QuestionQUESTION: Hi Griffin, I've been doing laser treatments for hair removal for about six months now(seven sessions) but until now I don't see any difference. I'm loosing my hope and don't know if I should continue with the treatments. Does laser hair removal really work? How long do I have to wait to see any changes?
ANSWER: At my clinic we don't tell people permanent hair removal. We say after your session of treatments there should be an 85% permanent reduction in hair. There are 100,000 hair follicles per square inch of skin. So obviously they are not all growing hair at the same time, most lasers work by targeting and destroying the dark pigment in the hair, so that's why we can't say permanent, because at some point those other follicles might start producing. That also means that the laser only work on darker hair, we have not yet (and we've looked) found a laser that works on blonde, gray or light auburn hair, so I hope your hair is dark and this place is telling you it can remove those watch out, because as far as I'm aware no such laser exists.
I personally have had good success with laser hair removal, I know it can work. One other factor to consider is hormones. We have some patients with a condition called PCOS (polycystic ovary disease) that causes an over production of hair (especially in the beard area). We tried but were unsuccessful in treating their hair growth.
Also we had a patient who was seeing us for hair removal and it wasn't working and we started asking her about what all she takes and it turns out she was on vitamins for hair growth (for her scalp) but unfortunately you can't tell those vitamins to work in one area only, they'll going to help all hair grow!
You say you're seeing some difference now, but I am guessing it's not enough to satisfy you or you wouldn't have written me. I would recommend you go for a consult at another clinic that offers laser hair removal.
Griffin
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QUESTION: Hi Griffin, the place that I go to offers a 2 year guarantee. I'm pretty sure you might have heard of the place. I don't know if i can mention here. But, I've done research on the internet and some people are satisfied and some people say that even after the two year period the hair didnt never went away. With me, I noticed that on the fourth treatment (3 months ago) the hair had dissapeared on my chin, and now it's back. It is very dissapointing, I just hope this clinic really offers effective treatments.
Answer If the place you're going to is ALC I don't have one near my area, so I haven't heard anything firsthand. From the brief research I just did on them it sounds like they have a lot of unhappy customers. It looks like they get people to pay up front so you might have already paid for your treatments. I still would suggest checking with a facility that has a physician on staff for an evaluation for hair removal. Just for a second opinion.
