So for those who've been on estrogen and spiro for a while... Does it ever go away fully?
I have Subdermal Achne... and honestly it looks like a BAD case of rosacia. Shaving aggravates it, as does makeup. My doctor said that in order for it to go away almost entirely, I will need to stop shaving... but I dont want to have like some... male facial hair as a trans woman >_< thats just gross.
So if it does go away... is there a timeline of when yours went away?
After few years of laser hair removal (I believe 17 sessions) it mostly went away
It can soften a lot on hrt and become a tad bit lighter but thats about it. Without laser or electro it wont go away on its own. I would of loved to have avoided all the hellish pain I went through with laser.
8 laser sessions taken care of most of my dark facial hair but still a load of white (always had a lot of wiry white for some reason) to get rid of.
Had first electrolysis last Saturday but think it's going to take a fair number of sessions before I'm clear and healed.
In short it can be done but it takes a lot of time and varying degrees of discomfort.
Totally worth it though and will be so happy when it's finally all gone.
I have had 6 laser sessions and about 6 hrs of electrolysis. I find the laser way better than the Electrolysis as far as pain goes and even after that small amount I can see clear patches on my facial skin and I am shaving every second day now. Since switching to every 2nd day I have noticed a huge improvement in my facial skin. I do not shave ultra close each time as that tends to inflame the skin and add more problems, if I am going out to a support meeting or appointment I will have the ultra close shave. It is one thing I am Dysphoric about and hate not shaving but have to trade that off with the long term benefits of not damaging your skin. Eventually the laser and Electrolysis will take care of what remains...but that is is a long way off yet.
Liz K
Laser on your face is not permanent the only thing that is permanent on your face is electrolysis and unfortunately to do your whole face it can take up to a year or even more
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Quote from: Jessirules on May 04, 2016, 05:37:20 PM
Laser on your face is not permanent the only thing that is permanent on your face is electrolysis and unfortunately to do your whole face it can take up to a year or even more
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Hi Jessirules
My experience with Laser is different, I have had huge reduction in dark facial hair since having laser and whatever has come back as part of the normal growth cycle has been smaller and finer and very sparse. They use a Lightsheer Diode laser which vapourises the entire follicle but I cannot vouch for any other system. This is a medical grade laser and the operator is a registered Nurse employed by the clinic. They probably won't get every last black hair but they have certainly reduced the need for electrolysis on many of them. My Electrolysis lady won't touch the dark hairs because I am having laser and she says the laser will do the trick. On light or grey coloured beards then laser will not work at all.
After only a short period of Electroysis my beard is patchy where she has been working and the number of dark hairs overall have reduced significantly due to the laser.
Liz K
Wow very cool
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I have a lot of gray hair or white hair so I don't think I'll be able to take advantage of that but it sounds wonderful
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Laser works, but with a couple of stipulations. First, it works with dark hair on light tone skin. Blonde and white hair does not work, neither does dark hair on dark toned skin. Second, since hair grows in stages, laser works after repeated treatments. For me, I am looking into getting laser treatments first to remove the black hairs then following it up with electrolysis to remove the grey\white facial hairs.
Because laser is cheaper and can cover a wider area per session, it is economically feasible (and less painful all-around and less time consuming). Once the face is complete, then I can worry about arms, legs and chest later (if HRT does not thin\discolour those for me).
jessilyn,
The official answer is:
No. Not without additional removal. There are some who's hair was light and fine before HRT and they claim that HRT made it go away. (probably didn't- just greatly reduced). It usually makes hair more sparse and thinner. However, facial hair, like skeletal frame and voice do not shift greatly after starting HRT.
Everyone's millage varies.
With warmth,
Joanna
Quote from: Katja69 on May 05, 2016, 12:29:42 PM
Laser works, but with a couple of stipulations. First, it works with dark hair on light tone skin. Blonde and white hair does not work, neither does dark hair on dark toned skin. Second, since hair grows in stages, laser works after repeated treatments. For me, I am looking into getting laser treatments first to remove the black hairs then following it up with electrolysis to remove the grey\white facial hairs.
Because laser is cheaper and can cover a wider area per session, it is economically feasible (and less painful all-around and less time consuming). Once the face is complete, then I can worry about arms, legs and chest later (if HRT does not thin\discolour those for me).
Hi Katja,
What you are planning is exactly what I have done...I have probably saved myself 50+ of Electrolysis because I got such a great result from the laser. I probably only have a few more sessions of laser left and then it will be as required which simply means as the dark hairs go through their cycle and come out of dormancy you have to deal with them...give me 10 minutes on laser any day over 10 minutes of Electrolysis because in ten minutes I can have a whole laser treatment.
Liz K
I actually did some outside research after this, and I went onto medical based studies. It appears that if you STARTED with laser... it's bad for your skin to actually go to electrolysis along side with it.
The studies I read have all said "Electrolysis is the ONLY PROVEN hair removal approved by the FDA as a permanent solution"
The laser is meant to REDUCE the need for shaving.
And Electrolysis is not that expensive. I've found it to be as low as $100/Hour here. And one company/ Electrolysis clinic has testimonials of trans people only needing up to 3 sessions after HRT, one only needed it once.
Yes it goes away. Just keep at it, electro work, HRT.....before long a nice smooth face. If your upper lip is sensitive get some dental block shots before electro work. That's the easy way for those nasty hairs. Lots of natural women have facial hair anyway.....
Quote from: jessilynn on May 22, 2016, 09:42:17 AM
And Electrolysis is not that expensive. I've found it to be as low as $100/Hour here. And one company/ Electrolysis clinic has testimonials of trans people only needing up to 3 sessions after HRT, one only needed it once.
Lol... What...? It takes anywhere from 100 to 200 hours or more to clear the medium dense facial hair with electrolysis. If you do the quick math, thats between $10,000 and $20,000 . Thats quite a lot of money, at least for me.
Laser is permanent for medium brown, and dark brown and black hairs. It can take 5 or 6 sessions to permanently remove black hair, and it can take up to 15 sessions to remove medium brown hairs.
It's not that bad. My lady is the best in her town & only $65 per hour, she does premo work for all ppl, female/male. HRT will help in time. Laser helps some but not much unless all your hairs are real dark.....It will go away & I'm sure you will feel so much better about your self, oh my no nice attractive woman wants facial hairs..........
I have had about 100 hrs of electrolysis. I guess another 100 to 150 is needed. Insurance pays 70% and I just filed a form so I can get reimbursed at 90%. I really like the two woman I do to and they treat a lot of trans. There is a woman in group that also goes to them.
Rachel, oh me that's a lot. Guess I'm luckier than I thought, 20 hours or so & I'm almost completely smooth, just a few very thin white hairs. My lady treats lots of M & F ppl, she is completely neutral about gender. It's all just nasty hair to her. I'm treated like any naturally born woman.
I'm about to start laser hair removal on my face. After 6 weeks on HRT, it seems much easier to shave than before, but obviously I'd rather not have to shave at all. My question is, after a session with the laser, can you use makeup a day or two later to cover up any blotches or redness; or is this not recommended?
I don't know about makeup but I suspect you can. The problem is you can't shave for several days after laser so makeup might not do much good. With electrolysis you can't shave before treatment so the only solution is to get as much hair removal finished before full time as possible.
Quote from: Dena on May 22, 2016, 10:32:04 PM
I don't know about makeup but I suspect you can. The problem is you can't shave for several days after laser so makeup might not do much good. With electrolysis you can't shave before treatment so the only solution is to get as much hair removal finished before full time as possible.
I was told to shave the same night after the treatment by my laser clinic...now you got me worried..is that IPL?
Liz K
Oh me, please only shave your legs. The talk about shaving your face is making me sick. For your own sanity please do laser or electro to remove your facial hairs......I could not imagine shaving my face, yuck.
Quote from: FrancisAnn on May 23, 2016, 05:24:13 AM
Oh me, please only shave your legs. The talk about shaving your face is making me sick. For your own sanity please do laser or electro to remove your facial hairs......I could not imagine shaving my face, yuck.
It is no picnic from this end either....I detest this crap all over my face but I have no choice if I want it removed...I have to let it grow to get rid of it and there is no way they can clear my face in one session...This is now day 4 for me and my Dysphoria today has been awful as a result...thank god I am having a big Electrolysis session tomorrow and then I am due another laser session in a week but I am sick to death of it...I want it gone but cannot find anyone locally who can actually do long sessions...it frustrates the hell out of me.
Liz K
I actually wax my legs :)
Quote from: FrancisAnn on May 23, 2016, 05:24:13 AM
Oh me, please only shave your legs. The talk about shaving your face is making me sick. For your own sanity please do laser or electro to remove your facial hairs......I could not imagine shaving my face, yuck.
Making YOU sick? Imagine how it feels to BE the one shaving their face, every darn day. I can't get plucked fast enough. Freaking dysphoria city every day from this. I still don't know why someone hasn't invented Anti-Minoxidil for beards. Something to send all those follicles to sleep, preferably permanently. :P
Insurance may cover some of this for me, once I get that darn referral. The therapist is on vacation... Once they are back, I WANT MY LETTERS! (My nightmare - "Psych Office Space"; "Ah, yeah, about those letters... Yeah, we're gonna need you to come in for a couple more years first..." )
Meanwhile, shaving. Every. Darn. Day. Arrrgh! (OK, maybe another thread for that section...)
Quote from: Michelle_P on May 23, 2016, 02:53:41 PM
Making YOU sick? Imagine how it feels to BE the one shaving their face, every darn day......
:eusa_clap: :eusa_clap:
Quote from: ElizabethK on May 23, 2016, 02:50:05 AM
I was told to shave the same night after the treatment by my laser clinic...now you got me worried..is that IPL?
Liz K
My understanding it you don't want the razor to damage the sensitive skin after treatment. Possibly an electric razor might cause fewer problems but talk with the person giving you laser treatment.
I shaved on the same morning as laser. As I understand it this also makes the laser more effective as less energy is wasted increasing the chance of cooking the root and also prevents the horrible smell of burnt hair. If lasered on the Saturday I started shaving again on Monday but the condition of your own skin will be your guide.
Electrolysis I can only shave on Monday and Tuesday after that I have to let it grow so there is enough to work with on Saturday. Again by the Monday I'm ok to shave.
Face I am now electrolysis only and laser for everything else.
IPL never tried as anything less than medical grade laser was considered a waste of time. Right or wrong I'm happy with laser and electrolysis.
There has to be enough hair outside in order that enough energy gets absorbed and transfered through hair to the follicle. If you shave hours or half day before session you pretty much wasted that session. Some hairs might get burned, but the energy absorbed likely wouldnt be enough to make any damaging impact on follicle. 2-3 days of hair growth should be about ideal length for laser hair removal.
Its perfectly fine to shave on the same day after laser session.
Interesting from a quick websearch it seems some places do insist on growth whereas others say at least the night before if not closer to treatment. Perhaps different machines I use the Nd-YAG polaris one but in the end I trust my laser guy with my face and life so I'll do what he says :)
Always ask your technician to avoid being sent away as unsuitable just in case.
My Laser clinic like a little growth no more than a couple of millimeters...I am at the stage where all my black hair is secondary growth so is finer and easier to zap than the first lot.
I got told the other day by an Electrologist to "moisturise the hell out of your face for two days prior to each session, really slather it on and of course keep hydrated but that of course does very little for your face but is just good for you"...
Liz
Hi, Pastry
Quote from: pastry on May 26, 2016, 06:06:28 PM
There has to be enough hair outside in order that enough energy gets absorbed and transfered through hair to the follicle. If you shave hours or half day before session you pretty much wasted that session. Some hairs might get burned, but the energy absorbed likely wouldnt be enough to make any damaging impact on follicle. 2-3 days of hair growth should be about ideal length for laser hair removal.
That's fascinating. The clinics I'm familiar with insist on the client shaving right before the session, and even refuse clients who haven't (or sometimes shave the area on the spot for an extra fee.) Their rationale is that any hair that sticks out from the skin blocks and absorbs the laser light and heats up, causing burns to the surface layers (epidermis) while preventing that portion of the energy from penetrating deep enough into the dermis to damage the hair roots.
Does the clinic that told you this use some new technology? It would be very interesting to know how the manufacturer enables the laser energy to bypass the pigment in the hair shafts to reach the roots. If you know the make and model of the equipment used, do let me know. I'd love to find out more.
The doctor that I went to uses Alexandrite laser, so its not any new technology. They also have Nd-yag and Diode laser and medical grade IPL, but more or less only use Alexandrite as they find it most effective. How do I know it was in their best interest for laser to be most effective in the least sessions as possible? I only paid for first 7 sessions, everything after that was on them.
I dont know the exact number and model of laser...