IPL treatment advice - please help

[Annonymous]

Dear Skin Geeks,

I post in another part of the forum under a different name, but I had some (embarrassing!) questions to ask about IPL so I logged in under another name to spare my blushes. :o

I have wanted to get IPL done for quite a while on some problem hair growth I have. Recently, a voucher came up for reduced price treatment on one of those 'deals' website (CityDeals etc, but not that particular one.), so I decided to take the plunge. I bought a voucher for a course of 6 treatments (which I would otherwise have not been able to afford - and I work mobile so it's not like I could get it done at work for free/discount). The site said that it was only possible to buy one voucher per person, so I bought one.

Then, a few days later, another deal came up on another site where you could buy as many vouchers as you liked. I bought enough to get the problem hair growth, plus my legs, underarms etc. as I have always wanted to get it done.

I went to the first salon for treatment. I decided to get my lower leg done at that particular establishment. The therapist informed me that lower leg was to just below the knee. This seems a little peculiar to me as I have been having my legs waxed for years and they have always done to just above the knee, but I reasoned that the boundaries between the areas might not be the same, so I didn't worry too much, especially since I had a voucher to get the top half of my leg done at the second salon, meaning that it would all be done in the end.

The treatment at the first salon was good: gel on leg, light applied and off you go. It didn't hurt at all.

I then went to the second salon, and my word, what a difference! The machine was HUGE, and there was some second machine next to the first (not sure if it was connected, or something separate) that looked like it had come off some old Russian submarine! I explained about the knee to the therapist, who said that it should count as lower leg. This leaves me in a sticky position as I need to ask one therapist of the other to do my knees. Who should do it, and what do I say if she refuses? I am NOT having smooth upper and lower legs, then walk around with knees that look like they should belong to Sully out of Monsters Inc!

Also, the treatment felt completely different: I think the second machine was older as it did hurt, and when the therapist did the top of my bikini line, it was really quite painful, and came up with raised red pores. The therapist said this was not unexpected, and in fact a good sign as it means that the light has really got down the pore and cauterised the root, but it is still there some 4 day later. It has gone down a bit, but there is still quite a lot there. Is this normal, or should I be worried that it is permanent? Also, unlike the first treatment, the woman didn't use any gel anywhere, and I need to get the rest of my bikini done, which will be agony if the first bit is anything to go by. Can I ask her to use some gel, or could that interfere with the treatment for this type of machine? If she won't provide it, can I insist, or arrange to bring my own? Also, while she was doing it, the therapist said 'Can you smell that? That's the hair burning. It's a really good sign', which left me seriously !

I'm not sure if I'm being paranoid, or if I've got legitimate concerns. I have a slightly dodgy feeling about that second salon, and it seems that they are just treating clients like cattle as they have overstretched themselves by letting too many people take the special offer up. Of course they need to earn money, but this is a permanent treatment and I have seen pictures of what can happen if it goes wrong, and I'm petrified that something has gone wrong doing the top of my bikini line. This is an area I have not previously had treated, so I can see that it might react a bit more vigorously than the other areas under treatment, but I just don't know whether I've signed up with a wrong 'un or not.

Please help! :cry: Will it be OK, or should I run for the hills?

 

[J Hunter]

Hi would not say the second machine is old. Just ask each place what what machine they are treating you with that will be how you will know. Also new does not always mean better. Do some research you might even find the second place has a better machine. I use the LightSheer Diode and what you experienced in the second treatment is what is I expect to see from my machine. I also tell people this in my consultation. I also do a test spot on my client and if they are a skin type 4 or 5 I wait 3 days before I will do a treatment on them. With higher skin types it could take 72 hours for a reaction to show up. What you do not want is blisters, crusting or hypo or hyper pigmentation.

As far as discomfort that depends on the individual. Everyone has a different pain tolerance. There are topical creams that can help with discomfort and making sure a person drinks water can help.

With the second treatment they possibly have two machines because one is to use for cooling. I use to work with a cynosure elite. The one machine had an alexandrite laser and a yag laser. Then the second machines handpiece connected to the laser machine to cool the skin area during treatment.

 

[Annonymous]

I also do a test spot on my client and if they are a skin type 4 or 5 I wait 3 days before I will do a treatment on them. With higher skin types it could take 72 hours for a reaction to show up. What you do not want is blisters, crusting or hypo or hyper pigmentation.

As far as discomfort that depends on the individual. Everyone has a different pain tolerance. There are topical creams that can help with discomfort and making sure a person drinks water can help.

With the second treatment they possibly have two machines because one is to use for cooling. I use to work with a cynosure elite. The one machine had an alexandrite laser and a yag laser. Then the second machines handpiece connected to the laser machine to cool the skin area during treatment.

Thanks very much for replying, J Hunter - I really appreciate it.

You've put my mind at rest by letting me know that what I experienced is not abnormal. I think I was already a little suspicious as the first salon had given me a patch test, and the second had not. I have asked other professionals if this was normal, and they indicated that it might be as I have very pale skin and slightly darker hair, but it still set alarms bells ringing a little

I had already guessed that the pain and red pores on the most affected areas might be because it is not an area I usually have treated (the other areas were nowhere near as bad). They showed up within a few minutes.

I didn't get the impression that the second machine could be used for cooling etc. as there was no handpiece and it just had lots of dials on it.

May I ask, as an IPL therapist (and I think you work in a different country so the answer might not be 100% relevant) would you consider the knee to be part of the lower or upper leg?

Also, how long might you expect raised red pores to last on an area that reacted that way to the treatment? Will the area be safe to treat again if the pores go back down. And if they don't?

Sorry to ask you more questions, but I'm just trying to get a genuine idea of what is 'normal'.

Thanks so much for your help! *Applauds*

 

[Laylabee]

Hiya, as an IPL therapist in London I can tell you that what you experienced with the red pores are in fact normal. Not everyone gets it but most of my clients do and its nothing to worry about, it shouldn't last for more than 48 hrs when treated with ipl. When we sell a half leg session we include the knee, just like waxing.

 

[J Hunter]

Yes I do include the knee, tops of feet and toes if needed when doing a lower leg. The information about the ipl with clients also having the red pores is good to know. I have never used and ipl and most clients I have heard of having the ipl treatments have not had that experience. Usually 48 hours is a good time frame very few people have reaction a little longer like a week however almost gone by that time. If it is longer I would suggest going back and show the technician and see what they recommend. I suggest they use aloe vera on the area or if the area is warm they still can use an ice pack.

If it was a cooling machine you would feel it the cold air blowing out. I am glad I could put your mind at ease however not sure what the machine is with all the dials! Test patches are good to do even when someone has a lighter skin. With lighter skin alot of the times a bad reaction will show up within minutes. I usually determine how the consultation results are then I will test and wait ten minutes are even have the client with lighter skin wait a day or two.

 

[Annonymous]

Hiya, as an IPL therapist in London I can tell you that what you experienced with the red pores are in fact normal. Not everyone gets it but most of my clients do and its nothing to worry about, it shouldn't last for more than 48 hrs when treated with ipl. When we sell a half leg session we include the knee, just like waxing.

I'm on day 6 with them, but to be fair, there are only a few left. Perhaps this has to do with the fact that it's an area I've never previously had treated? My underarms etc., which I have been getting waxed for years haven't been any trouble at all.

Thanks for the info on the knees. This leaves me in a sticky situation. The lady said that they don't do knees as part of the lower leg. How can I convince her to do them for me, and if she refuses, do I have any right to insist? I have otherwise been really impressed with the servie at her salon, but there's no way I will be going back for more at this rate.

Thanks for your help - it's really appreciated.

 

[Annonymous]

If it was a cooling machine you would feel it the cold air blowing out. I am glad I could put your mind at ease however not sure what the machine is with all the dials!

Hello again J Hunter!

With reagrd to red pores, I'm on day 6 now, but the majority of them have disappeared, so that's not so bad - I was getting a bit worried that they didn't seem to be going anywhere. I will speak to my therapist to check that it will be OK to have the next treatment, but I get the impression that it probably will. I've been using an aloe vera gel, so I think it has helped.

As for the thorny 'getting knees included' problem, how do I raise this? Should I say that I thought it was unusual last time, but now that I've had the chance to speak to some other therapists I am aware that the knee should be included in the treatment, and asl for her to do so. If she refuses, what can I do? It's a pity, as I had previously been impressed with the level of professionality shown at the salon, but I won't be going back if this kind of carry on occurs.

As for the machines at the second salon, I don't think there was any cold air blowing out (I'm sure that would have been welcome!), so I have no idea what it was for, and I wrote the name of it on my mobile to check, but somehow it got deleted. smack: to self!) I was just wondering if maybe I could get some gel, but I guess without knowing what type of machine, that wouldn't be easy to guess.

Thanks so much for your help once again. If I manage to get the name of the machine, I'll update the thread and get some more expert advice!

Annony
xoxoxo

 

[confusedbunny]

As a qualified IPL specialist i will answer accordingly.....

the first salon.....

1.Its a "general" rule that knee's are included. what i suspect is maybe because you get this deal really cheap the operator has been instructed by management to "do the minimum" on you!! thats deeply unfair for the clients as they sell the voucher with a "value" and these deals are not that great after all as you mostly get treated like cattle as you say, corners get cut etc. I actually include, knee,toes and foot with my lower leg packages!! maybe im being generous but it "normal" practice because i think.....what if i was the client? would i want hairy knees and toes!! NO!!
What i would say is "I bought this voucher under the assumption that knees where included, as a "general" rule through further advice with other ipl operators they confirm this! Ask to speak to the manager and request your knee's are done too!" obviously, they dont have to oblige but say to them that you think that maybe they are cutting corners on the service and request your knees to be done! Another way you could do it, is call up and remain anonymous and pose as a "full" paying client and ask for price for lower legs and then ask if knee's are included? if they say yes, then you jave a case, as your discount voucher "value" is still full price remember! also if they dispute this, ask for a price list and ask where the seperate price is for knees? and where is clarification for the thighs (that the knees are in the package!) Dont let them fob you off! if you want PM me there number and i will call anonymous and reply back on here my findings. Good luck.

second salon
ok, the reddening is a positive reaction (erythema) but 4 days later is not good. when you go back for your next treatment and before the therapist commences she should ask you how your last treatment was and any erythema and HOW LONG it lasted? based on you replying it was red after 4-6 days that should tell her immediately that the setting is too high for you and she needs to go down a few jules and then gradually work up throughout your treatment plan. she may have put you on a high setting because she wants "quick! results, this is wrong, again, another city deal and probally has so many people to get through and is not giving you yhe full service and is cutting corners by not cooling the skin pre and post treatment and MUST apply aloe vera or something similar!!! did she do a patch test even? Gel MUST be used to act as a guide for her on such a large area like thighs (saying this, it depends on her machine but if no cooling fan, no gel then at the very least to aid your discomfort as no cooling methods are being used and this is alraming then at the very least ICEPACKS! Obviously we want maximum heat into the hair follicle but atleast apply icepack for 2-3 seconds pre- treatment to aid comfort levels for a client!!Jheeze!! gel has to act as a contact between the skin and light and as additional cooling!!). inetersted to know what machine as they maybe cutting corners again as gel is quite expensive, if you are uneasy dont be afraid to ask questions, ask to see the IPL protocol folder and see if it states gel must be used!! For your info,area around the vulva etc on the bikini has darked skin on nost clients and must be 2 jules lower than the rest of the bikini! Hmmmm, i am very passionate about people who get taken for being naive and suffer through this kind of situations......let me know how you get on please.

all the best!

 

[soriminah]

Just to add, the coarser and denser the hair, the more likely it will sting a bit. I've had quite a few IPL sessions and there are certain areas that are a bit more ouchy than others. Maybe this is why you are finding your bikini area more reactive.

I've never had anyone use gel before, but they use a cold spray to spray on the end of the attachment as it starts to get hot from the laser.