Laser Vs. Electrolysis

[MsSaneJane]

     Which is better laser or electrolysis, which is more expensive? Also which has better results and is more painful.  If it maters my skin is a little darker than my avatars and my hair is black and curvy. One more thing on average how many session would be required to remove a beard.

[Dana Lane]

If you have light skin and dark hair it is best to do laser first then follow up with electrolysis. Laser cost me about $1200 (for 6 sessions with a top notch laser device). Then electrolysis to get the gray/light hairs missed by laser. My electrolysis is $80 per hour and it will probably take me a total of 60 to 70 hours to complete. laser sessions are fast. Mine lasted about 6 minutes. Electrolysis is very painful. Get as much useful laser as you can!

[rieko]

Concur. The cheapest/fastest plan is to kill as many folicles with laser as possible, then electrolysis the rest. Those with dark skin can do laser but require a laser with a longer wavelength (e.g. Nd:YAG 1064nm).

My laser sessions are USD $180 for the whole face, and my electrolysis is $65/hour. I find electrolysis is much more painful. I manage it with over-the-counter lidocaine 5% topical for both laser and electrolysis, and an additional prescription hydrocodone bitartrate 7.5mg oral for electrolysis. I hear 6 sessions of laser is average, with 3-4 weeks between sessions for the hair to shed. I hear electrolysis takes 200-400 hours for a full beard.

[MsSaneJane]

Does laser make your face swell?

[Cindy]

Hi Darling

You may want to read a thread I posted 'Laser, Again' It has some useful stuff in it (I hope )

Oh and welcome

Cindy

[rieko]

Laser doesn't make my face swell or even redden barely (I've done sessions on my lunch break and looked normal after), but everybody's different. Any redness or swelling should go away within a couple hours. Electrolysis left me with minor swelling, and the red spots lasted 1-2 weeks.