Ok so I've decided to track my progress on my laser in case anyone is curious. And I'm putting my gross, red, freshly lasered, non-makeup wearing face out there for all to see. I know before I started getting it done that I was intensely curious about how it worked. Well I have a description and pictures for you!
Well first a laser shoots your face, then it hurts like hell, then after a couple of weeks the dead hairs fall out. The hair that's poking out of the skin gets roasted off and your skin is insanely smooth for a few hours.
Ok enough talking, here are the pictures!!!!
http://s1087.photobucket.com/albums/j475/samhdlr/Laser%20Album/ (http://s1087.photobucket.com/albums/j475/samhdlr/Laser%20Album/) (Parent Album)
Treatment 1 Parent Album (http://s1087.photobucket.com/albums/j475/samhdlr/Laser%20Album/Treatment%201/)
Treatment 2 Parent Album (http://s1087.photobucket.com/albums/j475/samhdlr/Laser%20Album/Treatment%202/)
Treatment 2 - Just After the Treatment (http://s1087.photobucket.com/albums/j475/samhdlr/Laser%20Album/Treatment%202/01%20-%20A%20few%20hours%20after/)
Treatment 2 - One Day After (http://s1087.photobucket.com/albums/j475/samhdlr/Laser%20Album/Treatment%202/02%20The%20Next%20Day/)
Treatment 2 - One Week After (http://s1087.photobucket.com/albums/j475/samhdlr/Laser%20Album/Treatment%202/03%20One%20Week%20Later/)
Treatment 3 Parent Album (http://s1087.photobucket.com/albums/j475/samhdlr/Laser%20Album/Treatment%203/)
Treatment 3 - Five Minutes After Treatment (http://s1087.photobucket.com/albums/j475/samhdlr/Laser%20Album/Treatment%203/01%20-%205%20Minutes%20After%20Treatment/)
Treatment 3 - One Hour After Treatment (http://s1087.photobucket.com/albums/j475/samhdlr/Laser%20Album/Treatment%203/02%20-%201%20Hour%20After%20Treatment/)
Treatment 3 - 16 Hours After Treatment (http://s1087.photobucket.com/albums/j475/samhdlr/Laser%20Album/Treatment%203/03%20-%2016%20Hours%20After%20Treatment/)
Treatment 3 - 2 Days After Treatment (First shave since treatment) (http://s1087.photobucket.com/albums/j475/samhdlr/Laser%20Album/Treatment%203/04%20-%20Two%20Days%20After%20Treatment/)
I have it broken up into treatments. So I hope this can help some people who are curious see how it works.
The first treatment was amazing with how much it cleared out my face. The 2nd treatment did a lot. But the hairs that remained after the 2nd treatment are the very stubborn, resilient ones. So those will probably take a couple more treatments.
My neck is almost completely clear after just 2 treatments, my chin area doesn't show any shadow after a fresh shave and foundation does just fine to cover it up. The only part that REALLY concerns me anymore is my upper lip which I was told takes the longest to kill, and so far my results confirm this.
That's weird, because my upper lip is basically entirely clear, while my chin and neck area seem a bit more stubborn.
Hair grows in phases, generally every 6 weeks I believe. There's 3 phases of growth so that's ortially why you get what yu assume is regrowtb. It is the follialsm that were dormant coming out. This is also why it takes so long to clear a face. It took me 12 treatments.
Quote
The Hair Growth Cycle
Hair follicles grow in repeated cycles. One cycle can be broken down into three phases.
Anagen - Growth Phase
Catagen - Transitional phase
Telogen - Resting Phase
Each hair passes through the phases independent of the neighboring hairs.
Anagen Phase - Growth Phase
Approximately 85% of all hairs are in the growing phase at any one time. The Anagen phase or growth phase can vary from two to six years. Hair grows approximately 10cm per year and any individual hair is unlikely to grow more than one meter long.
Catagen Phase - transitional phase
At the end of the Anagen phase the hairs enters into a Catagen phase which lasts about one or two weeks, during the Catagen phase the hair follicle shrinks to about 1/6 of the normal length. The lower part is destroyed and the dermal papilla breaks away to rest below.
Telogen Phase - resting phase
The resting phase follows the catagen phase and normally lasts about 5-6 weeks. During this time the hair does not grow but stays attached to the follicle while the dermal papilla stays in a resting phase below. Approximately 10-15 percent of all hairs are in this phase at an one time.
At the end of the Telogen phase the hair follicle re-enters the Anagen phase. The dermal papilla and the base of the follicle join together again and a new hair begins to form. If the old hair has not already been shed the new hair pushes the old one out and the growth cycle starts all over again.
Congratulations :icon_joy: on your great results, Samantha.
Thank you VERY MUCH for sharing your pictures. Sometimes they tell the story so much better than words can.
Thank you Thank you and THANK YOU! I love the shirt you are wearing on the third treatment! <3
Thanks Samantha!
Appreciate the links and the information, my first treatment is May 16th and I'm very happy that it's drawing nearer.
Cannot wait!
I'm glad I was able to help ^.^ So my embarrassing exposure isn't completely wasted ;D
Who are you seeing in Orlando? And how much is it running you a session?
How much shaving took place between the photos in the second set?
Dresden - I go to see the "Orlando Institute" - I can give you information this Tuesday at the group about them.
Tammy - I believe I only shaved once between "One Day After" and "One Week After". I like to give my face time to heal and recover before I shave. So I like to wait about 3 or 4 days at least before I shave, I would like to wait longer if I could, but life doesn't pause because I want my face to heal, so I sometimes have to shave early.
I just had my 3rd treatment this past Wednesday, and I had to shave today (the following Friday) because I have business that needs to get taken care of.
Quote from: EmilyElizabeth on April 28, 2011, 07:51:07 PM
That's weird, because my upper lip is basically entirely clear, while my chin and neck area seem a bit more stubborn.
Me too! Matter of fact, my whole body is stubborn ::) My avatar is a couple weeks after my 2nd session, but I'm using concealer on the otherwise obvious beard shadow that remains.
I added the "Treatment 3 - 2 Days After Treatment (First shave since treatment)" to the list.
The hairs are all so dark =( I can't wait for them to fall out.
Great results! I hear nothing good about laser, everyone preaches electrolysis. Is laser typically better to start before HRT as is usually recommended for electrolysis...?
Nice results.
I cleared the majority of my face by the 6th treatment of an original 9. The upper lip and one stuborn spot on the right side of my neck have been rather stuborn. I have had to continue treatments just on those areas.
It clears out a little more each time but those hairs are die hards.
I do have alot of greys left that I need to get finished off with electrolosis. I waited too long, got too old for only going with laser.
My next laser mission will be my breasts, chest and belly starting next month.
Yay my face is getting smooth again. It gets so bumpy after the treatment. I so can't wait for the hairs to fall out again, I look forward to it like a 5 year old at Christmas.
I'd say it hurts a good bit more. Think more of a big rubber band that's snapping you in the face over and over. I don't mean a normal rubber band, I'm talking a bigger sized one.
Nice clear photo's Samantha and good results
There is quite a bit of redness but there has been quite in advancement in laser treatment over the years. I can also relate to that pain of the big rubber band, the burning rubber band, I had 3 full treatments in 1997 at a cost of A$800 a treatment and still only cleared up half the hair, going to get SPL next after spending the last 8 years waxing. I made the mistake of going on Public transport after the treatment as my face smelt like burning hair. I also had a really red neck and face for up to 5 days after and when I went back to work my boss was asking if I had tried to hang myself??
Unfortunately I do not have any photo's, Long time ago.
I'd say it looks like you have some good results. I'm hoping I'll be able to start laser sometime this summer (if I can get a good job to pay for it). Your results give me hope that it'll be worth it.
Looks like your having good results, although I don't know how you can go more then 3 days with out shaving especially since your FT. I can go a day but by day 2 there's some growth on the chin that I can see. I'm not even out yet and I hate any whiskers showing.
I also notice for a good 2-4 days after, the upper lip area is smooth but the shadow is darker then normal and I can see whiskers but theres none sticking out. hmmmmm ???
I have a fairly good pain threshold. but that upper lip.
OWWWWWWWW
and to top it off she does it twice. I have seen some results on the upper lip but nothing like the cheeks and neck. 100% gone on cheeks 60-70% gone on neck, 30% gone on chin and maybe 10-20% on upper lip. This is with three sessions, I hoping I can afford the 4th and 5th.
Shelly
OMG. That upper lip makes me cry every single time. The rest of my face on the 3rd treatment went by pretty quick, it did hurt but not very much. But that upper lip had my balling like a child. Ok not literally, but my eyes were definitely watering.
I go without shaving for as long as I can after the treatments. To do this I simply go hermit mode. I don't go out, or go anywhere. Realistically I can only do this for 2 or 3 days, maybe 4 if I'm super lucky. But until my face gets smooth I can't get a good shave, and it becomes sort of pointless.
I had six sessions of laser and it didn't do a whole lot for me. However rigorious use of an epilator has made my hair really fine to the point where I can gow a few days in between. Most of the dark hairs are gone but ther is still a lot of red.
Quote from: EmilyElizabeth on April 28, 2011, 07:51:07 PM
That's weird, because my upper lip is basically entirely clear, while my chin and neck area seem a bit more stubborn.
That's weird because I have gotten no hair removal and my upper lip doesn't even need to be shaved anymore.
My chin still does but only every other day.
Quote from: Maddie Secutura on May 02, 2011, 12:42:54 AM
I had six sessions of laser and it didn't do a whole lot for me. However rigorious use of an epilator has made my hair really fine to the point where I can gow a few days in between. Most of the dark hairs are gone but ther is still a lot of red.
I've seen this a few times after having seen a ton of info saying "never epilate the face!!!!"
How in the heck are you brave few managing to use an epilator on your face? i tried creeping up the lower reaches of my neck and though it was gonna yank my throat out...
these were taken in July last year
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1020.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faf327%2FRachelGeorginaMorgan%2FSnapshot_20100730.jpg&hash=a1c0eebb86eb0b626e6cd3879baa600547419512)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1020.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faf327%2FRachelGeorginaMorgan%2FSnapshot_20100730_1.jpg&hash=5f9fe96dd5d0ac992472771480b7272451c6e23a)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1020.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faf327%2FRachelGeorginaMorgan%2FSnapshot_20100730_2.jpg&hash=dc567ef08261d52310a18c40be73438a48a2419f)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1020.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faf327%2FRachelGeorginaMorgan%2FSnapshot_20100730_3.jpg&hash=a6dd40ee54d7f88b188029b277b0433a69c7a783)
Quote from: Tammy Hope on May 02, 2011, 02:41:29 AM
I've seen this a few times after having seen a ton of info saying "never epilate the face!!!!"
How in the heck are you brave few managing to use an epilator on your face? i tried creeping up the lower reaches of my neck and though it was gonna yank my throat out...
It hurt like a bitch the first several times. But now it's fairly easy and it sure beats tweezing. I might go for electro down the road but for now this works.
..
Do you think you could do a cost history, too? It would be interesting.
Well the cost has consitently been $175.00.
I had a coupon that was good for $100.00 off my first visit, but forgot to bring it in. I redeemed it on my 2nd visit. So my 2nd visit was $75.00. I have a bunch of referrals too which get me $25 off individual visits.
So here is the history:
Treatment 1: $175.00
Treatment 2: $175.00 - $100.00 = $75.00
Treatment 3: $175.00 - $25.00 = $150.00
thanks for the information, sadly where i am i am stuck with electralisis as the laser guys are much farther away and not cost effective as a result... but cool pics.
Quote from: Beth Andrea on May 02, 2011, 05:32:35 PM
How is the long-term effect? How many sessions did you have, and after almost a year...how is it? (Shaving at all, weekly, weakly, etc)
laser therapy is a reduction, not a removal, so there are some hairs left, and the current tech won't do white hairs at all, so I do tend to do a little plucking on a night and again in the morning just to see if there's anything really visual that needs seeing to but my face is pretty much hairless now :) I could go for a week and just have a few whispy hairs. I had 6 full face sessions and 3 extra top lip sessions, what few dark hairs are left tend to grow on the chin and just below the nose but they cover well with make up during the day :)
this is the type of thread I love to see here...where we help others see where they are heading with pics and reports.
I have had amazing results with laser. And psychologically it's done wonders for me as well. I think everyone should give it a try if of course they are good candidates for it.
I too have some white hairs that I have to get electrolysis on eventually but they are hard to see anyway.
Well if this thread helps anyone, then please don't hesitate to give me +reputation :angel: ;D
I primarily made this thread because I was super curious about laser. The results, the aftereffects, etc, but had a bit of trouble finding the information. So instead of letting other people wonder like I did, I decided to show off my hideousness :)
Thanks so much for posting this Samantha, I had also intended to make a similar therad, but I'm ya know.... lazy :p
Not to thread jack Samantha, but since you're already gotten the ball rolling, I think I'll post a few shots I've got. I have taken photos before and after every session, but it's kinda tough to see major changes month to month after the first session. Hopefully these will help someone else, as I was once in the same boat of wondering what to expect.
Anyway....
These are from November, with 3 days growth, no laser yet (click to make larger):
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi879.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab352%2Fsometimesara%2FFace%2Ffacecrop2.jpg&hash=9286f2883f2a436c72de9ff7d8369d6be9556614)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi879.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab352%2Fsometimesara%2F054.jpg&hash=a02bf771211ee4c21e862227bbacb70fb552b217)
These I took last night, two weeks after my last laser session. I've had 6? sessions on my lower neck/chin/lip areas and 3 sessions on the sideburn areas.
In these pics I have 4 and a half days growth:
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi879.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab352%2Fsometimesara%2F004.jpg&hash=235d2887113cfa0463e4d7db4734c0eb28da518e)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi879.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab352%2Fsometimesara%2F003.jpg&hash=e2f835f7afccd35fd113d1deea74a81e2c464579)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi879.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab352%2Fsometimesara%2F001-1.jpg&hash=31b5dda8e28d656fc2b4aad91eeaa7c46cbcd450)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi879.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab352%2Fsometimesara%2F006-1.jpg&hash=fa00c6fa4431fbb462f3ff994cba6730141b62db)
I almost lost my mind letting it grow to get those last pics, but I wanted to document it. Unfortunately for me I have a fair about of blonde hair too (natural blonde) so I'm going to have to deal with quite a bit of electro, but having most of the beard shadow gone helps so much.
~Sara
P.S.- I'm also having laser on my chest and keeping track of that, tomorrow is my second session for that
Very cool, thanks for sharing Sara.