First laser (New photos Jan 5th)

[Harlow]

Oh boy excited and nervous all at the same time!

I just bought a package of 6 treatments with IPL laser removal. I have not yet made an appointment, but I did make the first step in purchasing it. No backing out now, not that I would lol.

Anyway I know everyone kind of has there own posts and questions. But just wanted to start a thread because I most likely will be posting pictures for my progress and to show others.

I know it's supposed to feel like a rubber band snapping and to use cool pads after and some redness may appear and then there is a shedding period. (I think I got that right)

Anything else I should anticipate, what else should I expect?

And most importantly what kind of skin creams or salves or what not can I put on my face afterwords to soothe and calm the areas? I plan on doing this over a weekend so that by Monday morning I'll look a lot better. Good thing I make the schedules at work XD

[sarahb]

For me I noticed that the hairs were super stiff after the laser as they grew in. It was almost impossible to shave for at least a couple of days after each session (in the beginning at least). Then they would start shedding and it would be all good, until the next session. I'm not sure if that's everyone's experience, but I know a couple others who this happened to as well. It doesn't cause any issues or anything like that, but I can see it making it harder to pass if you are already full-time or something and can't have a beard shadow.

[Harlow]

For me I noticed that the hairs were super stiff after the laser as they grew in. It was almost impossible to shave for at least a couple of days after each session (in the beginning at least). Then they would start shedding and it would be all good, until the next session. I'm not sure if that's everyone's experience, but I know a couple others who this happened to as well. It doesn't cause any issues or anything like that, but I can see it making it harder to pass if you are already full-time or something and can't have a beard shadow.

thanks that is quite helpful. Luckily I'm very andro right now and not out as trans so I'm good there. Which is why I wanted to start the laser before I went too far into HRT. I'm not even 2 months yet so I think I'll be good as far as timing. Quite exciting this time around! I chickened out in my early 20's, too overwhelming, I guess timing really is everything

[sarahb]

thanks that is quite helpful. Luckily I'm very andro right now and not out as trans so I'm good there. Which is why I wanted to start the laser before I went too far into HRT. I'm not even 2 months yet so I think I'll be good as far as timing. Quite exciting this time around! I chickened out in my early 20's, too overwhelming, I guess timing really is everything

Yeah, I believe you're right that timing is everything. I did the same thing...I started in early '06, did HRT for about 6 months then was like, "I can't do this!" and stopped. That didn't last long for me though, as 6 months after stopping I started up again and here I am.

Good luck with everything!

[Harlow]

Yeah, I believe you're right that timing is everything. I did the same thing...I started in early '06, did HRT for about 6 months then was like, "I can't do this!" and stopped. That didn't last long for me though, as 6 months after stopping I started up again and here I am.

Good luck with everything!

Lucky you, it was 12 years for me!! Thankfully I'm still young though 

[Eva Marie]

You can get numbing cream to help with the pain. The weaker stuff is called EMLA and if you need stronger you can have some made at a compounding pharmacy. The custom stuff  includes ingredients like tetracane and lidocaine.

You'll need a prescription for both of those.

[=celestica=]

good news is it isn't that painful
you won't be able to get a close shave for a while since the hairs get "stuck" under your skin
but you want to exfoliate the area after about the second or third day to start getting rid of dead skin

putting on SPF or using a moisturizer with SPF is important!

[Harlow]

good news is it isn't that painful
you won't be able to get a close shave for a while since the hairs get "stuck" under your skin
but you want to exfoliate the area after about the second or third day to start getting rid of dead skin

putting on SPF or using a moisturizer with SPF is important!

You can get numbing cream to help with the pain. The weaker stuff is called EMLA and if you need stronger you can have some made at a compounding pharmacy. The custom stuff  includes ingredients like tetracane and lidocaine.

You'll need a prescription for both of those.

Thank you both, these are all helpful to me!! I appreciate all the comments I can get

[Thylacin]

IPL or laser? They're both different things.

I just started laser, it wasn't too painful. It hurts more in spots with more hair, but overall it's not too bad. My face was red until the next morning. Shedding has started already about a week later.

[Harlow]

IPL or laser? They're both different things.

I just started laser, it wasn't too painful. It hurts more in spots with more hair, but overall it's not too bad. My face was red until the next morning. Shedding has started already about a week later.

IPL

[Harlow]

So my appointment was supposed to be 2 Fridays ago but the appointment got cancelled by the tech. Anyway I have an appt coming this Friday the 15th which I'm nervous and excited for. I can NOT wait especially since now I feel 2 weeks behind 

Here though is some photo's pre laser or anything. The first two are from almost 3 months of HRT so the stubble isn't as severe. The ones following are pre HRT and everything and I obviously have a lot of facial hair since I was experimenting with it. It seems some of us get overly masculine right before realizing it's just not working out lol. The handlebar moustache was fun, but I don't miss it at all, I'll always have the pictures, right?? 

After my laser appointment I will post after photo's as well so all can see what it's like!

[Kaitlin4475]

That handlebar moustache is so bomb but please update with photos after your treatment, I wanna see how the redness/peeling looks. Also update how long it lasted(the redness) I'm going to start full body laser when I get back from my deployment.. til then it's just dreaming out here in the desert.

[Harlow]

That handlebar moustache is so bomb

Yeah I dug it, it was a lot of fun. But a lady can't be her purdiest with a huge caterpillar on her face now can she I didn't really know it at the time, but I think I did inside my mind somwhere, because before I shaved it off I had my friend who is a photographer take a photoshoot with me and my stache!

but please update with photos after your treatment, I wanna see how the redness/peeling looks. Also update how long it lasted(the redness) I'm going to start full body laser when I get back from my deployment.. til then it's just dreaming out here in the desert.

Yes I plan to document every step, because I have yet to see the real deal. Even if it's ugly and angry looking I will take photos of my burnt mug and share it, someones got to do it right?? 

[Ludwig]

I love your blue hair, Harlow, but OMG, you look like D'Artagnan in the lower pictures!

[Harlow]

I love it, 3 musketeers right?

It's the most manly I've ever looked in my life 

The big day is tomorrow!!! 

[Harlow]

Alright here we go!

So first off I didn't get any redness really this time, Just a little pinkness on my chin. She did tell me that she had the power set to 28 and she would eventually get me up to a 38. Like others have said it feels like a rubber band snapping on your face. So a uncomfortable but definitely doable, I do have a higher threshold for pain, but I really think most people should be able to tolerate it. I will say most say the upper lip hurts the most, not for me. Mine hurt the worst (and I did flinch a little) on the area that is on the sides of the chin. Which is also where I have to shave in 80 different directions just to get a smooth shave. So my understanding and she agreed, is that where the most trouble areas for shaving are going to be your most sensitive areas for laser treatment. The procedure was pretty quick about 15 minutes or so (I only had my upper lip and chin done and two spots on my cheeks, I never grew a full beard luckily )

About 5-14 days she said I should start seeing the whiskers ejecting and like with everyone another appointment in 6 weeks. I did feel sensations in the areas treated not pain or burning or anything but could definitely feel the area was treated successfully. The next morning I shaved like normal and exfoliated and moisturized with very gentle products I use BioElements professional products ( http://www.bioelements.com/ ) Again no redness or swelling or anything even next day.

The pictures are of about 2 hours after treatment, I was going to take pictures today but my phone mysteriously just stopped working  No matter as I look just the same.

I will update again after my next appointment with most likely a higher setting. She also mentioned that most of her clients with beard treatment say they see significant results after their third treatment. And I don't know if I mentioned it earlier but the machine is IPL. Her machine also has a large surface so the treatments are faster as they cover more area.

Here's what you're waiting for



These areas hurt the most, but totally tollerable 

[MindyD]

Wow, this thread makes me so excited to get my laser done.

Keep the updates coming. ^_^

[Harlow]

Wow, this thread makes me so excited to get my laser done.

Keep the updates coming. ^_^

Yes will do, I just booked my next appointment for January 3rd!!

[Harlow]

Oh and an update. My skin is a tiny bit bumpy you can see it in the photos a little bit. Today I did shave and didn't feel anything but when I put on my makeup there was a very super slight tingly/stingly sensation but nothing like after shave would do or razor burn. It was very very minor but you could feel a tiny itsy bitsy sensativity, and did notice a tiny bit bumpy. I'm thinking it will go down in a day or two. Will update on that as well 

[Harlow]

3 day after laser. Found I couldn't' get that close of a shave today my skin was a little bit chaffed. I didn't want to push it and risk getting razor burn. Moisturize moisturize moisturize