Since I was used to traveling to Dallas for these treatments, I was splendidly surprised that I found a dermatologist in Little Rock that advertised in the Yellow Pages that they used the Alexandrite Laser Hair Removal system, and amazingly enough was only three blocks from my office. I called them and got a consultation to talk about the touch up procedures, and they told me that I could purchase a series of 5 treatments for $200.00. That price was well within my budget, as my initial consultation in Dallas was for four to 5 sessions for the cost of $400.00 each session, and since it was local, I didn’t need to take off a day travel time and airfare costs for the treatments. Even I could figure out what I should do in this situation, so I signed up at once.
There were several differences in the application techniques at my local treatment center; the laser operator was a doctor, specializing in Dermatology where I was operated on by an RN before; I was required to wear leaded goggles over my eyes and to keep my eyes shut during the laser application (an OSHA regulation in Arkansas I was told) where I was wearing pink sunglasses before; I was treated with the standard Alexandrite laser wand where I was treated with a pencil type of laser wand before. All other procedures were the same, the spreading of a numbing gel on the area to be treated, and the requirements of keeping sun block on your face to prevent you from getting you skin too dark. I learned very painfully why this is a must. Two weeks before my appointment, I was visiting a friend in Tampa, and for some reason, I decided that I needed to go on a walk along the beach. About 30 minutes into the walk I had a fleeting thought that I’d forgotten to use any sun block before I set out, but I was too lazy to go back and get it, I convinced myself that if I didn’t look at the sun, then I wouldn’t have to worry about getting too much sun. The next thing I knew was that my face had begun hurting a little bit, and I needed to turn around and head back to the house. It turned out I’d gone on a nine-mile hike, and my face continued to redden for the rest of the day, and half the night. Generous helpings of Aloe Vera gel were the only saving grace for my poor face. When the doctor was treating me, she said, “May I assume that you haven’t been using your sun block religiously?” I felt as if I was 6 years old again, but could do nothing but admit it, my face was still sunburned. She said that she was afraid she would raise blisters if she lingered too long on the individual hairs that she was reaching for, and that there would be more than normal pain. She was right, believe it when they suggest using sun block and going for the laser treatments. After the laser work was finished, I found another difference in the work here vs. the Dallas site, I was given Aloe Vera gel immediately for my face and a small amount that I could take with me for the next day, where before it was merely suggested that I may want to use some if there is any pain.
I have been told about a newer generation of laser treatment that is said to be even more effective than the Alexandrite system, but I haven’t seen it to be able to report on as of yet. Another interesting note is that there is a physician in Canada that has developed a technique for hair removal that uses ultrasound, and it doesn’t matter what color your skin or hair is, which will be a godsend to most of the laser patients, as now they must use electrolysis to remove their light hairs permanently, as the lasers don’t affect those hairs. It is something I told the doctor that if he wanted to try it on a willing volunteer, I’m first in line.All in all however, I have to admit that I am very happy with the results of my experiences with the Alexandrite laser hair removal system. There has been no re-growth that I discovered as yet, with only a few rogue hairs popping up, which I had been warned to expect since your hairs grows in three different stages, and can only be permanently eliminated in it’s adult stage, and your hair does not use a time clock.
Thanks for listening,
Yours,
Allison
