My first laser session

[Antonia J]

Okay, so I know this is like old news for a lot of you, and really I am laughing at myself for being so happy over my first laser session. I just had laser on my neck and part of my face, and while it hurt a bit (and smelled none-too-fresh!), I feel so good to be making progress in the right direction.

For those who are technically curious - the laser was a Light Sheer Duet (with suction) and another laser with a more focused beam for some of the harder areas. She did the entire neck, under my chin, and sideburn area in about 30 minutes.  It did hurt a bit, and I have a pretty high tolerance for pain. The best way I can describe it is that I was once burned by a cigarette, and it feels a little like that -- though not as long.  Very hot, sharp, intense pain...but only for a split second and then *poof* gone.

I now have what looks like the worst case of razor burn all along the areas she covered. I also have one or two hairs that seemed to singe below the surface of the skin and look like ink stains...I am told not to pick, and things will work out in the shower or shaving...but they are driving me crazy with the visual.

I go back in about 4 weeks.  The entire session was $150 - which seems a bit on the high side, but not incredibly so based on what I have read elsewhere.  Estimated total of 6 sessions will be needed.

This was done in a large professional dermatology office with several MDs and RNs on staff. The woman doing the laser was an LPN. I showed up in a womans crew neck t-shirt, levis skinny jeans, and some puma soleils and she did not even ask about it. She just said "looks like neck and face?" and then we ran through the pros, cons, risks, etc and jumped right into it. 

Rough looking neck, mild pain, and $150 poorer...and I feel MAHVELOUS!

[XchristineX]

Awesome stuff...
I'm a major proponent to lasers....
Duet may not be the best lasers...
Lightsheer diode is still king...
Also look into nd yag lasers...

I'm doing my 4th pass this morning

[Shantel]

You're doing what I'd like to do, I spent a small fortune on electrolysis and finally got disgusted and quit. My facial hairs are very light brown in color and now most of them have gone grey and are very bristly. So I'm told that I'd be wasting my money on laser and to stick with electrolysis which so far has run over a thousand dollars and I still have about 40% facial hairs left. Though the rest of my body is totally hairless other then crotch and underarms, I still find myself wishing that my facial hair was black because I refuse to endure any more electrolysis sessions, it's just too pokey a process. Grrrrrr!

[Rowan Rue]

I refuse to endure any more electrolysis sessions, it's just too pokey a process. Grrrrrr!

I don't know Shan, aside from broken bones and a kidney stone, Laser is THE most painful thing I've had to endure.  Way worse than my tattoo o.O

Antonia, YAY!  Aside from the pain I remember feeling absolutely elated after my first session.  I had to sit in my car and giggle for like ten minutes afterwards because I didn't think I should drive right away, I was that buzzed.
Glad to hear you didn't find it too painful. 
Oh, and $150 sounds very reasonable.  I'm paying about $2200 for 8 sessions.

[Shantel]

I don't know Shan, aside from broken bones and a kidney stone, Laser is THE most painful thing I've had to endure.  Way worse than my tattoo o.O

I know it's not fun but it doesn't go on forever like electrolysis. I get about 150 -200 whiskers removed in an hour long session at $60 an hour, she sticks a needle in your face next the the hair shaft and then releases some tremendous heat that feels like a bee sting as she pulls the follicle out with tweezers in her other hand. At that rate after having about 60% of my face cleared I felt as though I had been spending pre-death time in hell. If you can endure 8 sessions of laser at about a half hour each and get your face totally cleared, you are way ahead of what I've endured. I'm no sissy either, I know there are a lot of women here that have done it until completion and have survived. I just hated how long it was taking and how little was accomplished and felt as if I was being mistaken for her personal ATM.

[XchristineX]

When doing laser ALWAYS get emla cream on face one hour prior


Bang!!! Tolerable lasing

[Antonia J]

When doing laser ALWAYS get emla cream on face one hour prior


Bang!!! Tolerable lasing

I asked about that, and they said they didn't think it made much difference.  Do you find it really makes an improvement in the amount of pain?

Way worse than my tattoo o.O

Amen, sister! Definitely worse than my ankle tattoo!

I had to sit in my car and giggle for like ten minutes afterwards because I didn't think I should drive right away, I was that buzzed.
Glad to hear you didn't find it too painful. 
Oh, and $150 sounds very reasonable.  I'm paying about $2200 for 8 sessions.

That was my feeling exactly. I looked at the redness on my face in the rearview mirror of my car, and started thinking "I can't wait to go to my next session" It feels good just to be moving in the right direction.

[Shantel]

I asked about that, and they said they didn't think it made much difference.  Do you find it really makes an improvement in the amount of pain?

Yes, especially above the upper lip and around ears.

[ZoeM]

Wait, really? Laser's painful?

I know electrolysis was something else, but laser nowadays feels like maybe twenty electro prods, at most - it's almost pleasant, after three sessions, aside from the upper lip.

Am I doing something wrong?

[Rowan Rue]

Wait, really? Laser's painful?

I know electrolysis was something else, but laser nowadays feels like maybe twenty electro prods, at most - it's almost pleasant, after three sessions, aside from the upper lip.

Am I doing something wrong?

I think it depends on the type of laser?  That and I kinda suspect my laser tech (who I love, she's totally awesome) has a "take no prisoners" approach to the power level.
I find it hurts like hell, but  I've also had almost zero facial hair since the second session.

[XchristineX]

It does depend on laser types...
Nd yag.....softer...
Diode.... Ouch snap ouch snap ouch
Duet....more ouch...
IPL.....super heats ypie skin....not good


I just finished my 4 th full face laser diode....om feeling warm
Like a sunburn....@#**& did it ever stink of burning hair
Which is good

[RedFox]

I just had my second laser session tonight - and they cranked the juice up more from the first session.  I have a high tolerance for pain but I had to ask to turn it down just a bit.  I paid for $1000 for 8 sessions face and neck and negotiated to add underarms and back of neck today for $700 more (total for eight sessions).

I'm actually seeing an electrologist in a couple of days to look into having the mustache removed though - it's the only beard shadow I have and it drives me nuts!.

[TerriT]

My Laser sessions are my version of a spa trip.

I started laser about 12 years ago. Most of my facial hair was wiped out within 6-8 sessions at apx 4-6 weeks in between. I remember doing things in groups, like 3 sessions every 4-6 weeks then wait 12 weeks and start again. The worst time was after 4 or 5 trips when my face was just burned out and patchy.

But I did all of this pre hrt and still am. For the last 5 or 6 years, I still get a couple touch ups every few months. These ->-bleeped-<-ing face hairs are stubborn. Also I started when I was young and they told me it was going to be tough to wipe them all out.

My arms responded well after a few sessions and must hair is gone. My torso was a little more stubborn, but it's been manageable. I assume with hormones it would work better.

[jamielikesyou]

Regarding the EMLA cream for electrolysis, tbh I couldn't tell much difference with than without. I even had the surgical grade stuff (above 7%), was properly applied with the cover and time to work. It nearly doubled  the cost as well - my former studio used to charge $55 for a small bottle with the cost of each session being about $65 / hr. The bottle didn't last more than a few sessions.

What I did find helpful was taking a couple of over the counter Tylenol #1s along with 400-600 mg Ibuprofen (yay anti-inflammatory!) at the same time. This was the cheapest and most effective way to endure my sessions (I can now go two hours or more.) when I get home I pop an antihistamine as I get rash-y pretty quick. I imagine this would work for laser as well.

Would love to try laser for the chest and back fuzz. A little chicken to try the more, err, sensitive areas...

[XchristineX]

Haha after I white nuckle held the table for upper lip she said...

Off with the shirt let's take a look...
I told her fast fast I'm developing and I'm racing my HRT now

She used a pen to mark the lasing areas...shaved with an electric
And used a lint catcher to get hair ..smart...

Than she told me to bit this ad she held out a leather strap
And laughed....lol she tells that to all body first timers

Than she glided the thing in between my tights and snap snap snap
So fast and didn't hurt a bit...than over breasts....which one felt like
A guy bit my nipple and a mutterd ->-bleeped-<-!!!!    Lololol

Body doesn't hurt.... Up to you to use emla or not...I'm a girlie girl
So I do coz I'm scared of pain...

[jamielikesyou]

That's awesome Christine. I wish it would work on me, must be my Michelin-Man like skin 

[Antonia J]

I love Christine's last post 

[Jenny07]

Well done everyone, glad to see all enjoying their laser, ouch. I have kept going with other parts, ouch, now working on my legs, ouch. Laser is pain free, ouch, not really. Have had my front done, ouch, back, ouch face and neck, ouch done. Leg did sting abit, ouch again.
Have spent a fair bit, ouch, but it really starts to show, ouch and I feel much better, ouch.
Very little vissible body hair let at the moment which is fantastic, ouch.
I will get underarms done next time, ouch, with my last face session for a while, ouch.

I will need to look at electro for my neck as I have a lot of white hairs left, double ouch...

Oh by the way I find that laser is completely pain free, ouch, between the zaps, ouch...

Looking like a christmas tree now.

J

[XchristineX]

Haha Jenny sooo true....

But I decided to do my body all in one pass..
In about 6 weeks maybe....I want to do three passes

Only all at once is because I work In very remote mining camps
In northern B.C.....I'm.kitchen.staff...I'm only going to be home for 10
Days a month....