worked well for me, but only because i have extremely fair skin and my hair by contrast was dark.  You will still need to follow up with electrolysis for the stubborn areas, might as well just do electro to start.

I'm going to agree that skipping to electrolysis is probably your best option.

4 laser sessions have gotten me significant facial hair reduction in a short period of time, but the lighter hair seems unaffected, and I don't expect the results I've gotten to last forever.

American Laser centers did a pretty good job... ONLY AFTER I managed to get them to give me a tech who was not afraid of burning me... My skin type gives false readings on there scales for some reason so they would keep the machines turned way down...

I do have a few patches of pigmented hair left but everywhere else the hair is either completely gone or very sparse and vellous(sp?) unpigmented inviable little hairs. First few sessions I saw progress, and the last few I saw progress, but the whole time between I saw almost nothing due to a scared tech who just wouldn't get it or pass me on to someone who knew what they were doing.

Well, that is indeed the common wisdom.  Light hair, you are out of luck.  Also, from what I have heard, some of it depends on what kind of laser is used, that there are newer lasers that can do a better on on light hairs.   I have no idea if this is true.  I just wish there was a chart somewhere that was up to date.  I know there is some info here on the wiki, but even it is dated.  So it seems to be lots of anecdotal evidence, but not a lot of empirical data. 

In case you haven't figured it out, I want laser to work, though I am getting more pessimistic.

P.S. Lynne, what kind of skin do you have that caused the false readings?

I had a realy mix of very dark hair, redish hair and grey hairs.  I had, I think 8 or 9 laser sessions.  After about two years the dark hairs were coming back.  But by then I was well into electro and just had the dark hairs zaped with electro.

Ok I vote with everyone else.  Save the money and go direct to electro.  Oh for Some people the hair does not grow back but for others it will....after 2 years or so.


Laser is quick and fairly inexpensive, compaired to electro.  I figure I have about 4-5 more two hour sessions and the last hairs will be gone.  Thats from Feb 2007 when I first started electro.  OH it averaged an hour a week, so figure about 100-150 hours.  I had really dense hair so YMMV.
Beni

Very fine skin with light hair and part native american (though not overtly apparent till I tan)

I found the laser my center used did a very good job of removing the light colored hairs, the trouble was with the darker hairs and the staffs unwillingness to risk burning me even a little.  I understand there are legal ramifications and they don't want someone to sue for being burned... but come on. A laser should feel like a firey rubber band snap, NOT a gentle warming of the area. My first tech who worked with me a few sessions did an awesome job, my second tech sucked... and I do hope she reads this one day and understands that I meant what I said about her being horrible. My 3rd tech who performed my last 4 sessions was phenomenal.

Would I recommend the company yes, but put your foot down, know what you want and make them do it.
When they say clean shave right before laser DON'T, if your hair grows fast shave 4 to 6hrs before, if it grows really slow 24hrs before. It seems to work much better that way.
When they are not achieving results demand they up the settings or give you a new tech. 1 session wasted isn't bad, 15 or 20 sessions waisted because you didn't say push the issue... Bad
They will use an "Aurora" or "Alexandria" laser on you with a combination of RF to work on the lighter and more stubborn hairs.
Oh, and if you want a package with them, hit them on the last day of the month.... quite often they have specials and will drop there price by 50% also if you see one of there adds for win X amount of free laser, enter... you almost always get a  300 dollar coupon towards your next purchase with them.

Thanks, Beni.  BTW you are looking great these days!

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Post Merge: August 03, 2010, 09:53:34 PM

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Great information, Lynne.  Thanks so much.  Just what i was looking for.  The price they gave me (including the online coupon thingie) was 2K for 8 session plus a total of two years of touchups whenever I wanted.  I dunno how this compared to others.  But they started out at like 3300.

Just thought I'd throw in a contrary opinion from the other side.  I started with electro and after three months and the whole area under my chin and neck being cleared multiple times, I had to stop for a month for financial reasons and all of it grew right back and you can't tell that I had any electro at all.  This has me down about 2100 dollars.  From my angle, laser seems like a better bet, but I have to wait until summer ends.

I paid 2k after they gave me 20% off, at the time I didn't know any better, but after befriending the staff I learned the inns and outs of there business. The good tech I had most recently calls me and lets me know when they are having good deals. I plan on eventually zapping every inch of my (head hair and eyebrows excluded)body.
Each center is a little different in setup but all have the same equipment. Even though there a national chain they are franchised out like a McDonalds, so all the same but with regional differences.

So what would be a good price, Lynne?

I bought a package from American Laser for 2500. It was supposed to be 8 treatments and two years of "touch ups." Especially encouraging was the fact that I have very light skin and very dark hair.

  After almost two years of treatment every 6 weeks, I'd say that 60% of my facial hair was eliminated. The area on my chin and under my lip (that would be covered by a goatee on a guy) was least affected by the laser. I found American Laser to be inconsistent; there were several techs and they all seemed to do it differently. They didn't seem to be concerned that it was taking so long.
   If I tried laser again it would be with an MD. American Laser felt more like a spa than a clinical setting... I think the difference is that for a Transsexual, laser hair removal is a medical procedure necessary for transition. A.L.C. treats it as  solely cosmetic.

so electro/laser, are either permenant if you have enough done?

Quote from: El on August 06, 2010, 10:41:43 AM
so electro/laser, are either permenant if you have enough done?

Yeah electro typically has a 60% chance and laser about 16-20%, however electro does a small area, while laser does a huge area so it comes down to about the same, the ideal thing to save money, is to do laser until you get those stubborn areas, then finish up with electro.  Unless your skin is very fair and hair very dark, then you will see good laser results.

For me, I went to a high class place and paid 300 a visit for like 5 visits, i wasnt getting that good a result, talked around and found this other place that a lot of girls go to, i went, and they charged only 200 for 2 visits, 3d and 4th is 150, then 100 then finally 50.  Yeah, so i pay 50 dollars now to get not only my face but brazillian bikini once a month, what an awesome price and her results are amazing.  However not many people live where I live, but if you live in Hawaii i will be glad to give that laser person's contact info, just send a message.

So, yes its perm, yes it takes time and money, and shop around till you find the best person for the money.

I've had both electro and laser on my face, as well as near full-body laser hair removal... based on my experience and research one thing of huge importance is the experience and training of the tech. A great laser tech will get you far better results than an average electrolysis tech.

Also, stay away from the "Laser Centers" and all-in-one spas that sell laser, waxing, tanning, etc. They really lack trained staff. The place I go for laser is a doctor's (Plastic Surgeon) office and the laser tech is a PA (physicians assistant) who is certified in my state for laser... not just a cosmetologist etc. Yes it's very expensive, but faster and seemingly permanent for me, and finally the results speak for themselves. Make sure the person using the laser has been properly trained and is preferably a RN or better.

As far as lasers go, there are main flavors. The 2 most popular are YAG or Alexandrite. The YAG works better for people with darker skin, and the Alexandrite better for people with fair skin. The darker the hair and fairer the skin the better the overall result.

Electrolysis is more dependent on the operator and their training. It's very hard to find a good one. So ask around and preferably try to find one with MTF or at least some sort of male clients. This is really a dying profession which is mostly been supplanted by laser. If you feel the hair being pulled or any resistance to being plucked after the needle has been inserted, the tech is not doing it right. Go elsewhere, as the hair will return. The hair should freely slide out after being zapped. I think laser first, followed by electro to clear up any stragglers is the best approach... but this will vary by individual, skin & hair color etc.

180 to 2k sounds like a fair range. My laser center has a doctor on staff, and all the techs are certified. But certification has nothing to do with skill... look for one that grids your face and does double passes. I hate sloppy techs.

I'm fairly pale and have rather dark facial hair, what I'm wondering is if I go in for five or six sessions for lazer, and it's removed, will I ever have to worry about it growing back? I'm going to wait on HRT before I look into it, and start saving my money.

Quote from: Llewelyn on August 06, 2010, 07:15:14 PM
I'm fairly pale and have rather dark facial hair, what I'm wondering is if I go in for five or six sessions for lazer, and it's removed, will I ever have to worry about it growing back? I'm going to wait on HRT before I look into it, and start saving my money.

No one can say with certainty.  "Permanent" is by law, in the US, permitted to be used if the results are shown in scientific study to not regrow by more than xx percent in a xx month period.  IIRC, it's 24 months.

I had electro done on my face.  That was my first step into transition, a month or so before HRT.  I've had 4 techs work on me.  Of them, only one produced satisfactory results.  Coincidentally, the one who was the best also owns a laser for some jobs.  She never used it on my face, but we are great friends today(spend 3 hours a day with someone every week for a few months and see if a relationship doesn't evolve).  She did some laser on my knee caps, bikini and inner thighs where I have a tendency for ingrowns.  The results are impressive.

When it comes to effacacy, as others have stated, it really comes down to many factors.  Tech experience and equipment is key.  There are many types of lasers on the market.  Some work better than others.  The most effective and sure way to remove facial hair, is with electro.  The downside is it takes longer and may or may not cost more depending on the results you obtain with laser.  IMHO laser is a crap shoot on the face.  Besides, after a couple months you get down to 1 hour treatments a couple times a month and it's like going to the spa.  I found it very relaxing... of course, the percocet helped

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Quote from: Llewelyn on August 06, 2010, 07:15:14 PM
I'm fairly pale and have rather dark facial hair, what I'm wondering is if I go in for five or six sessions for lazer, and it's removed, will I ever have to worry about it growing back? I'm going to wait on HRT before I look into it, and start saving my money.

It really depends on the individual. Some have great success, others not so much.