Nervous for first appointment

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

So after doing loads of research on LHR, I’ve chosen a place to get laser hair removal on my chin area. It’s a small place owned and operated by a woman who’s been doing laser for over 5 years and has been doing electrolysis for 23. She actually teaches training classes for Cynosure in my area.
I have my first appointment on Thursday. I haven’t plucked for over 2 weeks now and I forgot how bad the hair growth was until I had to start shaving so I can’t wait to get the sessions started. BUT, I’m extremely nervous.

Biggest concerns I have - How long will I stay red for? I have to go home at some point after my appointment and I’m worried my husband will notice.
What are my chances of burning? I’m a type 2 skin - we’ll be using the Apogee elite - Alexandrite. After reading things on the internet this worries me.
Is there ANYTHING I should be worried about?

Thanks

#2

I registered today just to reply to this post, even though I was going to register in about 3 to 4 months when I start my treatments. I am absolutely convinced you should just do electrolysis. I don’t know the technical stuff, like the best machine, the best this and that, for both LHR and electrolysis…but I do know this…in the numerous accounts I have read regarding LHR and electrolysis, many spanning over years…electrolysis is best in results and duration to get the results…not to mention the horror stories out there regarding LHR vs electrolysis…lots of failed LHR out there, very little regarding electrolysis…and this is coming from a person, me, who had a bad experience with electrolysis

I already wouldn’t trust her. She should have counseled you on the pros and cons of both treatments, since she does both.

#3

I registered today just to reply to this post, even though I was going to register in about 3 to 4 months when I start my treatments. I am absolutely convinced you should just do electrolysis. I don’t know the technical stuff, like the best machine, the best this and that, for both LHR and electrolysis…but I do know this…in the numerous accounts I have read regarding LHR and electrolysis, many spanning over years…electrolysis is best in results and duration to get the results…not to mention the horror stories out there regarding LHR vs electrolysis…lots of failed LHR out there, very little regarding electrolysis…and this is coming from a person, me, who had a bad experience with electrolysis

I already wouldn’t trust her. She should have counseled you on the pros and cons of both treatments, since she does both.

#4

hey! it posted twice…i guess i mean it

#5

swinging monkey can i just ask why you feel you had a bad experience with electrolysis?

#6

Hey :slight_smile:

She actually did cousel me on the pros and cons of both treatment. For the amount of hair I have to treat (density/thickness and the fact that it’s coarse) she recommended the laser method first. She did mention that if I need touch up with electrolysis when I’m done my laser treatments (for blonde or fine hairs), then that would be an option.
She seems quite knowledgeable on the topic of hair growth and removal and I trust her opinion. She also explained both processes and when electrolysis should not be used, and what to look for in a technician.

Thank you for your advice and concern. I really hope this method does work for me.

Have you had laser done yourself? Or are you basing your opinion on research?

#7

OOOOOOOOOO, ouchy, wouchy wouchy…i still remember it vividly, even though it was more than 15 years ago. I did the “lets save money and hit the electrology school” thing and it was brutal…there was two other women there besides me, one was doing the back of her calves and one was doing her genital area, with undie on, for all to see…i dont know about the calf lady, but us two where in excruiating pain, i almost fainted…i was ready to stop with the first zap, but you know us women, we can endure intolerable pain…every zap was loooooooooong and when it was over, every pore filled up with blood, but i went back till i cleared the area, which was all my fingers…like i said , every pore was filled with blood and scabbed…the scabbing lasted for about 2 weeks…it was ugly, weird looking and embarassing…what could I do, wear gloves for two weeks…but it would have been worth it if it worked…I didnt get new growth, which I didnt even know could happen…but I didnt get any removal either, it came back exactly the same.

This is how I see it…over 15 years ago, I ordered uni sushi for the first time…it was horrible, like a mouthful of dirty sea water…after staying clear for about 10 years, i was urged to try it again from a sushi chef who said he just got it in, so i did…it was divine…he told me what to look for in good uni and is now something i order on every visit to a sushi bar after I check it out…I hope that is what happened with the electrolysis…i just didnt know crap and I am ready to start again

#8

Well I can say that my 1st appointment was relatively painless! She did some test spots, explained the procedure to me, etc. Each insertion and “zap” was more uncomfortable than painful.

#9

To ale (you entered under grace’s reply thread)

see, you didnt mention that in your first entry…glad maria did counsel you…but you have got to answer this question…what did maria say “when electrolysis should not be used”…other than the debate over using it on the ears and nose, i am unaware of other areas

and for the forum, if you can share the tips on what too look for in a technician, that would be great

I have not done LHR…its a catch 22…the reasons why I dont do LHR are the reasons why I couldnt try LHR to find out if it will work for me…I dont care about the cost or wasting the money or time if it doesnt work…from what I have researched, if I fail to respond to LHR or have a bad tech and turn to electrolysis, the alterations in my skin due to laser will make for more difficult removal among other concerns…since my goal is full clearance and almost every account I have read about full clearance involved electrolysis to achieve that alone or in followup to laser, and considering the time between treatments with laser, I have come to the conclusion that electrolysis, with regular consistent treatments by a good practitioner, will give you full clearance in less duration time…and that is my goal…I see it as a prime example of the tortoise beating the hare (get the pun)…now, if someone just wanted reduction over large areas, I dont know what to say about that

#10

what did maria say “when electrolysis should not be used”…other than the debate over using it on the ears and nose, i am unaware of other areas

She told me that electrolysis shouldn’t be done on peach fuzz, she said in that case the probe is usually larger than the hair follicle and it can lead to visible marks. She said some people will do this, but she will not. She explained that it takes experience to get used to inserting the probe at the proper depth - too shallow or the wrong angle and you won’t effectively damage the root. She also said that I should not use a clinic that does not open a new sterile probe each visit, nor should I feel the electrologist plucking the hair that is treated - once or twice might happen, but all the time means they aren’t effectively killing the root and are just plucking the hair.

She said electrolysis is the only option for white, blonde or red hair. She also said it was the better option for fine hair.

I have thick, coarse, dense, dark hair. Electrolysis would probably do well in the area I’m treating but laser is suppossed to do a pretty good job too.

#11

Ale, are you male or female?

Swinging Monkey- you had electrolysis done at a school and you had a bad experience? Shocker!

#12

She is wrong in that, as the pros here say all of the time, with good vision equipment and skill those vellus hairs can be treated successfully.

#13

Anyone who says that the probe would probably be larger than the hair would seem to be ignorant of the fact that there are 5 to 7 probe sizes, depending on the manufacturer of the probes one is using.

#14

pdeco…if you read the thread, maybe, you would not have made such a biting comment

#15

We are getting WAY off topic here. So far no one has addressed any of my original questions.

As for the things I’ve mentioned about electrolysis I’m just going by memory, I could have things wrong or this could be simply her opinion based on experience. Anyway, NOT important to this topic.

Back to my original question, can anyone give me some ideas on what to expect after my appointment? I know what the standard reactions are, but I was hoping for someone to tell me about their experience with laser.