Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hi all,

So today I learned first hand the pain of beauty.  :P

While waiting to start HRT, I'm taking those initial steps into transition. And today I had my first Laser hair appointment. Did pretty much everything north of the equator exept face. Chest, stomach, upper arms, lower neck, and underarms. Everything was good until they started on the underarms.

One word: OUCH!

I made it through relatively unscathed. My underarms are quite sore though. I blame a lot of thick dark black hairs. Hopefully the next session will be better.

Next week, South of the equator. Legs and Feet.

Overall, not a bad experience. Doctor was very good. And I'm pretty happy with the pricing. Got $50 off a package due to it being my birthday month. So for upper body it was $2100 for 5 treatments. Lower will be another $1500. Not sure what face will be. But I do get 10% off the $1500 for lower due to loyalty reward points. ^_^ Same for Face.

Now if only the Ibuprofen will kick in I'll be set. :P

~Kamyu

Oh god lol I am so sorry; laser is EXCRUCIATING!!!!! I'm lucky in that the only part of my body that needed it was my upper lip, and thanks to black hair/programmers complexion-tan it was very effective, but dear GOD it was painful! Kudos to you!!!!! I still don't know how I made it

Yyyyyyyep!

:icon_yikes:

Laser hurts. Electrolysis hurts even a little more.

Both are bearable.

I did laser to the face approximately a month ago did not hurt I didn't think but no pain no gain hope it gets better for you pain is beauty

I wish I could do laser!  an hour of electrolysis on the upper lip is borderline torture...  Thats what they should do instead of waterboarding.... electrolysis their face!  BRUTAL!

I think that if anyone is looking for proof that being transgender is a real thing, they need look no further than what we do for the sake of hair removal. No one in their right mind would subject themselves to this kind of pain unless they were very strongly motivated to do so. :P

I'd like to get electrolysis done but am not quite sure when I will but hopefully it doesn't hurt too much, it sounds quite painful haha.

Quote from: Miyuki on July 16, 2014, 08:13:51 PM
I think that if anyone is looking for proof that being transgender is a real thing, they need look no further than what we do for the sake of hair removal. No one in their right mind would subject themselves to this kind of pain unless they were very strongly motivated to do so. :P

Right?  And I'm so excited for my next appt, I called and begged for one this week...  Masochistic?

Quote from: Valleyrie on July 16, 2014, 08:16:03 PM
I'd like to get electrolysis done but am not quite sure when I will but hopefully it doesn't hurt too much, it sounds quite painful haha.

I'd rather take a horse hoof to the face... but tragically, that doesn't get rid of hair.

How would you like to be inflicting this pain on yourself? Yup, at the moment I'm doing my own laser (I have professional grade machines) and in some areas like where my facial scars are -Yeooooowwch!! :icon_yikes: :icon_yikes: :icon_yikes: Luckily I never had any hair under my arms to worry about and my leg hair is very fine only 1 step above being velus, forearm hair is the same so a once per week shave and my legs stay smooth. I don't have any hair anywhere else to worry about with the exception of leftover grays on my face my lasers have a hard time dealing with that I'll prolly end up having electro done on to remove them.

Quote from: Miyuki on July 16, 2014, 08:13:51 PM
I think that if anyone is looking for proof that being transgender is a real thing, they need look no further than what we do for the sake of hair removal. No one in their right mind would subject themselves to this kind of pain unless they were very strongly motivated to do so. :P

This is sooooo true!

Best wishes! :icon_bunch:

Allie :icon_flower:

Oh yes, laser depilation HURTS. So far I'm only on face and neck sessions. Next January I'll probably start with underbelly and later on with underarms. And if like in spring 2016 (that will be 2 years on HRT) there will still be some body hair remaining on my chest and belly then I'll go for the even more painful electrolysis. Hopefully there won't be too much left to take care of.

And when I used a depilator (40 tweezers) on my legs and arms for the first few times... It felt like my skin was on fire. Fortunately the pain got gradually weaker and weaker. Now I just feel something tiny when a body hair is tweezed off.

Don't know about laser, but I use an epilator and ever since first starting so many years ago, underarms were and still are the least painful spots to do. The worst for me for many years was the arms and even still I run that tweezer torture machine wanting to scream. I started several weeks ago doing my torso area, all those fine hairs along there, first time I had to stop every few seconds and gather some more strength to deal with the stinging hell, but once I got passed that, now its just a matter of keeping up with it every few days, still stings but no where near as much as the first time. But that laser stuff sounds scary the way everyone puts it. But I'd do it if I could, especially my legs. Over a decade and a half pulling leg hairs and still its a never ending thing, beats shaving though.

Quote from: HeatherR on July 16, 2014, 08:17:09 PM
Right?  And I'm so excited for my next appt, I called and begged for one this week...  Masochistic?

It's good to know that I'm not the only one like this!

Quote from: Megan Joanne on July 17, 2014, 11:45:12 AM
Don't know about laser, but I use an epilator and ever since first starting so many years ago, underarms were and still are the least painful spots to do. The worst for me for many years was the arms and even still I run that tweezer torture machine wanting to scream. I started several weeks ago doing my torso area, all those fine hairs along there, first time I had to stop every few seconds and gather some more strength to deal with the stinging hell, but once I got passed that, now its just a matter of keeping up with it every few days, still stings but no where near as much as the first time. But that laser stuff sounds scary the way everyone puts it. But I'd do it if I could, especially my legs. Over a decade and a half pulling leg hairs and still its a never ending thing, beats shaving though.

I use an epilator too.  I feel soooo lucky that I am hairless enough that I can get by with an epilator everywhere except my face and SRS prep area.  Bikini area is the worst, but still less painful than laser or electrolysis.

Kim  :)

Quote from: Miyuki on July 16, 2014, 08:13:51 PM
I think that if anyone is looking for proof that being transgender is a real thing, they need look no further than what we do for the sake of hair removal. No one in their right mind would subject themselves to this kind of pain unless they were very strongly motivated to do so. :P

How terrible and terribly true.  It's quite one of the most miserable ways to spend loads of money!!!  I thought I had a lot of dark hair until laser got rid of all of it, leaving me with masses of blond and white ones.  Now I have the pleasure of two weekly electrolysis sessions, with so many more to come that it almost makes me cry. 

Is there anything quite as nasty as getting your top lip done?  I don't think so!

Quote from: Allyda on July 17, 2014, 11:28:07 AM
How would you like to be inflicting this pain on yourself? Yup, at the moment I'm doing my own laser (I have professional grade machines)

Allie, how did you learn to do this? It may be insanity but I think I might like to follow in your footsteps.

Quote from: Dee Walker on July 17, 2014, 12:59:17 PM

Allie, how did you learn to do this? It may be insanity but I think I might like to follow in your footsteps.

You Tube, instruction DVD's that came with my lasers, research, and a lot of trial and error being very cautious to error on the too light of a setting, side. After around a year and a half I've pretty much mastered it. Choose your laser carefully

I've heard people talk about how much it hurts. I have one thing to say; be thankful you don't have scar tissue on your face that needs laser! :icon_yikes: :icon_yikes: :icon_yikes: Yea, other areas hurt but none like scar tissue does.

Allie :icon_flower:

I'm actually dreading electrolysis a bit. :p

So far, my underarms are feeling much better. I figure the extreme pain was from dense concentration and slightly too long hair. Left side was definitely worse than the right side. So much so I could hear the hairs being lasered. Sounded like electricity zapping.

Next week is the lower half. Mostly legs. Don't anticipate any significant pain there.

Not sure how well laser will work on the beard area. I jokingly call it The Amazing Technicolor Dream Beard. :P Has every color in it. Black, red, brown, white, copper, etc. I figure I'll do laser on it and get the stragglers with electrolysis. Will probably start on the beard area closer to fall. Too much sun right now and my job has me outside quite a bit. Do wonder how beard area will feel getting laser. Next time I'm in, might get a test spot done to see how well it works with laser.

The quote about what we go through for hair removal rings so true. We do sometimes literally torture ourselves in what we go through.

~Kamyu

Electro itself isn't so bad... but it's one hair at a time.. and there are TONS of those little suckers... It starts out a little pinch, but then it gets progressively worse each hair... The girl that does mine told me that once I start holding my breath for each zap, she knows it's time to stop.  I do numbing injections, but those actually hurt worse than the electro itself lol!  It doesn't take very long though, and makes the whole hour so much more pleasant... until it starts wearing off, then HOLY BAJEEZUS THAT HURT!

I'll say it again; gray facial hairs are natures cruelest joke she plays on us.

Allie :icon_flower:

Quote from: Allyda on July 17, 2014, 11:30:40 PM
I'll say it again; gray facial hairs are natures cruelest joke she plays on us.

^^ This ^^

I'll have an hour of electro just working on my upper lip and she'll go "all clear now!" And I'll run my finger tip up and go "not so fast!" She says "you're right, where did those little devils come from". They hide but I know they're there.

Quote from: Allyda on July 17, 2014, 11:30:40 PM
I'll say it again; gray facial hairs are natures cruelest joke she plays on us.

Allie :icon_flower:

Allie - I will say it again, again.  Just got home from my electroooooooooooooohhhh!

yes we do suffer for beauty

i remember my hair removal phase... ouch.. i only had my chest, face and arms done.. i still shave my legs and pits

we also suffer other ways for beauty.. wearing uncomfortable clothing and shoes because we look so fine in them lol... its part of womanhood... take like a woman lol

Quote from: noleen111 on July 18, 2014, 10:53:11 AM
yes we do suffer for beauty

i remember my hair removal phase... ouch.. i only had my chest, face and arms done.. i still shave my legs and pits

we also suffer other ways for beauty.. wearing uncomfortable clothing and shoes because we look so fine in them lol... its part of womanhood... take like a woman lol

This ^^_______^^ says it all. I own shoes I actually hate to wear cause after an hour on your feet they're soooo uncomfortable. So why wear them? I just look so hot in them with certain outfits though, lol! They really, sort of accent my legs.......

Oh and let's not forget all the dieting and eating small portions just so we can stay thin. Sometimes I'll be sitting in front of food and be soooooo hungry! But I've already reached my caloric limit for that meal and reluctantly have to pass it by.

As you say; Take it like a woman!

Allie :icon_flower:

Nothing tastes as good as thin feels.


Clearly written by someone unaccustomed to chocolate dipped bacon.

Bacon! One of the most vilest smells on the planet, and I have cleaned petrol station bathrooms.

Ahh beauty the pain that hits us twice. First via the hair removal of our choice, then when we look at our bank balance to maintain it (gym, clothing, hair, jewelry, accessories ect).  Beauty is pain but it is worth it.

Quote from: immortal gypsy on July 22, 2014, 07:11:07 AM
Bacon! One of the most vilest smells on the planet, and I have cleaned petrol station bathrooms.

Agreed ^^^_____^^^, ew! :icon_censored:

Ahh beauty the pain that hits us twice. First via the hair removal of our choice, then when we look at our bank balance to maintain it (gym, clothing, hair, jewelry, accessories ect).  Beauty is pain but it is worth it.

Um, yea, I forgot about how much beauty costs us, cha-ching!! :icon_yikes:

Allie :icon_flower:

Quote from: noleen111 on July 18, 2014, 10:53:11 AM
yes we do suffer for beauty

we also suffer other ways for beauty.. wearing uncomfortable clothing and shoes because we look so fine in them lol... its part of womanhood... take like a woman lol

Absolutely agree Noleen with all you say, it's all part of being a woman

Laser was very very painful and I think it even gave me minor PTSD. Something about that feeling against your skin, then a bright light followed by searing pain. To think it didn't even work on all of my facial hair either. So now I'm doing electrolysis on the upper lip.  >:-) I don't like anesthetic either so I feel kind of masochistic getting this stuff done sometimes.

Quote from: lightvi on July 22, 2014, 05:40:09 PM
Laser was very very painful and I think it even gave me minor PTSD. Something about that feeling against your skin, then a bright light followed by searing pain. To think it didn't even work on all of my facial hair either. So now I'm doing electrolysis on the upper lip.  >:-) I don't like anesthetic either so I feel kind of masochistic getting this stuff done sometimes.

Yes I understand that completely. I can't begin to describe how much pain I've endured with laser. I have super sensitive skin. If I wasn't getting the awesome results I've had so far I would of stopped but it's so worth the pain. I usually end up tearing up a lot and in my first two sessions I started crying. When the upper lip part comes I start to laugh. Its the way I cope with the mega intense pain it brings  :laugh:

I hear electrolysis is even more painful, which I'm really hoping to avoid. My doc who does my laser says she thinks I might not need it since a lot of the hairs have disappeared completely. I'm about 85% clear so I'm hoping the next few sessions will be my last.

I'm coming off 2 weeks after my 1st laser session and I'm impressed. My reduction has got to be around 80% or so. Today I took my hand and wiped hard across my stubble and hundreds of stubble hairs pulled off. So I got a wet towel and went to work. Then shaved with the razor. Then a bit more with the electric.

I was (https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Foi57.tinypic.com%2F24lv9yx.jpg&hash=d7b76021b6d9114eefb7a24246bac71f9689855f) in the mirror today.

Just ONE session.

What I have noticed is a lot of growth with grey and white stragglers. I never knew I had so many, I'm not THAT old being 30'ish. I would estimate several hundred or so around my face, especially the chin area.

I guess electrolysis is definitely in my future. Ughh. But still happy overall being borderline passing now.

I did 32 hours of electro in two days in Arizona. Shots in my face and a woman on either side for two days...it was hell. Blood running down my face, sheer terror. Since then not much better. I do a five hour appointment every three weeks. If one more person says this is a choice.....no words.

My weekly two hour session is scheduled tonight. After 5 or 6 sessions my upper lip is finally mostly cleared, just a few stragglers left. Time to finally move onto someplace else. About time too. I kept on going in thinking, just another 20-30 mins and it will be cleared, but 2 hours later we're still working the lip. Man was there a lot of hairs there. And this was after 18 months of laser. As the topic says, the things we do ... now where's my numbing cream?

I had let my gray stragglers grow out for 3 days before shaving off what I couldn't get to yesterday plucking. I wanted to see exactly how many I had, so I can guestimate the number of electro sessions I need to book. Talk about discouraging and upsetting,I dunno where they all came from.  :icon_cry: I do have clear spots but this is horrible! Yes, they're very fine compared to regular beard hair. Anyway, I began plucking and found out the roots are just as gray as the part that shows is. No wonder my lasers are having little to no effect. Yea I have the carbon dye and that does help some in getting them. T'm so upset. I have no idea where I'm going to get the kind of money I'm going to need to rid my face of these unwanted horrors. And until I can afford electro I'm going to be stuck plucking. Which unfortunately means letting it grow out for 3 days and face shame every time someone knocks on my door. :icon_cry2:

Allie :icon_cry:

Quote from: Allyda on July 23, 2014, 04:49:52 PM
I had let my gray stragglers grow out for 3 days before shaving off what I couldn't get to yesterday plucking. I wanted to see exactly how many I had, so I can guestimate the number of electro sessions I need to book. Talk about discouraging and upsetting,I dunno where they all came from.  :icon_cry: I do have clear spots but this is horrible! Yes, they're very fine compared to regular beard hair. Anyway, I began plucking and found out the roots are just as gray as the part that shows is. No wonder my lasers are having little to no effect. Yea I have the carbon dye and that does help some in getting them. T'm so upset. I have no idea where I'm going to get the kind of money I'm going to need to rid my face of these unwanted horrors. And until I can afford electro I'm going to be stuck plucking. Which unfortunately means letting it grow out for 3 days and face shame every time someone knocks on my door. :icon_cry2:

Allie :icon_cry:

How does carbon dye help? (where'd ja get it?)

Also won't the dyed part sticking out be singed only? Won't the the rest of the shaft and follicle remain mostly unaffected?

Quote from: Evelyn K on July 23, 2014, 02:20:29 AM
I'm coming off 2 weeks after my 1st laser session and I'm impressed. My reduction has got to be around 80% or so. Today I took my hand and wiped hard across my stubble and hundreds of stubble hairs pulled off. So I got a wet towel and went to work. Then shaved with the razor. Then a bit more with the electric.

I was (https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Foi57.tinypic.com%2F24lv9yx.jpg&hash=d7b76021b6d9114eefb7a24246bac71f9689855f) in the mirror today.

Just ONE session.

What I have noticed is a lot of growth with grey and white stragglers. I never knew I had so many, I'm not THAT old being 30'ish. I would estimate several hundred or so around my face, especially the chin area.

I guess electrolysis is definitely in my future. Ughh. But still happy overall being borderline passing now.

CONGRATS! sounds like my first session!  ;D

Quote from: Evelyn K on July 24, 2014, 12:48:22 AM
How does carbon dye help? (where'd ja get it?)

Also won't the dyed part sticking out be singed only? Won't the the rest of the shaft and follicle remain mostly unaffected?

In theory the dye sinks in and colors the hair down into the follicle. You can buy on amazon but I tried and a waste of time. IMHO do electro as often and as much as you can. Get references from trans people not cis women as I wasted a year with my fist technician. .

Been letting my white stragglers grow and now I'm counting at least a thousand or so.

Great! Ra!

So how long would it take for an electrolysis tech to take care of those? Estimate on time and sessions?

Hi all,

Well today was my 2nd Laser Hair session. This time south of the border. Went really well. They were able to turn the laser all the way up to 10 (Max: 12). This was due to the pale skin and dark hair combo I have. Everything went good until they reached the top of the legs up near the bikini area. Now that area hurt something fierce. Almost as bad as the underarm was. I think it was just a denser concentration of hair.

Also got two sample areas done. One on my left buttock and one on my face in the neck area. My next appt is in 5 weeks so we're going to see how those areas react to laser and go from there.

Technician showed me her legs which had been lasered. Said mine should eventually become that smooth too. I'm looking forward to that day. ^_^v

~Kamyu

Today I welcomed an epilator into my life.  Actually not as bad as I remember the 'epilady' was... but I still had to bite down on a rolled towel.  Lower left done... charging up for round two.  It's gonna be a long night.

:)

My heart goes out to all of you gals with gray hairs. I'm dreading getting electrolysis, so far laser is working really well for me. But it's really painful either way since I have super sensitive skin. I can't imagine electrolysis.

DOWN WITH THE HAIR!!!!!!!!

Quote from: Lady_Oracle on July 30, 2014, 05:42:23 AM
My heart goes out to all of you gals with gray hairs. I'm dreading getting electrolysis, so far laser is working really well for me. But it's really painful either way since I have super sensitive skin. I can't imagine electrolysis.

DOWN WITH THE HAIR!!!!!!!!

Oh I can deal with the physical pain, it's the financial pain after sinking nearly 2k into my own lasers and IPL that's hard for me to endure. :icon_yikes:

Allie :icon_flower:

Yeah I actually have WHITE no greys. My melanocytes said, "you want pigment? then it's going to be either all, or nothing at all..." ;D

Had my 2nd laser session yesterday. Mustache area was teh ow as usual.

This is my machine.

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Foi60.tinypic.com%2F2823pxt.jpg&hash=b4672e085f22fd5b039976c62321b5771e46906c)

Quote from: Emmaline on July 30, 2014, 04:20:56 AM
Today I welcomed an epilator into my life.  Actually not as bad as I remember the 'epilady' was... but I still had to bite down on a rolled towel.  Lower left done... charging up for round two.  It's gonna be a long night.

:)

Anyone ever try an epilator on their beard? ???

Quote from: Evelyn K on July 31, 2014, 05:04:00 PM
Anyone ever try an epilator on their beard? ???

I doubt it would work Evelyn. Facial hair is a very very cruel evil thing. Usually they're roots are too deep and long. Pluck one with a pair of tweezers and you'll see what I mean. Nope, I doubt the epilator would do anything but cause a lot of unnecessary pain and disappointment. Just my $.02 though. If you try, let us know how it works out?

Allie :icon_flower:

I remember someone saying it can cause scar tissue on face.  (Not verified)

I love the epilator I got... but it takes soooooooo long.

Quote from: Allyda on July 31, 2014, 03:36:19 PM
Oh I can deal with the physical pain, it's the financial pain after sinking nearly 2k into my own lasers and IPL that's hard for me to endure. :icon_yikes:

Allie :icon_flower:

ahhh yeah..another reason why I'd like to avoid electrolysis..Sooo pricey, the place I plan on going to if I do, quoted me 100 for 1 hour session. A hundred hours of electrolysis, is a lot of mula.

^^ I don't get it, how many hairs can a technician do an hour? 50? 100? Wot the hell...

I plan on doing laser first for my facial hair. I'll follow it up with Electrolysis for the ones laser doesn't get.

Quote from: Evelyn K on August 01, 2014, 02:52:06 PM
^^ I don't get it, how many hairs can a technician do an hour? 50? 100? Wot the hell...

Some technicians can do more than 100 per hour, but they are usually the more pricey ones. I haven't really did much checking yet though. I'm just ATM looking for places to get it done, and until I have the $$ there's no sense in booking any yet.

Allie :icon_flower:

I want to find a place that has two technicians, one for each side.

The advice I received about choosing an electrologist is to check for small scars at the folicle site after each session. If you see any scarring, go somewhere else.

Kim :)

Electrolysis can be scarring? ??? Wouldn't a few weeks of exfoliation slough it off? Really how invasive can electrolysis be?

Get references from trans clients.  I went to one for a year every three weeks trying to get done but never better. My electro person I use now kills them dead. I feel blend worked best for me as at first I did thermolosis (sp) ? And had scabs on my face, so very uncool.  Not all electro is equal and don't just go to the lowest cost provider but go to the best. God help the poor friendless person transitioned as this trip  costs lots of both

Stevie

I can tell you about my beauty rituals and they are very very exhausting sometimes...

I shave myself whole body all 3-4 days then after every shower I oil, cream and put sunscreen on my skin. Every once in a week I sleep with plenty of coconul oil in my hair, I use hair conditioners and I straighten my hair every day to get rid of my beachy waves. Whenever I do make up it takes for me 30-45 minutes and that is every time I go out (even if it is for shopping). I wear sometimes corsets with 24 steel bones to make my waist even smaller (69cm right now I could decrease 5 cm with it already). I tip my fingernails into olive oil every time I put off my nail polish. I have to do my eyebrows 1x a week. I sometimes  create my own honey and avocado + aloe vera masks to smoothen my face skin. I bleach my teeth with baking soda and strawberries. I hope I didnt forget anything .. :3 So yes, this is hella exhausting and I guess all the guys out there have it a lot easier, they just stand in front of the mirror trimm their beard or what ever shave their chest maybe and underarms + "bikini zone" and thats it. I mean thats just so unfair lawl :/ Sorry if that is a little bit off topic but I cant talk about electrolysis since I havent ever done that so I just decided to share my rituals to maintain very feminine and healthy

Quote from: Evelyn K on August 04, 2014, 06:14:54 AM
Electrolysis can be scarring? ??? Wouldn't a few weeks of exfoliation slough it off? Really how invasive can electrolysis be?

I am definitely NOT the expert, just relaying information as it was told to me by my therapist.  She is not an expert in electrolysis either, but has many years of experience working with trans folks, so I trust her input on what she has seen that has/hasn't worked for her clients' transition.  She has seen clients that were scarred by bad electrolysis.  The scars are similar to those that you see of people that had bad acne as teens.  You are not going to get rid of them through exfoliating. You may not be able to get rid of them at all.

Kim :)

Quote from: KimSails on August 04, 2014, 08:53:07 AM
I am definitely NOT the expert, just relaying information as it was told to me by my therapist.  She is not an expert in electrolysis either, but has many years of experience working with trans folks, so I trust her input on what she has seen that has/hasn't worked for her clients' transition.  She has seen clients that were scarred by bad electrolysis.  The scars are similar to those that you see of people that had bad acne as teens.  You are not going to get rid of them through exfoliating. You may not be able to get rid of them at all.

Kim :)

This is scaring the hell outta me ^^___^^ as I have patches of grays left my laser won't get, and I'll need electro to clear my face once and for all. I already have enough facial scarring from my 91 accident. After hearing this I'm going to be very careful who I choose.

Ali :icon_flower:

Quote from: Evelyn K on August 02, 2014, 02:18:54 PM
I want to find a place that has two technicians, one for each side.

Hmmm, double the pain for you Evelyn...  :o  Unless you are really lucky, every time they zap a hair it feels like they've pushed a hot needle into your face.  And (in my case) every 10th follicle or so REALLY hurts - enough to make my body twitch slightly.

I'm not sure whether they've told you that you need to grow your facial hair so that there's around 1.5mm of it visible.  Otherwise they cannot tweeze the little beasts out afterwards.   Every 2nd day I arrive at work as the bearded lady.  It's not so elegant, and does wonders for my dysphoria  >:(

I would almost seriously suggest that electrolysis requirements more of a commitment and $$$ than SRS.

Kamyu I would advise that a person wait till after months of HRT to assess what body hair needs further treatment by laser and electrolysis.  I found my body hair changed dramatically on HRT with some thick, dark body hair slowly changing to soft, light velous and more feminine hair.  Facial hair is different and much less, if at all, affected by HRT for most women.

So I just finished my 6th session of laser today! My technician raised up the setting a bit more and holy crap that was the most painful session yet. I burst into tears as soon as the session was done. Most of the pain has resided but I know it's only cause of the meds she prescribed me. If I didn't have these pain meds, I'd be in sooo much pain right now. I'm happy to see all of my hair cleared. This just might be my last session, if not the next one definitely will be.

She said I probably won't need electrolysis, I hope shes right cause my pain tolerance sucks

Hey all,

So today I had my first laser session for the facial area. For the most part it went fine but those hairs along the jaw line were painful. Upper lip was surprisingly not too bad.

Also had 2nd session for underarms. Yea, that was just as painful as the 1st session. >.<

~Kamyu

Hair free long timers - did vellus hair grow in after beard removal?

I wonder how that would work biologically speaking if the follicles are all but destroyed.

I had laser done five years ago, and only a few hairs came back. I'm going to finish up with electrolysis after SRS in February... I can't afford it right now, because I'm having genital electrolysis done.

I must say I'm rather jealous of those for whom laser has worked so well! In the town that I am in currently, many places advertise laser but it is typically actually IPL, which is supposed to pretty effective too, but after 3 sessions I saw no change whatsoever - It seemed to be a good place with a registered nurse doing the IPL on an almost new machine. The cost was $200 per session so it was adding up quickly for no visible results.
The other thing with me is I have this horrible problem with ingrown facial hairs when shaving, no matter what I try -I've had some really nasty infections recently which with the pain and the ugliness just crush me.. today is the worst in a while too, I'll coming up with excuses too hide this weekend... So I'm pretty frantic to get rid of this facial hair for a number of reasons!

So I've had a few electrolysis consults and I had my first hour long session yesterday, and I must say I was pleasantly surprised. The technician is older and it seems I'm not her first trans client. The pain isn't too bad, and frankly I kind of enjoy it in some ways (sounding a little crazy here I'm sure) as I feel like I'm getting my revenge on facial hair, and its nothing compared to the pain of the horrible infections I've had from them (lucky I don't scar very much). It was quicker than I was expecting too, in an hour she cleared the central chin area, I'll be seeing her a lot in the near future as we want to do a full clearing initially and then start cleaning up from there.
She's using a blend type machine which is good apparently.
The treated area looks totally fine today, slightly pink but better than the adjoining areas of gross stubble.

So just putting this up for anyone who is scared to try electrolysis :) Have a go!

Lemon,

Fwiw get references of trans clients. I went to a tech for a year and could stand 2- 5hr appt back to back but it never got better. I wasted a year and 800 every three weeks!!  I can only handle three hours an appt now but better every time. Pls be sure there is progress or go to another tech.

Stevie

Quote from: Evelyn K on August 08, 2014, 05:29:04 AM
Hair free long timers - did vellus hair grow in after beard removal?

Shoot, that's mostly what I have left. If they were blonde you'd never see them. But they're real fine white hairs and I want them all gone. I'm tired of tearing my face up with this garden rake -I mean razor. :icon_ashamed:

Ali :icon_flower:

Can't afford laser or electro, so for me the pain is a pair of tweezers on face and torso to thin course hair

Quote from: MelanieH74 on August 14, 2014, 08:42:34 PM
Can't afford laser or electro, so for me the pain is a pair of tweezers on face and torso to thin course hair

I can't really afford it either which is why I bought my own lasers. When I bought them I wasn't counting on white hairs though. So I have no choice. I want the repulsive discusting evil things gone, and I would spend my last dime to do it.

Ali :icon_flower: