Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Next month will be my 2 year anniversary on HRT. I was very hairy pre-transition and have light skin with dark hair (ideal candidate for laser) In 2016 and most of 2017 I had over 15 laser sessions on my face and got most of the cheeks and lower neck cleared - the technician used Candela GentleLase Pro. Still not seeing enough progress on my upper lip and chin, I then had 6 sessions of electrolysis this past winter. The pain was way too much to deal with (even with lidocaine cream and prescribed painkillers) and having to spend days having it grow out longer meant staying inside, plus 2 days of irritation after. In March I went back to electrolysis, this time at a new place and they are using Candela GentleMax Pro.

No matter what I try to do when shaving, I never seem to be able to fully shave down the areas circled in the images attached - especially the area right below the left side of my lower lip. The lighting is not ideal so just trust me that it is worse than it looks  :embarrassed: There is always prickly stubble, even if I go against the grain.

I've tried using several razors and currently am on the Gillette Fusion 5 (?) and use Vitamin E oil as my shaving nourishment. At this point I'm sick of always having to over-cover it with makeup and it looking textured because of the stubble. It feels like those areas will never disappear no matter how much laser or electrolysis I do.

Is there ANY possible way for me to shave those areas completely smooth? Any advice would be highly appreciated. Thanks <3

(https://i.imgur.com/ivcWE4r.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/maDGoGD.jpg)

It seems like they need to turn up the power of the laser on those areas. I had a similar issue which went away with more laser (I've since had 27 sessions on my face and am having 3 more). Keep hammering it with laser every 4 weeks, make sure they turn it UP.

I don't get a lot of fast face hair growth but it does grow. I shave with a three blade razor and then use a 5 blade lady shick and in every direction up close in the mirror on my six bristle areas. I can get it 95% clear.

Quote from: Ellement_of_Freedom on May 22, 2018, 10:49:57 PM
It seems like they need to turn up the power of the laser on those areas. I had a similar issue which went away with more laser (I've since had 27 sessions on my face and am having 3 more). Keep hammering it with laser every 4 weeks, make sure they turn it UP.

Should I tell them it is okay to go overboard? I know when I've asked in the past, they say it is dangerous

Quote from: thelittlemermaid on May 23, 2018, 12:19:01 PM
Should I tell them it is okay to go overboard? I know when I've asked in the past, they say it is dangerous

Personally my skin goes pink for only a few hours before returning to normal so it's never been an issue for me. I tell them turn it up as high as possible, it hardly hurt me and I don't mind the pain because it's worth it. Even if I reacted more severely (as in days and days of redness etc) I would still persist with a high power. All the hair on my face must be gone if I'm to live full-time as a woman, it's non-negotiable.

You have to be conscious sometimes that when they are afraid to turn it up maybe that are actually just afraid that you will need less treatments and won't keep coming back and spending your money with them... I'm not saying this is definitely the case but it is good to keep in mind.

When I have my top lip area done, I get them to zap twice then let me breathe, and repeat that process until the whole area is done. Those nasty black hair follicles did eventually disappear though, you just need to stay diligent and if you feel they missed any area at all - tell them. It's your money.

If they're not listening to you, go to another laser clinic. I've been to three to make sure I got the treatment I wanted. They're not the ones who are going to be walking around with facial hair, you are.

I hope this helps. <3

Quote from: thelittlemermaid on May 23, 2018, 12:19:01 PM
Should I tell them it is okay to go overboard? I know when I've asked in the past, they say it is dangerous

It really depends on how good the practitioner is... The maximum setting used on me (Lightsheer XC)  was 39 J /20 ms. On the treatment day I did feel like I had a slight sunburn, but it faded quite soon.

I went on Wednesday and asked the practitioner - she said it was already on the highest possible setting and that if it went any higher, my skin would be burned. Considering it's now Friday and I still have redness and tiny bumps on my face, I believe her haha. The machine is a Candela GentleMax Pro.