I am considering getting an Rx for lidocaine 5% for use before laser hair removal (bikini). I can get it fairly cheaply through my insurance–I’ve read about it on Hairtell but can anyone tell me personal experiences?
You put it on 30-60min before your treatment. Your practitioner takes it off prior to treatment. Follow the instructions, its an effective numbing agent. Safe at 5%.
I use lidocaine 4% with a seran-wrap dressing to keep it airtight, about 30g for a 6"x6" area. The thicker you put it on the more effective it’ll be, but you don’t want to use more than 60g at a time, so you may need to spread it thinner than recommended.
As for time, it does start to kick in after about 30 minutes, but is safe to leave on for up to 4 hours. The maximum pain reduction is around 2-2.5 hours. So for the least painful session, apply it 2 hours before your appointment.
Thank you, vulpes! 
I wouldn’t leave it on for 4 hours. It can be dangerous. Things vary based on your body. Most instructions say 30-60 mins.
60g may be safe for a large guy, but could be harmful on a petite female. Be safe and get directions and information from the prescribing physician or medical director. Ice packs are a safer and better choice. The treatments are over so quickly that I don’t think it’s worth the trouble of applying and waiting.
Ice packs are the easy option but I dont find them to be as effective. Everyone deals with pain differently, for some it works and for most of my clients it does not.
I think it also depends on one’s approach to the whole thing and how big the area is. For small areas like underarms and regular bikini, it’s really not necessary. The treatment lasts 3-10 mins with short breaks. But of course, the patient should know and expect that it will hurt, but that it will be over fast and that it’s something that they have to do only once every few months several times. Plus, the biggest benefit here is the prize of no hair at the end compared to the pain they’ve been dealing with shaving, waxing, etc. If one can handle waxing, I don’t think this is much more painful. It’s all in the approach. Of course, for a man’s back full of coarse hair, this wouldn’t work.