I'm starting laser sessions on saturday. I'm having my facial hair removed at a dermatology center, where they specialise in hair removal. They have 4 types of lasers. Excited.

Had a consultation yesterday evening, the technician explained, the procedure, that there's going to be some pain involved (especially with my thick hair), and that it takes about 5-7 session to remove 85-90% of it, though the rest is usually discoloured.

She said my facial hair and complexity are perfect for hair removal, since I'm quite pale and have thick, dark hair.

Bought a 6-session package, which cost me around 760 euros, and if I need any more sessions afterwards, they're going to be 50% cheaper. Awesome dealio!

I'm going to ask her what the price would be for the rest of my body (chest, tummy, legs, and arms), though I'm quite sure they're slightly more expensive, the legs especially.

Might even post some before and after pics! Either here or on my blog.

Quote from: Beverley on February 02, 2012, 04:46:45 AM
Did she explain that most lasers only destroy the root and not the whole hair? Ruby lasers do the shaft and the hair.

What this means is that the hair can no longer grow out and you have to wait for the skin around it to grow out and carry the dead hair with it. This takes 3 to 4 weeks so you will see no change after the session for the best part of a month. I found that I could not see any change in hair until 4 weeks after the second session and what happened is that there are patches that have less hair in them.

Beverley

Yeps, she mentioned that the hair needs to be in growing phase, and that there won't be any visible change at the time of the first or maybe even the second treatment. Basically the hair just stays in the skin, but it's destroyed, and that 4 weeks need to pass between each treatment. Then she went on how most men's hair begin regrowing due to androgens, but I just shrugged, nodded and smiled. Hooray for anti-androgens.

Maja it will be interesting to see how this works out for you. Pictures would be useful in judging the effectiveness of the treatments. Once the last treatment is done you'll need to wait a good few months at least before you know how well it has worked. If you can, try to make a note of the type of laser used at each treatment and the energy levels that they use. They may switch between different machines to get the best result. Higher energy will result in a more thorough treatment.

Quote from: Beverley on February 02, 2012, 04:46:45 AM
Did she explain that most lasers only destroy the root and not the whole hair? Ruby lasers do the shaft and the hair.

What this means is that the hair can no longer grow out and you have to wait for the skin around it to grow out and carry the dead hair with it. This takes 3 to 4 weeks so you will see no change after the session for the best part of a month. I found that I could not see any change in hair until 4 weeks after the second session and what happened is that there are patches that have less hair in them.

Beverley

How do you mean? "Ruby lasers do the shaft and the hair"

Quote from: smooth on February 02, 2012, 09:57:14 AM
Maja it will be interesting to see how this works out for you. Pictures would be useful in judging the effectiveness of the treatments. Once the last treatment is done you'll need to wait a good few months at least before you know how well it has worked. If you can, try to make a note of the type of laser used at each treatment and the energy levels that they use. They may switch between different machines to get the best result. Higher energy will result in a more thorough treatment.

I'll sure try to! I'm going to take pics of my facial hair just before each procedure (and after, to show any possible swelling and/or redness of the skin). And then once/if I see any changes after the last treatment.

She said she's going to do a little batch of hair on a less visible part of my face (probably somewhere under the cheek, or something) to test out the laser power / effectivenes on the hair. Then she'll proceed to do my whole face. The pamflet that I received before the consultation said that I should stop shaving 5 days before the procedure. I only read it later today, after shaving in the morning. Oopseh. I don't think it'll do much harm, though, especially because they shave the hair right before the procedure anyway. Or so I hope. If not, I'll just buy a few more sesions.

Just checked their webbie, and it says they have three types of lasers: diode, alexandrite, and Nd:YAG lasers

I have seen the ruby lasers leave welts and it looks like they are not so popular any more for hair removal,

good to know about the androgens causing regrowth,
I was wondering why my hair keeps growing back after I lasered it,
I guess I will give up on the laser till I get rid of the androgens.

I start laser next Saturday. The place I'm going to uses the LightSheer duet laser.

Go us!!!

Quote from: shortNsweet on February 02, 2012, 06:56:34 PM
I start laser next Saturday. The place I'm going to uses the LightSheer duet laser.

Go us!!!

Awesome. I'mma race you!

Quote from: Maja.V on February 02, 2012, 11:49:44 PM
Awesome. I'mma race you!

Alright! Ready... set... GO!!! 

We should also compare results since we are using different lasers.

Quote from: shortNsweet on February 03, 2012, 08:36:57 PM
Alright! Ready... set... GO!!! 

We should also compare results since we are using different lasers.

Definitely! Gosh, I'm actually excited about it.  Nervous and giddy Can't wait.

If I'm making such a big deal out of this, wait until I go for FFS. I'll be panicking a month before

Getting it done in 7 hours! It's 5 in the morning, just woke up and aren't sleepy anymore :/

I'm making a big deal out of it. At least I'm feeling like it's a big deal. It's my first big step towards doing something.

Quote from: shortNsweet on February 03, 2012, 10:28:06 PM
I'm making a big deal out of it. At least I'm feeling like it's a big deal. It's my first big step towards doing something.

Exactly, I feel the same way Finally getting something done physique-wise. Can't wait to have smooth, hairless skin. Somewhere in the middle I'm gonna have my eyebrows shaped, as well.

Okay, so ...

*takes a deep breath*

I have to mention a couple of things before-hand. I have very coarse, rich, thick (whatever you want to call it) facial hair. Secondly, I never considered myself having a high pain threshold.

Now, concerning that ...

It hurt so. Bloody. Much. I have never before in my life experienced pain even close to it. Granted, I never did experience much physical pain, but wow. Nothing prepared me for it. It feels as if someone inserted a dozen pliers under the skin, and yanked the hair out, all felt in a milisecond.
The most painful parts for me were under the jawline and most definitely the part above the upper lip, especially around the very centre.

The technician was downright awesome, though. She kept encouraging me and laughing at my awful jokes. She went with my pace (which was sort of fast, rather do it quickly than stretch it out), and she used a Lightshear laser on a 25 setting (out of 40), which she said was quite well.

I was laughing throughout the session, a couple of tears streaming down my cheeks, she said "Why are you laughing so much? You seem to be in great mood in spite of pain," to which I replied "It's either laughing or screaming, and I picked the first."

The whole session took about 25 minutes, with a 1 minute break inbetween.

So, the aftermath? My face is only slightly swollen, the sides of my face are somewhat red, and a few burned hairs are clearly visible - some even fell out during the treatment. My whole face stings really badly, had to use a cooling cream, and it smells of burned hair. Kind of a nasty smell.

So, my suggestion to anyone out there who's planning on laser treatment and is pain-sensitive, take painkillers -- I know I will be the next time. The thicker the beard, the more powerful the meds.

Hope this post gives some insight into the procedure.

* Hope this post gives some insight into the procedure. *

Yep honey, it sure does, and yes, I'm sure happy to be done with this lot.
Enough to give me retro-GID...

Though I'm still doing 1/week 1hr electrolysis... the "Never-ending Story".

Isn't it amazing the crap and pain one has to go through?

Just as well that we tend to forget after some time.
Such a blessing.

Axélle

Quote from: Axélle-Michélle on February 04, 2012, 09:37:48 AM
* Hope this post gives some insight into the procedure. *

Yep honey, it sure does, and yes, I'm sure happy to be done with this lot.
Enough to give me retro-GID...

Though I'm still doing 1/week 1hr electrolysis... the "Never-ending Story".

Isn't it amazing the crap and pain one has to go through?

Just as well that we tend to forget after some time.
Such a blessing.

Axélle

I can't imagine doing electrolysis having a thick beard, that is borderline insanity, pardon me. No wonder it takes years to clear it out.

Quote from: Maja.V on February 04, 2012, 10:03:37 AM
I can't imagine doing electrolysis having a thick beard, that is borderline insanity, pardon me. No wonder it takes years to clear it out.

Honey, look at my avatar - what you see? Blond & white - no other option but electrolysis. None!

You will be doing fine with laser as it gets to those dark roots. Bingo!
It will also get better/easier with each successive session. That's the good news.
That some of your beard my turn white in the process - that... MAY BECOME the bad news.

You ARE doing the right thing though!
Axélle

Quote from: Axélle-Michélle on February 04, 2012, 10:10:05 AM
Honey, look at my avatar - what you see? Blond & white - no other option but electrolysis. None!

You will be doing fine with laser as it gets to those dark roots. Bingo!
It will also get better/easier with each successive session. That's the good news.
That some of your beard my turn white in the process - that... MAY BECOME the bad news.

You ARE doing the right thing though!
Axélle

I can't imagine -- and concerning the hair removal, I don't want to be in your shoes! Poor Axelle *Hugs*

If my hair turns white, I'll either pluck it out myself, or opt for some clean up with electrolysis. I think that shouldn't be much of a problem, though, since my hair's generally stubborn and defies me on every single thing.

// edit

8 hours after the treatment and my skin still burns ;~; The hair's very hard to the touch, contemplating on shaving it. Don't want it to hurt, though.

The skin above my upper lip has turned quite red, random red spots covering it now. Doesn't hurt, though. Just the sides and the neck.

Quote from: Beverley on February 03, 2012, 02:38:29 AM
Does your hair regrow back after 5 or 6 sessions?

Beverley

I have not tried that many times yet,
it seems to take about a month to regrow,
some of the ones on my tummy are staying gone after 3 tries but not on my face.
I guess I just have to keep it up and see what I get.

Maja.V,
the pain involved sounds horrible
the Lightshear was designed as a pain free laser (with the cold window that keeps your skin from melting,
I guess they failed horribly at that pain free part...
still sounds worth it.

Quote from: spacecase0 on February 06, 2012, 12:57:53 PM
the Lightshear was designed as a pain free laser (with the cold window that keeps your skin from melting,
I guess they failed horribly at that pain free part...
still sounds worth it.

She did use the cooling feature, but only before the zap to make it hurt less. And I suppose it really doesn't hurt when the hair's sparse. But when it's all bunched up, it hurts really badly. As far as it being worth it, we'll see after the next 5 sessions. I'm not looking forward to those but I do want to get them over with. And the next time I'm taking pain killers. Darn it.

all you need is the cold right before the pulse, but with all that pain I would want the cold there the entire time (maybe you could ask for that next time to see if it hurts less)

the other design of the cooling system we were trying out that never got anywhere was using a spray of liquid nitrogen right before the laser pulse, to bad that idea did not work out (to annoying to get the liquid nitrogen) because it looked like it was right out of a science fiction movie.

I'm going to try laser after a major problem with electro made me stop. Actually the lady doing the electro refused to work on me anymore due to BAD instant swelling. She has been doing MTF for a long 20 years and said she has NEVER seen anything like it.. She said it would ruin my skin. lol me and my weird body..

Anyway, had a lot of dark back hair pre hrt that has been getting a lot thinner but wanted to help it along. The office that did my FFS/nose called and said they were getting a new laser and needed someone to practice on. Said they would clear my back for free. A rep from the company was there to watch/help train her. It was totally painless other than like cold air. Smelling the hair frying wasn't pleasant but was also good at the same time, bye bye nasty hair!  She shaved it first and then zapped my whole back. There was no redness or anything the next day either. That was about 5 weeks ago and I have seen zero regrowth. I'm sure the HRT has a lot to do with this and I might need future retreatments but it's GREAT that it seems for now to be gone!