drakemolvado

I have done a lot of research on this topic, so anyone who has questions...ask away. IPL was not invented for laser hair removal..and so is not your best equiptment. Check out laserlaser.com and read an unbiased website from a laser college on the machines out there today. IPL works best for skin rejuvination procedures, not hair removal. If you have darker skin you need to be very careful about getting treated with the right laser for your skin type, a YAG or ND Yag is the only laser out there for darker skin types.
When you research your options you want to find a company with a lifetime guarantee...its essential with PCOS. It won't be free for life, but its all about maintaining and feeling confident! Its also about time! You should only get treated every 10 weeks....following the natural hair growth cycle. In between you won't have to worry about the hair (it falls out). Beware of companies offering treatments every 4-6 weeks or companies where you pay each time you come in....that way you never really know how much you will pay in the end.
Look for a company with a firm price, that has been around for a number of years, with locations across the county(cause you never know where life will take you), a lifetime guarantee, and the right equiptment, and licensed people behind it. In the long run you will be so happy and feel great about yourself!

twinklen

has anyone used Hair Removal with elos laser? A co-worker had some cosmetic surgery done but not laser. The office she went to uses elos. My skin is light and i have black hair on sideburns,some on chin and a few on neck. The sideburns , especially the right side is driving me nuts. Its also starting to come down toward lkower cheek-yuck! Oh and my darn hair above lip is getting darker and look like it growing. Seems like in the last year my hair growth has gotten worse. Any info would be appreciated.

BYW- anyone know of a good laser place in S. calif near san bernadino county? I really want to try a place word of mouth. Thanks

molly99

Thanks for sharing everyone -great info!

yellowgirl

Hi guys,

I am so scared. I have done 3 sessions of laser on my whole face with Lightsheer diode. Some hair has disappeared but lots hasnt. On my upper lip the hair is very thick and despite 3 sessions, 50% of hair is still there. Also in some places the hair has gone thicker. Light thin hairs have gone darker. PLEASE GIVE ME GUIDANCE AND ADVICE.

mistyr

What kind of laser or IPL did you get?
Gentle Yag

How long ago and for what duration?
very recently, 2 treatments

How many actual treaments did you receive?
2

What color is the hair that was being treated?
black and dark brown

What color/shade is your skin?
light with yellow undertone, freckled

Do you know what setting the technician used?
no idea

What were/are your results?
Good so far, had big shed after the first treatment, hair returned less dense and reduced, just had second treatment

How much did it cost?
$ 100 for chin and neck together per treatment

Would you do it again?
Yes!! I could see improvement after the first session. It was so much less dense when I went the second time.

Did insurance cover any of it?
No, I didn't try.

chelitabm

Hi I am from Mexico too, in 2 months I will try NEOSKIN, I hope it works. I am doing face legs arms

FLJill

I have spent $1000's on laser and electrolysis over the years ... 20 years & I still have lots of hair ... my laser lady told me that until I get my hormones under control it will not work! so I hoping to do that soon!!

I will say my underarms are still very nice .. I do get peach fuzz and shave but like once a week or two.. My legs could be shaved every 12 hours or less, same with arms, chin chest etc./... my laser lady also said its much easier to get rid of hair that is where it is suppose to be ... not hormone related....

shinwin

What kind of laser or IPL did you get?
Gentle Yag

How long ago and for what duration?
2 treatments so far

How many actual treatments did you receive?
2 so far, but she said i would need 6-8, guess i am pretty hairy

What color is the hair that was being treated?
brown

What color/shade is your skin?
light

Do you know what setting the technician used?
not sure, i will ask next time

What were/are your results?
I feel so much better already. I noticed a huge improvement immediately and look forward to more

How much did it cost?
$75 for each of the first 6 treatments then the price drops to $65 each treatments, for my lip, neck and chin. I also am trying it on my stomach, i paid $475 for 6 treatments.

Would you do it again?
Definitely! Wish I did it sooner

Did insurance cover any of it?
No, didn't seem worth the effort.

twinklen

I've heard of a place here in rancho cucamonga, ca that also uses elos. I would love to hear feedback on elos laser or a recommended place in s. calif

Chauny1978

Is it a good idea to have laser hair removal before having a baby? I am worried that if I do it now, it will all come back when I get pregnant and my hormones get even more unbalanced!

luv4paz

What kind of laser or IPL did you get?
(please include brand name or any info. you have)
Lyra the first time.
Don’t remember the latest laser but will get the name.

How long ago and for what duration?
In 2003 I tried Electrolysis. This was painful and it dint last long. I would not recommend this at all. First time in 2004 I tried laser hair removal. The next treatment was March 2007. Subsequently I have had 3 treatments since then.
How many actual treatments did you receive?
5-6.
September 2004 Lyra (can’t remember the amount, this laser is for people with darker skin) I had chest, sideburns, mustache and chin done.
March April 2007 ) I had chest, sideburns, mustache and chin done.(chest got burned bc the laser was at wrong level. I was petrified. The specialist gave me a cream that made it heal quickly.)
September 2007 sideburns, mustache and chin done
January 2008 chest, sideburns, mustache and chin done (thank God no burns on chest)
Present- Due for a treatment, but I am waxing and shaving at that’s tiding me over. I can say I went from daily shaving to once weekly/bi-weekly on the areas that have received laser hair removal.
What color is the hair that was being treated?
dark brown and course
What color/shade is your skin?
dark brown
Do you know what setting the technician used?
can’t remember but has decreased has the hair has decreased. Make sure your specialist adjust the setting to your specific skin color. Everyone is different. No one setting works even if you are in the same culturally group. The setting is based off the melanin in your skin.
What were/are your results?
I am so happy the bumps are gone. The hair has decreased. (Remember there is no permanent fix.) The dark areas where the hair was have evened out. I would recommend to all but doing your homework.
How much did it cost?
September 2004 $500.00 I had chest, sideburns, mustache and chin done.
March April 2007 ) apx. $250.00 I had chest, sideburns, mustache and chin done.
September 2007 $200.00 sideburns, mustache and chin done
January 2008 $150.00 chest, sideburns, mustache and chin done (thank God no burns on chest)
Additional treatments- price has decreased since thankfully hair has decreased. The lease hits of hair, the less the time you need treatment. The less money out your pocket.
Would you do it again?
Sure. I am African-American and many women in my cultural group are not aware of the wonders of laser hair removal. Those that are do not get it for personal or financial reasons. During my senior year in college I noticed that I had chest hair in a T. It was quite annoying and didn’t bother me until some girl brought attention to it. (high school student can be so mean.) I started getting hair about my sophomore year in college on my face. Soon I noticed plucking became full shaving. By this time I had a full beard (well at least I felt like it.) I had a crap load of hair on my chin, sideburns and a light mustache. (Funny that many women, even those without PCOS) have hair growith in areas they do not want it. I started shaving and for my skin that was the worst I could have ever done. Many African-Americans have course hair. When course hair is shaved, the new hair coils up inside causing The medical term is Pseudofolliculitis barbae. From continous shaving I developed the worst reaction ever. Within months I had nasty bumps in all the areas I had hair. It was embarrassing and annoying. The bumps were also very painful. (I am happy to say that I dealt with it. I kept my head up high and focused on all the blessings in my life. I didn’t use makeup to cover the bumps. I got facials to get rid of the bumps. It helped a bit but as quick as the hair came as quick as the bumps came back. I was just treating the outside of my skin when it was really an internal problem. (Funny I wear makeup not because I enjoy the way it insinuate my beauty. I don’t use it to cover up.) In addition to the bumps I got the bad skin discoloration. The areas were hair grew became very dark (since I have dark skin the areas were a very dark brown.) To give you a visual, my little brother said it looked like the sides of my face had been burned. (This was the first time that someone actually pointed out the obvious). Others, less innocent made comments but I kept my esteem high. (What kept my head up high is that I reminded myself that there are a lot more people in the world suffering with a lot more life threatening situations.)
So back to the original question. Yes I would do it again. After the 5 to 6 treatments I am happy to say the hair grows much less. (Unfortunately you will always grow new hair follicles, especially where you do not want them lol.) I think a combination of the laser hair treatment and the new hormone treatment (1500mg glumetza daily, provera, prenatal vitamin) the hair will stay under control. Luckily my hair is growing back on my head too. I started having male patterned baldness (it runs in my family too for the women) this could have been from the stress of grad school and the pcos.
If you want to get rid of hair. Research it and find the best specialist for you. I have heard horror stories about people getting burned. Make sure you find someone that knows what they are doing. Make sure they show you pictures of their clients. Make sure they actually have worked on people will your skin type. Know that there is no way that the hair removal will be permanent. You just will have to receive fewer treatments down the road. (in-between treatments I shave or get waxed for the little hairs that grow.)

Did insurance cover any of it?

No way!

One last question! What should you expect? How does it feel?
You should have a consultation with the laser hair removal specialist. This should be free. That meeting they will discuss what hair you want removed. They will look at your skin color and type and decided the setting to use. My first visit the specialist also did a test area to make sure I was a candidate. (God forbid you get your entire face done on your first visit and end up getting burned. That would be horrifying) Once you see there is no reaction from the test area then you are all set. When you arrive for the hair removal you lay down on a table. There is cool gel applied to the area where hair will be removed. Then the specialist gets to work. You can feel every time hair is zapped. It feels like a plucking a hair really hard with tweezers. It’s a bit uncomfortable at first but you get use to it. (Focus on the fact that it small price to pay to remove annoying hair.) Be aware too, you can smell the hairs burning. You don’t need to shave to have it. It’s actually good to not shave before you first meet with the specialist so that they can see your hair at its full potential lol. Use sunscreen on the areas that got hair removal (yes even people with dark skin). I used it for a couple of weeks. Stay out of direct sunlight too.

Hope this helps. I can answer any questions.