Susan's Place Transgender Resources

What a load of bull that was.

Holy moly, even with numbing cream it was pretty painful. I bore the pain as much as I could though first session and only asked her to stop twice.

Apparently I have a higher risk of going "hyper" and having circular tanned splotches though since I'm hispanic.

Dangit.

Quote from: IzzyC on October 04, 2017, 06:02:16 PM
What a load of bull that was.

Holy moly, even with numbing cream it was pretty painful. I bore the pain as much as I could though first session and only asked her to stop twice.

Apparently I have a higher risk of going "hyper" and having circular tanned splotches though since I'm hispanic.

Dangit.

I did electrolysis 3500$ . It's all there still. I stopped because I just shave everyday. It's will. Be about 15,000 to clear my face

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They told me it would sting but i felt it was more like needles on fire being stabbed in my face. [emoji3]

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It probably isn't much worse than a tattoo....a tattoo to the whole face!  :laugh:

Hugs, Devlyn

Quote from: Devlyn Marie on October 04, 2017, 06:39:00 PM
It probably isn't much worse than a tattoo....a tattoo to the whole face!  [emoji23]

Hugs, Devlyn

I always wondered if i could handle tattoos and after laser i think i could but i dont want too [emoji6]

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I know with my treatment the first few were the most painful and I have a light beard. I can imagine that if you have a heavier beard it would hurt all that much more. But rest assured it should hurt less (YMMV) with more treatments as there are less hairs to treat, depending on how thick your beard is it may take a couple of sessions to reduce....more hair is likely to be more painful. When I go every 3 months now I hardly feel it zap except for a couple of persistent area's. Hope you start to see some great results and it becomes more tolerable.

Quote from: IzzyC on October 04, 2017, 06:02:16 PM
What a load of bull that was.

Holy moly, even with numbing cream it was pretty painful. I bore the pain as much as I could though first session and only asked her to stop twice.

Apparently I have a higher risk of going "hyper" and having circular tanned splotches though since I'm hispanic.

Dangit.

Heh, you will love electrolysis then:)  when they do thermolysis it hurts so good.  I actually giggle when the pain is to great, somehow that's my defense mechanism.  If it is unbearable though, something is wrong.

Interesting timing on the topic. Today was my very first laser session. On a scale of 1-10, about 50% of the area was 1, maybe 35% was 6, and the rest - the tip if the chin and above the upper lip, was 8. Those areas took only about 8 or 10 shots. There was only one shot that I'd class as a 9 or better, on the upper lip. I had used BLT cream (Benzocaine 20%, Lidocaine 6%, Tetracaine 4%) and wrapped my face in Press and Peel wrap before I drove the 1:20 to the appointment. I felt pretty silly driving like that, with strips of plastic falling off on the way, but it seemed to do the job.

I was surprised how fast it went. The whole face in about 25 minutes. I don't know what kind of laser it was, but it shot out something cold on each hit.

I thought I'd be all swollen and sore afterward, but it just felt like a light sunburn for a few hours, and there's no discomfort now at all. I was able to enjoy the afternoon out shopping (dressed).

Izzy, what kind of numbing cream did you use? I've only used the BLT, but I hear about Emla a lot.

Stephanie

I find tattoos more irritating than painful. But I will tell the artists to pause when it gets to be too much. Lol

But it depends on the part of the body. Like ankles hurt more than arms. I'd imagine a tattoo on your face would hurt!

I'll be starting laser soon. Then the rest has to be done with electrolysis since much of my beard is now white.


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It hurts like a bitch. For sure.

But it gets better with every session just because there's less hair than before.

Quote from: Steph2.0 on October 04, 2017, 09:19:05 PM
Interesting timing on the topic. Today was my very first laser session. On a scale of 1-10, about 50% of the area was 1, maybe 35% was 6, and the rest - the tip if the chin and above the upper lip, was 8. Those areas took only about 8 or 10 shots. There was only one shot that I'd class as a 9 or better, on the upper lip. I had used BLT cream (Benzocaine 20%, Lidocaine 6%, Tetracaine 4%) and wrapped my face in Press and Peel wrap before I drove the 1:20 to the appointment. I felt pretty silly driving like that, with strips of plastic falling off on the way, but it seemed to do the job.

I was surprised how fast it went. The whole face in about 25 minutes. I don't know what kind of laser it was, but it shot out something cold on each hit.

I thought I'd be all swollen and sore afterward, but it just felt like a light sunburn for a few hours, and there's no discomfort now at all. I was able to enjoy the afternoon out shopping (dressed).

Izzy, what kind of numbing cream did you use? I've only used the BLT, but I hear about Emla a lot.

Stephanie

I with Stephanie on this. For me it was mostly not painful, but around the chin and lips it hurts like a bugger!!!! I went through so far 2 sessions now and going all the way through without pausing. My tech says I am like the 1% of patients that do that. It all comes down to you pain tolerance. A tattoo scares me more than the laser hair removal though. I don't deal with needles well. Ask the nurses that don't listen to me and end up having to pick me up off the floor.

Yeah I've done both this year, laser and first tattoo. When she hit me with the first laser blast I was like, "OMG this ->-bleeped-<- REALLY hurts!". I just focused on why I was doing it and how much I loathed shaving. It was easy after that. I'd say the tattoo was way worse. It was near a scar though. Neither was fun, but 2 of the most important parts of my transition. I epilate my arms, legs, underarms and bikini and it is just about as bad. No one told me being a girl was gonna be easy though. LOL.

Quote from: Steph2.0 on October 04, 2017, 09:19:05 PM


Izzy, what kind of numbing cream did you use? I've only used the BLT, but I hear about Emla a lot.

Stephanie

I honestly don't know, she just used whatever they had there and she put that on me and I sat for 15 minutes for it to take some effect.

I also don't have any pain really right now, and a few hours after the session. She just told me to watch my neck in the morning.

Quote from: ElizabethK on October 04, 2017, 06:56:08 PM
. But rest assured it should hurt less (YMMV) with more treatments as there are less hairs to treat, depending on how thick your beard is it may take a couple of sessions to reduce....

She said I have a pretty thick beard, so I imagine that's why it was so bad. God I can't wait till I never have to shave again. Will literally cut 30 minutes out of my daily prep.

Quote from: Jailyn on October 04, 2017, 10:24:34 PM
I don't deal with needles well. Ask the nurses that don't listen to me and end up having to pick me up off the floor.

Interesting, Jailyn. I've had that problem, too, though I'm starting to get over it, especially if whoever's sticking me is skilled. I'd had a particularly bad experience with a sadistic doctor pulling cell samples from my thyroid glands (fine needle aspiration) that triggered my aversion to needles. I dunno if it has anything to do with the way we handle the laser.

Steph

Here's the what my electrologist recommended to make it as easy as possible for both laser and electrolysis, along with other tips I picked up through these forums:

————-
45 minutes before the procedure, take up to 800mg of ibuprofen or Motrin (I hope that doesn't violate the rules here).

At least 45 minutes before, use numbing cream (in my case, BLT) and cover it with plastic wrap to keep it from drying out. I put it on just before I started the 1:20 drive to the office.

Avoid caffeine at least 4 hours prior.

Shave within 24 hours.

Avoid sunlight exposure for 1 week prior and after, and always use a sunscreen made specifically for faces.

Hydrate: Drink lots of water the day before and on the day (and any time, really).
—————

I did all these things, so maybe that's why it was easier for me. Maybe your electrologist will give you some of the cream so you can apply it earlier and give it longer to work. 15 minutes doesn't seem very long for it to take effect.

Give that stuff a try next time and see if it helps.

Steph

Quote from: Steph2.0 on October 05, 2017, 02:44:24 AM
Here's the what my electrologist recommended to make it as easy as possible for both laser and electrolysis, along with other tips I picked up through these forums:

————-
45 minutes before the procedure, take up to 800mg of ibuprofen or Motrin (I hope that doesn't violate the rules here).

At least 45 minutes before, use numbing cream (in my case, BLT) and cover it with plastic wrap to keep it from drying out. I put it on just before I started the 1:20 drive to the office.

Avoid caffeine at least 4 hours prior.

Shave within 24 hours.

Avoid sunlight exposure for 1 week prior and after, and always use a sunscreen made specifically for faces.

Hydrate: Drink lots of water the day before and on the day (and any time, really).
—————

I did all these things, so maybe that's why it was easier for me. Maybe your electrologist will give you some of the cream so you can apply it earlier and give it longer to work. 15 minutes doesn't seem very long for it to take effect.

Give that stuff a try next time and see if it helps.

Steph

My laser specialist told me all of these except not to put any numbing cream or any cream really on my face on the day of laser. She told me some of those creams are really thick and therefore difficult to remove completely which can make the process less effective and even make your skin crusty afterwards.


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I have 7 tattoos...and electrolysis without a doubt was more painful than getting tattoos.

Quote from: Charlie Nicki on October 05, 2017, 03:23:30 AM
My laser specialist told me all of these except not to put any numbing cream or any cream really on my face on the day of laser. She told me some of those creams are really thick and therefore difficult to remove completely which can make the process less effective and even make your skin crusty afterwards.

Interesting. My specialist specifically recommended the BLT, and had no problem cleaning it off, with no crustiness before or after. Maybe wrapping in plastic so it doesn't dry out is the solution.

I was surprised at the consistency of the BLT. I expected something like toothpaste, but it's even thinner than sunscreen. It goes on very thinly, which is great, because it's dang expensive, at $53 for 30 grams. That's a container roughly the size of an old 35mm film canister (yes, I'm showing my age). I was  afraid I'd use it up in just a few sessions, but it looks like it'll last a while.

Steph

Quote from: Charlie Nicki on October 05, 2017, 03:23:30 AM
My laser specialist told me all of these except not to put any numbing cream or any cream really on my face on the day of laser.

Whoa, I just reread this. Does it mean that you toughed it out with no numbing? If so, my wig's off to you. It would be anyway, because trying that would have flipped my wig.

Steph

With lazer I will be going to my 4th appointment in November and I have been doing it with out numbing cream, at first it was no big deal but they turning up the heat after each visit and the last one hurt the most was the upper lip and chin =( everywhere else was a small tingle. I am going to have to try that cream for the next visit.

Quote from: brandyvgs on October 05, 2017, 07:51:07 AMI am going to have to try that cream for the next visit.

You'll have to get a prescription for BLT, and it's only available through compounding pharmacies. It took me a while to figure out how to do that, so the sooner you get started the better. Let me know if you have questions. I'll do my best to help.

Steph

Plum smooth - plumb numb gelee

That's what the stuff they used on my face for numbing is called.

When I had laser, it wasn't particularly painful, except in places such as ankles, where the bone is close to the surface.  I didn't get any numbing cream, but I was advised to take acetaminophen before the sessions.

Quote from: Steph2.0 on October 05, 2017, 09:22:30 AM
You'll have to get a prescription for BLT, and it's only available through compounding pharmacies. It took me a while to figure out how to do that, so the sooner you get started the better. Let me know if you have questions. I'll do my best to help.

Steph

Yeah, they offered it but didn't click until now to think about it. I'll talk with them before my next appointment.



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I've recently done my 6th laser removal treatment and I've kind of gotten used to the pain I guess. At first it felt like touching a hot lightbulb or something to your face, but now it's only really unpleasant around the lips, especially when you can feel it in your gums and teeth. Acetaminophen before the session certainly helps. Sometimes the skin is more irritated after treatment then other times. I think after the treatment is the worst part since it can be sore for quite a while after.

Quote from: Steph2.0 on October 05, 2017, 07:19:16 AM
Whoa, I just reread this. Does it mean that you toughed it out with no numbing? If so, my wig's off to you. It would be anyway, because trying that would have flipped my wig.

Steph

Pretty much yeah lol. It hurts A LOT!


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My 1st laser I took 2 ibuprofen, and while it hurt (especially chin & upper lip), I didn't think it was too terrible. My 2nd I forgot the ibuprofen, so it was pretty painful (8/10 I'd say). This last time, the 4th treatment, I picked up an aspercreme with lidocaine stick at walmart & applied it about 20-30 minutes before (washing it off my face just before going in), in addition to the ibuprofen. There were a few painful hits, but not nearly as bad as any before.
Part of that may be because there's just less hair now (the treatments are working!). My 5th is 1 week from tomorrow, and I'm expecting it to be even less painful (but I'm preparing anyway!).

Have to agree with Nina... electrolysis is heaps worse than laser (I used to call it face torture)... though even that's bearable... I never used anything... but they did suggest emla cream... just couldn't be bothered as you had to put it on 15-30 mins prior and the pain wasn't that bad anyway... an hour of so after the electrolysis session the pain was gone... just the face looked like it had gone through hell and back... haha

my attitude was suck it up as SRS was going to be heaps more painful... but in the end that wasn't that bad either... think the prepping the days before were worse than the pain afterwards... though my friends did call me wolverine (had to have someone explain that to me, as I had no idea what that meant... spend my head in books)... I was back playing 1st grade soccer 3 months after surgery and doing laps in the cutest training swimsuit I could find... haha

oh... tattoos... mmm... just tickled... spinal surgery after being injured in the infantry... now that did kill... 3 months of agony... though... only know it was that bad from my diary

I always had in my mind... this is helping me reach my goal... so nothing was going to put me off... the pain was always worth the outcome and I don't remember any of the pain I went through

Quote from: Sarah_P on October 06, 2017, 11:25:45 PM
My 1st laser I took 2 ibuprofen

When I went for laser, I was told not to take ibuprofen.

It depends where you get tattooed

I have 4 tattoo's at various spots on my body. I got laser before my tattoo's. Laser hurt, but I coped

My first tattoo was a typical female tattoo, the lower back, I think that one was the about the same as laser, with that confidence, got my second and third tattoo (in one sitting) on my lower stomach and right ankle... the stomach was actually less painful than laser... but the ankle... that was way worse than laser. That is the most painful one and could not wait for the artist to finish.. luckily it was its a small tattoo. Yet I had a forth one done, my right shoulder blade.. that was again about the same as laser..

You know what.. I want a 5th tattoo, just know where or what.. I would maybe want one on my wrist ..

I just went for my second treatment on Friday and it hurt pretty bad, 9/10 at points. I had to pause twice which I felt bad about because usually I can just ignore it and go on. I guess the E is taking hold. After my skin was not nearly as red and puffy as the first time, both were approximately 1300 zaps.

It seems the most pain is where the skin is thin without muscle or fat underneath, particularly along the jaw line. That is the worst for me.

It took pretty much exactly two weeks but I saw a difference on my cheeks and throat after the first session. Hopefully the goatee area starts seeing noticeable reduction.

The hair around my mouth and chin was pretty stubborn and they were the last hairs to get evicted.  That said I did see lots of reduction after the first few sessions, it just took until the 8th session to really clear them out.

The most painful spots for me are definitely in the thin areas like the shin, top of the foot, and around my mouth.  The top of the foot has to be the worst so far.

I had done 3 sessions of IPL and the first time hurt so much.  This past wednesday I did laser hair removal instead for the first time and it hurt even more! ;(  I didn't learn my lesson at all... next time I'm getting numbing cream and taking a pain reliever, or two. The pain is no joke!

Quote from: Colleen_definitely on October 10, 2017, 11:45:38 AM
The hair around my mouth and chin was pretty stubborn and they were the last hairs to get evicted.  That said I did see lots of reduction after the first few sessions, it just took until the 8th session to really clear them out.

The most painful spots for me are definitely in the thin areas like the shin, top of the foot, and around my mouth.  The top of the foot has to be the worst so far.

Did you clear your whole face with laser alone? If yes, how many sessions did it take?
I'm almost up to 20 sessions and I have about 10 or so hairs left, mainly in the moustache area.

I thought I'd pipe in.  I'm like 20 hours into electrolysis and I asked to try lip and chin area.  These seemed fine till we tried the center of the lip.  Ye-ow!  I literally called the next day for a laser appt for this area.  I want to limit the amount of electrolysis needed there, unbelievably painful!

I started both laser (face and back) and electrolysis (face) in January. About 30% of my facial hair is grey, and laser won't work on that. Yep, the upper lip is not fun with either technique. Ibuprofen helps a bit.

I have had five laser sessions so far. During one session the pain from my upper lip was so intense I had to ask for a break. I found out during my next appointment that apparently the laser was out of calibration during the previous session, and that was the only session where I ever need a break. Even when properly calibrated taking a laser to your upper lip is not very fun, unless you compare it to electrolysis.

I have been having electrolysis twice a week. Last week we finally started on my upper lip. Some areas were not to bad, but the area right under my nose caused an entirely new level of pain. For some reason I tend to start doing ankle rotations during electrolysis when I am experiencing pain. Working on my upper lip put both ankles in overdrive. My shoes were rubbing against the couch causing a loud squeaking noise and the operator and I both started laughing. Although she did clear most of my upper lip of grey hairs during a single session, it is definitely not something I look forward to.

Quote from: Bari Jo on October 15, 2017, 07:46:49 PM
I thought I'd pipe in.  I'm like 20 hours into electrolysis and I asked to try lip and chin area.  These seemed fine till we tried the center of the lip.  Ye-ow!  I literally called the next day for a laser appt for this area.  I want to limit the amount of electrolysis needed there, unbelievably painful!

  Hurts huh?  I go Wednesday for my 3rd hour of electrolysis on my upper lip. I'm sticking with it until it's clear before moving to another area.

Quote from: Laurie on October 16, 2017, 02:43:49 AM
  Hurts huh?  I go Wednesday for my 3rd hour of electrolysis on my upper lip. I'm sticking with it until it clear before moving to another area.

I'm sure I'll have to return since a lot of my beard is white.  But just reducing the number of electrolysis jabs to that area is impt to me right now.  I should say, that was blend too, not even thermolysis!  It's only close to the center line of the lip that was like that.  Otherwise tolerable.

Bari Jo

Quote from: Bari Jo on October 16, 2017, 03:15:36 AM
I'm sure I'll have to return since a lot of my beard is white.  But just reducing the number of electrolysis jabs to that area is impt to me right now.  I should say, that was blend too, not even thermolysis!  It's only close to the center line of the lip that was like that.  Otherwise tolerable.

Bari Jo

The other thing is as you get through the clearances the hairs become finer and take less current to remove so are a bit more comfortable.

Quote from: Bari Jo on October 16, 2017, 03:15:36 AM
  I should say, that was blend too, not even thermolysis!

Bari Jo

  Just to clarify Bari...

"Blend is a combination of both galvanic and thermolysis, giving it the advantages of both, although it is slower than thermolysis."

i spent 5 hours being tattooed last month.  it was way less painful than my last 30 min laser session

I had my first laser session on my lips and goatie.  The pain is way less than electrolysis.  I'm adding partial face too for next time.  The tech thinks laser can remove any least half of my remaining beard.  I'm all in!

Bari Jo