My First Laser Session!

[Rachel85]

I've just come back from my first appointment with laser, was just a "test" patch, but the nurse ended up doing all of both my sideburns and all under my neck.
The nurse was great! She asked what I would like removed, I told her I was tg and she barely blinked! Turns out she has a bit of personal as well as professional experience with transgender people and we just hit it off! Had a great chat about this that and everything while she was working (which really helps with not focusing on whats going on!).
The laser! It stings! hahaha! The pain (for now) isn't too bad when its being done and its been an hour or two afterwards and I've put soothing gel on it which really helps.
I've been told that the top lip hurts like hell! I was recommended Emla cream to numb it a bit before having it done, any other tips anyone has for getting it out of your head? I'm back next week for a full facial treatment and think emla cream all over my face might be a bit much! hahaha
For those that haven't done it yet, to me it felt a bit like waxing but with a bit more sting. My first time getting my back and chest waxed wasn't too bad until it came to my nipples and particularly under the armpits, tad sensitive there.
Anyone else had good or bad first times with hair removal?

Woo!! I'm on my way to having a clear face! WOO!!

[TerriT]

Congratulations. I started LHR a while ago. I couldn't stand the hair on my face or anywhere. It took a long time for it to really clear it up. I still go in every 3-6 months and get a clean up. My nurse is pretty nice. I'm not out with them though, but I highly doubt they would care since a laser clinic in SF is likely to have many trans patients, but you will see all sorts of people at a laser clinic.

You will probably want to use some numbing gels. It hurt a lot, especially when my hair was dense. It's not bad now that there's not much left, but early on, it sucked big time. I also went through this really patchy phase where parts of my skin reacted better than others and it took a long time before my skin was all even. That made me really self conscious and people did notice my skin was kind of chewed up.

Upper lip hurts, no getting around that.

[Rachel85]

I'm still pretty red, just hope I dont get called into work just after a session! People will think I've been slapped around by someone! I do have fairly sensitive skin too so I'm expecting some reaction to it, ah well, the price we pay! Also there is a definite smell to it, kinda like popcorn.
Yup, upper lip, might ask to save it to last.

P.S. I can still smell popcorn!
P.S.S. Thank you Tiffany!

[Tristan]

cynths congratulations. laser is a great thing. it helps with confidence and its really nice not to have to shave. i did it too and yeah they can kind of tell who is beginning stage tg from it. i remember when i first started i did not say anything but they knew and later told me.

[TerriT]

I'm still pretty red, just hope I dont get called into work just after a session! People will think I've been slapped around by someone! I do have fairly sensitive skin too so I'm expecting some reaction to it, ah well, the price we pay! Also there is a definite smell to it, kinda like popcorn.
Yup, upper lip, might ask to save it to last.

P.S. I can still smell popcorn!
P.S.S. Thank you Tiffany!

I used to schedule everything for friday afternoon and skip the rest of work. And usually stay home all weekend. But it gets easier and later I was going on my lunch breaks when my treatments were shorter. Ice packs help.

[Rachel85]

Thanks everyone, its settled down by now (12 hours ago), feels great, except for the redness. Hahaha, did have someone say "Wow! you've got a huge rash on your neck!" oh um yea, don't mind that.. lol. At least once my face is done i can hide everything else. Winter is coming. Long pants, long sleeve tops, many many excuses. Except "I got sunburnt" hahahah.
Maybe I'll wait til this is a bit more settled before doing eyebrows or anything, might make it all a little obvious Tristan. Already excited about not having to shave!
I'd love to be able to have thee weekends off to rest but I work most weekends so isn't so much an option
I think I need to buy some cold packs though!

[Cindy]

Well done Cynths,

I think she did some of my sessions as well  .

Nothing like finding the path''Hugs Doll

C

[Girl Power]

Congrats Cynths

The upper lip and chin hurts a lot.

But it does get better I had session 7 last weekend and only have hair on the upper lip and chin left. Hurts a lot less then when I started.

Ps I hate that burning hair smell when their doing it

Lots of love

Emma

[Cindy]

Hi people do you want to comment on this thread as well?

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php?action=post;topic=136864.0;last_msg=1100731

Cynths when you are seeing your laser tech ask her for truthful comments on products like tria laser

[Rachel85]

Thanks Cindy, no worries, I'll head over to the other post!