Laser A vs Laser B vs Electrolysis

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

Allo. You all are pretty amazing, and I thank you from the depth of my heart for the wealth of infomation that exists in this site. I’ve been lurking for some months… I really need to ask a question or two, though.

I’m wondering if the laser I’m getting is effective, for one. For two, I’m wondering if laser is effective period. Let me explain…

Where I’m getting laser, I’m using the Lightsheer Diode XC on 30ms pulse, 12mm spot size on nearly-black male facial hair. Skin is type II On HRT, Testosterone suppressed. First treatment was set to 36j, my second and recent treatment was at 40j (adequate or not?). She presses down on the skin, yes, and has about five years experience. Redness lasts from afternoon to evening, maybe some minor persistance the next day… but nothing a little makeup doesn’t take care of. There is minor sensitivity the day or two after the session… in the more densly populated areas of my face, especially. Sensitivity not being to touch, but to feel - the aching seems to be under the skin.

The first session, I have no idea if all the hair shed. It happens over time, yes? And would growth from non-anagen hair cycles will be growing in at this point? If I am supposed to have a hair-free period after a period of time after first/second sessions, I have not yet observed one. i was told that after two-three sessions, the reduction will become very noticeable. I enjoy their centre, as it also offers electrolysis, and the attitude is less “Sell sell sell” and more “We want results.” The owner of the place is who operates the laser.

I realize it’s early to tell, but if there is something wrong about that, then it would be good to take care of it as soon as I can. What I did see was a possible reduction in density. I remember remarking that my shaving routine was easier… It is usually quite a chore, as I cannot have facial hair show at all (mtf) at this point in life. So, it’s a very close shave.

Logically, it should work. A Gentlelase might be more effective, but the price I have with this Lightsheer is half what the Gentlelase would cost. Apparently, I don’t have a lot of facial hair, so the Gentlelase reduced their prices to half of normal for my offer. The Lightsheer was half of that, at $50/session. Lightsheer is certainly more cost-effective, though I would not know if operational effectiveness outweighs that. Would I only need 8 with an Alex, but 10-16 with the Lightsheer? No one can say.

My second concern is whether electrolysis may be of greater benefit. As I have relatively little facial hair, electrolysis would hopefully not take the… 300 hours to completion. I could not possibly afford that. Even 100 hours puts a serious dent in my plans - I have FFS and SRS to save for, for next year. Can an electrologist provide an estimate of hours to clearance? Completion would be hard to estimate. Will laser produce permanent results? I know electro will, if done properly. And is it possible that one could be an ideal candidate, yet experience very little reduction? It is, but is it likely?

I have to grapple with some of the last ones myself. Facial hair removal requires me to have faith, something I’m not very good at practising. Ultimately, I need my facial hair gone, and I would like to avoid electrolysis if possible, as being full-time and having to grow a beard out just plain sucks. Haha. Electrolysis at the end to take care of “remaining growth” is fine - but the full beard would be a nightmare to cover up. Growth takes 48 hours for me to reasonably be able to shave the hair… for it to be long enough for an electrologist, it could be 4-5 days. Which would be very embarassing to pull off.

Anywho, it’s late and rather than weaving coherent thoughts into a united idea, I’ve probably just rambleramblerambled. For any responses, I thank you very much. :slight_smile:

#2

You say nearly black male facial hair, you mean the hair is black or your skin is black? Facial hair is hard to treat, but all hair should shed about 10 days after treatment and then you will be hair free for several weeks. If it’s not shedding then something isn’t working, possibly the laser isn’t going deep enough. You may want to see if you can find a Yag laser which treats deeper. I’m not familiar with LightSheer’s settings so can’t really comment but all hair should fall out.

#3

Any transgendered person will tell you that for facial hair, nothing beats electrolysis. go to www.ExecutiveClearance.com/beforeandafter.html if you want to see what is possible.

#4

Even with androgen suppression and the laser set to murder death kill it will not get rid of all of the hairs. At best you’ll probably end up with stubborn patches that won’t go regardless of spot size, energy level or anything else. You’ll probably find that this will be the case around your chin upper lip and certainly in the corners of your mouth and you’ll probably only achieve this if you can tolerate max power. This was my experience. You’ll lose quite a bit of time in finding this out for yourself, time you could have spent actually getting the job done in a measured and truly permanent way. The sooner you start the sooner you’ll be finished. Good luck on your journey :slight_smile:

#5

I disagree. While chin and upper lip are very hard to treat, I went from having a full beard, to never having to shave on my cheeks, sideburns, or neck anymore. I only get hair on my upper lip and chin, and it’s exactly in that area, almost like a goatee if I wasn’t to shave for 2 weeks and looks completely natural. If full removal is what you want, I’d start with laser for 8 or so sessions first to get rid of 90% of the hair and then finish with electrolysis.

#6

Thanks!!!

#7

While I have little frame of reference, the hairs that I have pulled out to examine appear relatively thicker. They are certainly much courser than the fine hairs on my body. And yes, it was the hair that was black. My skin is very pale… though probably fits into the type II category.

What concerns me is the shedding. The first treatment didn’t produce a shedding as you describe - I was shaving every to days, as always, and while hair may have gotten less in number, it’s possible nothing changed at all… I am getting ready to move on to either a new laser, or possibly electrolysis. Electrolysis may be interesting with my being full-time (having to grow it out 3-4 days), and with my funds being as they are… I would be tempted to postpone things for a year. I don’t have a ton of facial hair - I don’t even need makeup the day after a shave. Although, I use it anyway.

And I will certainly be pursuing electrolysis once I have achieved as much as I can with laser.

@James… It is extremely doubtful that I will find an electrologist with your level of skill in my area of the world. If anyone knows someone decent in BC, that would be helpful. My problem with electrolysis is just a matter of funds at the moment, as well as figuring out how to grow a beard for electro while I’m full-time. I can do 54 hours of growth without problem, but it’s still extremely short at that time. And no matter the case, if I do electro, I’ll have to forego the FFS… at least, for some months anyway.

#8

How long did you wait after you treatment to examine the shedding resuts? It can take up to 3 weeks. If you’re going to move onto a new laser, I suggest the gentlelase for cheeks and neck (at high settings you will surely get a reduction, though the goatee area will likely still need electrolysis because of how deep the hairs are)

In addition, most people won’t see a huge reduction after only 1 treatment of laser. In general, in my experience, I notice a big reduction in almost all areas I treated after 3-4 treatments with good laser settings.

#9

I waited roughly four weeks.

#10

My doubt is growing, and I’m ready to take action. If after three weeks’ time I have not shed, I will not return to my clinic.

But I’m undecided on the course of action to follow. If anyone would like to suggest one over the other, I can either get an Elite MPX or Gentlelase to go over me, and see if that allows me to shed, or I can go straight to electrolysis. It was originally my paranoid suspicion that laser. for whatever reason, would be ineffective or not work. I was never able to substatiate why I believed what I did, aside from the fact that nothing in my life seems to work if it involves placing faith in something. While I have removed the faith factor as much as is humanly possible by doing so much as specifying settings that I would like to use, I cannot affect whether or not something ends up working.

I pray that my doubts and fears are insubstantial, and that in three weeks’ time I will indeed shed, but I doubt that this will be the case. I was certainly red and a little swollen after treatment; there is no doubt in my mind that settings were too low. However, that my facial hair is somehow not course enough, or that I am being worked against by forces beyond this world, will put an end to this pursuit.

I just regret that this means I will have to do electrolysis. Electrolysis means no FFS. Which means looking a little androgynous for God-knows-how-long. The tracheal protrusion will suck above all else…

… Or I can put my life off for x amount of time to get everything I want. Either way, life is going to suck for a while.

Oh well. I was born into debt, and wouldn’t be alive if I weren’t strong enough to bear it. I just wish the situation wasn’t so emotionally… torturous.

#11

Why would one want to do FFS ahead of completing their facial hair removal?
For many of my clients the hair! removal alone provides a visual FFS!
If nothing else, you should get to someone who can provide a full first clearance, and then try to find someone to maintain it from there, or just make arrangements to get clearances every 6 weeks until you have the hair under control. At that point, you can happily do any FFS work you choose.