Hello Everyone
I’m new to this forum but I have been going through a lot concerning laser hair removal over the past 2 years. I’ll share my story and keep it as short as I can, but I would greatly appreciate comments, suggestions, and any sort of help. I’m at a point where I have absolutely no idea what to do and I feel as if I have ruined my life and wish to go back 2 years and never have started any of this I apologise for the length of this post.
Okay to start off, I’m a 19 year old female. I decided to get LHR in 2008 for sideburns and a bit of chin area. I had visible hairs around sideburns and I felt as though LHR would be the answer. The first 4 treatments (spaced 6 weeks apart) I noticed a considerable difference and was pleased with the results –no hair growth. (but I believe that was just growth being stunned until my next treatment). Also, with each treatment the technician would move up and shave areas in which I hadn’t lasered before. It came to a point where literally my whole face was shaved and zapped. Note: Before I started treatment I had no problem with visible hair on cheeks. I only had light peach fuzz. SO now I was shaving and treating on sideburns, chin, AND cheeks…they also managed to get down to my neck area. Mind you, I had goggles on when they shaved and I didn’t really stop them (wish I did). Okay so come the end of my 7 treatment package, I have increased hair growth on my whole face. Darker, thicker, coarser hair all over my face. The peachfuzz on my cheek right up to even under my eyes became VERY noticeable. I had no idea what to do, so I kept getting additional treatments. Fast forward, I’ve lost track of how many treatments I had but I’d say around 20. End result: more hair, darker, thicker then when I EVER started LHR. This was incredibly distressing to me. All the money went down the drain, and along with it my self-esteem. I took a break from laser for a couple months and started waxing my entire face and neck every week or so. I started getting bad ingrown hairs on my neck! It was horrible. I never had hair on my neck before laser, only veryyyy light sparse hair. And now I feel like a man the hair is SO dark and thick I can’t run my own hand across my neck. So I called the LHR clinic and they kept telling my shaving does not make hair grow back thicker or darker, it’s a myth?! I actually asked her if she would pick up a razor and shave her entire face to prove that lol. I was in desperate need in getting rid of this hair so I had actually purchased another package just for my neck. That was stupid. Im addicted in getting treatments when they DON’T work. Its like a temporary 4 week relief. Well I had my treatment 2 days ago. Guess what. The hair grew back the next day just like a man’s beard. I’ve basically ruined my life. I can’t stop thinking about hair, and my regrets. It literally keeps me up at night and I can’t get up in the morning. I don’t want to go outside. I’m just a mess now. I hate having to wax my face like every 3 days: cheeks, chin, the whole works. NOTE: anyone who is considering LHR for face, especially if they have light hair to begin with. DON’T DO IT! The thing that really gets me is I had not asked to shave/treat my neck or cheeks and this area is the WORST now. I don’t know if I should take this into legal matters because my treatment is documented for sideburns and chin and thats what i signed consent for. Is it even worth it? I have so many mixed feelings right now. I don’t even know if Im more mad at myself or them?
Oh by the way, I went to go see a doctor this week. He put me on spiro and diane-35 I haven’t started the meds. He thinks I might have PCOS or hirsutism , hormonal imbalacement.
Thanks for reading my long post, I hope it wasn’t too boring. If anyone is out there to suggest any sort of solution to my facial hair problem I would greatly appreciate it. I’m so stressed out and at an all time low, I basically cry whenever I look in a mirror and wish to go back 2 years.
PS. Will electrolysis work in my case? I’ve heard waxing the hair prior to treatment would affect permanency because it would alter the hair follicle?
ALSO I personally know someone that did not get good results from electrolysis. They had gone to an accredited electrologist in Canada who has 20+ years experience. They went in to get chin done and hair growth increased even after many treatments. The electrologist had targeted very fine hairs during the process causing darker growth. Individual decided to stop getting treatments as it had just made things worse. Electrolysis was my last hope and this gives my no reason to give it a try. Why did this happen for this individual?? Im sure it would happen to me also. So should I just stick to waxing my face??
How long do i have to wait with no waxing to start electrolysis. How many clearances does it take to reach permanency?