HELP for pain :((((((((((((((

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

I am in a desperate need for help. I just had my first treatment of abs+chest+shoulders+back+back of neck and almost quit because of the pain. I am a type II male, and the laser used was gentlelase.

I had done a test patch, but the pain seemed bearable. However, the abs/chest/back of neck pain almost made me faint. These are the areas where my hair is really dense. My back was fine, but I don’t have lots of hair at the back. It was getting worse as she kept making her way up. I guess the problem was that the pain somehow kept accumulating.

I asked her to try and lower the settings (she put it on 14), but I did not feel less pain. I was given cold air, but what felt most relaxing was when she pressed with her fingers on the area.

They applied numbing cream Maxilene 4% 30 mins before the procedure and kept me wrapped. However, I don’t think it helps.

I really need something stronger (at least for the abs + chest area), or I am not sure if will be willing to go through it again. She said that in US there are some creams that are not approved in Canada, so I desperately need your advise as which is the strongest pain killer I could get. Any other tips would be highly appreciated

THANKS!

#2

Hi:

You may want to try some tylenol 3’s, plus emla cream.
Take the tylenols before the session.

Apply the emla at least an hour before the treatment
and cover the area with plastic wrap,
ony removing it immediately before treatment.
I’ve found the emla to be more effective than maxilene.
The numbness lasts about 1/2 an hour to an hour so
remove the wrap and wipe the emla off just before
you get zapped.

Emla costs about $50 for a 30 gm tube and is available
in Canada. If you can get a prescription for it you will
save on the taxes. You would also need a prescription
for the tylenol 3’s, but if you don’t have one then take
some type of over the counter pain reliever before the
treatments.

Alicia

#3

thanks Alicia, I’ll give it a try. As for the Advil, how long before the procedure should I take it?

#4

Take the Advil 1.5 hours before treatment.

#5

For stronger topical treatment, try seeing a physician for a prescription

#6

thank you all. Can anyone comment on Tridocaine?

http://www.canadadrugsuperstore.com/more.asp?ProductID=68977

Claimed to be better than Emla.

Thanks

#7

The ingredients sound good. All these products need to be applied as directed and left on LONG enough so they get to the bottom area of the follicle where the bundle of nerve wrappings are located. FOLLOW THE DOSAGE RECOMMENDATIONS and do not use on too large an area.

One comment I would make is if more electrologists would purchase and learn how to use the better engineered professional epilators, no matter the cost, then most clients would not need to use topicals on most areas. The middle upper lip and and genital area can ouch, but even so it may be possible to find a good working point where the hair releases and the client finds it tolerable.

Dee

#8

I’ll repeat on this forum (as this person already posted on the other one). Most likely the problem the first time wasn’t the cream, but the fact that it was left on for about half the normal time. So it didn’t have a chance to numb the area.

Also, ice packs help a lot.

#9

Hi:

Actually I have tried the tridocaine several times.
Even though it is supposed to be stronger,
I found it to be less effective than the Emla.

I am not sure the tridocaine gets absorbed as well
into the skin as the Emla.

It’s important to cover the emla with plastic wrap for
at least an hour ahead of time.

Whatever you use make sure you follow the instructions
provided carefully. Probably the maxilene could have been
left on longer too than the half hour you had it on.

Another thing to consider is if your nerves are a bit edgy
due to excessive caffeine intake on the day of treatment.
If you are anticipating the umpteenth zap with dread and
foreboding, it seems to hurt more as the session continues
for any length of time.

PS-If you do buy Emla, get the 30 gm tube rather than the
5 gm tubes. It is cheaper overall that way.
5 gms does not go very far.
Also try to get a repeating prescription for it.
You will save on the taxes with a prescription.

Alicia

#10

Hi,

Laser hair removal may be somewhat uncomfortable. As with anything, the pain or discomfort you feel may be different from others who have had the procedure. That said, most people tolerate laser hair removal very well.
At first, you will likely feel a slight stinging sensation, indicating that the laser has been activated. The treatment involves a series of impulses that cause prickling and a slight burning sensation. Your clinician may apply a topical anesthetic to the area being treated to minimize discomfort, but most people endure the procedure without any. Some people have likened the feeling to that of a rubber band snapping against your skin.

#11

Jesus, you’re copying and pasting stuff that’s unrelated to the threads on all LHR forums. Give it a rest. Please consider actually contributing something useful.

#12

Hi:

I agree that different people have different thresholds for pain,
but the original poster asked for ways to deal with pain.

I have found through personal experience that I’ve had to
apply Emla ahead of time on my own to let it take effect
when I’m getting some intense work done on a sensitive area.
For me it works the best, but must be properly applied according
to the instructions.

The stuff the clinician may spread on doesn’t have time to take effect
or work all that well.Besides that, they aren’t about to use 25 dollars
worth of anesthetic on you when it cuts into their profit margin either.

Alicia

#13

Alicia, it’s a spammer.

#14

So far, have done my arms 6 times, Gentlelase 18j, hurt like hell, nothing helps, icing did nothing but make me cold. Oh, the caffine thing, tried going without my morning joe, ended up with a headache, still hurt like hell. I can only imaging how that felt on your chest and neck.

Forget the creams - you can’t use them on such a large area.

Why hasn’t anyone mention prescription pain meds?

That will be the only way I can continue with the other areas I wanted treated.

Why no mention of real pain management?

#15

Using numbing creams is fine at the right concentrations and only on areas that hurt most. All over the chest and stomach is not a great idea, but it’s fine if you’re selective about the spots that hurt most, usually those with the most dense hair.

Taking a painkiller helps too.

Icing actually helps most a lot. Did you try icing right before and right after?

#16

Sorry for briefly hijacking the thread, but has anyone tried icing down their bikini area before laser?

I am almost willing to try this, but I’m kinda afraid it’s a bit nutty. Especially for 5 - 10 minutes. Not sure if the cream is worth it either (I’m so broke now :-()

#17

haireverywhere you have no idea what real pain is I just had my first treatment to remove all my scalp hair using the gentlelase with an 18mm spot and I think 16-20j. I used 30g of emla and 4 ibuprofen 2hours before and it still hurt like I could not believe!!! Wow.

#18

Ladies… many of us have babies without anesthetics and are in labor for hours. This is nothing.

#19

There is an FDA section reporting 2 deaths due to using a numbing topical product under a plastic wrap. This was also reported on ABC TV by the current Atty. Gen of NY state (he was not the Atty .Genl at that time)

All “caine” products should NEVER be used on a large surface area unless a heart monitor is also attached to the patient at the same time. The problem is … how big is a large area and one day we are healthy and the next we are not. Some patients have some sort of heart condition before they have any knowledge that they have it. It can show up when a "caine " product is used on them. We have to take these products seriously. Just because they are over the counter (OTC) does not mean they innocuous.

#20

Bikini is NOT considered a large surface. It’s fine to use a numbing cream there. Also, all the deaths were through using a compounded cream with very high (inappropriate) concentrations of lidocaine, covering their full legs with it and serran wrap and leaving for a very long time. No one has died from proper use.

Now, the poster says they can’t afford it, so in either case, it’s irrelevant. They don’t want to spend an extra $30-40.

lalaka, please do use icing. It’s completely appropriate and many clinics do it. Icing before AND after really helps. Applying cold pure clear aloe vera gel afterwards helps too.