Choosing a light-based hair removal practitioner General
 Doctors and practitioners are salespeople, too.
They are trying to sell you something that will cost you a
lot of money. They have to make payments on a laser costing
tens of thousands of dollars. That's a lot of sales they have
to make.
Doctors are not perfect.
Doctors can also be fooled by marketing hype-- they are bombarded
with advertisements for lasers. Laser sales reps take them to
lunch or to a sports event and chat about how great their system
is, and how much money they could make. Doctors hear rumors
and believe them, too. I know of several good, trustworthy physicians
who bought SoftLight machines when they came out, believing
they were permanent. Physicians can also be too busy/lazy to
read more than an abstract of a clinical study. I am constantly
amazed at how trusting some people are of physicians, taking
their word as gospel.
Some laser technicians are unqualified and could damage
your skin
It's safest to go to a physician, preferably a dermatologist
or plastic surgeon. Your procedure is likely to be safer and
more effective when done under medical supervision. Unqualified
prctitioners have been known to cause serious skin damage
on unsuspecting clients.
Can you afford it if you have no long-term results?
Laser doesn't work for everyone. Be willing to write off the
time and money you are going to spend. This is vital. Some people
are willing to take a chance on unproven technology, and we
all benefit from these people. There are a few lucky people
who have enough disposable income to try procedures that are
still being perfected, even though they may end up with nothing
to show for it. If you cannot afford to risk your time, money,
or complexion on unproven methods, you need to think seriously
about whether laser is right for you.
Calling for information
Keep records
If you learn about a laser practice from a print advertisement,
keep a copy of the ad (put the date and where it ran on the
ad). If you hear something on TV or radio, note the date, station
and program, along with any claims. If you try to get a refund
later, you'll need this information.
Get some information over the phone
Most places will not give much information over the phone,
especially prices. This is not because they're evasive, but
because they want to see you before discussing treatment options.
Take notes. Get the name of anyone you talk to and note the
date. You should get the following information over the phone:
- Brand and model of laser used and how long they've used
it at their practice
- Number of clients they've treated
- Name and specialty of doctor who supervises treatment
- Also, ask if consultation and test patch are free.
Set up a consultation
Ask who will be consulting with you during your appointment.
Insist on consulting directly with the supervising physician.
Set up a test patch
You should make sure the test patch is done by the same person
who will be treating you.
- Ask what their medical or technical training is.
- Ask how long they have been using this particular machine,
and how many clients they've treated.
- Ask how much hair growth you should have before the test
patch is done.
- Also ask if there is anything else you should or should
not do to your skin before coming in.
During the consultation
Check out the office
Is it clean and organized? Are the workers clean, too? Is everyone
there professional and courteous? If not, you should look elsewhere.
Ask questions
Here's a list of questions to
print out and take with you: Consultation form
Get a test patch done
Always ask for a test patch before signing up for treatment.
Ask how much a test patch will cost and make a note of it. I
would strongly urge you get this done in an area others won't
see.
Make them prove their claims
Ask for clinical studies that prove their claims, especially
if they tell you it is permanent. They will say you wouldn't
understand. They will say it's too technical. They will hand
you sales materials and promotional literature. They will hand
you a copy of a fashion magazine article. Insist on getting
a hard copy of a recently published clinical study about their
laser results.
Talk to clients (if possible)
Ask to talk with clients who used the same laser and same practitioner
who are done and happy. Clients should be at least 6 and preferably
12 months past their final treatment, unless you are only interested
in maintenance treatments. Note: This option is not always available,
as many clients of hair removal want to keep their visits private.
That's why it's best to get a personal recommendation from a
friend or loved one-- most practitioners do not have clients
on hand who are willing to speak about their satisfaction, and
no reputable practitioner will divulge any information about
clients without first getting client permission.
Meet the person who will give you treatment
Try to get a doctor, not a technician. Get all the answers
you require from the doctor who will be performing the procedure.
If the doctor has a technician perform treatment, insist on
finding out the credentials of the person who will be treating
you. Ask if they have personally been treated by that particular
machine. Ask if they felt any pain, how long did it take for
their hair to fall out, did they have any side effects, and
how long did it last.
Check on pain relief
If you are concerned about pain or especially sensitive to
it, ask them if they have pain relief available if you need
it. If they try to tell you it's painless, be very suspicious.
Discuss costs
Usually, laser costs are determined by body area. The larger
the area, the more the cost. Your costs might be higher if you
have thicker unwanted hair. There's usually a base cost for
a single treatment of a body area, but they will usually suggest
multiple treatments. Usually, these treatment blocks are at
a reduced rate per treatment compared to the single treatment
price.
Discuss treatment schedule
You should find out:
- How often you'll need to come in
- How long each treatment will take (subsequent treatments
may require less time)
- How many treatments in total you will need before you won't
need to come in any more.
Ask about office policies
You should also find out:
- Office days and hours
- Policy for missed appointments
Ask about post-treatment
Find out what to expect after you've been treated:
- Ask how long it will take for the hair to fall out (it often
takes a few days).
- Ask if you will need to do anything special to your skin
after treatment.
- Get a written list of possible side effects and the doctor's
assessment of your skin type.
- Ask how long it will be before you can clear any new growth
or regrowth.
Get it in writing
In addition to getting answers on your Consultation form,
get a written guarantee of any results they promise. If they
are willing to promise permanent results in writing, you may
be able to get a refund if you aren't satisfied.
Take your time
Don't let them rush you. If you don't get all your questions
answered to your complete satisfaction, they don't deserve your
trust or your money.
Get more than one consultation
Every laser place is different. If you have more than one option
near you, you should check all of them out before committing.
Signing up
Do not sign up for treatment at
the consultation! Wait to see how your skin responds
to the test patch, and take home the info you get to do more research.
Read what you sign
Again, don't sign anything on the spot. Take it home and look
at it. Carefully read any waivers or disclaimers you are required
to sign, and keep a copy for yourself. Most clinics will require
clients to sign an "informed consent" form, meaning
you know the risks and don't care. Clients should read forms
very carefully to ensure that they are not waiving their legal
rights in the event of any complications, either short-term
or long-term. If in doubt, get legal advice.
Keep written records
If at all possible, pay with check or credit card, not cash.
Every time you pay, get a written receipt with your payment
that describes the terms of your agreement and number of treatments
you will receive. Have them sign and date the receipt. Some
clients have been able to get in writing that they will continue
to get treated for free if they still have hair after their
last session of their agreement. Push for a deal like this,
rather than a few treatments and you're on your own.
Understand the contract
Beware of multi-treatment deals, especially ones requiring
payment in advance. It makes it difficult for you to stop in
the middle if you become dissatisfied with them, and if you
aren't satisfied, it's harder to get money back once they have
it. Ask them to give you a money-back guarantee in writing.
Treatments typically are sold in packages of 2 to 6, over a
period of one year. Multiple treatment is a tricky thing-- all
hair removal methods require multiple treatments over time.
However, it is difficult to discern the difference between regrowth
and new growth, and this confusion can be used to fool consumers
into coming back for treatment after treatment, until they finally
run out of patience or money.
Wait until you've had at least three test patches done, and wait
12-14 days after they've been done to make sure it works, before
deciding which method and company you'll choose. If you're still
unsure, get more test patches done, even with the same people
if necessary.
During full treatment
Wear goggles
Make sure they use eye protection, on you and themselves. Lasers
can cause serious eye injury.
Give them feedback
Don't be afraid to tell them to stop if it hurts. You might
be getting overtreated, which can lead to injury.
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