Quote from: Hikari on July 10, 2014, 02:11:06 AM
I use a 20% benzocaine and 5% menthol solution on my upper lip before laser, makes me talk funny (apparently not being able to feel your face does that) but it stops you from feeling pain and doesn't last very long. I hear many clinics will sell you lidocaine as well which should be longer lasting. Last place I looked it was more expensive though, my benzocaine and plastic wrap solution was less than $5.

I used 10% -- my lips where so numb and flubby it was *exactly* like being novacained at the dentists office.

Didn't do much after all though. Kinda fear what it would've been like without, and I'm not planning to test my hypothesis either.

I'm not S&M inclined....

Quote from: Evelyn K on July 10, 2014, 02:14:34 AM
I used 10% -- my lips where so numb and flubby it was *exactly* like being novacained at the dentists office.

Didn't do much after all though. Kinda fear what it would've been like without, and I'm not planning to test my hypothesis either.

I'm not S&M inclined....

Now that would be some place to hang out. An S&M laser hair removal clinic.

I paid $1000 for 6 sessions plus unlimited touch-ups for a year. After those 6 sessions and a couple of 5-minute touch-ups I was down to maybe a dozen facial hairs, which is where I still am now four years later (and I just pluck 'em).

What Evelyn said about the rubber band about says it all.  And definitely have the person running the laser go quickly.  My first session, the nurse waited seconds between each zap and it suuuuucked.  My second session, the doctor went quickly and kept a good rhythm so i still knew when it was coming.

I'm paying $350 a session but I am getting mine done at a dermatologists office which is the most expensive way to go.  My first session was with an RN and my second with the Dr.  I wanted to be safe with my face, but will probably bargain shop for the rest of my body.  Even though the cost is higher per session, they have the latest laser and only expect it to take 4 sessions.  They said to expect about a 25% reduction with each session, and after the first two, I would say that they were dead on.  Even though my per visit cost is higher, it looks like the overall costs will be similar to or less than what other people are paying with fewer torturous visits. My facial hair is black and dark brown. You should be prepared to watch sun exposure and wear a strong sunscreen after treatments because your skin is more vulnerable to damage. 

What did i tell the nurse when she asked why?  I chickened out and just said I hated shaving.  I had planned on coming clean, but I am a wuss.

I paid $119 for 6 partial face (the lower half of the face where the hair grows and the upper part of the neck) laser sessions on a groupon deal. When I was done with those I bought a package of 6 more sessions on my full face and neck for $200. I'm about to do session #8 and most of my black hair is gone. I let my beard grow for a couple of days to see what was left and it is mostly white/gray hairs now. Yes, i'm old 

My laser place uses a Candela GentleMAX 755/1064 nm laser. My therapist told me to have a compounding pharmacy mix up a batch of numbing creme using a mix of lidocane/benzocane/tetracane; that mix works way better than EMLA did.

If you are in the L.A. area and want to check out this place PM me and I will give you the link to the business.

Quote from: Kylie on July 10, 2014, 10:50:21 PM
What did i tell the nurse when she asked why?  I chickened out and just said I hated shaving.  I had planned on coming clean, but I am a wuss.

I did the same thing and I have no idea why.  I've come clean in far less safe scenarios.

Quote from: Evelyn K on July 10, 2014, 02:02:30 AM
When the technician is zapping you and you're squeezing the foam ball, and your toes are curling from the pain, and she cheerfully asks, ... "so, what made you decide to remove your beard?"

What do you say?

I said I didn't have enough facial hair for a beard, and shaving made me have breakouts, so getting rid of it was going to be good.

Quote from: Evelyn K on July 10, 2014, 02:14:34 AM
I used 10% -- my lips where so numb and flubby it was *exactly* like being novacained at the dentists office.

Didn't do much after all though. Kinda fear what it would've been like without, and I'm not planning to test my hypothesis either.

I'm not S&M inclined....

You need to try 3+ hours of electro! now that feels great!
The big problem with topicals is that it's not comprehensive - the deep nerve fibres aren't affected.   Also as there is no vasoconstrictor to stop blood flow from carrying it away, the effect is very short in nature.

How obvious is the redness following laser treatment?  I envision it like a "sunburn beard" for a day or two - is it that noticeable, or can you go to work the next day with no worries?

Quote from: Brenda E on July 11, 2014, 05:06:58 AM
How obvious is the redness following laser treatment?  I envision it like a "sunburn beard" for a day or two - is it that noticeable, or can you go to work the next day with no worries?

I've had two treatments, and haven't had any redness at all.  I have read of other people that have had redness or puffyness though so it might have to do with things like laser type, the setting they use, skin sensitivity and/or quality of the laser or person running the laser.  My first treatment was on a low setting to see how I would react to it, and then they stepped it up this last time. 

I paid $100 per session (in Philadelphia) each covering my neck and face.  They had me coming in about every six weeks.

After eight sessions I have few dark hairs left which I've decided to save for electrolysis - along with a plethora of white hairs. 

My skin is fair and somewhat sensitive and I would usually get red blotches here and there with some minimal swelling.  It typically cleared up within two days.

I pay like 200 USD (approximate conversion from 4000 CZK) for a face and neck session on a certain clinic in Prague. Based on their website they use GentleLase Laser.

My skin is very pale and facial hair pigment is very dark with no whites or grays so it works perfectly. I'll see in a few weeks how much is left after 5th session which I had on June 25th.

I usually make 8 or 9 weeks pauses between sessions. Otherwise I use a razor and then cover some dark spots (mainly under nose) with a bit of make-up. Only few places need shaving now so I'm very satisfied with the progress :-) .

Quote from: Kylie on July 10, 2014, 10:50:21 PM
You should be prepared to watch sun exposure and wear a strong sunscreen after treatments because your skin is more vulnerable to damage. 

What did i tell the nurse when she asked why?  I chickened out and just said I hated shaving.  I had planned on coming clean, but I am a wuss.

Oh yeah defo covering up with some sunscreen SPF 30 here, but I don't go out much.

The technician noticed my puffy nips so I'm guess she got a clue and decided to "ask me".

Quote from: Brenda E on July 11, 2014, 05:06:58 AM
How obvious is the redness following laser treatment?  I envision it like a "sunburn beard" for a day or two - is it that noticeable, or can you go to work the next day with no worries?

A little red around each follical and when a lot of those are combined it does give the skin a slightly sunburned hue. Goes away in a day or two.

However, for me, 2 days after, the beard hair and follicles are slightly raised like stipples all over my face and I can't really shave. So I look beardy today UGHHH!!

I think the redness varies by person (and laser strenght)
At the first setting I was red faced for about 20 minutes.  When they upped it to a higher setting the next time it took just over 40 minutes for the red to go away.