Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Something that's on my mind today! My local laser clinic has scheduled my facial laser removal sessions 8 weeks apart (I had my first one about 4 weeks ago). Today, while Googling about aimlessly, I noticed that the vast majority of laser clinics seem to recommend 4-6 weeks for facial sessions because of the faster rate of hair growth. I've certainly noticed that in the last day or two, new hairs are beginning to make themselves known.

Should I should raise the discrepancy with them, or is waiting 8 weeks between facial hair removal normal?

It has been a while since I did facial laser hair removal, but I'm pretty sure it was 6 weeks
between sessions.

Mine is doing me every 4 weeks. I am happy to also report ALL the hair on my back is gone! woot! Back hair is sooooo nasty!

Mine has varied between 4-6 weeks...the last couple times they set me up with an 8 week gap, due to staffing issues. They told me it's within the "normal range" between sessions.

Feel free to ask them for an earlier date, if you think the growth cycle is faster.

Mine was every 4 weeks for my face. 6-8 weeks for the rest of my body. Male facial hair grows faster than hair other places.

4 weeks for my face as well.

Not to break topic, but how many iterations did you (that are complete/near completion) need to be clean of hair?

Quote from: Slightly Interested on September 10, 2012, 06:51:40 PM
4 weeks for my face as well.

Not to break topic, but how many iterations did you (that are complete/near completion) need to be clean of hair?

It varies quite a bit. I've read some who say they're clear after 4 sessions...I've had 10, and still have to shave each day. (Although I "could" skip on the second morning...it's much, much less than it used to be, when I had to shave twice in one day if I were going out on a date)

I allways had 3-4 weeks between sessions (in total 14 sessions for my facial hair)

Thanks all. I might just give them a call and ask if the session can be any earlier, given that the hair is coming back so strongly now.

I too had sessions with 8-week intervals (Lightsheer Laser). After six weeks facial hair slowly started to regrow again. After eight weeks I almost always had enough facial hair to get a considerable amount removed again.

Had mine today they are every 4 weeks.

Quote from: Beth Andrea on September 11, 2012, 01:29:24 AM
...I've had 10, and still have to shave each day.

I've had 3 on my face so far. The sessions are scheduled 6 weeks apart. I wait 10-14 days after the treatment before shaving to let hair naturally fall out.

After the 10 days or so I would shave every day which my technician recommended I don't do. She says that I was strengthening the hairs that grew back. Has any one else been told this? It makes sense but what is a girl to do, walk around with a long patchy beard until all 6-8 treatments are completed? That's like asking to put my transition on hold for 10 months...um I don't think so.

Quote from: PaigeMtl on October 01, 2012, 08:03:59 AM
I've had 3 on my face so far. The sessions are scheduled 6 weeks apart. I wait 10-14 days after the treatment before shaving to let hair naturally fall out.

After the 10 days or so I would shave every day which my technician recommended I don't do. She says that I was strengthening the hairs that grew back. Has any one else been told this? It makes sense but what is a girl to do, walk around with a long patchy beard until all 6-8 treatments are completed? That's like asking to put my transition on hold for 10 months...um I don't think so.

I was never told this and think that "shaving makes the hair stronger" is an old wives tale anyway. Like you said, I'm full time and have zero interest in walking around as the bearded lady waiting for my next session.

Shaving isn't an old wived tale. Shave somewhere you have never shaved before and watch what happens. The hair grows back bigger and darker. I'm pretty sure we all have experienced this shaving our legs.

I did my first electrolysis today :D (white whiskers begone!). Which btw is a nothing compared to the pain of ipl or laser treatments. I mention this because these sessions can be done in between laser or ipl treatments to speed things up. Why didn't I realize this 5 months ago!?

Quote from: PaigeMtl on October 04, 2012, 08:40:39 PM
Shaving isn't an old wived tale. Shave somewhere you have never shaved before and watch what happens. The hair grows back bigger and darker. I'm pretty sure we all have experienced this shaving our legs.

I never noticed this on my legs or other parts I have shaved.

It's more noticeable as it grows back out and feels "bigger" because you only are feeling the short/thick part when it starts back. This is most definitely an old wives tale.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hair-removal/an00638 (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hair-removal/an00638)

http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2007/12/13/does-shaving-make-hair-grow-back-thicker.html (http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2007/12/13/does-shaving-make-hair-grow-back-thicker.html)

http://www.oprah.com/style/Top-10-Skin-Myths/6 (http://www.oprah.com/style/Top-10-Skin-Myths/6)

http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2010/07/shaving-does-not-make-your-hair-grow-back-thicker-or-faster/ (http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2010/07/shaving-does-not-make-your-hair-grow-back-thicker-or-faster/)

Mine were about 6 weeks apart.  I was always told the face had to be done more often than the rest of the body.

@Stephe : When I saw the link to Oprah I knew I was wrong for sure!  ;)

My laser lady said that my magic number is 5 weeks for my face and 8 for body. She said that the average for facial hair is 4-6 weeks apart.

You should really go when you see new hair i.e. hair from the next growth cycle. 

For face, that usually happens between 4-6 weeks for the 1st 2-3 treatments and about 7-8 weeks for the next 3-4 treatments. Post 6 treatments, you should not have a lot of hair left and you might need 2 more treatments spaced 3-4 MONTHS apart and then may be 2 more treatments spaced 6 months apart. 10 treatments should remove all the laser-able (read:thick) hair. If that doesn't do it, then your hair is probably too fine or light for laser and/or your technician is incompetent and/or a cheater.

For trunk.. between 7-10 weeks for the 1st 2-3 treatments and 10-12 weeks for the next 3-4 treatments.

For legs.. 10-12 weeks for the 1st 2-3 treatments and 12-16 weeks for the next 3-4 treatments.

Facial hair removal should ideally be 6-8 weeks apart. 4 weeks is too short for most people.

Just my citation-less experience, from my hair removal as well as my reading.