So I really, really like the laser hair removal person I see. And this is important because she makes me hurt sooo badly. Not by cutting words or anything of the sort. She's fantastically supportive. It's just that evil little laser she wields at my insistence. In her defense I keep paying her to do it.

Anyway the progression has been... well painful. She started at lower joule settings, trying to keep things bareable for me. But... as she explained she would do... she's been increasing the intensity each session. It's basically a choice between pain or facial hair. I'm going with the pain. But wow is it bad by now. Especially the upper lip. That is the most stubborn area for regrowth as well as the most sensitive area to begin with.

Today's session was the first in which I actually broke out in an all over sweat as she zapped me. The upside was that the neck was like nothing. Almost all the dark hair is gone there now. But that lip and selected patches along the chin and jawline... GAAAAHHHHHH!!!

Anyway, I'm starting electrolysis to zap the lighter hairs in a couple of weeks. It will be interesting to compare the experience.

I think I'm almost done with laser on the face... but then comes the chest. My nipples are not looking forward to it. 

Thanks for letting me vent.

I feel your pain x_x
(at sessions 5 and 6, I cried a little and whimpered at the zappage, hopefully electro isn't even close to as bad)

Quote from: Diana_W on November 21, 2009, 05:55:55 PM
I'm starting electrolysis to zap the lighter hairs in a couple of weeks. It will be interesting to compare the experience

I'm not sure interesting is the right word to describe being mauled by a human sized wasp. You really should look into some narcotics, because if you think laser is bad you're in for a heck of an experience with electro...especially on the upper lip 

Ah, the smell of searing flesh!!!

Barbecue sauce, anyone?

-Sandy(been there, done that)

Sandy that is to funny. I was just thinking the same thing

Don't they let you put a numbing cream?
I know the offer them here.

I have found that type of laser makes a big different, my first session was with an IPL and spent 2 hours getting hammered. My face was a mess for a week. I almost didn't think i would be able to do this. Then I got a tip on using Candella GentLase units and found a local clinic.

It was better in every single way. First she numbed my face with a cream and had me hold ice packs against it while she worked different parts. Along with a healthy icing after she was done.

Second, it covers a lot more surface area in one zap, so I was in the chair for 45 minutes. While my skin was red and tender that only lasted 2 days at the most.

Hugh difference and I am seeing great results. I have completed 3 of 5 sessions and after that if I have anything left I will have to go the electro route. I do have some lighter hair and a handful of grays. Yes I am older then I look.

I have one of my final ones coming up here in a bout a week. The pain is temporary but i look back at what I used to have to do on a day to day basis and realize that the results are completely worth it. I decided to go with laser because everythig I read was far better than electrolysis. I went with a good company and for 1300 I had all visits covered and for my whole face and 2 year touch-ups in case anything got missed. But son of a b**** does it hurt now that the sessions are coming to an end!

I hear ya girl.  I've had my first 2 sessions and both of them hurt like hell but I do already have a lot less hair, mostly left on my chin and some stripes on my neck.

Fifth session is in the first week of January.  I only have a few small patches left, A little bit of hair on the top lip and my chin.   My cheeks are pretty much clear.   The worst area is on the jaw line below my ears.   This area is the most stuborn for some reason.

The last treatment was extremely ouchy and afterwards my skin throbbed for a couple of hours.   I am expecting the same next time but it is definitely worth it as I am saving a fortune on foundation.

Quote from: Sandy on November 21, 2009, 07:28:34 PM
Ah, the smell of searing flesh!!!

Barbecue sauce, anyone?

-Sandy(been there, done that)

@Sandy: LOL

I'm going in for my 6th session before Xmas.  The last session my doctor increased the intensity.  I really only noticed the difference on the upper lip and a few stubborn places on my chin.

It was painful enough to make me cry.  I find it odd, because I've had a couple tattoos and 'that' pain never even made me flinch.  With the intensity increased, right under the nose?  I have a difficult time not flinching uncontrollably.

Then again, I did get my tattoos before HRT.

Three sessions left before I switch to electrolysis - hoping they get easier rather than more painful.

Edit: added 'uncontrollably'

The very first time I went for IPL (a light based system, but not laser), the pain was so intense that I cried and whimpered.  My face was beet red for hours after.  It got easier after each session though.

And while I was being tortured treated, the operator kept asking me if I wanted to stop.  I would whimper *no*.

And transphobic people say we do this for FUN!

-Sandy(please sir, may I have another?)

kaori your avitar makes me smile everytime i see it reminds me of the little girl in me "shhh dont tell im here" lol
hugs
jessica

@Jesse: *soft hug*

I had my fifth session on Friday. Ouch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   724 shots, like getting slapped in the face by a red hot spoon spiked with needles.

I was extremely swollen yesterday and it is likely to take a couple of days to go down.   Thank god for ibuprofen.

On the plus side, my aesthetic nurse thinks that after the sixth session, I may only need the odd touch up .eg. top lip.

I bought myself a pair of killer heels as a prize for withstanding the pain!

I hear you Pippa.

I finished the 6th session a couple of weeks ago, and it was every bit as painful as the 5th. Less hair. Higher joules. Same ouchiness.

Bust just like you, I am planning on that being my last laser treatment. The rest of the cleanup is electrolysis. Slower. Annoying. Still painful. After long enough with the needle I want to slap the person sticking it in my face. But it's still not quite the major trauma from the laser.

maybe it's just me who thinks electro is much less pain then laser was 
(not counting effects of lidocaine even, with that, everything is just a matter of getting in position for her and waiting for her to say "all done")

I am really surprised by all this. Granted I switched from IPL to Candela lasers but the difference was enormous. I had my fourth session last week and I was literally on the table for 30 minutes. Other then the upper lip and front of my chin, I barely felt it. Mostly because there is not much left.

I do highly recommend finding a clinic in your area that uses Candela lasers. They cover a far larger area in one zap requiring far fewer zaps. My results have been fantastic. Granted we are all different.

I will have some gray and lighter hairs that will have to get cleared out via electrolysis when the times comes but I shouldn't have to endure too much of that.

I have my first session on Monday. They'll either be using either a Candela branded Alexandrite or Nd:YAG laser, although I'm not sure which is for my skin type or hair colour. Hopefully there won't be too much pain , and if my timing is good, I can get in the majority of my sessions before the summer. 

I won't kid you the face is painful. But it is the hair follicle dying that hurts. The denser your hair the more it will hurt. The laser hitting your skin where there is no hair isn't going to feel like anything. I found my jaw bone to be the most painful.

My point comes from the IPL laser where I spent 2 hours being zapped again and again. My face was a wreck for over a week. The first session with the new laser was a huge difference (and I still had a lot of facial hair then) 45 minutes and my face hurt but it wasn't ridiculous. Think mild sunburn for a day or along with some tenderness.

Also my tech has me apply ice packs before the session, after and I do so again after I get home. That has made a huge difference. It has gotten easier for me each and every time. As I mentioned in my other post 4th session and she went up and down my cheeks and neck without me feeling hardly anything. The lip and chin still has whats left and those hurt. But she covered everything in 25 minutes.

Also for me it takes 14 days to actually see the results. When the hair is killed it still takes time for the follicle to eject it (The rule of thumb is 7 - 10 days). Since my hair grows so slowly I look scruffy and it shaves poorly for two weeks. Then POOF suddenly it is gone. So be patient.