I'm sure there's a dead thread about this somewhere around here but I thought I'd revitalize the topic with a new one. I'm having ALT as stage 2 hopefully sometime late November or early December. I hope to start hair removal in March. For guys that already did it what worked better laser or electrolysis? And how many months of sessions? I'm moderate to lightly haired at the donor site.
In case anyone is reading this I had my first session of electrolysis today and I can recommend Emily Jones in Wynnewood, PA as a great CPE. She's super nice and has had a few trans clients before. Plus there's free parking right next to her building. This is not too far outside of Philadelphia.
It doesn't tickle and because I have a timeline of about 9 months we're going aggressive. So yea it hurts lol. After about 5 minutes though I was OK. She suggests laser beforehand or shortly after starting electrolysis. Laser is NOT permanent. Electrolysis is the only permanent option. Laser clears a lot at more of a surface level. I go twice a month for an hour a session.
I didn't see this original post or I would've commented!
A year of hair removal is recommended because hair grows in cycles. The year time frame ensures that you'll most likely hit every cycle. So I would focus first on whatever area the ALT urethra is formed from, and then focus on what would be shaft. Unless you want to sit for longer and get as much of it at once as possible.
As far as how many sessions, that really depends on you and how quickly you want to clear each time you go. I've heard of some guys going weekly for as long as it takes to clear a section or take care of any hairs growing back. I've also heard of guys going for longer sessions less frequently. I'd do weekly or twice weekly sessions until it's completely clear, then I would wait a month and do the same thing again. Repeat monthly until you're getting no regrowth.
I did combo laser/electrolysis when I was planning on RFF. If you're going to give that a shot, I wouldn't do laser more than 3x. It causes the hair to lighten, which makes it more difficult to see and thus makes it more likely to be difficult to perform electrolysis on or be overlooked all together.
Electrolysis never bothered me, but laser is probably the most painful thing I've been fully conscious during. I have a really high pain tolerance and especially at later sessions when they have to up the power level on it, it was almost unbearable.
I'm definitely concerned about the timeframe. Something I forgot to ask Dr. B-L is how large of an area I need done. I found a diagram so I'm going to run that by her. Up until now I was cool but I'm a little anxious at this point. All I can do is keep at it.
Quote from: CMD042414 on March 05, 2017, 07:18:54 AM
I'm definitely concerned about the timeframe. Something I forgot to ask Dr. B-L is how large of an area I need done. I found a diagram so I'm going to run that by her. Up until now I was cool but I'm a little anxious at this point. All I can do is keep at it.
It'll be okay! Just pay extra close attention to the urethra area. Everything else can be done post-op.
Thanks, man.