How long does it take to clear the face the first time using the advanced laser machines? How many hours?
Is it something that can reasonably be accomplished in one (perhaps long) session, or is there too much damage for the body to deal with?
If multiple sessions are required, how many?
And how much will this initial clearing cost?
Finally, does the regrowth come back in as fine, 'baby' hairs, or as mature 'old growth' that takes painful settings (and a lot of time) to treat?
My reason for asking -- I want to explore my idea from a previous post -- get the initial clearing done quickly with laser, knowing it can't (yet) be claimed permanent -- then complete the job with electro, getting the hairs as they reappear.
My last session, we uprooted a dense grove of white hairs. I diverted my mind from the discomfort by counting the number of seconds it took each stinkin' hair (around 30 seconds at a rather high setting.) And Betacaine (http://www.canderm.com/page.asp?intNodeID=8022) can only do so much... :(
Karen
They'll clear your face with each session, but keep in mind it only gets the visible hairs - there are always dormant hairs waiting to pop up later.
Most places will claim 6-8 sessions to clear as much as they're gonna get, but many people who have done this claim 8-20 sessions is more realistic.
Prices vary *widely*. I was quoted $375, $450, and $500 per session. I've heard many people paying $150 - $250 per session. Don't be afraid to haggle ;)
Quote from: Kate on March 19, 2006, 07:42:42 PM
They'll clear your face with each session, but keep in mind it only gets the visible hairs - there are always dormant hairs waiting to pop up later.
So, one session and my face is clear, and then what grows in are the dormant hairs and the ones from the first clearing that didn't stay dead?
That's what I'm looking for, because I'll let my electro get the regrowth while it's still fresh and easy to kill! (BWAHaHaha...) >:D
Karen
How long would my face be free of hair after 1 or 2 treatments? A week or two?
(Kate, your picture translates into "In dreams, there is truth," doesn't it?"
Chaunte
Quote from: Chaunte on March 19, 2006, 07:57:46 PM
How long would my face be free of hair after 1 or 2 treatments? A week or two?
I'm not really sure, as I haven't had laser myself (yet). From what I'm told (and read), most visible hairs get vaporized outright in each session, but some of the dead hairs remain in the follicles until they work themselves out over the next week or two. It sounds like once they fall out, you'll have some relatively clear time until the dormant hairs really start coming in.
But I'm guessing. And hoping :)
Quote from: Chaunte on March 19, 2006, 07:57:46 PM
(Kate, your picture translates into "In dreams, there is truth," doesn't it?"
You got it! It's become something of a mantra of mine, lol...
Quote from: Kate on March 19, 2006, 08:50:02 PM
You got it! It's become something of a mantra of mine, lol...
Ahhhh! Suffering through 3 years of Latin wasn't for naught afterall! :D
Chaunte
I just started laser so...
From what I was told, I had to do at least 3 sessions before I would see any real results. I only made it as far as the neck. (Side note, while it has been reported some people can go whole treatments without numbing cream, opt for it and use it like shaving cream.) But after the redness healed, my neck is still relitivly clear even 3 weeks later. I'm lucky because I have fair skin and dark hair, the dream combo. The darker your skin the longer and harder it gets. The model my nurse uses targets by the hairs by using the contrast from the skin. So it has a harder time with darker skined people.
This makes me happy because I fear needls and either way hurts, alot. :)
Quote from: Luana on March 22, 2006, 05:51:01 PMBut after the redness healed...
May I ask how long the redness was noticeable?
Do you happen to know which type of laser was used?
Hmm, i'd say a week and a half?
If you are wooried about people noticing, they will. It looked like i'd put a waffle iron to my neck.
Quote from: Luana on March 22, 2006, 08:02:59 PM
Hmm, i'd say a week and a half?
If you are wooried about people noticing, they will. It looked like i'd put a waffle iron to my neck.
Eeek! I don't think that's typical... most reports I read say there's minor redness lasting a few hours to maybe a day. I don't think the laser is supposed to be affecting the skin that much. I'm wondering if they're using a too-high setting? Is it healing OK?
Oh yes it healed in fine. But really only a few hours or a day? I think I'd better bring this up next time. ???
I had my first session 3 weeks ago this coming Saturday. Not particulary pleasant, but certainly not horrible. The laser being used sends out a jet of cold gas immediately after the laser pulse, cooling the skin; this really seems to make a difference.
Any redness there might have been was gone by the time I got home, and I felt like I had a mild sunburn for a couple of days. The hairs started shedding after about 4 days, and were pretty much gone by 2 weeks. There are just a few hairs that seem to be still growing, though I expect more will come out of dormancy by the time I have my next session (weekend after next).
I will be having sessions every 4 or 5 weeks, alternating between the entire face & neck, and just the goatee area (this area is supposedly the most stubborn, and thus is getting the most attention... at least for now). I have dark hair and average to slightly dark skin. With a modern laser in the hands of a good operator, darker skin isn't the problem it used to be.
Cost is $250 for the entire face & neck, and $100 for the goatee area. Those prices include a "family discount"; the place is TG owned & operated!
I've now had two sessions of laser hair removal. Yes it is rather unpleasant (even the topical cream they gave me for the second session didn't seem to do jack), but it's relatively quick - if I didn't have to keep stopping the person every couple of blasts due to the rising pain each time, it would be done in about five minutes. I have an average of about 20 minutes per session. Overall not bad, and the pain is only momentary. The most painful areas for me are the chin and upper lip (upper lip right under the nose was the only time it actually brought tears to my eyes - it felt like the blast went through my lip and eradicated three of my teeth - thank god only two blasts are needed right there).
The hair is noticeably reduced during treatment, but not gone completely for me (I have very dark hair and thus the pores are still visible). The redness is usually gone by the time I get home, although the tenderness stays for a few days. Yes, it feels like a sunburn. The dead hair gets pushed out over the course of a few days and really can't be shaved off to any acceptable degree - just have to live with it for a while.
After my first treatment, I did notice a drastic reduction in coverage and growth. What used to take me three days to look like the wolfman, now I can go a week and a half and still only have stubble. I'm still in the fallout stage of my last treatment, so I still don't know what the further reduction looks like from that. But I have noticed a few "bald spots" on my chin, a little smaller than dimes, in a few places.
The place I am going to offered a package price of $1,022 for six sessions - that's about $171 per session (actually a 20% savings over paying for each session individually).
Quote from: stephanie on March 25, 2006, 01:29:10 PM
The redness is usually gone by the time I get home, although the tenderness stays for a few days. Yes, it feels like a sunburn.
I just want to echo Stephanie and Annie here. I just got back from my first session. The initial redness went away during my 10 minute drive home. You'd never know I had a session by looking at me already.
My face felt like it was on fire when I left... three hours later and it's just a mild sunburn feeling now. No biggie.
It didn't hurt anywhere near what I expected (EDIT: I did apply EMLA cream an hour beforehand). It certainly stung, but no more than a small rubber band being snapped against the skin. Then again, the doctor kept saying, "I can't believe how well you're tolerating this..." so maybe I have a high pain threshold, lol. Yea, the upper lip was the worst, but mostly because it made me want to sneeze, lol. It also only took a couple zaps, so it was over quick.
I think in some sadistic way I was also taking pleasure in knowing that each zap was killing off a bunch of hated whiskers :) Take THAT! zap.
A quick update here... I've got my second session coming up this weekend, and it seems that the timing is perfect. It's only within the past week that I've noticed any growth in the treated area as the follicles that were dormant 5 weeks ago are coming to life. They're pretty sparse, and seem to grow more slowly than normal, and are emerging just in time to be blasted away!
I'm having the whole face and neck done this time, rather than just the goatee area, so I'll report back on just how high my pain threshold is!
Quote from: Annie Social on April 04, 2006, 06:09:33 PM
A quick update here... I've got my second session coming up this weekend, and it seems that the timing is perfect. It's only within the past week that I've noticed any growth in the treated area as the follicles that were dormant 5 weeks ago are coming to life.
Hmmm, that's interesting, as my next appointment is only 4 weeks away - which seemed kinda short to me. Now you really have me wondering. I guess I can always call and postpone it for a few weeks if I have no significant growth by then...
So you're saying I can look forward to a few weeks of no growth - once the remaining zapped hairs fall out? That would be SO nice! I just cannot imagine not having a beard shadow... I would be SO incredibly happy!
Oh.. and one thing I DIDN'T anticipate - damn it stinks! I STILL smell singed hair a bit. Ewww. I think that was worse than the pain, lol.
4 weeks is right about the time I started to notice the new growth, so your timing is probably fine. I'm sure it varies all over the place, too. And yes, the smell was a bit much; I was glad I had a stuffy nose the day I went in!
Once the hair had mostly fallen out, there was about two weeks of not really having to shave there at all. Prior to that, I was shaving regularly to help the dead hairs fall out faster. By the way, a little trick: a somewhat dull razor is a good thing here; when it passes over the hairs that are ready to come out, they pull loose before the razor can cut them!
Quote from: Kate on April 04, 2006, 06:01:27 PMYou'd never know I had a session by looking at me already.
I take that back. Today (morning after session), I have numerous red spots (probably actually minor burns/discolorations - don't hurt though), some scabbing, some "whiteheads". It kinda looks like I had a *really* bad day trying to shave with a dull razor. People won't know WHAT happened, but they're gonna know something did. I look pretty awful.
It's extremely depressing... it's tough to do something to make yourself look better, and end up looking so nasty. I know it's going to heal and clear up, but... yuck.
I would like to comment on the laser treatment. I found that it thinned my beard out a lot, but I have a reddish brown hair on my face. I went through 6 sessions at 1200 dollars and she used this cold air technique, which didn't hurt one bit. My face was red for about a day and that was all. It has been over 6 months now since my last treatment and the hairs on my face are not getting any thicker , but I still have hair there. Most of it is very light and some hairs are thick, but for the most part you can't see any hair, only feel it. I'm, at this moment, not going to waste my money on any hair removal only razor blades. I think that if you went and had laser done and then go back to electrolysis for the lighter hairs. You will be far more ahead than just going to one. Just my opinion.
Sheila
Quote from: Sheila on April 05, 2006, 02:00:30 PM
I think that if you went and had laser done and then go back to electrolysis for the lighter hairs. You will be far more ahead than just going to one. Just my opinion.
That was my plan. I'm still saving money for the treatment though.
Melissa
Gracie, you look great, I'm impressed by what the lazer can do. I'd like to ask you if you were doing HRT at the time or you were in total m-mode. Lastly what kind of lazer was it and what was the general cost where you went?
~Thanks,
Leigh Rivers
Gracie was doing Anti-androgens only during that time.
Melissa
One thing I forgot to mention (I wrote about it in my blog, but forgot it here) was that the laser operator gave me a frozen water balloon at the beginning of the session! Every so often she would pause and let me roll the balloon over the areas she had just done; what a wonderful feeling that was!
Also, I wanted to mention that I didn't use any topical anesthetic; the operator was so adamant about my not having any makeup, cream, lotion, or anything else on my face, I didn't even think about it. I have to wonder if the anesthetic creams might be a part of some of the nasty reactions...
Another update...
I had my second session earlier today (Saturday) and while having the whole face done rather than just the lips and chin was much more intense, it still wasn't terrible.
I was a bit surprised to find that my neck was actually much more sensitive than my upper lip; there was some serious wincing going on while that was being done.
I've written the whole thing up in my blog; it's at http://transintransition.blogspot.com/2006/04/laser-part-2.html
Annie
Very interesting so far...
My electro is curious to see how deliberately combining laser with electro will work. I've got some white hairs that won't be affected by the laser, (Lisa gets to get 'em ;) ), some reddish that'll be iffy-maybe, and the majority are dark (and fat, and take 80 units of lye and a long time spent with a hot needle stuck in the follicle and 'gentle' testing tugs until the damn hair finally gives up, packs it in, and says adios...)
I've contacted two likely prospects in my area, but as this was done Saturday morning, I don't expect a response until tomorrow (Monday). They both use the two recommended laser machines. I expect they won't be happy that I don't intend to buy a package from them...
Karen
Karen,
Any decent laser operation should be happy to treat you on a single session basis. They will go over the whole process, and they certainly will have packages availabe (which can save you quite a bit, if you can afford them) but they shouldn't push anything or give you a hard-sell. If they do, run!
By the way, a friend went with me for my session yesterday; she had laser on her upper lip and electro on her chin in the same session. I had never seen electro done before, and they let me watch as I'll probably need it for a few white and/or stubborn hairs.
They use a radio-frequency pulse electro machine; 2 or 3 fraction-of-a-second zaps, and out comes the hair. I was pretty impressed; my friend said it didn't bother her as much as the laser.
Annie
Quote from: Annie Social on April 09, 2006, 11:35:46 AM
They use a radio-frequency pulse electro machine; 2 or 3 fraction-of-a-second zaps, and out comes the hair. I was pretty impressed; my friend said it didn't bother her as much as the laser.
Sounds like they use thermolysis only, which is basically heating microwaves coming from the end of the probe, so it's working in the same way that the laser is working, i.e., heat only.
There is a danger with the radio frequencies, though -- "High frequency blowout." Basically, if set too high, the RF flash-boils the water in the surrounding skin, and the scalding steam ejects the follicle with a *pop*. This is very much not-good, as it will likely lead to scarring. (Maybe that's the snapping sound we hear in the movie Transamerica when the small-town electro gets a few rogue hairs on Bree's upper lip? :o )
My electro uses 'blend' which combines the original direct current which turns the water and salt in the tissues into hydrogen and sodium hydroxide (lye), which tends to kill the follicle cells responsible for hair production, and the RF which heats the lye solution (making it more effective) and forces it to every part of the follicle.
BTW, I commented to my electro that, as a group, the TS/TG community was probably VERY knowledgeable about electro and other beard disassembly methods. :D
Karen
Quote from: Karen on April 09, 2006, 11:57:49 AM(Maybe that's the snapping sound we hear in the movie Transamerica when the small-town electro gets a few rogue hairs on Bree's upper lip? :o )
I had to laugh when I saw that, as it looked like a home OneTouch kit that my wife used on me a few years ago (purely galvanic). The thing actually does work, but it takes more like 60 seconds per hair (writhing in pain the entire time), not the 1/16 second ZAP! she gave Bree, lol.
Posted at: April 09, 2006, 01:13:29 PM
Quote from: Kate on April 05, 2006, 01:13:13 PM
I take that back. Today (morning after session), I have numerous red spots (probably actually minor burns/discolorations - don't hurt though), some scabbing, some "whiteheads". It kinda looks like I had a *really* bad day trying to shave with a dull razor. People won't know WHAT happened, but they're gonna know something did. I look pretty awful.
Just a quick update so my post above doesn't scare anyone off, lol...
Within a week, the redness and blotches were basically gone. It looked SO bad for the first day or two, I was actually frightened it would never heal. But it healed up fine. Heck, I *swear* it's even BETTER now... I have numerous acne and chickenpox scars, and I'm tellin' ya, they're FAR less noticable now. Very cool :)
My beard was slightly thinner, though by no means gone, immediately after the session. It stayed that way for 10 days... no changes to density. I had given up hope that the laser had done anything.
Then on day 11, my beard fell off. Seriously, lol. It was the weirdest thing. All the sudden I went to wash my face and found dozens upon dozens of hairs stuck to the washcloth, in the sink, and loose on my face. Over the course of the day, I'd say 95% of my visible beard fell off. Yay!
There are still some very thin patches here and there, but if I shave (takes about two seconds now, lol), I have no shadow at all. I actually cried, lol.. pathetic, I know, but the *relief* of not having any appreciable beard for the first time EVER... just... wow.
I realize it won't stay this way for long, but I'm certainly enjoyin' it right now :)
Quote from: Kate on April 17, 2006, 10:26:41 AM
...Then on day 11, my beard fell off. Seriously, lol. It was the weirdest thing. All the sudden I went to wash my face and found dozens upon dozens of hairs stuck to the washcloth, in the sink, and loose on my face. Over the course of the day, I'd say 95% of my visible beard fell off. Yay!
There are still some very thin patches here and there, but if I shave (takes about two seconds now, lol), I have no shadow at all. I actually cried, lol.. pathetic, I know, but the *relief* of not having any appreciable beard for the first time EVER... just... wow.
Hi, Kate;
Thank you, thank you, thank you, for that update! I have a session tomorrow, to zap my neck (still mostly dense old-growth, painful to remove.) As I have red and white hairs mixed in, my Electro will still be busy down there. But now I know not to waste her time and mine until after the fallout happens!
Karen
UPDATE:
A series of pin-jab -like sensations, painful but bearable (even with a strong topical anasthetic.) I gripped the 'squeezy', grimmaced, held my breath. The odor of singed hair filled my nostrils. Three minutes after the torture began, the doctor said, "We're all done!" I looked at my neck and saw that weird pattern of black blotches that lasering leaves behind, and began wiping with a wet cloth to remove most of the hairs.
I still have plenty of light/white hairs for which only electrolysis can 'get' (and I can feel 'em growing back this morning -- dang!) But there's a bunch now that are no longer half-minute, 80-unit hairs... Even if they come back later, we can get 'em in the baby stage when it doesn't hurt (so much ;) )
Karen
Just want to say that I am still alive. Karen told me that I should post more often.
I wonder if Karen could give us an update as to how the facial hair removal is progressing.... ;D
eny up date on laser
I did get it dun in Oct. and Dec.
and it come out good.
Did enyone elp have good luck.
kim
Quote from: kimmie on January 14, 2007, 10:15:45 PM
Did enyone elp have good luck.
Yeah, I ended up being one of my laser clinic's best examples. :)
Melissa
Quote from: Kate on March 22, 2006, 05:53:48 PM
Quote from: Luana on March 22, 2006, 05:51:01 PMBut after the redness healed...
May I ask how long the redness was noticeable?
Do you happen to know which type of laser was used?
My first clearing took about 20 minutes and the rest took less as there was less hair to remove. After my first clearing my face looked like I had a severe sunburn. It faded in a few hours. The laser used was the Light Shear diode laser. After 3 treatments, I didn't need make up any more to hide the shadow. I had 6 treatments and the last one was several years ago. I don't have any more facial hair now than a gg of the same age.
Hope this helps.
Karen Lyn :icon_female:
I'm sorry to re-open an old topic, but I just wanted to confirm something...not that i distrust anything that has already been written...I just want to put my mind at ease. =)
Laser hair removal.
I started with electrolysis. I handled it great at first, but over time with HRT (I'm assuming, based on what i read and experienced) my face became real sensitive. So, my electrolysist suggested that I do some laser first, then come back to electro.
Prior to having gone on HRT, I've always had a real thick beard that grew really really fast. I could shave in the morning and have a 5'oclock shadow by 1pm... Even when I was doing HRT it barely slowed at all.
Anyways, I took her suggestion to heart and went to go do laser. The nurse (nurse right? I forget) told me that it should take about 4 sessions. I went thru the first 2, using lidocane cream, with...well...it hurt. But i got thru it. The third session I was in tears it hurt so bad. The cream did nothing...just like for electro, the cream was hit or miss...sigh. It was pure torture. ..... I never did the 4th session because I was told that they were losing their machine. Then it was the holidays. And now it's, well, now. My beard is in full swing again. It's like the first 3 times did nothing at all...and yes, the majority of it is dark hair on white skin. I do have some white, but I'll get that with electro.
My questions are:
1. How many times do you actually need? I know that everyone is different, but you all seem to agree that 8-10+ is what you need for good? or great? clearing.
2. How many times do you need before you start seeing a significant reduction?
Again, I know that everyone is different and with my history it might take many times, but I'm about to start making appointments again and wanted to confirm that it will probably take more than the 4 times i was quoted.
Thank you all,
Astyria.
Quote from: Astyria on February 01, 2007, 12:45:10 PM
1. How many times do you actually need? I know that everyone is different, but you all seem to agree that 8-10+ is what you need for good? or great? clearing.
I did 9 sessions with a LightSheer. I still have probably a dozen+ dark hairs here and there left, but they've survived the last few sessions... so I'm done. I'll pluck or use electrolysis now.
Quote2. How many times do you need before you start seeing a significant reduction?
Every session significantly reduced things for me, though it varied by area. My neck and cheeks went completely bare within a few sessions and stayed that way. The goatee area is much more stubborn (and dense), and probably took 4 sessions are so before it started to look semi-clear for awhile. Thing is, new growth pops up between sessions, so although it'd look great once the hairs fell out (about 10 days post laser), new growth (previously hidden or dormant hairs) would fill it in a bit by the next session. It's kind of a 2 steps forward, 1 step back thing.
By 6 sessions, I was basically clear except for a few stragglers, and it stayed that way. Sessions 7-9 were somewhat pointless, but I'd hoped to kill the last few dark hairs.
Kate
Like Kate, I also used the LightSheer. I started noticing an immediate difference--especially after the first session. With each subsequent session, there has been noticably less hair each time. Also it seemed to get more painful with each one. The last one I was squirming and had to take a few breaks. I've had 6 sessions now. After the 5th, the shadow was pretty much all gone and now after the sixth, I can pretty much go all day without shaving and no hair shows up. I do have a few under one of my nostrils that I have to watch, but they're not that noticable.
Melissa
Quote from: Melissa on February 01, 2007, 01:34:31 PM
Also it seemed to get more painful with each one...
My experience was just the opposite: where there was no hair, there was no pain. I didn't even feel my last few sessions really.
But oh my, I felt the first few sessions alright, lol... I kept picturing Ed Norton in
Fight Club when Tyler poured the acid onto his hand...
"I'm going to my happy place, I'm going to my happy place..."Kate
Quote from: Kate on February 01, 2007, 01:41:03 PM
Quote from: Melissa on February 01, 2007, 01:34:31 PM
Also it seemed to get more painful with each one...
My experience was just the opposite: where there was no hair, there was no pain. I didn't even feel my last few sessions really.
You're lucky you haven't been on hrt as long as me when you started your laser. ;)
Melissa
Thanks for the input =).
I've been on estrogen for about 1 1/2 years when i started this...spiro has been off and on due to some probs. Nevertheless, my face is softer and much more sensitive...my endo just gave me EMLA cream which ill use instead of the lidocane. I doubt that there'll be much difference between the two, but I can hope, huh? =p Barring that, I'll try to find my happy place. Bleh, I'll be in tears again. Oh well, must be done and it's not forever.
Thank you =),
Astyria.
Do what I do and imagine what it will be like to be hair free and how much you hate the hair. It makes it so much more bearable.
Melissa
Quote from: Astyria on February 01, 2007, 05:45:39 PM
my endo just gave me EMLA cream which ill use instead of the lidocane...
Lidocaine never did a thing for me. It completely numbed my skin at the surface, but didn't lessen the pain of the laser zaps at all. I stopped using it after a few sessions. It hurt pretty bad, but knowing it would be over in 10 minutes or so... and constantly reminding myself of the end results I was suffering for... made it bearable ;)
I also kinda took a sick, sadistic pleasure in knowing that pain = dead hairs.
Take THAT you nasty, nasty beard!!!Kate
Does EMLA help the treatments (electo too) at all?? I thought it only lasts a few seconds...
My only experience has been with lidocane... And, the "proper" application of it is somewhat annoying. So much so that I didnt bother with that part of the application. You're supposed to apply it to the area to be worked on, then cover that area with something...like plastic wrap or something. I think the idea behind it is to make that area a little hotter so that the pours open up and the cream is absorbed better....? anyone? However, it was so annoying to do so that i just applied it about 30mins before i went in and hoped for the best. *If* it worked at all it usually worked for about an hour. So the second hour of my two hour session was always the worst.
I was also *way* to self-concious to go into public with my face wraped in whatever =p hehe.
I just got a perscription for EMLA cream which I'll try out as soon as i can get more sessions scheduled and let you know =).
Astyria.
Quote from: Icephoenyx on February 05, 2007, 11:29:52 PM
Does EMLA help the treatments (electo too) at all?? I thought it only lasts a few seconds...
It lasts about an hour, MAYBE... but while it made the *surface* of my skin numb, it never lessened the pain from laser zaps themselves. I just stopped using it after a few sessions. It hurts (more hair = more pain), but it's tolerable... and over pretty quick (10 minutes or so of actual zapping per session for me).
Kate
Quote from: Astyria on February 07, 2007, 09:28:18 PM
My only experience has been with lidocane... And, the "proper" application of it is somewhat annoying. So much so that I didnt bother with that part of the application. You're supposed to apply it to the area to be worked on, then cover that area with something...like plastic wrap or something. I think the idea behind it is to make that area a little hotter so that the pours open up and the cream is absorbed better....? anyone? However, it was so annoying to do so that i just applied it about 30mins before i went in and hoped for the best. *If* it worked at all it usually worked for about an hour. So the second hour of my two hour session was always the worst.
I was also *way* to self-concious to go into public with my face wraped in whatever =p hehe.
That's basically what I do for my laser sessions. Normally I've gone into the place and had them apply it for me while I sat around for an hour, but the last time I did it at home with the plastic wrap and everything. I just pulled off the plastic wrap right before getting out of the car and went in with a "goop" beard rather than a plastic wrap beard hoping it would be less noticable. :)
Melissa
I'm so shy about it that i go above and beyond in hiding it. Not hinding that im doing it, mind you, but going out with the goop on my face. My old place for laser/electro was in an office building in town. I made my appointments for saturday night...since it would not only give my beard extra time to grow out (since im on HRT and it grows slow now) so that more gets removed, but also because *no one* is there at that time. .... That's above....now for beyond =p...
I'll leave the house early to get there about an hour ahead of time. Once i get there and park, ill apply it and let it sit for an hour (actually, i do two coats at 30mins each)...while im still in the car, listening to the radio and reading a magazine. Then, before i go up, ill take a wetone and wipe off the cream...hehe.
Hope my new place will take saturday evening appointments.
Astyria.
My first appointment to the Marque deSade Laser Clinic was simply to check the place out. However at the end of my appointment the tech asked if I would like to do a treatment while I was there. I thought "Hmm.......oddly fortunate". I agreed and plopped down on the nice comfy table feeling quite pleased with my luck. She explained what she was going to do and how some people found it mildly painful but most tolerated it very well. Having not been able to prepare ahead of time I wasn't able to apply the "numbing cream" that she had told me about earlier but having a fairly high tolerance for pain I wasn't worried.
I wasn't worried until she hit me with that first zap and my brain screamed "HOLY $@#%"....I'm pretty sure it was in my head but judging from her reaction it may not have been. She asked if she should stop and I said "No point in stopping now I'm already traumatized". She laughed nervously and continued. Sometime during the episode I began to hallucinate and remembered a tidbit she mentioned early on during our meeting "oooh...you have the perfect skin type and hair type for laser....I can use a higher setting." I had passed it off as a bit of a compliment...me perfect at something? *blush* Why thank you *blush*.
Anywho....she finally finished and said "Yeah...that's really painful without the cream". Next sentence "Would you like to purchase some numbing cream for your next visit?". I said "as long as it's not over a thousand dollars I will!!" ...not really but that's what I was thinking.
Fast forward next visit....feeling pretty darn confident with my face slathered in cream and completely numb to the touch. Fast forward to laser zap..."HOLY $@#%". This time I'm positive it was in my head because she hit me with at least five more pulses before I screamed.....
Quote from: BrandiOK on February 10, 2007, 06:22:39 PM
My first appointment to the Marque deSade Laser Clinic was simply to check the place out.
Marque deSade? Whoa, what a name for a laser clinic! :D