My Experience of Lightsheer laser hair removal treatment

Lightsheer Hair Removal

I have now spent considerable amounts of money on both electrolysis and Aculight IPL hair removal. Neither were that effective but I am not one to give up.
Extensive research tells me that Lightsheer diode laser is probably the most effective out there so I have decided to go for it. This is my experience which I will update regularly.

Boots laser clinic in Glasgow is in the basement of their Sauchiehall Street store where they also do laser eye surgery and dentistry. I must admit that the idea of going to a high street retailer for a clinical type treatment doesn't seem right but as there aren't many options for laser hair removal in Glasgow I thought I should at least phone them and see what they had to say.
The woman who took my call answered my basic questions well and when she couldn't answer my more technical questions, rather than bluffing it, she recommended I come in for a consultation which was a good sign. She explained they were also offering free consultations/patch tests so I decided to book one for the next week. The best part of all is that they use the Lightsheer diode laser which seems to be the best for beard removal.
She sent some information which arrived by post the next day - impressive especially as I phoned in the afternoon. The information contained a form to complete with personal details, a leaflet explaining all about laser hair removal and Lightsheer, a list of Boots stores which offer LHR and a leaflet about their free consultations/test patch offer. I must admit that it all seems very well organised and professional.

When I got there, my first impression is that it is very clean and well organised. I was met by a receptionist, gave my name and was asked to wait in the reception area for the laser nurse. When she arrived, we went into a treatment room and we started the consultation. She started by going through the usual medical questionnaire - no problems there so we went on to describing how laser works and a bit about how the Lightsheer laser works. Of course, I know a lot about lasers so had some tricky questions. I can say that she did a good job of it and answered all of my questions well. She said that she thought the Aculight had actually done a good job so far which surprised me. Boots insist on taking photos at each stage of the treatment so they can guage how it is progressing (photos are an absolute essential so this is a good thing). My nurse carefully explained how they take great care with the photos to ensure anonymity before taking photos of each side of my face complete with labels stuck to my cheeks so they wouldn't get photos mixed up.
The patch test consisted of 4 shots at varying fluences from 25-45 on my upper lip. Normally they wouldn't do a patch test on the upper lip but I insisted as I consider this my problem area. With Aculight they used what were like large thick sunglasses but with Lightsheer she put cotton pads over my eyes and held these in place with what were like swimming goggles which you couldn't see through. They were obviously taking no chances with accidentally damaging my eyes. The major difference was that she didn't cool my face down before treatment which was good as the ice pack is one of the sorest parts - particularly on my neck. She used a cool gel on my face but no ice packs. The sensation from the laser was different to Aculight. It was more like the pin prick sensation which I had heard people talking about before and I could really feel the laser on my teeth - she offered me a gauze which I could use to prevent this feeling. I didn't bother with it but I certainly would if I was getting a full treatment. The feeling wasn't painful - just unusual and I don't have anything to compare it to - perhaps a mild electric shock is the closest thing. My nurse was surprised that I could cope with a fluence as high as 45 but compared to Aculight, the pain was nothing. I apparently had quite a few ejections which is good. Post test treatment involved applying a cotton pad soaked in a cool liquid (not sure what). My consultation and patch test took 1 hour 20 minutes in total. Afterwards, my moustache area was red just like with Aculight which settled down after an hour or so but it felt a little sore - like I had been punched but nothing was visible. This settled down after a day. I didn't notice any problem shaving but the small patches aren't a good reflection of how a full treatment would be. The only other difference was that I noticed some hairs had been partially ejected as they appeared longer than the rest of the hairs of course, once they were shaved, you couldn't see this.
2 weeks on now and I haven't noticed a lot of difference. I would say it appears very slightly thinned out and I would say the hair growth is finer. Perhaps I have seen all the shedding I will see or perhaps it will take longer. It will be interesting to see the photos after 2-3 days growth and compare these to before.
2.5 weeks on now and I have noticed that I have 4 patches on my moustache - I am very happy about this. The patches aren't totally bald but you can clearly see 4 squares with the centres almost completely bald, gradually getting less bald out to the edges.

First Treatment - 16th June 2004

The week of my first session started well with a courtesy call 2 days before to remind me about my appointment - that is a sign of great customer service.

I had waited 3 weeks for this appointment as the nurse who did my patch test was on holiday - the 3 weeks seemed like 3 months. I didn't want to go with another nurse as I was very comfortable with my original one.
When I arrived at Boots, I was received with the same efficiency as before and didn't have to wait. I had to sign a form to say that I hadn't suffered any problems or side-effects from my last treatment and then we started the session.
My nurse asked how I had got on - I explained that I was happy with the patch test and that if I hadn't been, I wouldn't have been there. She said she could see a little difference between the patch test areas and the rest of my moustache. She took some more photos and after ensuring my eyes were protected, started the zapping.

She started on my upper lip with a fluence of 42. This is quite high but it was no problem compared to an Aculight shot. This time she gave me some gauze so that I couldn't feel the shot in my teeth - it helped but I could still feel it a little. As she moved down below my mouth, 42 was definitely too high and she turned it down to the mid 30's. She told me that I was getting lots of ejections which was good and I could certainly feel it but again, it wasn't as bad as Aculight.
Boots don't use ice packs before and after - just some spray on aftersun and some moist gauze. My face was definitely a lot warmer than with Aculight and I must say I would have preferred an ice pack.
We continued with my cheeks and neck which used varying fluences in the high 30's.
The treatment seemed very quick - I guess this was because there were no delays when cooling the face. I had 479 shots in total - the lightsheer spot size being a lot smaller than the aculight one. After treatment, more aftersun spray and more moist gauze was used to cool my face but to little effect. I was very red and hot and my face was slightly swollen. My nurse showed me the towel which she used to clean the gel off my face - there were a lot of hairs on it which was great to see. I then made my next appointment for 6 weeks time and paid my Ł625 for a course of 6 treatments. If I don't need all 6 or I change my mind, Boots will refund me and only charge me the individual treatment rate for the sessions which I used which I think is excellent.
When I was walking on the busy rush hour street, I was very concious about looks from others - as I said, I was very red looking. To put it in perspective, it was worse than when I am out dressed as a woman.

I cranked the air conditioning up in my car on the way home, and by the time I got home, I was quite swollen. I continued to cool my face but the next morning I was fairly bad. I had to shave a little as I had a lot of half ejected hairs and my face was still red and swollen. I had to go to work but I only got one comment about it - from the guy who sits next to me. I told him that it was an allergic reaction to a new shaving foam - I think he bought it. I moisturised all day long but along my jaw line wasn't doing too well. In some places it was like sunburn and it was definitely swollen and sore. When I got home my wife thought I looked like a different man.

Check out the pictures here

I continued to cool my face and by the next morning things were pretty much back to normal. I didn't shave for another 3.5 days and I only shaved then because I was so patchy looking

Check out the pictures here

It is 6 days later as I write this. Shaving is difficult - I just can't get a close shave. My skin feels smooth despite the stubble and I am still patchy looking. I had a few days where my skin peeled just like I had suffered sunburn and my jaw line is still troublesome.

Results of First Treatment - 4th July 2004

I am delighted to report that progress has been outstanding.

Shedding started at around 10 days and continued to just after 2 weeks.

The effect is so good that I have noticed a couple of tiny bits which were missed (one of the downsides of lightsheer - the small spot size means that it is difficult to accurately get full coverage). The bits that have been missed are such a huge contrast to the other bits that you really see them - I have had comments.

I arranged another appointment to get these bits seen to - this wasn't a problem and I wasn't charged for this. I still have a few tiny patches which have been missed but I will get these sorted at my next appointment.

I can now go 4 days without shaving and I don't look too scruffy.

It shows just how much light coloured hair I have in my beard - this still lives but I don't care as it doesn't contribute to the shadow.

I will of course still require further treatments as I still have dark hairs but there is no comparison to Aculight.

I need to temper my delight with reality - How will regrowth be? I will of course be devastated if this doesn't last but initial signs are really good.

Long overdue update - 10th December 2004

Firstly, apologies for not updating this for so long. I have been rather busy with our first child.
Anyway, progress has been OK. For about 2-6 weeks after my second treatment, my face was wonderfully clear. I was ecstatic and could go out with only a fine coat of foundation. Shaving was a breeze - only every second or third day and only the parts of my face with light coloured hair and a couple of bits missed with the laser. After 6 weeks, the hair started to come back and I was pretty dark again. This was pretty much as expected as I knew hair grows in cycles but I didn't expect it to be this bad. I was really looking forward to my 8 week appointment when disaster struck. Boots - where I was going for my laser treatment - announced that they were closing all of their laser clinics. I was devastated. They even phoned and cancelled my appointment 2 days before it was due. To say I was unhappy is a euphemism. I called head office and, long story short, they agreed to honour my appointment but couldn't do any more appointments. I got a refund for my first 2 but had to pay for my third.
Progress from my third appointment was excellent. I had the same results as I got from my second but it lasted longer - probably around 10 weeks and the regrowth is much less than before. I am therefore looking for another clinic but it isn't easy to find one and I guess I will have to go down to England for one. The only other comment I have is that it seems to be getting more painful each time I go. I don't know if this is because I am perpetually tired with our son and it is this which is reducing my pain threshold or whether it is because there are fewer hairs to absorb the same amount of light. Not to worry - the pain will be worth it.

Long overdue update - 10th Feb 2005

It is now 4.5 months since my last treatment. I know the treatment has had some effect because the regrowth is in stripes where the laser has been. I'm not sure why - maybe my nurse left too much space between passes or maybe the intensity isn't as strong at the edges as it is in the centre of the laser. Anyway, one thing is for sure, you can see that it has had some effect.

18th Feb 2005

After nearly 5 months, I finally found a replacement laser clinic and got an appointment.
It was as the Tayside Laser Clinic (TLC) which is in the Dermatology department of Ninewells Hospital in Dundee. They offer private treatment in order to raise additional funds for the department.
I had phoned just before Christmas and was unable to get an appointment until February. I asked to be put on their waiting list and got a call early February with times for a consultation/patch test and for a treatment.
Dundee is 85 miles from my home in Glasgow - a 1.5 hour trip and as far as I know, the only option for private lightsheer treatment in Scotland. A bit inconvenient but I was seriously considering going to England for treatment.
Anyway, I arrived for my appointment a little early and because the previous person didn't show up, I got taken early - just as well as I was almost an hour. The lady (I am not sure what her position is) who did my consultation ran through the treatment and I asked various questions and explained my motivation for treatment. I felt immediately comfortable. Perhaps predictably, NHS staff are well trained and it is clear that the clinic had done some extensive research and had plenty of knowledge in laser hair removal. It transpires that the head of the Photobiology Unit at Ninewells was a consultant when Boots set up their clinics so I have no doubt they are well qualified to treat me.
As usual, I asked too many questions and discussed too much. She was unsure why I had such a strange pattern of regrowth and had never seen that before. I had patch tests on my upper lip, my chin and side of my face. I had earlier explained that at Boots I was treated at fluences of high 30's up to around 40 which she thought was quite high so we started off at 30 and she seemed happy with the results. She tried 25 but decided 30 was fine. I must admit to being a little concerned about that. I agree that 40 is probably too high at least for early treatments - the photo of my very red face is testament to that but I just hope 30 isn't too low. I felt it but it wasn't painful and the redness was gone by the time I got home. Anyway, I will trust that they know best. It will be interesting to see how well it works.
On the phone I was told it would be Ł30 for my consultation/patch test and up to Ł120 for the beard area. The way it works is that it is Ł60 for 15 minutes so if they can cover the area in 15 minutes then it is Ł60. I am not sure this is possible but if so then it is great.

4th treatment (first at Tayside Laser Clinic - 16th December 2005

At Last!. After 5 months, I finally got my 4th treatment.
I am a very happy camper indeed.
It almost didn't happen. Firstly, there were heavy snow storms forecast so I thought I might not be able to make it through but the snow didn't last but I took my wife's jeep just in case. Next, I got a call from Tayside saying that they were cancelling all the appointments because of worries about the weather closing in and not being able to get home. I was just 10 miles from Dundee at the time. I explained this and that I had come all the way from Glasgow so the nurse agreed to treat me as I was so close. I can't thank her enough for this. Thanks!
I arrived at 5 O'clock - 45 minutes earlier than my appointment time but because the other clients had been cancelled, I got taken straight away.
Anyway, she asked how I had got on with my test and I explained that it was settled by the time I got back to Glasgow. She mentioned that she had read my site so knew a lot about me and my treatment history. I explained again that I was worried that 30 wouldn't be high enough a fluence but that I trusted their judgement.
Anyway, treatment started with my moustache and then moved down my face. She managed to cover most of my face in 15 minutes (I had explained earlier that I really just needed my goatee and under my chin done and the rest would have been a bonus if it could be fitted in) She didn't manage to do my sideburns or right down my neck but that doesn't matter to me as I only have a few stray hairs there anyway.
It was definitely easier with the reduced fluence. I still had all the symptoms (burning hair, ejections, pain, redness) but all were reduced. I expect my lack of hair was a part of this. It was definitely worst in my hairiest bits. It seemed to be very quick but maybe Boots took longer because I had more hair previously. She applied Aloe Vera to cool my face but didn't try to remove the "splats" (burned ejected hairs) which is maybe a good thing as wiping them away irritates the face more so I looked a bit strange. I paid my Ł90 (Ł60 for the treatment and Ł30 for the previous consultation) and left. I had a 4 hour round trip in total. The 15 minutes doesn't include the non treatment time before and after.
24 hours later, my face was warm and a couple of spots looked like they have been lightly grazed but otherwise OK. I couldn't shave for a couple of days.
Usually shedding would start around day 10 and last until about day 14. Day 10 came and went with no signs of shedding, then day 11, then day 12... I was worried.
Luckily on day 13, it started. I was going out on day 14 and as I washed my face before shaving, I noticed some hairs in my hands. I got out my facial scrub and to my immense delight found that almost all of my hairs were no more. I was going out dressed that night and used almost no foundation. It looked amazing.
Now it is day 19 and I only have one bit that bothers me - a small clump of hairs which I guess were missed. Basically, apart from that small patch, all the coarse dark hairs have gone but I still have coarse light coloured hairs and some fine dark hairs. If I remain this way, I will be happy. The light coloured hairs don't contribute to any shadow and the fine ones aren't too much of a problem. I still have to shave as I can feel the stubble of the light coloured hairs but I could go 3 days without shaving and still not look scruffy.
The only thing to watch now is how much regrowth I have. I am still worried that the setting used may have been too low and will be asking for it to be increased at my next appointment. I'm not sure if I really require a next appointment. I guess it is too early to tell but for certain, it will be useful just to clean up the little bit that was missed. This is one disadvantage of travelling long distances for treatment - a quick touch up to fix things like this isn't easy!.
On another note, I mentioned before that a friend recommended steaming to help release the hairs when shedding. I tried this and it made no difference to me. YMMV.

5th treatment - 9 Apr 2005

I haven't got much to report about this treatment as it was pretty much like the last. Fluence was increased slightly but that is it. I didn't have many ejections. I have to say that this was probably my least successful treatment so far and am a little disappointed and I wonder why. I think I have definitely made progress on my moustache but not on the rest of my goatee area. On the positive side, I only need to shave every other day and the shadow is fine enough to cover fairly easily. My next treatment is on June 4th. I don't think I will make another appointment as this will be my 6th. I will probably wait until the end of the year and see how things go. Ever the optimist, I hope that this last treatment will clear up the worst of it permanently. It is common to go for top-up treatments once a year or so. Hopefully I will be able to do that.

2 year break - update May 2008

I was happy with the laser treatment I had received. I was initially able to go a few days without shaving. I still had dark hairs, but it didn't take so long to tweeze them, leaving me with a completely clear face when I wanted to go out. Gradually, the amount of hairs increased, making tweezing too time consuming so I decided I needed to return for more treatment. Unfortunately, I neglected to take any close up photos for this web page, but I can see a shadow in normal photos taken at this time. The amount of hairs and shadow was nothing like I started with, with very few on my cheeks and neck, and the main regrowth being my goatee area. The shadow was also patchy so I had to shave every day or it looked weird.

I called TLC and to my dismay, found that because it had been over 2 years, I had to go for another patch test. The test, and treatment were pretty much as described before, I started at a slightly lower fluence than before - pretty much as expected as my growth was greater than my last treatment.

I have now (May 2008) had another 5 treatments, making a total of 11.
I have added photos.
Initially, I was having monthly sessions, and I didn't have much regrowth between so I have cut this down to bi-monthly so that I have enough regrowth between sessions to warrant treatment. This seems to be working well.
Perhaps it is simply paranoia and obsession with my facial hair, but I am still tweezing when I go out dressed and have been counting the number of hairs tweezed
Before last session - 300 hairs on top lip & 450 on rest of face.
Before session before that - 70 hairs on top lip & 140 on rest of face.
Before session before that - 200 hairs on top lip & 225 on rest of face.
This sounds a lot! - wow. The reason for the increase prior to last session is because of 2 reasons - firstly the 2 month gap between treatments, and secondly, this counted every tiny little hair.

I have changed my foundation from the heavy cover-all "MAC full coverage" to a much lighter foundation, I'm not sure if it is because I have so few hairs, or if I am just more confident and don't need to hide behind a mask of foundation. Either way, it is great, and I look much better for having just a light real girl foundation.

I have another session booked for June, but I have to look at the long term.
Will I ever be fully rid of my facial hair?
Will I need to keep getting treatments? What about the long term effects of laser treatment on my skin?
My hair is going grey (hair on my head) - will my beard go the same way and be untreatable (and less visible)?

The answer is - not sure. I think I need to do some more research, but for the moment, laser is facilitating my going out and dressing where and when I like. I love this freedom to be a girl and as such will continue treatments for the forseeable future.

Re-reading this page after nearly 3 years, it strikes me that it is a bit of a yo-yo. I have a treatment, have great hair free skin for a while and then it comes back again, albeit a little less than before.

I'm sure you all want to see the Pictures