My entire experience at the Santa Monica and DTLA Laser Away locations have only felt like a waste of time, money, and trust. It's very ironic to me that a brand based around "empowering" women has made me feel so taken advantage of. No amount of "girlboss" vibes they infuse their marketing with can make up for the fact that they don't care about the people paying and putting their trust in them to perform medical procedures.
I am concerned by the incredibly low standard that Laser Away clinicians are held to. There have been issues with all but one of my several treatments. The clinicians are not trained well enough to provide consistent and safe procedures. I feel incredibly violated that Laser Away, a MEDICAL OFFICE, has gotten away with repeatedly performing the wrong treatment on my face, and their customer service refuses to offer a sufficient resolution.
Regardless of the time and money I've personally wasted at Laser Away, I am most concerned by how untrained their clinical staff are. I would not recommend that anyone seek their services unless they are prepared to risk improperly administered and potentially unsafe medical procedures.
My experience with Laser Away over the years is long and complicated, but here are the highlights of my experience:
I purchased a package of 9 Clear and Brilliant treatments in 2019. I was told at the time that this treatment targeted skin tone improvements. I received 7 treatments from 2019 and 2021. After my 7th treatment, I received a promotional email from Laser Away saying that Clear and Brilliant can be performed targeting tone and texture at the same time instead of individually . I was never told there were two options for Clear and Brilliant, so I called customer service to confirm that I was receiving the correct treatment that targeted tone improvements. It turned out that the clinicians had been using the texture option for all but one of my treatments. The only reason why one of the treatments was performed correctly was because the clinician asked me if I wanted to target tone or texture at the beginning of my appointment. I was not asked this in any of my prior appointments, nor was I informed that I would need to specify this at each treatment. My desire to target tone should have been noted in my files, or clinicians should be trained to ask every client about their goals before each treatment. Ultimately, 6 of the 9 treatments I received were not what I paid for and did not address my concerns with my skin due to the negligence of the staff.
In one of my first treatments the clinician skipped the area between my eyebrows. This was an area I specifically mentioned that I wanted to be treated in my initial consultation. The clinician skipped this area due to the placement of the eye shield, however there are other types of eye shields available that would allow them to treat this area. The clinicians should know which one to use to administer treatments properly. Ever since this experience, I have had to remind clinicians what parts of my face I specifically wanted to be treated and ask them to use the proper eye shield that will allow for the treatment to be applied correctly. It should not be the job of the customer to supervise the clinician during a medical procedure. An attempted resolution for my 6 improperly administered Clear and Brilliant treatments was one IPL treatment to "see how I liked it". During this procedure, I not only had to prompt the clinician to use the proper eye shield, but they also forgot to cover my eyebrows, resulting in a chunk of my eyebrow getting signed off. I was later informed by a customer service associate that clinicians are supposed to tape over your eyebrows before the procedure to prevent this from happening. Once again, it should not have been my job to supervise my clinician to perform all the necessary steps for administering a procedure safely. Time will tell if my eyebrow grows back...
Read moreThe LaserAway DTLA shop does not use regular clock, time somehow becomes a more vague and abstract concept than it already is once you enter this shop.
One time I was caught up in traffic and I called ahead of time to say I’m sorry I might be late for 5-10 mins. And they said it’s OK no worries.
Then I showed up late for 12 mins in total, and the front desk person, said to me, “well your appointment is canceled cuz you are LATE”. I said I called and you said it’s ok? He said, well you said 5-10 and now it’s more than that, no? I had to admit, I panicked, cuz yes, it is 2 mins more than I said, they are very meticulous and attentive to details, that, I don’t expect. “Should I just leave in this dead silence…it is very awkward” I said to myself.
But very dramatically, the front desk staff somehow said, ok but maybe I can squeeze you in later just wait here. Eventually I got my session but I was not happy. I felt like a kid getting spanked for misbehaving...
If I could do the trade offs, I would’ve lived happily with my underarm hair this time instead of trying to get rid of them for all these experiences…it’s a lot of stress…
BUT, I learned my lessons, I always do, I’m an A+ student.
I started to always show up right on time or at least 5-10 mins early for LaserAway DTLA.
And guess what, their laseraway clock works differently when you show up early.
They would keep me waiting for 10mins, 20 mins, or 30mins, and tell me when I arrive that “ We are just a clinic and stuff running behind sometimes can you just go out for a walk?”
Unfortunately, this is no resort in Hawaii. It is downtown Los Angeles. Where am I supposed to go for a walk? And who just WALKs AROUND here alone & hanging out?
So I wait, every time. Cuz I paid. And there is no way to get my money back unless I suck all this in and get the treatment.
And if I tell them I am upset, they will say it very calmly that: ”Do you have somewhere else to be? You wanna just reschedule?”
Ok I knew I look broke and that my time worths zero dollars, but I didn’t know it was that obvious. Or it’s just the LazerAway DTLA’s time is more valuable than anybody else’s… that’s a philosophical question.
Just another glorious day in beautiful Los Angeles my friends.
Be kind to your underarm hair, cuz it’s the only thing that won’t be rude to you in this cold cold world. ( it will always come back...
Read moreI recently had the pleasure of receiving laser hair removal treatments from Erica at Laser Away in Downtown La, and I cannot recommend her highly enough! From the moment I walked through the doors, Erica made me feel welcomed and comfortable. Her warm and friendly demeanor immediately put me at ease, which is so important when undergoing any kind of personal treatment.
What impressed me the most about Erica was her extensive knowledge and expertise in laser hair removal. She took the time to explain the entire process to me, addressing all my questions and concerns with patience and clarity. It was evident that she genuinely cared about ensuring I understood every aspect of the treatment, which greatly alleviated any apprehensions I had.
Throughout the treatment sessions, Erica consistently demonstrated exceptional professionalism and skill. She was incredibly accommodating with scheduling and always worked to fit me in, even during busy times. Her attention to detail was remarkable, ensuring that no area was missed in the process. I was amazed by how effective the treatments were, and much of that success is thanks to Erica's careful approach.
Moreover, Erica's friendly personality made each visit enjoyable. She always had a smile on her face and made me feel like I was more than just another client. Conversations with her were engaging and uplifting, which made the treatment sessions fly by! She truly goes above and beyond to create a positive atmosphere and forge a connection with her clients.
Thanks to Erica's expert care, I am thrilled with my results! I can confidently say that my experience with laser hair removal has been transformative, and I owe a significant part of that to Erica's hard work and dedication. She is an exceptional employee who embodies the highest standards of customer service and professionalism.
If you're considering laser hair removal, I wholeheartedly encourage you to book an appointment with Erica. You will not be disappointed! Thank you, Erica, for all your help and for making this journey a...
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