SpectraLight Hair Removal

[Danielle La Belle]

Hi Beauty:

The company claims that it can work on any skin and any hair spectrum as they use RF energy to dislodge the hair and shut down the folicle. The problem: No one to date has managed this to work all the time. Also, it has only worked on fine hair found in a genetic woman. The facial hair of a male is rather different both in structure and tenacity.

As typical in technology, "marketing" people sometimes over sell their product. After working in the RF/Microwave field for several years, I am hard pressed at this time to think that they can impart enough energy safely and still remove and stop male hair growth with just RF energy at the level that they propose. The company uses this technique along with IPL at a reduced energy level to address the "sting" that we are familiar with when having LASER or IPL treatments.

I only found photos of a woman (gg) with before/after pics. Even then, it is hard to tell exactly what was done and how. So, I think that we are still living with standard LASER and IPL technology for now. People are always looking for an easy way out be it weight loss or hair removal. All features that require "true grit" to accomplish.

Hugs

Danielle Marie

[Danielle La Belle]

Hi Girls:

I decided to once again go for a treatment on Nov. 8th 2005. I had a few hairs here and there and some specifically around the mouth. It can take more than one pass to get the regrowth hairs. As I have been saying, I am very satisfied with my Doctor Heller in Daytona Bch, Fla. His clinician Donna has been very thoughtful and helpful during this time.

Today, as typical, after 10 days or so, I am clear! This will last for the next 45 days or so. If new hairs appear, it will be after that. I will wait until March or April to see just what appears before doing this again.

I am at the point now where frankly, LASER with it's "point and shoot" method is probably better, instead of the "shotgun" approach of IPL. Although, IPL has done a really good job on making my skin look more even and youthful. I like the secondary effects that the industry has seen the past 5 years with the newest IPL equipment.

In the hands of a skilled, knowledgeable person, the IPL system can be very effective in resurfacing the skin and removing certain blemishes and skin discolorations beside removing the unwanted hair.

Hugs

Danielle Marie

[Virginia]

Hi Danielle,
Just wanted to say I am glad to see you post and that you hair removal seems to be going good! After the experience I had I doubt I would trust anyone to do me, at least not now!
Love,
Virginia

[Danielle La Belle]

Ladies:

Let's be honest with each other. If you have a beard that makes your face look grey, then with IPL, you should make sure that you are on the "first floor" of the building because that first treatment is going to jolt you out of the chair or off the bed and out the immediate window. You should not get burned but you will get red like someone has used fine sandpaper on your face. The reddness will go away in under an hour if you use fresh Aloe plant gel or they use their cooling gel on you at the "Doctor's" office. The skin will be sensitive like brusing for up to 3 days those first one, two, or three treatments.

Ask about your clinician's experience. Be comfortable with the people around you or find another facility. I am brunette to brown hair, I had moderate beard growth and when that IPL unit snapped me the first couple of treatments, let me tell you, it hurt. See photos for before/after.

I pre-shaved before each treatment except that last one this November. The hair does not need to be long for this to work. This last treatment I had 24 hour growth so they could find the remaining regrowth and go after it with a vengence.

I know my thread is a great deal to read so look at the pictures. Common sense. Dark hair works best as the unit is designed by physics to find the melanin in your hair. Red, blonde or white hair does not work well for this technology by virture of the science being used and the lack of malanin in those hair types. Melanin is what protects the skin from the sun and gives a tan look after being exposed. Natural Blondes do not tan nor do red heads. No melanin......or very little.

Science is currently fine tuning this technology and I have heard that there are some LASER's that with the right gem stone, can go after lighter hair. Nothing will take out white hair except electrolysis. They cannot change physics girls!!!

I still must shave the white hairs every morning. They still come back after about 5 hours. No one can see them even after 8 hours with my covergirl makeup on but in a stong light, I can just barely see them through the makeup and of course feel those little nastys...!

Remember, IPL also helps resurface the skin. A plus as science has found out the last 3 years. It can also safely remove or reduce uneven blemishes in the skin. Brown spots etc. I got everything I expected from the science at this time. I have reported to you in an honest manner on this subject about my results, before, during and after.


Best I can hope for now.

Hugs

Danielle Marie

[Beauty]

Hi Danielle,

Another post that I can say nothing but Bravo!!!

I hope anyone considering IPL reads your thread as they will be able to see both sides of the experience and more. I mentioned both sides because I think it's important for people to see our anticipation and the reality of what happens once treatments start.

I thought your thread was really great and I've loved all of the posts, esepcially after you started your treatments and we got updates on what you were going through and experiencing.

Thanks Danielle!!!

[Danielle La Belle]

Hello Girls:

For those that follow this thread, I have noticed the return of just a few hairs. I have ones that I can count on my upper lip and at the edge of my mouth. Not unusal as this is a very tender area compared to the jaw line.

I can quickly shave those away for the day with a good tripple edged razor but I like to use my Norelco electric on them first. Less skin burn if I do that first. With so little to be concerned about I will wait until late spring or summer before considering another treatment. Many new companies have moved into the Florida area that use the same equipment.

Competition should bring the price down as it has to some degree this past year. Expect to pay by the square inch still. So, 1 hair or 100 hairs in the same area should be about the same price. They have a price arrangement taking into consideration the firing of the IPL lamp. Each "shot" is based on the life of the lamp. That is how that have priced most work the past 5 years or so.

Shop around for price and experience. Some of these people doing this work used to paint nails for a living. Give me a break gals! I want someone that is knowledgeable and factory trained if possible. After all, they are doing this to your face!

Hugs

Danielle Marie
http://www.myspace.com/danielle_marie_labelle

[Virginia]

If I may?! I will STRONGLY YEA! VERY STRONGLY second Danielle's statement to shop around!!!!! As you may or may not know I went to a local - whatever she calls herself but claims to be a Dr. and got a good price then first the hair was not long enough, then it was too long then it was the wrong color then they burned my cheek and chin and after four times, I asked for my money back and got most of it so BE CAREFUL OUT THERE! there are some real hacks running these machines and they can hurt you!
Virginia

[Danielle La Belle]

I am sorry to hear that you had such a difficult time Virginia. The technology will draw those that may qualify under medical license but have no real experience at what they are doing. Unfortunately, this technology does not require special licensing or a specific skill set. Medicine has a wide range of "practices" and I chose A doctor that is specifically trained and certified in "skin" related medicine. Unfortunately, while the manufacturer will often provide a means to find a doctor in your area, they do not certify them, they only list that they have their equipment.

No one wants to be attached to a law suit these days. So there are few if any recommendations available. You may opt at a later date to consider a doctor that is willing to explain their actual experience level with the equipment. Spas have been known to affiliate with a doctor so that they can have the equipment at the spa and is often used by an individual with a 2 year RN degree at best. With little or no training, it is a rather dangerous scenario.

I have heard lately of a new Spa in the Orlando area called, "Elase Medical Spa" and they use a LASER to do their work. Florida is a haven for "witch doctors" so one must examine the offices, the people etc. I would never go to a "new" place. I want to cut costs too of course. But, I did the right thing for me. In time, it will come down as many of these services do when they are plentiful.

I had an open MRI done last year and it cost half of previous prices just 3 years ago. Now people with the "closed" MRI machines are having to scramble to get the work. My HMO wanted my spouse to go to a local MRI center and they had the closed unit. I took her to my place father south and told them that she was unable to adapt to the enclosed unit. They paid in full since the open unit center was on the list. They did not offer that information at the onset trying to support the "closed Unit" center and the discounts that they get from doing so. It turned out that the "open center" was slightly cheaper at this time.


Hugs To All

Danielle Marie

[Danielle La Belle]

An update.

I still remain 90% dark hair free. I can see a few dots under my nose and at the edge of my mouth. Areas that are difficult to get or very sensitive with IPL devices. If I should go back again to place emphasis on this, I have confidence that the doctor can zap them.

I still must shave each day for the white hairs (age 58 in August), and I expected this. I just did not know how many white hairs there are. Electrolysis is the answer for whte hairs as the physics of LASER and IPL is not going to change. Those scrips were written eons ago as with all the fixed scientific principles and rules that we have come to know as unshakeable.

So, the process works but it takes several treatments to get everything for someone that had a medium to dark brown beard with medium coverage on my face. I am happy as a lark in springtime and highly recommend the technology as a reasonable means to rid yourself of the facial hair in large areas.

I still need the use of the Norelco shaver and if really dressing up, I will also use a new throw-away tripple edge blade for extra closeness that lasts the evening and on since beard hair only grows between 5:00am to around 9:00pm. That's right! Facial hair for the most part, does not grow at night when sleeping. I do not know about this if you are awake at night and do not plan on staying up all night to find out.

Suffice it to say, if I shave at 10:00pm and go to sleep, I get up at 6:00am and have little if any fuzzy feeling. If I do not shave, by 12:00pm noon, it is very fuzzy and a few white hairs glisten in a close-up mirror.


I drone on....

Hugs

Danielle Marie

[Virginia]

I am glad that this seems to be working for you! Since my last episode and what is becoming more clear that it was the operator's fault that she burned my face twice and never did remove any hair that I could tell. Guess you can say I am a bit "gun shy!" I am still researching to find someone who has enough intelligence to operate those things with some manner of confidence!
Remember what one of our sisters said that if anyone ever invents some type of permanent in-home hair removal system it will be a crossdresser!
Love ya,
Virginia

[Danielle La Belle]

Hi Virginia:

Some where in the archives is an entry from me stating that the "Gillette" company has formed a B-to-B with the a company that makes an IPL system for medical doctors use. Gillette sees the writing on the wall I think and wants to get into the "Home" market soon. The problem is getting past the FDA safety requirements.

As sure as rain, if there is an OTC unit available someone will purchase one and use it for the wrong reason or mis-use it some how. You can be sure of this. So FDA and Gillette are currently establishing guidelines on the power level and use of the proposed machine.

The scuttlebutt is that the machine will be on the street by 2010. But, and that is a big but, it will be very limited in power. Meaning it may work well on a woman's (gg) finer facial hair but the male beard hair is another story. Gillette would like to cover both sexes but it may have to settle for just [gg] hair types for now.

I was at a McDonald's recently and a gentlemen sat down next to me. After a time, he asked how I got suich a [close shave]. I carefully stepped into the idea of IPL. He laughed and I said, "too girly for ya pal." He too laughed and agreed with my observation. I told him to take a close look in the miror at those three (3) facial nicks he had that day and after doing so, tell me it is too girly to do.

His reply was simple, "I see what you mean." I think he got the idea that it was better in the long run than any girly issue. He only saw me as a street male that day, grrr... ...

Hugs

Danielle Marie
99% Female.....inside...

[Danielle La Belle]

Hi Girls:

Well, I have always been up front with everyone so I wanted to make a short entry with the same theme today.

I have several dark hairs on the upper lip, at the side of the mouth and on the side of the face. If I took the time, in a 5x mirror, I can count them. I started all of this back in May 2004.

I have waited until now to see just what might reappear after the last treatment last year in the late Fall. I will seek another treatment this Fall. I am perfectly happy with the results. But, I want to push the envelope as it were and see what can be done with these new hairs. LASER would be okay as it can pinpoint the hair and ZAP it directly one-on-one. But, with IPL, the flashlight approach a circular beam of light, it will cover more area and the hairs are close together.

Also IPL seems to smooth the skin over time and remove any light discoloration from sun exposure (UV spots). It can help remove the age spots that show up on the back of a person's hands with age. It seems to smooth the skin as well on that area of the body. Hands and arms in the Southern States (USA) get a great deal of exposure and need to be covered if you want to avoid this problem over time. Just too inconvienent for most of us to take the time to do so. Lotions can be messy and discolor clothing.

So, I will get another treatment of IPL this Fall and report with a before and after picture.

My web site soon to come on-line with historical photos etc that might be of interest to my girlfriends here on the forum.

Hugs

Danielle Marie

[Virginia]

Well, I am still looking! I came across two places that seem to be a "chain" and guarantee their work for two years or your money back. It may be like the ad where you have to read between the lines.
"Your money back if not completely satisified.!" translated If we don't like your money we will give it back!"
Anyway I still intend to start the process hopefully in the next few months and I may have some face lift work done as well. I had a girlfriend who had a face lift, larynx shaved and hair removal and she looks like a new and much younger woman. She spent, I think she said about $2,800.00 for the whole thing, she may still be getting the hair removal done.
I look forward to hearing more on how you are doing with these "wild hairs" that come back!
Love,
Virginia

[Danielle La Belle]

Hi Virginia:

Be very careful with any "Larynx shave." The best of the best are practicing in well established, proven hospitals and clinics. You can lose your voice or if not, have other trouble down the road including unusual infections in the throat that are hard to get rid of. Read and read and then, read some more. Just a thought. "Needs and wants" are different.

Good luck on your choice of LASER/IPL centers.

Hugs

Danielle marie

[Danielle La Belle]

My first post here in this thread is dated May 11, 2004.

I return to the Doctor tomorrow, Tuesday 10-24, 2006, for another IPL treatment over my face and neck. Upper lip, under lower lip and at sides are small countable hairs. I have some on the chin edges and sides. A few as well on the neck. My technician said she would take care of it all for me.

I have gone from an average Abraham Lincoln face hair to barely there! I have lost exact count but I think it fair to say this is treatment number 9. The first 5 were a dilly! Zip-Zap-OUCH! But, it is tolerable. Suck it up girls!

I am very pleased with the results and can honestly say that the technology works so far as the equipment that my Doctor uses. You cannot remove "White" hair with this method or any LASER. The hair and folicle must have some color to them. Really light blond hair is almost white and so that can be tricky as there is "melaninn" in the hair folicle, but it is very ight. LASER with pin-point accuracy may be needed in such a case.

IPL is blanket coverage like having a hand-held photo flash unit pressed against your face and then "fired." It gets HOT but they use a cooling Gel first on the skin to reduce the heating effect. You should never get burned! The technician should be well trained in the use of the equipment so as to prevent this.

I get red as a tomatoe but cool down in the first 30 mintes afterward. No worse than razor burn for 1 - 3 hours afterwards and that was only in the first 5 treatments that got so much hair taken out.

You can scroll back to the pictures section in this thread to see what I look like. Save your nickles and save your dimes, cause after the hairs turn white, it's all over but the crying!

Everyone just thinks I get a really really good shave in the morning. There are some that realize I use some form of make-up but those few are close friends of mine. The general populace are none the wiser.

Best thing I ever did for my TG self! I only need covergirl liquid anymore to start with a nice base. See my recent photos in the picture section.

Hugs

Danielle Marie