Quote from: KathyLauren on October 08, 2016, 06:48:08 AM
On Friday, I go for my first laser session. Any tips? Shave before or not? Is it painful? Should I take something for pain before or after?
Great advice from others... I also ensured good hydration, avoiding caffeine, taking ibuprofen (I used
Advil Liqui Gels anywhere from 60 to 15 minutes beforehand). If I had one handy, I'd take a
Kava Kava about 15 mins before but I went many times without. Again, confirm with your laser clinic and physician. A good trans-friendly physician will be aware of various typical procedures (laser, electrolysis and so on) and any pain management that might be right. I did not use prescriptions for laser but did so for electrolysis (numbing cream that my doc informed me was available... didn't know til I asked).
I went to 10 sessions over about 8 months under a Lightsheer Duet Laser all under the same care provider... it was my first treatment as a transitioning patient and a major aligning step for me. After the first pulse/zap, it was clear I should have gone under the laser years prior. I'm still so happy about and appreciative for that step... it was the next gear in a reemerging transition... 2 months later was my first gender therapy session, and the gears kept shifting for the better.
In general, laser can have some pain, but in my case for the Lightsheer Duet (and I gather most others) the clinic could adjust the power level depending on my needs and my ability to handle the pain. So it's not painless but I found electrolysis to be significantly more painful/difficult (not necessarily per zap but with elec there's more hours in the chair over a longer period of time with many zaps... Laser is much more in/out).
A side note, perhaps unrelated but since you're on a hair removal journey let me add... I heard from one trusted trans-friendly electrologist that laser for facial hair can make later electrolysis more involved. Actually, she says laser for the face isn't recommended. I believe this may be arguable as you might hear differing opinions. Anyway, the electrologist I eventually went to said it was great I did laser on my body but not face. I don't know for certain, but I bet this varies depending on patient, facial hair type, path/goals, and so forth. In my case, laser on the facial hair was not going be 100% so I have an inkling that, perhaps because that was the case for me, it was best I just kept the face untouched for elec... but is mixing the two okay? I can't say. Anyway, if you're going for just body, no worries... but if you're doing facial hair too, you might want to discuss options with your physicians, care providers including elec and laser folks, and perhaps the community here (I believe there are many threads here on this topic).
Congratulations to you ... I'm so happy for you... you must be immensely excited... wishing you the very best in your first laser session next Friday!
