I’m a new poster, but I’ve been keeping up with the posts on this board for a few weeks, basically since I became serious about having laser hair removal done. I have to start off by saying this is a fantastic board and thanks to lagirl and all the other regular posters for giving such great insight and advice. I would not have had a CLUE about what I was getting myself into if it were not for my stumbling upon this site. Today was my first hair removal session and I went into it much better informed than if I had not seen this site.
I found it helpful when other posters posted details of what they had done and their specific hair/type, etc., and results, so I thought I would do the same. Also, for you experienced laserees, if you have any comments on what I’ve had done, and any possible suggestions, that would be great!
I’m a female Type III-IV. The areas I am treating and the type of hair on each area are as follows:
Underarm and brazilian bikini: not too much hair, but the hair that is there is black and pretty coarse (think of hair that feels stubbly a day or two after shaving, but once it grows it is softer - not baby soft, but not scratchy). Previous methods of hair removal for underarms have been shaving and waxing, and for bikini just waxing.
Arms: lots of fine dark hair, with a few areas of very fine hair that is a little lighter (on front of arms the hair is fine - the type of hair that you can see because it is dark and there is a lot of it, but its very soft and if I shave it it will feel very slightly stubbly, on sides of arms and closer to the top of arms the hair is very fine and a mixture of dark and light hairs - the type of hair that doesn’t really feel stubbly when growing in and can be seen only in bright light like daylight). Previos hair removal methods: waxing.
Upper lip, side of forehead and sideburns: average amount of hair that is very fine but dark (the type of hair that can be seen easily in any amount of daylight, but is really soft and not stubbly if shaved). Previous hair removal methods: mostly threading, some waxing
Cheeks and nose: peach fuzz - some dark, some light. Previous hair removal: threaded once - it hurt like hell so i never did it again
Reading through the forum I am aware that many people have expressed doubt with the effectiveness of the Yag on fine facial hair and some have expressed concern with it actually causing more hair growth. After thinking it through, I decided to just give it a shot. In my opinion, the worst that can happen is I waste my $$ (which will suck, but I can live with) because it doesn’t do anything. And if it does cause more hair growth (which would suck much more), there is always good old waxing and threading as usual! I guess I feel like I’ll never know if I don’t try, plus my technician was pretty confident that we can get a good reduction with the finer hair, although she warned it would take more sessions.
First Session: 6/24/06
Pre-treatment:
I shaved all areas to be treated. Had never shaved my bikini before and could not get that close because I was pretty scared and how the heck do you shave certain areas (the labia) anyway? I’m going to have to practice since I can no longer have the area waxed. I also shaved my arms for the first time (and of course cut myself) and I basically had to shave my face, which I never thought I would find myself doing. It felt so wrong to shave my face! I don’t know how I am going to shave it again in between lasering. It felt gross. If anyone has any advice as to what to use to shave one’s face (as a female), I would appreciate it. My hair is dark so I am really afraid of visible stubble and the idea of my face feeling stubbly. All in all, my pre-treatment shave was a pretty nerve-wrecking experience. I think I had more anxiety about shaving than the actual laser treatment!
I also numbed everything except my arms with cream once I arrived at the laser place. I would recommend numbing at home to give it more time to work.
I was treated in the above areas with the XEO Coolglode nd:yag laser. The technician started with my arms while the numbing cream worked on the other areas. During the first few test patches I did not feel a thing, so she “kicked it up” a bit. I’m not sure what she was kicking up, but I will get the specifics next time - all I know is that I kept having her increase “it” until I actuall felt some pain.
The number we kept it on for my arms and underarms was around 120. First she did my arms and I felt a slight burning-type sensation. I guess it can also be described as a rubberband pulling on my skin. It was very bearable, and the discomfort went away pretty quickly. She then did my underarms and that was a lot more painful. It stung pretty badly and now, a few hours later, still feels sore, although there is hardly any redness of the skin and there is no blistering. It feels like my pits got a mild sunburn (but does not look like it). My arms are very mildly irritated. No redness, but just a very very mild sunburned feeling - that feeling you get when you’ve had just a little too much sun and it doesn’t really hurt but you know it will if you tried taking a hot shower. I did notice a tiny bit of immediate shedding on my arms and a decent amount of immediate shedding on my underarms.
Next the technician worked on my bikini area. I did everything except a small “landing strip” area, and in retrospect, I’m thinking I should have just done it all.
I think I chickened out with the amount of pain I could take since my underarms were still stinging pretty badly and I was afraid of how the bikini area would feel. I had her lower “it” to about 80 and we left it there for the bikini area. Honestly, I could have taken more, because I barely felt it at that level, but with my stinging armpits I was a little gun-shy. It hurt around the labia and thigh crease area, but the rest was almost painless. There was a little immediate shedding. Now, a few hours later, the area is very slightly red, and feels more or less like my arms do.
Face: She kept it at the lower setting for my face, and I’m not sure but it felt like she was pressing something cool on my upperlip while she was doing it. Most areas of the face did not hurt at all exept the side of my forehead and my sideburn area. My face was a little red after the procedure and and the sides of my forehead looked like they might blister but they didn’t. Now it is a little tender still and has that slightly sunburned feeling, but even less so than my arms. My face feels a little swollen but I think that’s from the numbing cream more than anything.
Okay, I’m sure that was too much info. for most people, but I just thought I’d post my experience for those that might be in a similar situation. I’ll update on any progress with shedding or any changes as they come, and of course on the next sessions (which won’t be for another 8 weeks).
If anyone has any questions or comments on how effective it sounds like my treatment was, or on other things I should be doing/considering, I would appreciate it. Thanks!