The main thing keeping me from transitioning (besides money), is my facial hair. I'd really like to get rid of it before I try presenting as female. Some say that they used laser to get most of the hairs and then electrolysis to get the rest. Does this method actually work for some people? Are the hairs that were lasered really gone?

It largely depends on your hair colour and skin colour. If the hair is too light then the laser won't work at all. Ditto if your skin is too dark (I don't know what constitutes "too dark"). That is why many people do the combo - laser to get rid of what they can and electro for the remaining fair and white hairs. Laser is reasonably permanent but because of the follicle growth cycle some hairs will be inert when treated with laser. At any rate, many people present as female before removing their beard. If shadow is a problem you'll need to look into suitable make up solutions. One thing is for sure its a good idea to get started on the beard removal ASAP.

Quote from: Ms Grace on December 01, 2014, 02:19:04 PMThat is why many people do the combo - laser to get rid of what they can and electro for the remaining fair and white hairs. Laser is reasonably permanent but because of the follicle growth cycle some hairs will be inert when treated with laser.

Just to be clear, are you saying that laser can be as permanent as electro?

QuoteAt any rate, many people present as female before removing their beard.

I know but for me personally I think I can handle the wait.

if you got dark hair and fair skin, go with laser....it's a lot cheaper and quicker..for most, 6 treatments should work....on my second appointment, my 5 o'clock is gone on me chin...just needs a little work on my upper lip....doctor did say it's best to get laser done before stay hrt, if you can....but was to late for me...but be said it will still work while on hrt....hope this info helps!  take care

Quote from: QueenBee on December 01, 2014, 01:42:45 PM
The main thing keeping me from transitioning (besides money), is my facial hair. I'd really like to get rid of it before I try presenting as female. Some say that they used laser to get most of the hairs and then electrolysis to get the rest. Does this method actually work for some people? Are the hairs that were lasered really gone?

That is how I have done it. First laser, then electro. In total it took me about 4 years, and currently doing regular maintenance electro. Laser removed about 70%, in 24 sessions.

I took out 30 percent with laser in perhaps 12 appointments. The rest in perhaps 300 hours of electro..(one year was a waste of time) now every five weeks an hour. One thing positively true is it takes a long time and costs lots..get after it..id say if dark hair fair skin fry it with laser first.

Thanks for the info everyone. I think I'll check and see if I'm a candidate for laser when I get the chance.

Laser can't guarantee killing every single hair, but what it does kill is gone permanently.

I decided to do the laser and then electro route... and now I can't be bothered to move on to the electro step. I had laser about six years ago now, and ended up with maybe a dozen surviving hairs left, if that. I pluck or wax and then ignore them. (I was a very good candidate for laser, with black hair and very pale skin.)

I don't regret doing it that way, as laser was cheap and fast; it took about six months to get it 99% gone.

My electrologist sent me to a laser place--he said that given my dark hair and light skin I'd save thousands, and given my mix of gray hair he'd still get plenty of work. I'd read all the stuff online about how laser isn't effective long term, etc., etc., and queried him about it. He said that the newer equipment, along with a competent operator, really works well, and he's worked with a lot of us girls over the years and has seen it work long term--he does the pre-SRS electro for a lot of girls, so he typically sees them after years of laser and electro. One other warning I got from the laser lady: beware of some of the groupon and hard-sell places because they either deliberately under-power the laser to keep you coming back, or they under-power to be safe because their techs aren't well trained. No corroboration of what she said, but sounds like it's worth being wary.

Hope he's right--I'm going in for the first full leg treatment today, and I look like a wooly mammoth down there if I don't shave. My face is still significantly clear after one laser treatment 6 weeks ago (except for the bazillion gray hairs)