I don't have a heavy beard and usually a close shave and makeup does the trick -- temporarily for a couple of hours. This is the one area of feminization I need to have done most to feel more confident when I go out. Is electrolysis facial hair removal better than laser facial hair removal? I consultated a dermotologist-laser hair removal specialist, and she wasn't shy about telling me how painful it is. The only thing she recommended to help with pain was applying Lidocain to the area every 10 minutes an hour prior to treatment. Doesn't sound like much help. I understand both removal procedures are painful. She said doing the entire face would cost $500 total per one-time treatment and recommended doing the neck area and rest of the face in separate treatments - $250 for each. It will take several rounds of treatments over time, so the dollars will add up. I'm waiting to save up the money, which might be a while. Any ways, which removal procedure do you gals recommend?  Thanks!

Laser works best with dark hair and light skin.  The lighter the hair, the more ineffective the laser will be.  The darker your skin, the more potential there is for skin damage to occur.  Laser can reduce your hair; it can also lighten in.  Regardless, at some point you will likely need electrolysis, which is the only permanent hair removal procedure out there. 

Most beards take a couple of years to remove.

Shop around for laser prices.

My plastic surgeon owns a Yag laser and she has a technician come in twice a week to zap her patients. She does this as a benefit for the ladies who spend thousands for other cosmetic surgery procedures. Her prices are surprising low for laser.

Some laser providers rent their machines and they must charge accordingly. I have found that the highly advertised national chain of clinics are the most expensive.

I don't see any reasoning in not doing face and neck at the same time.

As has pretty much been stated, if you have light skin and dark hair then definitely start with laser and finish off with electrolysis.

If not, I'm still not convinced laser is worth the money and would stick purely with electrolysis. My laser therapist says she can do most hair with her magic laser, but she wont do a "pay when successful" course, so her money is definitely not where her mouth is.

Yaaay! My first electrolysis treatment is set for tomorrow. Thanks everybody! 

Yaaay! I had my first electrolysis facial hair removal procedure today. I'm doing a one-hour per week plan. Started above the lip and beneath the nose area. I can't say the 'mustache' area because I could never grow one - I got laughed at when I tried because it was so sparse. It wasn't as painful as I had anticipated, even without numbing stuff. I will use some next time. Just under the nose is the most sensitive area, so I flinched a little there a couple of times. My electrologist is so cool and pretty that I actually enjoyed my hour on the table. 

Quote from: Tommie_9 on September 06, 2017, 05:27:32 PM
Yaaay! I had my first electrolysis facial hair removal procedure today. I'm doing a one-hour per week plan. Started above the lip and beneath the nose area. I can't say the 'mustache' area because I could never grow one - I got laughed at when I tried because it was so sparse. It wasn't as painful as I had anticipated, even without numbing stuff. I will use some next time. Just under the nose is the most sensitive area, so I flinched a little there a couple of times. My electrologist is so cool and pretty that I actually enjoyed my hour on the table. 

Hi Tommie,

  I read your post above and said "Gee that sounds familiar"  My first few sessions had me saying to myself "What the big deal and fuss about pain and prep " But then my doctor doubled my estradiol dose and the next time HURT! I had done all the recommended prep and electrolysis now hurts. It hurts quite a bit. I go back for another session on the 18th and I am NOT looking forward to it because I have had another increase in my estradiol meds. I'm fearing I be even more sensitive to it now and that means more pain. ughh

laurie

Quote from: Tommie_9 on September 06, 2017, 05:27:32 PM
Yaaay! I had my first electrolysis facial hair removal procedure today. I'm doing a one-hour per week plan. Started above the lip and beneath the nose area. I can't say the 'mustache' area because I could never grow one - I got laughed at when I tried because it was so sparse. It wasn't as painful as I had anticipated, even without numbing stuff. I will use some next time. Just under the nose is the most sensitive area, so I flinched a little there a couple of times. My electrologist is so cool and pretty that I actually enjoyed my hour on the table. 

Well done getting through your first hour and especially under your nose area. That is a particularly difficult and sensitive. I certainly noticed the pain even more after staring HRT. Having said that some people are not bothered by the discomfort too much at all. Onwards to achieving a hair free outcome!!

Quote from: Laurie on September 07, 2017, 04:57:48 AM
Hi Tommie,

  I read your post above and said "Gee that sounds familiar"  My first few sessions had me saying to myself "What the big deal and fuss about pain and prep " But then my doctor doubled my estradiol dose and the next time HURT! I had done all the recommended prep and electrolysis now hurts. It hurts quite a bit. I go back for another session on the 18th and I am NOT looking forward to it because I have had another increase in my estradiol meds. I'm fearing I be even more sensitive to it now and that means more pain. ughh

laurie

Hi there Laurie,

Yes, indeed. My electrologist warned me about an increase in pain with HT. She can arrange face numbing injections with a plastic surgeon she works with, if it gets too painful -- she said don't let pain stop you. I haven't started HT yet, so starting before the worst areas of my face are finished scares me. I'm blessed to not have the normal amount of male facial hair, so I'm thinking I'll wait a couple of months. I'm gonna kinda play it by ear.

Love your way,

Tommie

Quote from: ElizabethK on September 07, 2017, 05:12:50 AM
Well done getting through your first hour and especially under your nose area. That is a particularly difficult and sensitive. I certainly noticed the pain even more after staring HRT. Having said that some people are not bothered by the discomfort too much at all. Onwards to achieving a hair free outcome!!

Thank you for your support Elizabeth!

I generally have two 30 minute sessions a week and have had somewhere around 4 hours in total since late August.  I had laser to remove the dark hairs but regrowth around the lips has been an issue.  I discovered after the dark hair had gone that I had a lot of white hairs hence electrolysis.  I have to say ElecT is intense in comparison and the lip area certainly makes my eyes water but I've always had a reasonably high pain threshold, and gladly I don't seem to have lost it too much.  I'll be glad when it's finally over though!  I think it'll take a few more sessions yet to clear the straddling hairs as they regrown.

My face feels great though and having facial hair has become increasing agitating for me so good riddance to it

I've had three hours of electrolysis on the area below the nose and above the lips since my first post. I don't have a heavy beard, thank goodness, and my electrolysist says the area will be cleared in our next one-hour session. She said I was really lucky. She is so cool and has a lot of transgender clients. I once saw this as a curse because I could never grow a mustache or beard to look more manly. Now, I'm glad. I love the results, because this area was where the five o'clock shadow showed the most. It's so smooth there now. I'm going to have laser done on the rest of my face. Even if not permanent, it will thin out what's there. I can't wait forever for electrolysis. I can have electrolysis for what grows back over time. My only limitation is the money to pay for it because it's so expensive. Thank you all for your advice.

Quote from: Tommie_9 on September 22, 2017, 12:43:01 PM
I've had three hours of electrolysis on the area below the nose and above the lips since my first post. I don't have a heavy beard, thank goodness, and my electrolysist says the area will be cleared in our next one-hour session. She said I was really lucky. She is so cool and has a lot of transgender clients. I once saw this as a curse because I could never grow a mustache or beard to look more manly. Now, I'm glad. I love the results, because this area was where the five o'clock shadow showed the most. It's so smooth there now. I'm going to have laser done on the rest of my face. Even if not permanent, it will thin out what's there. I can't wait forever for electrolysis. I can have electrolysis for what grows back over time. My only limitation is the money to pay for it because it's so expensive. Thank you all for your advice.

I hope this clearance is your last...each time I think this has happened I get more coming back...smaller and finer each time but they are so persistent...I could never grow a moustache it always looked sparse and pathetic LOL IO am so happy about that now so I share your Joy.

I hope this is your final clearance and you have seen the back of them!!!