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“12 TX - Male Beard - DISASTER - Patchy Results”

james 145 posts

Comments (536)
Updated 19 May 2008
Posted 15 Dec 2007

Not Worth It

Spent: $2,100 in New York City, NY

I had laser hair removal on my beard. 12 treatments over the course of two years. Now I have large patches all over my face like a checkerboard. I look like a freak. Men do not get laser on your beard!!

The patches only get worse with more treatment. I complained to the clinic and they tell me this is normal?! They just kept telling me to get more treatments. Then when it kept getting worse they tried to give me microdermabrasion to shut me up.

A note on "guarantees". My clinic gave me a 3 year guarantee which I thought was great. However I failed to think it through. The treatment itself (6-8 treatments every six weeks) takes about 1 year. In the areas where the laser does work, the hair loss only lasts about 2 years. Therefore by the time you begin to see hair in the treated area, the guarantee is over!

A real guarantee is to offer your money back. You will never find a laser clinic that will give you your money back! Offering more treatments if the previous treatments fail is NOT a guarantee. If anything it should clue you in. They are basically telling you the treatment only lasts a few years at the most, and after that you're on your own!

This review is the subjective opinion of a RealSelf member and not of RealSelf, Inc.

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checkerboard pattern only gets worse with more treatment

Vote: 31 members found this review helpful

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Eric K (Community Manager - 111 posts) 2 Jan 2008

I agree that most laser clinics significantly underestimate the number of treatments required. I've had laser hair removal around my lower neck (front + back) and on my chest, and am happy with the results, but I still have some very light thin hairs after 10 treatments over 7 years. (I had laser hair removal 5 times in 2000, and another 5 times over the last two years for touch ups.) You're right that the pain on the neck is the worst possible. A great clinic will tell you to ibuprofen, avoid caffeine (sensitizes the nerves), and give you a topical anesthetic. It will still really hurt. Despite the pain, you have to make certain that the laser technician uses the highest setting possible and overlaps the circular areas hit by a laser. I'm not sure why they don't make square lasers, since it seems like that would minimize this common problem... The hair that was hit with each treatment falls out within a few weeks, so you can tell if there are any areas that weren't hit by the laser. Rather than waiting for the next 6-8 week appointment, you should go back and demand that the treat the areas that they missed for free. As you can tell by the areas that have no stubble - laser hair removal does work in the areas that were hit dead-on by the laser. Unfortunately, the technician didn't make certain to overlap the treated areas. It's unfortunate that your guarantee expired, yet I think you will be happiest if you finish what you started by buying maintenance treatments -- possibly at a different clinic. While no clinic will advertise this fact, many will offer maintenance treatment pricing to customers from other clinics for a significantly reduced cost if you negotiate hard. (BTW, it's best to shave right before the negotiation so they don't think they have much negotiating power.) Laser hair removal has come down a lot in price over the years, and you should be able to get maintenance treatments on your beard for $100/treatment. Of course, you'll want to go back after each treatment and demand they fix the tiniest area they missed for free -- that's how you'll get the best result.

james (145 posts) 3 Jan 2008

the neck has actually turned out not so bad. from others i've talked to, its the same. the neck tends to get good clearance and more uniform clearance. the beard is the problem area. the patchiness is completely unavoidable. believe me, i went in for touch-up treatments to get the missed spots 2 weeks after every treatment. it doesn't help much at all. i also had extremely high settings. and even had them draw grids on my face to ensure they overlapped. i even tried different laser systems. laser hair removal above the chin is a big mistake. talk to any non-transexual (trannies take hormones to suppress hair growth) who's had their full beard done. they will all say the same thing: extreme pain and patchiness that is unavoidable. continuing treatment would be the biggest mistake now. the hairs have begun to grow back slowly. i've talked to doctors; they dont have much to say since theres no clinical study longer than 1.5 years that measure hair regrowth after laser. in fact all measure 6 months at the most, except one study that had a small minority of patients come back at 18-24 months for a follow up. therefore all doctors can say is, it is probably not permanent, so "wait and see". the laser manufactures have funded most of the clinical studies. and they call it permanent, but its not. its like when they call a "perm" for your hair permanent. go to the FDA website and read for yourself. as long as a laser can show that some hair loss that persists for at least four months, they are allowed to call it permanent.

Adrian11 (1 post) 29 Oct 2011

"the neck has actually turned out not so bad. from others i've talked to, its the same. the neck tends to get good clearance and more uniform clearance" "laser hair removal above the chin is a big mistake" Look at your own picture James, your neck is as patchy as your face. Talking to someone like you is like talking to a politician.

Bogusclaims (27 posts) 30 Oct 2011

Ya. That's true, its the same...it just doesn't matter on the neck because nobody really notices the uniform nature (or non uniform) nature of hair on your neck, especially if you have had a lot of treatments..it works, it achieves the goal you want like getting rid of ingrown hairs, and a little stubble on the neck here and there is no big deal. On your face it is noticeable, very noticeable. That is the problem.

carl (2 posts) 18 Jan 2008

wow you guys seem to have had a bad time with this,i had no problems at all,it took alot of treatments but im 100% happy with it.maybe i lucked out in the person that did it !!!!

Mike (unregistered guest) 9 Mar 2008

Will you have to get touch-up treaments forever? How does that work? I hear that you get 3-8 initial treatments, then you need to do two treatments per year to maintain... Thank you. Mike

Starsky5000 (6 posts) 19 May 2010

Carl I agree these guys had a bad time with this. "m so glad it worked out for you. It worked out for me too and i'm completely satisfied. My face is baby smooth. I went to Romeo & Juliet in NYC and i'm 95% cleared after 5 treatments & 5 touchups on my entire face. I'm a guy by the way of West Indian descent so I have a little darker skin tone so my technician used the Yag laser. I have one more treatment & touch up left to go and that should clear everything. When it comes to laser hair removal the correct laser & setting, hair type/skin color & technician experience is what counts the most. Just don't go to anyone because the prices are cheap. It's just not worth the headace in case something goes wrong. I'm so sorry for all the people that had bad experiences.

Starsky5000 (6 posts) 19 May 2010

Important: I should add when it comes to laser hair removal the technicians experience, correct laser & setting used on the correct hair type (dark coarse dense hair works best) is what counts. Hair removal can be done on darker skin tones using a yag laser. By the way my technician had 10 years of experience doing laser hair removal.

james (145 posts) 10 Mar 2008

Touch up treatments is their way of blowing off the fact that you will never ever actually be totally hairless. Not even close to hairless! They casually tell you that you might need a few treatments over the years. In your head you think, oh for like one or two hairs . . . WRONG! As you can see what good would touch up treatments do? LOL. More treatment just makes it more splotchy and hair grows back in streaks. Wake up. Laser hair removal is not "permanent"! Or erm it is, but like when a women gets a "perm" for her hair. Yeah, doesn't last. A few months maximum. LOL. Oh and we forgot to mention. It's patchy. More like permanent hair reduction than permanent hair removal. Go to the FDA website and read up. Do your homework! Buyer beware!! Or believe what they tell you. Just go get laser on your beard and see what happens! You'll be back hear crying ...

Mark C (unregistered guest) 14 Mar 2008

James, I got the EXACT same result from the laser as you did, in fact your pics look exactly like mine, I have the same patchiness and patterns over my jaw/cheek area. Most people notice unless I shave everyday. The clinic I went to also said the hair would be completley gone in 4-5 treatments max, well 8 years later and ALOT of money and pain later (not to mentions about 12 treatments total) I am still very patchy! I agree DO NOT do this to your beard area, the neck is another story though, it REALLY helped on my neck and got rid of most of the hair. Oh and one more thing James just in case you didnt know this, 3 dermatologists said using Retin-A on the face and/or neck after laser hair removal treatments will stimulate the hair follicles to regrow, it might take a year or so but it will get there! Hang in there! Mark

james (145 posts) 14 Mar 2008

So you are still patchy 8 years later? When was your last treatment?? I was hoping my beard would be completely regrown in another year. (Which will be 3 years since my last treatment). But now you are saying yours is still patchy after 8 years! This is really bad news!

Rob (unregistered guest) 16 Mar 2008

I had laser hair removal done on my face and neck two years ago. I had incredibly (incredibly) thick stubble on my face and neck region. I had to shave three times a day. I had the same symptoms as you did after treatment one and two. I continued to number seven. Two years later I have no re-growth. I give props to the guy who did it cause he knew of my concerns and worries. HE turned up the heat on every session and I responded to 755 which I think is just about the strongest you can go. I think intensity is key and if there equipment is out dated than your result will be too.

Marcus Barton (2 posts) 11 Aug 2008

I was thinking of having it done (laser hair removal on beard) and had my test patch today. The woman used a square laser, so they do exist. I used Renew Medica in Queensway, London. It's the oldest laser treatment place here and seems really amazing. My facial hair is thick and coarse, but I've decided against it now that I see the risk of patchiness. Thanks for the info, everyone.

james (145 posts) 19 Aug 2008

Check out the youtube video of this. I get email every week from poor bastards who made the mistake of geting laser hair removal on their beards. They all wish they could undo it. Dont make the same mistake!!

tings (1 post) 13 Dec 2011

Hi James, what is the video on youtube called? I tried searching and can't find it.

Luke (11 posts) 14 Oct 2008

I had my whole beard done one time and all of it was patchy. but the the spots grew back in.But i had him hit my neck right under my chin part of my beard about 3 to 5 treatments and it is yet to grow back fully. I had him stop with my face and i am continuing to have my chest and back done. i have already put in over a year now and still going. I have stopped with the beard thing like 2 to 3 months ago any ideal when my neck part might grow back in?

james (145 posts) 14 Oct 2008

My neck is still sparse several years later. Although I had more treatments than you. Since you only had 3 tx, chances are good that it will fill in gradually over the next year or two, to the point where its completely back to normal. Just an educated guess though, without knowing your laser type, settings, etc.

LA Steve (1 post) 25 Oct 2008

James- Thanks for this message board. I just got laser hair treatment on my beard yesterday for the first time, and have decided to not continue (my friends and family think I'm crazy!) Can you tell me what I can expect after only one treatment. From what I read here, I might be getting out at the right time! Thanks.

james (145 posts) 27 Oct 2008

Good for you. Anymore tx and you'd have some long term hair loss.

Milan (17 posts) 30 Aug 2009

Hi James, been reading allot of the responses from this site and it has given me hope. I wanted some personal feedback from you though. Hi, I underwent laser treatment about 4months ago at my local Laser clinic. Had about 6-7 laser treatments hopeing that it would cure my pimple rash & razor bumps i kept getting from shaving daily. I have stopped coming in for touch ups because I want my facial hair back. I have managed to stop the rash problem by not shaving, but just using clippers which has helped enormously. Laser treatment has helped my skin though now, I have noticed allot of patchy facial re-growth. My sideburn area only appears to have light colored almost white hairs growing, making the sides of my face look completely bare as the rest of my face is substantially dark with facial hair now. My chin has some small amount of pathciness that has just recently developed!!! Practically overnight!!! Wierd... Is this just a slow growth cycle? Will my facial hair grow evenly all over eventually? have I lost my once natural looking beard forever! If theres any advise you can help me with that would be great, I have tried using Regaine on my face recommended by my local dr whom I explained my problem to. Thanks, Milan P.S. the clinic i went to used CANDELA GentleLASE Laser

Maxje (2 posts) 1 Nov 2008

Hey there, I am thinking about getting laser just to reduce my beard cause I am sick of shaving twice a day... Is that possible or with laser either is bare or nothing? Thanks...

Luke (11 posts) 2 Nov 2008

Ill tell you right now dont ever get it done more then once. When you have it done on your mustache it hurts so bad it aint funny. You will look like a freak for like 3 to 4 months after getting one treatment you will have no hair on your face in some spots have it all in other spots. I cant guarantee after one treatment your not gonna be patchy for over 4 months really. If I were to do it all over again I would have done only one treatment on my entire Beard or wouldnt have touched it at all. If you get your upper cheeks done make sure to use like a yellow washable marker to draw line on your cheek where they will hit the places above the line or they will screw up your cheeks. make the hair uneven.

Maxje (2 posts) 3 Nov 2008

my goal is really just being able to shave once a day. what should I be expecting after only one treatment? It won't be like I walk out of there after the first session and be as bald as a baby's bum straight away? Thanks again...

Luke (11 posts) 4 Nov 2008

What you can expect is after the first treatment is this: Your hair will still be on your face and it will fall out over the next 10 days and beyond. All of it wont fall out and you will have bald spots in some area so be ready to look like a freak lol cause its gonna happen. You will have a Patchy face for about 3 to 4 months. Dont get more then one tratment or be prepared to have a patchy face for 2 Plus years.

james (145 posts) 4 Nov 2008

one tx will leave you patchy. so they will of course talk you into getting more treatments. and you will want to go for it to reduce patchiness. unfortunately it will make it worse. you hair will continue to grow in streaks and splotches tx after tx. around 10 tx you will be discouraged and stop. you will wish you could go back in time. and not be fooled by an english major wearing a white lab coat selling you snake oil. i get emails every week from sad cases just like this.

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“12 TX - Male Beard - DISASTER - Patchy Results”

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