Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but I have to add that I have the scanning one (TSV from QVC a few years ago) and will be forever in its debt.
I had some lovely black chin hairs that even electrolysis couldn't get rid of - real stubborn, stiff hairs that seem to pop up halfway through the day just after you've been talking to someone up close. I was determined to get rid of them so bought the TSV in the hope that I could get rid of them before the 30-day MBG. Well, I didn't, but kept it anyway and used it every few months. I got hooked on the smell of burning hair, the pin-prick feeling and the cute little exploded hair left on my chin (which I'd shave off until it fell out a week or so later).
Now these hairs are very distinctive and I've even been tempted to name them (but that would be like keeping chickens as pets and them eating them when they died!). I know exactly where each one resided on my chin and jaw and was very familiar with the one magnificent specimen that had started popping out on my neck. I'd started using my point-nosed tweezers to try to get them out as soon as they broke through the skin, but couldn't resist trying to break the skin to get them before they erupted and have been left with a few marks. That laser has stopped me scarring myself even worse, because after 6-8 zappings, my hair has gone!
I have to say, though, that using it just once on the hair doesn't work. You HAVE to persevere. I counted the zapping the one on my neck took (as it was so easy to keep an eye on) and it took 7 months. It was popping up with disappointing regularity until zap 3 then slowed and came up after about 7 weeks instead of it's usual 2-2 1/2. I zapped it again and it took longer and now I've been hair free since last October.
I'd been tempted to sell it as I seem to be rid of the little buggers for so long, but I will keep it in case they do return one day/new ones pop up. I wish I had the patience to do other parts of my body apart from my face (and big toes :blush
, but as long as these are gone, I think I'll be happy.
I've had medical-grade laser treatments and on the highest setting, the Rio is almost as painful, but seems less as I'm the one using it IYKWIM. I wouldn't be tempted to use it more than once every 6 weeks because of this. The salon lasers need up to 6 treatments (and mine were 2 months apart) to work so this must be only a tad less concentrated - I asked the clinic about the light settings and they're the same range as the Rio) so it's not a quick fix - especially for resistant hairs.
If you buy one of these, don't expect results for a year or so don't expect a quick fix (which is what I strongly suspect a lot of the reviewers have). It's a long-term commitment or a complete waste of time and money. The results are good if you do commit, though.
Sorry about the long post, but I think this item has had unfair reviews and thought I'd try to put the record straight.
