5th Laser Session - Set Pain Level to GAAAAHHHH!!!!

[AweSAM!]

Alright, I guess this will be interesting to see what transpires on Monday. Thank god I'm not using an IPL! To tell you the truth, I refused to book hair removal anywhere that used IPL, since it is not a true laser, and apparently not as effective.

My tech is a doctor, so I think she's knows what she is doing. I would have also been comfortable if it wasn't a doctor, but it just worked out this way.

I can live with mild sunburn, or even pretty harsh sunburn. Kelli, it makes me cringe to hear about the IPL system, and the various horrors associated with it. I assume many people assume they are getting 'laser', but are actually using IPL.

Now I am way too excited to begin treatment!

[Pippa]

The shedding of dead hairs has started.  What I find strange about the process is that one hair will have its folicle destroyed but the neighbouring hair will remain intact.   It is probably something to do with the growth cycle.

I am extremely happy with the results and I think that once the dead hairs have gone, I will not have to shave any more.

If you are only just starting out, it is likely that you will still be having treatments into the summer.  I advise wearing a decent sunblock as you cannot be treated with a strong tan.   The risk of changing the pigment of your skin is too high.

[Dana Lane]

I had my first session last week and OMFG the pain. This laser gets the light hairs, too. He cranked it as high as it would go and I sat there and took the pain. I want this done! I could smell burnt hair for hours afterwards. Still waiting for all the hairs to fall out. They are much harder to shave when they are burnt to a crisp and hard as steel.
Post Merge: January 17, 2010, 08:45:41 AM

I have found that type of laser makes a big different, my first session was with an IPL and spent 2 hours getting hammered. My face was a mess for a week. I almost didn't think i would be able to do this. Then I got a tip on using Candella GentLase units and found a local clinic.

It was better in every single way. First she numbed my face with a cream and had me hold ice packs against it while she worked different parts. Along with a healthy icing after she was done.

Second, it covers a lot more surface area in one zap, so I was in the chair for 45 minutes. While my skin was red and tender that only lasted 2 days at the most.

Hugh difference and I am seeing great results. I have completed 3 of 5 sessions and after that if I have anything left I will have to go the electro route. I do have some lighter hair and a handful of grays. Yes I am older then I look.

I can't believe how long you have to sit in that chair! My treatment lasted a total of 7 minutes. My doctor's laser has a built-in jet of cold air and he just moves it along my face without stopping (accept to reposition). I couldn't imagine going for 45 minutes but 2 hours? yikes!

[kelliBennett]

I can't believe how long you have to sit in that chair! My treatment lasted a total of 7 minutes. My doctor's laser has a built-in jet of cold air and he just moves it along my face without stopping (accept to reposition). I couldn't imagine going for 45 minutes but 2 hours? yikes!

45 minutes was the total time I was there, and the laser she uses also has a built in cooling system. I was certainly not being zapped for 45 minutes straight. I mean there is the 10 minutes of ice packs before and after. Not to mention pauses in between.

As I said the last one was 25 minutes long and she did my chest and face. Along with the icing. Which makes a lot of difference.

[Dana Lane]

45 minutes was the total time I was there, and the laser she uses also has a built in cooling system. I was certainly not being zapped for 45 minutes straight. I mean there is the 10 minutes of ice packs before and after. Not to mention pauses in between.

As I said the last one was 25 minutes long and she did my chest and face. Along with the icing. Which makes a lot of difference.

oh, thank god! whew

[Pippa]

It all depends on the system being used.   The laser treatments I get cover a centimetre for each shot.   A full face session lasts about an hour.   Other systems use multiple light beams to hit larger areas

[AweSAM!]

1st session complete. I had no numbing cream (because the assistant forgot to give me some), and while I could smell the burning hair and feel the pricks, it was nowhere near as bad as I was lead to believe. When the doctor said it was done, I was somewhat surprised since it had not taken more than 40 mins. 4 hours later, and there is not much swelling to speak of, and there is little to no red. Yay, I'm a veteran now!  Next session in 5 weeks.

[Dana_W]

1st session complete. I had no numbing cream (because the assistant forgot to give me some), and while I could smell the burning hair and feel the pricks, it was nowhere near as bad as I was lead to believe. When the doctor said it was done, I was somewhat surprised since it had not taken more than 40 mins. 4 hours later, and there is not much swelling to speak of, and there is little to no red. Yay, I'm a veteran now!  Next session in 5 weeks.

Congrats! You're now in the club. 

When I had my first session the technician upped the setting to the point where it was as high as possible, but I could still stand it. The point is, the higher the setting, the more effective it's going to be but also the more painful it will be. Some of my most effective sessions left me looking red and welted for a couple of days, and in some spots even longer. But they worked better than the sessions that didn't hurt quite as bad.

Btw... my sessions only took about 15 minutes.

[Pippa]

After the fifth session and I couldn't be happier with the result.   I still have the odd hair here and there but basically my facial hair has gone.  I no longer need to shave and the final session next month will get rid of the rest.   I just wish that the hormones will hurry up and get on with their job.   I have now been on E for 10 months and my boobs are a small A.   I want them bigger.

[deviousxen]

.__.;


I... I have had. 3? I've had electro for a couple of hours too before. So I do this laser thing, right? And he goes from a low setting, to the next time 16... And it hurt more this time. Maybe its cause he turned it up without me knowing.

He tried holding up a conversation with me. I'm usually tough, but the second he gets to my upper lip and under my bottom lip I had to close my mouth and stop talking and just say, "Ok." BEEP "I think....Ow" BEEP! "That I'm done." BEEP!! "Talking for now... hah-" BEEEEP!

havent shaved it since then... So I look horrendous. I even decided to go out in drag yesterday cause I didn't have my scarf. Part of me thought it was fun... But as the day ground on I got sick of it. Just wish it would fall out faster... I scruff like effing hell with the exfoliant I have...


And how many of you use sunblock after? I'm so scared of sunblock. That stuff is so freaking bad and carcinogenic...

[Pippa]

Sunblock does not cause cancer.   In fact you are in much greater danger if you don't use it.  Also, if you get strong tan, the laser can destroy the pigment of your skin.   

There are so many scare stories circulating about what causes cancer.   In the space of a month one UK newspaper claimed that coffee both cured and treated cancer.

All scientific and medical guidance states that sublock is esential to stop skin cancers.   Slip on a shirt, slap on sunblock, slap on a hat.

[deviousxen]

Sunblock does not cause cancer.   In fact you are in much greater danger if you don't use it.  Also, if you get strong tan, the laser can destroy the pigment of your skin.   

There are so many scare stories circulating about what causes cancer.   In the space of a month one UK newspaper claimed that coffee both cured and treated cancer.

All scientific and medical guidance states that sublock is esential to stop skin cancers.   Slip on a shirt, slap on sunblock, slap on a hat.

Why should I trust medical guidance when all the majority of doctors have ever done is screw me over...

If you claim that it isn't cancerous, then show me. Give me a report thats an actual test with data in it. And not from the FDA. Screw them.

I am sick of peoples guidance. I want evidence.

[Pippa]

As I have mentioned on other forum entries, I work in Consumer Protection in the UK.   Part of my work is enforcing the Cosmetic Products Safety Regulations in the UK.    I have sampled all of the major brands of sunblock and I have had them independantly tested.   They do not cause cancer and the molecules are too large to pass through the skins surface.   That stands to reason as their purpose is to sit on top of your skin and deflect the suns rays.    The cosmetics industry should be taken to task on a large number of the claims they make, particularly in relation to anti-aging products but SPF factors are internationally recognised and independently tested.

There is a lot of nonsense out there and sometimes you have to believe in science.   I have recently seen a list of cosmetic companies stating that they all used animal testing but I am 100% certain that every European company on the list does not as it is illegal to test cosmetics on animals under EU law.

Why put yourself at risk of skin cancer unnecessarily.   You are willing to believe the science that says taking oestrogen will feminise you and that a laser can permenantly reduce your facial hair, it is therefore irrational to believe that a product designed to protect your skin from the cancer causing effects of UV light itself will give you cancer.

Not using sunblock during laser treatment risks damaging the pigment of your skin for all time.   A tan also lessens the effectiveness of the laser as energy is taken up with skin cells rather than the hair follicle.

Oh, and if you use foundation, most now contain an SPF factor to protect your skin.

[Icephoenyx]

I think I'm almost done with laser on the face... but then comes the chest. My nipples are not looking forward to it. 

Thanks for letting me vent.

Won't HRT get rid of the chest and nipple hair?

Chrissi