Ideal Image Lakeland — Local services in Lakeland

In my last update, I said this is not a bad review against ideal image in Lakeland FL but maybe it should be. I feel that you guys are drawing unsuspecting people in making them think that laser is permanent when you know it's not. As professionals you all should be telling your customers "Do you understand that laser is not permanent" "Do you know that the more you laser the more hair it wakes up in surrounding areas" but you don't. You charge unsuspecting customers like me all that money, knowing what the end results will be. Do you know how depressing it is to have paid thousands of dollars, went through all those laser sessions only to end up with 3 times the hair I started with. It doesn't feel good at all. Now I'm forced to use shaving cream every 2 to 3 days just to keep the hair away. I am now in the process of looking for a place that offers electrolysis a real (PERMANENT HAIR REMOVAL).

Very disappointed and disgusted customer!!! 😡

November 12th 2023 So this will be my last update and review for ideal image in Lakeland FL. I just want to make it clear that this is not a bad review against Ideal image in Lakeland because everyone there is professional and great!!! This is a review against the laser process itself. When I first started getting laser I thought it was one of the best things I could have done for myself!! Ummm 🤔 not! Turned out to be one of the worst! When I first started lasering I had a few little strands of hair under the left side of my chin. I have always been very self conscious about it so I decided to get laser. I wish I had gotten more info on it before I started. My fault for not doing my homework properly. I went through either 12 or 13 laser sessions because they said that your hair grows in different stages so it takes that many sessions to completely kill the hair follicles under the skin. What they DONT tell you is that once you start lasering it wakes up hair follicles in the surrounding areas. I was wondering if laser is supposed to be permanent, why do they give you a lifetime discount deal of 65 dollars each time you need to come back? Yes, you guessed it! They know you are going to need to come back. The catch is the 65 dollars is only to get touch up treatment on the area you payed for. When hair starts to grow in areas that was not a problem before then they want you to pay for another area and go through the 12 sessions again! So I said all of that to say the more you laser the more hairs it's going to wake up in the surrounding areas. Once you start laser basically you have to do it forever! Laser is NOT permanent please don't let nobody tell you it is!! Another thing once you get older and start to get gray hair, the laser won't work anymore because it doesn't work on blond, gray or lighter colored hair. Guess what I'm 52 and starting to get gray hairs. To keep lasering for me would be pointless. So basically now I'm stuck with 3 times the hair that I had before I started laser! Be careful and really do your homework. Once the damage is done to your skin you can't undo it!! Hope this helps someone.

So this is another update 2022. I have always got great results at ideal image. The staff are always great, however this time I did not get the results I was expecting. I normally feel a big difference after one treatment. Not this time. Not sure what happened different this time? I got my treatment done on Wednesday July 27, today is August 1st and I still feel hair on the area that was treated. I know the tech told me she had to use a lower setting because I hadn't been there since 2018 and she she didn't want the laser to burn my skin. Also this tech for reason did not go back as far in the area that the other techs do. Normally I don't have to do anything in between treatments, this time I will have find an alternative for hair removal until my next touch up appointment which is in October. Hopefully this time I will get...

I paid $6,500 (During a 75% off sale...) for laser hair removal on my upper and lower legs. Nine treatments (This was what the consultant told me it would take for all of my leg hair to be permanently removed) and three additional treatments later, and I still have 50% of hair on my legs – which I confirmed with a technician before my final treatment. As I was leaving, I was told that they would have to start charging me over $200 for additional treatments if I wanted more.

When I originally had my consultation, I was assured that I would have no hair growth after these nine sessions. The consultant told me that it may seem like a lot of money now but said: “Imagine how much you’ll end up saving on razors and waxing in the future!” What a lie.

When I started showing concern after my hair was still growing back towards the end of my treatments, one technician asked me if I had PCOS. Apparently that can sometimes interfere with treatment. After a visit with my gynecologist, I confirmed that I do not have PCOS. Funny though, because my gynecologist did say: "You know laser hair removal isn't permanent, right? You have to go for sessions yearly for the rest of your life in order for the hair to stay gone."

Funny how I wasn't told this from the consultant to begin with. What's even more is how many other people have told me that they’ve had the same problem with Ideal Image since my hair grew back.

I'm not leaving this negative review to knock the technicians or the front desk staff. Every single one of the staff members was extremely kind and professional. The offices were also very clean and well taken care of. I am leaving this review to warn others not to believe the consultants when they tell you a laser hair removal treatment will be permanent -- to warn you not to spend your hard-earned money on something that is, despite what they promise, NOT permanent. Not only did I waste $6,500 but I spent 12+ hours in agony, as these treatments are EXTREMELY PAINFUL.

If you’re still interested in laser hair removal after reading this review, I would suggest getting the consultant's assurance of “No hair for the rest of your life” in writing. I can guarantee you that they will not be willing to provide that. I wish I had been as smart. Such an incredible...

Please research before coming here for your hair removal needs. This place is overpriced for services that DON’T WORK. After speaking with friends who received their removal from other companies, I’m too embarrassed to tell them how much I spent for the areas I treated, because their response is always the same: “Wow, I have treatments for life on my entire body for that price.”

The staff is very friendly and engaging, but their services aren’t worth your money. Their sales team is top notch. They not only convinced me to take out a loan to get treatments, but also convinced me I had to get treated that same day to get the best deal. At 19 years old, it’s likely I was young and dumb but they used my ignorance to their advantage, claiming I would never have to use razors or worry about my hair growing ever again and that I was coming at the best time during winter so I “would be hair-free just in time for summer”. They had a problem keeping their staff but my first few treatments were amazing—I started seeing a 75% hair reduction by the 3rd treatment. Then they switched lasers and the treatments became painful and my hair actually started growing back faster AND thicker. My treatments went through summer and I couldn’t even walk in the sun to get to my classes without getting denied treatments from “too much sun exposure”, even though they claimed I would have a short window to be in the sun between treatments.

They gave me 9 treatments and here were my results: My underarm hair had only 50% reduction; lower leg hairs 90% reduction. Fun college summer memories 0%. After spending $4000 on my underarms and lower legs and 7 years later, all the hair has completely grown back. But get this: my legs hairs are blonde. Which means I can’t get “touch ups” or receive treatment elsewhere. Mind you, I naturally have thick, black hair. I’m not saying don’t go here, I’m just saying do your research first and hold realistic expectations before doing so—your hair will grow back, it might not even work, you won’t be able to be in the sun for at least one year, and it is painful (laser burns are a thing). Go in for your consultation with those facts so you don’t get manipulated...