and OMG.... I can't believe I paid someone to torture me. 
She said with my dark hair and light skin that I will have great results when this is all done but....  But with my dark hair and light skin the laser will be able to get a LOT of its energy in and it will feel 2-3 times more painful than usual.  I really believe her because my eyes were tearing up badly and my whole body was shaking with the constant pain.  When it was done I just lay there with a cold washcloth holding it on my face while it took about 5 minutes for my body to stop shaking.  I couldn't even open my eyes for a couple minutes until I relaxed some.  I had read in various places that it feels like a rubber band snap, but that wasn't the case with me.  YEOW! really doesn't cover the situation adequately.


And I know I am off my rocker (in a good way) because when I had recovered I was sitting there with a smile on my face, paid her, scheduled another appointment and talked about the timing of other appointments. 

By the sounds of it, the people delivering this service should be wearing lots of leather and going by the name "Mistress".

They get less painful as time goes on as your skin gets accustomed to being shot with a laser (strange thing to say) and there is less and less hair to treat each time. More hair = more pain.

Quote from: Kristen on October 25, 2008, 03:37:50 AM
They get less painful as time goes on as your skin gets accustomed to being shot with a laser (strange thing to say) and there is less and less hair to treat each time. More hair = more pain.

That is what I've read and she also said that.  I can't wait to see how much of what I do have is gone after this one time.

Quote from: Kara Lee on October 24, 2008, 08:47:33 PM

and OMG.... I can't believe I paid someone to torture me. 

...And then still THANK them too!!!

Quote from: scarboroughfair on December 04, 2008, 06:29:54 AM

Yeah, it hurts especially around the upper lip! lol
I had tears rolling down my face.
I'm awaiting my third treatment, but I'm lacking the funds do to my work hours being cut....
When I do resume though, I will also have to have electrolysis done to remove the white hairs! EEKKKK

ooxx

My laser tech nearly did a jig - I think it was my 11th session (I've lost count) - First time the upper lip zapping (especially RIGHT UNDER my nose) DIDN'T bring tears to my eyes!

I'm just over 12 hours away from number 2 and am really expecting things to be better, there isn't as much black hairs this time

Yeooow

I still remember my first session too; i think i may have used some not so ladylike phrases. Rubber band gently flicking your skin they said...okayyyyyyy they didnt warn me the rubber band would feel like its 20 feet long.

Now i opted for pain free electrolysis at my gender clinic.

Your brave hunny, very brave

Just to let anyone reading here know that I did have my 2nd session done today (ok, it is 12:whatever am, so technically it was yesterday, lol) and it was so much better.   Not that it was painless, not at all, but I had none of the shakes and the only time I teared up was when she was hitting around the mouth.  I was still very tense but thankfully it was nowhere what the first one was like.  She was glad to see that I wasn't shaking and hurting as much as well.

Well unfortunately, I have only the non-laser option since my facial hair is either to light or a little gray. No pain no gain in this case. But I always remember that everything has a beginning, middle, and an end. Everything.

yea, I'm going to get to do electrolysis as well on the white hairs that are left all over.  At least they aren't as noticeable and are easier to shave than the dark hairs, learned that after most of the dark hairs fell out after the first laser treatment.

... And it really does get easier but never less painful. I think you just get used to the pain. It is not that diffiecult to control/manage the pain especially since each time a session is finished, you get closer to never having to shave or pluck or cover with a lot of makeup.

Ive had 6 appointments so far last time I got her to turn up the laser as I was not feeling much pain (no pain no gain) I also use Emla to de sensitise as well. Ive got one more treatment with the broad laser and then move onto a smaller but more intense laser to remove the fine hairs. Yay more pain. All I could say is if you can tolerate the pain and have no adverse affects keep your threshhold up there. (after all your there to remove hairs not have a pleasant chat)

Yes, we are not there to have a pleasant chat. I suppose we can also say that this the price of beauty! 
I always try to focus on the results not on the immediate treatment; especially since there really isn't much else to do.
Do you think we can somehow package all that pain and consider it an alternate source of energy?

Here's a trick my tech started to use.  She has you hold a cold pack on the area to be done for a couple of moments.  Drys the area and ZAP,  Then you move to another area.
Not only does it help with the pain, but it helps cool the area.

Janet

I had my 9th session yesterday. My hair seems to be pretty stuborn but it's getting there. It still stings like anything under the nose but I have almost no hair left on most of the rest of my face. They estimated 10 originaly

The place I go to uses and Elos laser. They stick this gel on your skin and you get to hold this thing which blows cold air on your face. The first couple sessions were bad, I had the shakes too. I think this is shock. After that it got easier, still not comfortable.

Before my sessions I take some paracetamol and Ibuprofen - jsut of the shelf pain killer. My tech said it helps take the edge off.

yikes, sounds painful. Well no pain no gain. Is it true that darker hairs are easier to remove?

Quote from: klodefm42 on February 01, 2009, 07:21:52 PM
yikes, sounds painful. Well no pain no gain. Is it true that darker hairs are easier to remove?

yes, dark hair on fair skin is considered ideal. the laser actually calibrates to you skin tone and goes after what it considers contrast. it's still affective on all skin and hair types (at least the newer lasers) but as always, your mileage may vary.

I have my second appointment this month, i've noticed some good results just after one session so I can't wait for the next

like you said, no pain no gain. and what pain there is is over in an instant.

Quote from: eliza beth on February 01, 2009, 07:25:59 PM
and what pain there is is over in an instant.

unless it is me forgetting to take some pain medicine before my 3rd session. 
A friendly reminder to all....If you need pain relief then REMEMBER to take it at the right time.  I totally spaced taking mine and it hurt much more than the second one did.

My lasergirl says that some medications can make your skin much more sensitive to the treatment. Some kinds of antidepressants I think, and probably others too. I know your lasergirl has probably gone over all that with you already but just incase she hasn't I thought I might pass that on.

Quote from: Patriciaz on December 09, 2008, 08:04:23 AM
Yes, we are not there to have a pleasant chat.

Oh we spend most of my session having a chit-chat gossipy catch-up. Getting chatty helps keep the pain out of the room. 

I hope I did that quotey thingy right.

-Birdie

I might know of a place thats relatively inexpensive to go to over the summer...

Its gonna hurt so good.

I think I'll go in high as a kite or something. I'll be laughing as they zap it offf