SpectraLight Hair Removal

Danielle La Belle · Post by **Danielle La Belle** » Tue May 11, 2004 10:26 am

Since this thread is about how to pass I thnk that this topic is relevent girls.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, 10:30AM Florida time,

, I have an appointment to see a dematologist that uses the new "SpectraLight Xeon K, photo light method to remove facial hair. The FDA approved this back in 2001 I guess, so now it is considered more effective than lasers.

The appraisal appointment is free girls, first they give you the razor handle, then sell you the blades, for lack of a better analogy

.

So, in this thread I will post the information I get, price etc. If you want to see some before/after photos from this technology they can be found bo clicking the link. The photos are from another medical facility using the same equipment in Clearwater, Fl, down on the West coast near Tampa.

http://www.primary-technology.com/beforeafter.htm

I will be going to a modern facility in Daytona Bch as I am only 20 minutes from there. So I will tell you what they tell me. Cost, time frame etc. Live, and happening now, not yesterday's news girls. Perhaps I will provide a pic or two, without makeup (Oh My God!, have I gone mad or what) so you can see before/after on me. Okay, take a deep breath Danielle, deep breath! I told them on the telephone what I wanted to do and that I was T* personality. The receptionist stopped breathing for about 5 seconds then said, ah, okay, so will Wednesday 10:30am be soon enough for your interview. YES! I said.

Now girls, in case you think I am this selfish person, you should know that in 35 years of marriage the only medical thing that I had done was necessary, a small hernia developed in the groin on my right side 5 years ago. Insurance took care of 98% through my HMO. Thank goodness so this will be pay as I go by me only. So, really, after spending $10,000's on the spouse over the years, I am doing something for me while the hair is still dark with melenen, which the light is attracted to. Once the hair is white, it is really dubious about any removal other than shaving.

This method of removal can require 3 - 5 treatments and then a touchup perhaps every year. Eventually, it is possible that with the touchups being done, I can maintain a clear face and will not need the heavier makeup. That is my goal. Reduce or eliminate razor burn girls. Ya know what I am talkin' bout! Ooch, ouch! Where is that darn Aloe plant. I have 12 such plants growing outside around the home. Fresh Aloe plant works immediately and better than any bottled stuff I have ever tried. From the leaf to the chin, immediately stops the burn and reduces redness and inflamation in about 7 minutes to where it is not noticable.

Okay, here I go again, blah blah blah,

,sorry girls, I get like a jabber wak sometimes.

Hugs

Danielle

Virginia · Post by **Virginia** » Tue May 11, 2004 2:57 pm

Danielle,
WE are waiting with baited breathe to hear about this interlude with the "new science." And pictures? With that figure you have?! Awesome girl! Can't wait! Good luck!
Love,
Deborah

Beauty · Post by **Beauty** » Tue May 11, 2004 7:52 pm

Hi Danielle,

I thought it was good enough to move to it's own thread. It still belongs in Coping for CD's though.

I look forward to hearing how it goes. If you can do it in 5 treatments, that will blow away my 10 treatments for Laser (CoolGlide)!

Beauty

Josey · Post by **Josey** » Tue May 11, 2004 8:35 pm

Hi Danielle,

I am interested in learning more. When you go, please see if they have anyone in the Lake City area who might also provide this service. Of course, I also am waiting with baited breath for the rest of the information.

Thank you so very much.

Lorna · Post by **Lorna** » Tue May 11, 2004 8:35 pm

Good luck with your appointment! Hope all goes well. I'm planning on Hair Removal myself in '05...

Danielle La Belle · Post by **Danielle La Belle** » Tue May 11, 2004 9:20 pm

Do not forget to click on the link to see before/after photos from a facility in Clearwater, Fla.

http://www.primary-technology.com/beforeafter.htm

Hugs.

Danielle

Lorna · Post by **Lorna** » Tue May 11, 2004 9:29 pm

Those chins look good after three treatments!

Danielle La Belle · Post by **Danielle La Belle** » Tue May 11, 2004 10:16 pm

Okay girls, it's off to bed I go.

Got my checkbook.
Got my credt cards.
Got my arbitration face.

Got my purse - hidee - ho it's off I go. Yipee!

Hugs

Danielle

Danielle La Belle · Post by **Danielle La Belle** » Wed May 12, 2004 2:52 pm

http://www.palmed.com/laser_medilux.html

I compared the two primary units on the market. The unit by Primary-Technology, Spectra-Light, is capable of producing 10 J/cm2 and 20 J/cm2. The unit by Palomar produces up to 45 J/cm2. The preferred power range by several Doctors and Dr. Heller.

Okay girls, I will try to be as independent about this as possible. I am not going to get caught up in Engineering specifications.

The equipment chosen by Dr. Heller, MD/DO, Daytona Bch, Fl., is from Palomar. The Palomar MediLux Pulsed-Light System.

There is the base unit and then 6 current adapter handles for different uses. Each covers a different square area in mm. Each delivers the pulse strength according to system settings that are matched and controlled via the computer interface.

They will be using the Lux-Y (yellow) coded unit on my face for the first pass. The initial interview lasted about 30 minutes including a short video from the company making the instrument. Nothing new here, fill out forms, get comfortable for the sales pitch.

I indicated that I was considering flying to Los Angeles because it was so cheap to fly for a one-day stay and treatments. The cost came down immediately from an estimated $1700.00 to $ 1100.00 for 3 treatments of the entire face, lip, neck area. The area we shave everyday. If my spouse comes in for treatment in the next 12 months, she will get similar discounting or better since she will not need as much as I of course.

The clincher in this was not being afraid to deal and showing my most recent photo that I posted on our form picture page of me in the lovely floral pink/peach spring/summer dress. Needless to say the nurse asked whom the picture was of? When I told her it was me and that I was a TG* personality, it floored her! I showed two other photos, all about the same size and distance, and she said, I quote, “you are really beautiful.” Of course this was before the deal was done so I doubt that she would have said something like “what an ugly broad” ha ha ha LOL.

I think at first she wasn’t sure what to make of the photo’s. Having never met knowingly, an identified mtf CD/TG person before she said after I “fixed” the deal that she was still amazed over the pictures and showed the new dress photo to the doctor. He came in and greeted me and said "that is amazing!" "I can see why you would want to have us do this treatment for you." He had to go to tend to a patient but indicated he wanted to talk to me again on my next visit. Curiosity!

So, $ 1100.00usd for 3 treatments approximately, 45minutes each as needed to get the desired results. I am excited girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will post 3 pictures of pre-treatment. Do not laugh! Paleeze! I increased the contrast in two that are not flesh tone colored so that you can see better what we are going after. I will do the same after 30 days, after each treatment. Oh, Yes, it can take up to 30days for the hair to fall out after a treatment. So you just continue shaving when needed and the only thing needed for treatment is a little Aloe the first 24 hours. We shall see! I will cut back on close shaving so as not to irriate the working area.

Palomar says that much of the hair will not grow back and that follow-up treatments will be needed to get everything over a 6 – 9 month period. So girls, this is not an over-night cure. I knew that going into this. I am just at the age where it will also improve my skins appearance and make it look smooth and soft without using hormones. I may need them to do my cheeks one time to get a matching smoothness.

We shall see…………..

If I have forgotten something here let me know, I am an open book. I want this to be “our experience” so that you can know what to expect girls.

The summer of my life. Oh yes, I was told to avoid the sun, use a high spf# when I am going to be outside any extended time beyond going to and from the car. Or diving east or west for extended times, (hours) into the Florida summer sun.

Last thing. In the finance office, I told the woman taking the credit card that this other person might show up and presented the floral picture to her. She said, with question, “ah, who is this?” I told her it was me. She sat back in her chair and for the next 15 seconds she glanced back and forth at me and then the picture in complete awe! She asked, “when was this picture taken?” I responded,. “On Mother’s day, late in the evening around 7:00pm.” She was astounded! “Can you make me look this good,” was her reply. I gave her my business card and said “call me to arrange at your office for a photo shoot, I will see what can be done! I told her I would do a freebie just to see what could be accomplished. As a photographic/graphics artist, while there are limits, they are usually limited to what a person will accept in changes more than technology limited.

We shall see. This so far was a great experience! I am hoping that at the end of the sessions, I can dress-up and go for a visit one day to show off that new dress….!!!!!!
People will tolerate just about anything if they are getting paid.! Perhaps I can do photo work for the good Doctor pre and post in various settings as needed. When you are in business, you are ALWAYS in business girls, 24/7/365.

Silly me! I bet you are all wondering when the "h" is my first treatment!
05-25-04 at 1:30pm, Tuesday is the only day of the week that they crank up the generators and run the system, ha ha LOL.

Smile girls, cheer up, I am going to be "free of fuzzy bear" by August 2004.

Hugs

Danielle Marie La Belle

Josey · Post by **Josey** » Wed May 12, 2004 4:22 pm

Hi Danielle,

This really sounds interesting. Daytona is not that far from me but I would still be interested in finding someone who does this in the Lake City area. Also, did they give you a figure on the costs for the follow up visits in 6 to 9 months?

I do look forward to seeing the results.

Danielle La Belle · Post by **Danielle La Belle** » Wed May 12, 2004 7:12 pm

Yes and no. It is still in arbitration but, they are being flexible I think after they saw my pictures and they have never had someone like me. Everyone is being really great so far. They made it fun being their with such good attitudes.

I think you just need to check the yellow pages in Lake City for a dematologist and talk to them. Fan out from there if you do not find what you want locally, move about in 10 mile radius's until you get what you think you need.

They will most likely charge me by each side of the face. Chin, lip area has different charges. The most is the neck area total, $ 175.00 per treatment. It can vary so I will wait until that time after we see how the first 3 go. If the Doctor does not like the result as he expected better, he may be more flexible in accepting some of the financial burden. There is going to be a "learning curve" for them, that is the reason perhaps for the financial flexability as well.

They have not had a major male patient yet for the whole enchilada. The back only I think was what they had done. That is a different type of hair vs the beard like hair, course, that we have on the face which is testosterone activated and supported.

Hugs

Danielle

Beauty · Post by **Beauty** » Sun May 16, 2004 11:34 am

Hi Danielle,

I just remembered I didn't find out how your consultation went!

Sounds awesome!!!

I'm HOPING this works. I think lots more CD'rs will get hair removal with it being this quick!

The 6-9 mos thing kind of makes me go "hmm"

I'm not apprehensive just cautiously optimistic.

I am sooo having flashbacks of my conversations with Penny and Kathy on the CDDF about this. They told me not to get to excited (I couldn't help it)

They were very positive too after I told them the success I was having. THANKS YOU TWO!! (They both are members here)

The thing they were right about though was the way hair grows. In cycles (as you know). I never knew it grew that way. I can't wait until more men start having this so we can research the various methods and affects.

Penny T (if you read this) Did hair grow in smaller amounts, but in areas you thought were cleared by electrolysis? Is this one of the ways you knew it couldn't all be done in 3 mos? Other than science.

So Danielle, I wonder if they (are basing it on a GG's results). I know my laserologist has treated men and women for years. She told me 12 mos, but said it would be patchwork after the 3rd month. She was right.

The next challenge comes when the doctor can barely see any hairs growing. The bottom line is you can't zap what you can't see.

So, you get the occasional tired tread patch facial hair.. lol.

The fee. The fee for me was $1.1k too. It could have been $1.25, but I REALLY don't think it was. That covered my year treatment and she's even cool enough that she will give a touch up after the year for no cost. I told her "no way", she said "way!"

If it's more than 3 treatments and could be 9 mos, that's only 6 extra mos. Do you think they'd negotiate a price for (forever care)?

One last question?

Is laser light the same as light removal?

Hurry up 25th!!!

Congrats!!!

You are a pioneer for us here. I can't recall hearing of this system until you talked about it!

Beauty

Danielle La Belle · Post by **Danielle La Belle** » Sun May 16, 2004 7:47 pm

Beauty and Friends:

I have had to move my first appointment up to June 1. Previous commitments and all that.

This is what I expect from the proposed treatment. A reduction in the hair population about my neck, chin, upper/lower lip and sides of face. The reduction should be about 80 – 90% if successful. The remaining hairs can either be done via electrolysis or by another treatment or two using the IPL system.

I plan on staging my treatments, 30 days apart to allow for the previously treated hairs to fall out. Depending upon the result, I may ask for the power to be increased during the treatment if it seems a practical thing to do. This is contingent on the apparent results from the first treatment and what power level was being used at the time.

The equipment that this doctor is using has a 50% higher power output than another design that has been in use the past could of years. The technology is “pulsed-light” as in a xenon type flash lamp. Lasers are specific light frequency and range and offer a constant on capability but are still used only a fraction of a second on the intended area. Also, a laser is a directed beam, the IPL is more like a flash lamp so a larger surface can be done over the same period of time. The laser can penetrate deeper into the epidermis and can cause damage if not employed properly. That is where the computer controller comes in for both types of light. Thus the human performing the service is more of an eyes and hands person, the computer controls the burst time, power level etc. This can be augmented by the operator manually as well.

The doctor under which I am having work done, reduced his fees for several reasons I suppose. First and foremost, they have not done a “male” at this level of facial hair removal Looking at the “link” photos, the bottom group show a “male” face in progression during treatment.

Yes it is true, your facial hair grows in cycles so I may need to do something about that in the future. Considering the cost, the time and the pain of electrolysis, this still seems to be well worth the try at my age of 55. Nothing to lose but a little money and a little hair, ha ha LOL.

It is not a matter of will it work, it is a matter of how effective it will be over time. It was already tested and approved by the FDA for just such work. Again, having a few hairs for me, is not a bad trade-off. Currently, every 4 hours I have stubble that pokes through the makeup. A hair or two here or there is not going to noticeable. I can live with that.

http://www.primary-technology.com/beforeafter.htm

This link is to the before/after page for the Promise-Technology Company and their related IPL system. The system that I am going to be exposed to has 50% more power than this system that generated the results in the photos. How much power they use on me will be determined by the computer when they measure the color density of my skin against the "Fitzpatrick skin type charts" used to establish pigment density and type.

I will provide "Beauty" the before photos this week and she said she can post them for me on a web page. Then I will provide a photo right after the first treatment. Then a photo after 30 days or earlier if I can see actual results. and after the 2nd and 3rd etc... so you can live this out with me during the summer. I will be open and honest about the results so you can decide on a fair and honest basis good, bad or indifferent, if it is right for you. There will be no touch-up work done on any photos. And any information that I get, I will pass on to this forum.

Because I am right now yipee!

Hugs

Danielle

Beauty · Post by **Beauty** » Sun May 16, 2004 8:51 pm

Hi Danielle,

I totally believe it's going to work.

I was just thinking about my experience with hair growth.

That totally makes sense (the technology) I think you're going to have excellent results. I pray you do!

I will be more than happy to host those pictures for you.

You are going to LOVE being able to fall asleep and wake up with no growth poking through your makeup!

Let's go 25th!!!

Beauty

Danielle La Belle · Post by **Danielle La Belle** » Sun May 16, 2004 10:05 pm

That's June 1st not the 25th of May. We had to move it up a week to accomodate other pre-scheduled events, darn it!

GO June 1...

Hugs

Danielle