Laser hair treatment

[betty6333]

Hi,
I am going in tomorrow for my first laser hair removal treatment. Does anyone have any advise? Has anyone had it done before? I am hoping that it will help with the annoying unwanted hair!
If anyone is interested in hearing about the experience, reply too and I will let you all know how it goes

 

[Haven]

I LOVE LASER! I've had it done on my upper lip and my underarms. It stings a bit when the laser is doing it's thang, but it's only for a moment. The person administering the laser will likely put a numbing gel on your skin, which helps.

I have almost black hair and fair skin, which is the ideal combo for laser, and it's worked really well on me.

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

Oh I so want to do this! Just need to save up the money!

 

[Haven]

Oh I so want to do this! Just need to save up the money!

It was definitely worth it for me, being a hairy beast and all.
I paid for the upper lip, but we didn't have to pay for my underarms because DH bartered with a client of his. She gets free muscle treatments, I get free laser, DH gets a hair-free wife. We all win! When he came home and told me that his new client did laser my response was "BARTER! BARTERRRRRRRR!!!!"

 

[betty6333]

That is good to hear! I have dark hair, and light skin, and so every hair shows! I finally took the plunge and paid for a 6 session treatment, so I am really hoping it works well for me too!
Fingers and toes crossed!

 

[betty6333]

I am having my upper lip done too, does it take a full 6 treatments for the upper lip? I would love to have my neck done too, but dont want to pay for more than 6 treatments at a time unless it is going to work for me...

 

[Lady_Disdain]

I did upper lip, underarms and legs. Because of some financial problems at the time, I didn't finish the treatment for my legs and didn't do upkeep on my lips and underarms (which I desperately want to do next month!). I took me 7 treatments, if I am not mistaken, but results were very visible by the third treatment.

It does hurt! The numbing gel worked great on lips (I also found that placing some cotton wool under my lip helped with an odd feeling on my very sensitive teeth) and underarm wasn't bad. But legs hurt a lot - even when I was used to waxing them. The first two treatments weren't bad, but, as the potency was increased, it hurt more and more. But I am a wimpy (see the epilator thread for proof).

 

[mrscushion]

I love laser and am saving up to have treatments done. I had some trial ones done and could already see results after the first treatment, even though you really do need the full series of treatments, so that's what I'm saving for.

It didn't really hurt very much.

 

[Haven]

Six treatments worked well for my upper lip, but I did have some maintenance done on it when I went back for my underarms. There were probably five years between when I had my upper lip done and my underarms, so it wasn't so bad that I needed a zap here and there on my upper lip five years later.

I think it really depends on the person, though. I'm sure that I'll be sprouting new, unsavory hairs on my face for years and years to come just because that's part of the aging process, so if I want to keep up with laser I'll probably always have a reason to go in. My mom, on the other hand, had laser first done in her early 50s and it has held for years. I don't think she'll have as much new growth as I will just because she's older.

Ah, the joys of having dark hair and pale skin, right? I'm so envious of my blond friends who don't even have to shave their legs if they don't feel like it!

 

[betty6333]

I have sensitive teeth too, so I think it is a good idea to put some cotton over them when they do it! I am glad you thought of that, Thanks guys you are Sooooo helpful with all this! I will use the numbing cream too, because even though I have had 4 children naturally, I dont enjoy discomfort when it doesnt have to be there!

 

[starryeyed]

Get Lidocaine cream 5%. You may have to order it - the pharmacy usually stocks 4%. Be prepared, the stuff is a fortune.

 

[betty6333]

Get Lidocaine cream 5%. You may have to order it - the pharmacy usually stocks 4%. Be prepared, the stuff is a fortune.

I will! Thanks

It looks like there is LMX4 and ELMA cream, but ELMA requires a script and LMX4 is OTC... since It will take 6 tries to work... it will be worth the initial cost to help over 6 treatments.

 

[starryeyed]

I'm a wimp, so I went for the LMX5. It was $65 for 30 grams, a few years ago. I don't recall needing an Rx. Good luck!

 

[betty6333]

I'm a wimp, so I went for the LMX5. It was $65 for 30 grams, a few years ago. I don't recall needing an Rx. Good luck!

sounds like a plan to me ! Thanks again!

 

[Haven]

Are you buying your own numbing cream? I don't think you have to do that--they've always just put it on me when I went for the treatments, no extra charge of course.

 

[CJ2008]

Please be careful with the numbing creams...I don't know if this is the same one, but a girl died a few years ago from overusing it before her laser treatment...

 

[betty6333]

The pharmacist said that it was only to be used over a very small area, I believe the lady who died was using numbing cream but had put it over Both legs for the pain, and it did kill her . He said a very small area over the upper lip would not kill me. But of course NOT to put it on a larger area obviously. Thankyou for looking into it though! If I had heard it was dangerous after the fact , I would have been nervous, with things like this it is good to make informed decisions ! You guys are awesome !!

 

[Cocodeco]

Long time lurker here-- I finally got registered just so I could post on this. I hope the following helps you

Are you paying for this treatment-by-treatment, or did you purchase a package deal? If you are going with the former (which I hope), ask about what laser and model of laser they use on you. The best laser currently on the market is called a Gentlelase. It is very, very expensive, and you can expect for your treatments to run approximately $1150 for three treatments, but this will last. Trust me, this is coming from someone with fair skin and black hair who has gone through four dermatologists and their respective lasers-- I hope my failures can be of use to you.

If the dermatologist does have this, you can be relatively sure he/she is serious about quality laser treatment, because the Gentlelase runs in the area of $80,000 if I remember correctly.

But most importantly, under any circumstance please do not go to a tanning salon or anything of that sort for laser treatment, as this is something that ought to be done in a doctor's office. IMHO, I don't want some tanned woman utilizing a laser of any quality at or near my body .

If you did indeed simply purchase one treatment and they do not use a Gentlelase, please look in your area for a dermatologist with one-- it will save you money down the road.

Most dermatologists will have a laser, and most will maintain ones that are fairly decent, but look for the best if you want as few treatments as possible.

Another thing, numbing cream isn't needed if the laser is a Gentlelase- as it will spray an unharmful cooling agent milliseconds before the laser hits your skin and follicles. I am in no way "promoting" this laser-- I am not a dermatologist (I am a neurosurgeon), but my uncle is and I wish I had asked for his advice earlier

Heh, on another note, by me registering this means I finally get to post some of my baubles . Hello Pricescope

 

[mayerling]

I've recently started having treatments on my underarms and bikini line. I've done it twice so far (the second time was just 10 days ago). They say it takes between 6-10 times before you everything goes, but even after the first treatment I was very happy. I did it and it took over a month before things started showing again. It was great, especially because I find bikini-wax extremely painful.

 

[betty6333]

I do not know what kind of laser it is, but it is not at a tanning salon . Lol
There are several drs one of which is a dermatologist and another is a plastic surgeon and they do lots of stuff there from nose jobs , to boob jobs and the like. Hair removal is also part of the stuff they do .
When they called to confirm , the receptionist said it wouldn't hurt, and I didn't need cream, but I figure she is not the one getting it done! !!
I will try the cream at least this time, but I do appreciate your reply, and welcome to ps!!!
Please do share your pics of your sparklies! I do love to see pretty diamonds !

 

[oranges]

i did laser hair removal in the bikini area and it hurt like crazy! my best advice is to take 2 motrin and breathe. the results are definitely worth the pain and money! good luck

 

[starryeyed]

Long time lurker here-- I finally got registered just so I could post on this. I hope the following helps you

Are you paying for this treatment-by-treatment, or did you purchase a package deal? If you are going with the former (which I hope), ask about what laser and model of laser they use on you. The best laser currently on the market is called a Gentlelase. It is very, very expensive, and you can expect for your treatments to run approximately $1150 for three treatments, but this will last. Trust me, this is coming from someone with fair skin and black hair who has gone through four dermatologists and their respective lasers-- I hope my failures can be of use to you.

If the dermatologist does have this, you can be relatively sure he/she is serious about quality laser treatment, because the Gentlelase runs in the area of $80,000 if I remember correctly.

But most importantly, under any circumstance please do not go to a tanning salon or anything of that sort for laser treatment, as this is something that ought to be done in a doctor's office. IMHO, I don't want some tanned woman utilizing a laser of any quality at or near my body .

If you did indeed simply purchase one treatment and they do not use a Gentlelase, please look in your area for a dermatologist with one-- it will save you money down the road.

Most dermatologists will have a laser, and most will maintain ones that are fairly decent, but look for the best if you want as few treatments as possible.

Another thing, numbing cream isn't needed if the laser is a Gentlelase- as it will spray an unharmful cooling agent milliseconds before the laser hits your skin and follicles. I am in no way "promoting" this laser-- I am not a dermatologist (I am a neurosurgeon), but my uncle is and I wish I had asked for his advice earlier

Heh, on another note, by me registering this means I finally get to post some of my baubles . Hello Pricescope

Hi Cocodeco! Welcome to PS - can't wait to see your baubles!

Wow - a neurosurgeon! That's impressive.

I second everything you said about the model and age of the laser. I went to a cosmetic surgery doctor for spider vein removal and it was a disaster.

The doctor shared a lease with a couple other plastic surgeons on a one-size-does-not-fit-all laser. He tried to treat sun spots, hair removal, and spider veins with the same machine. The woman just before me wound up with a grid of purple spots across her forehead for sunspots, I wound up with purple spots all over my legs AND the spider veins didn't go away. Ignorant, I went back to complain, he "treated" me again, and same lame results. Someone should have yanked this guy's license!

I called the doctor's office where I had a spider vein treatment 4 years prior (with much success) and they used an nD Yag - NOT what this other jerk used. You are sooo right - YOU NEED TO BE AN EDUCATED CONSUMER about lasers if you want to be certain of the results.

 

[betty6333]

Oh my starry-eyed ! I will ask when I get in this morning! That sounds frightening!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I have an old thread on laser hair removal on here but the search function seems to be wacky. I had it done on my underarms and bikini but I guess I have stubborn hair I DO have less hair but am not hair free. I also found it extremely painful.

 

[betty6333]

I am back!
It was not painful!
I used the numbing cream and the scariest part was when the little blast of air came... but that didnt hurt either just cold air. it was super fast and the lady was very nice.

I did use the numbing cream, and it worked great and there is no redness or anything! I go back in 6 weeks to do it again.... sweet!

I would like to thanks all of you for your help! it was a lot less scary knowing I wasnt alone!

 

[Haven]

Yay! I'm glad it wasn't painful.

Welcome, Cocodeco! You give some very sound advice. I've heard horror stories about laser that I don't want any of my fellow PSers to experience. All of my treatments have been in dermatologists offices. I'm not sure what machine my current laser specialist is using, although I know it isn't the one you described because it doesn't administer the numbing agent itself. I DO know that they recently purchased this new machine, and according to the doc, it is the newest model on the market. Who knows? The good news is that the laser I've received this time around has worked much faster than the one the first time around. I only needed three treatments to get rid of everything on my underarms, which was exciting.
Can't wait to see your bling!

 

[betty6333]

Yay! I'm glad it wasn't painful.

Welcome, Cocodeco! You give some very sound advice. I've heard horror stories about laser that I don't want any of my fellow PSers to experience. All of my treatments have been in dermatologists offices. I'm not sure what machine my current laser specialist is using, although I know it isn't the one you described because it doesn't administer the numbing agent itself. I DO know that they recently purchased this new machine, and according to the doc, it is the newest model on the market. Who knows? The good news is that the laser I've received this time around has worked much faster than the one the first time around. I only needed three treatments to get rid of everything on my underarms, which was exciting.
Can't wait to see your bling!

Ditto, I cant wait to see the bling too!

 

[starryeyed]

I am back!
It was not painful!
I used the numbing cream and the scariest part was when the little blast of air came... but that didnt hurt either just cold air. it was super fast and the lady was very nice.

I did use the numbing cream, and it worked great and there is no redness or anything! I go back in 6 weeks to do it again.... sweet!

I would like to thanks all of you for your help! it was a lot less scary knowing I wasnt alone!

Hooray!!!

 

[heyme]

I love the info on this thread, thanks to everyone for sharing! I'm planning on getting A LOT of laser done. Underarms, upper lip, bikini and stomach (ew, I know.)... maybe even my legs if I somehow come across enough money after all those other treatments. I'm one hairy lady... it's my biggest insecurity.

If anyone has any referrals in the Los Angeles area, holler my way!

 

[Lady_Disdain]

I love the info on this thread, thanks to everyone for sharing! I'm planning on getting A LOT of laser done. Underarms, upper lip, bikini and stomach (ew, I know.)... maybe even my legs if I somehow come across enough money after all those other treatments. I'm one hairy lady... it's my biggest insecurity.

If anyone has any referrals in the Los Angeles area, holler my way!

I know - after I find a new job, I want to redo my upper lip, underarms and do arms, legs and bikini. Ouch (both pain and financially)!