Should I go for LHR or not?

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

Hello!
I would really appreciate it if the experts on this board could help me out. I am trying to decide whether to attempt LHR or not.

Background: I am 34/F, always been quite hairy (I now have black, coarse hair on my chin, sideburns, upperlip, lower back, forearms, legs, belly). I had LHR (lightsheer) on my face when I was 20 (6 treatments) and again in 2005 (6 treatments) which didn’t really help. It has been a while and I am not sure what the settings were. I went to a dermatologist to attempt it again 5 years ago but I was told to stop trying as it was obviously making things worse.

I have now started electrolysis for my face. I am concerned about my thighs and forearms where I have coarse hair. If I wax, I get ingrowns and pimples and if I shave, I get stubble. Hair on my lower legs is growing a bit sparse (though what I do have is still black and coarse) as I get older but no such luck on the aforementioned parts. Should I consider LHR on these areas? I have NO fine hair in these areas so I am having trouble imagining how it could get worse. The worst case scenario would be that it would all come back. I guess my basic concern is, if it didn’t work for my face, would it also not work for other parts of my body?

I am of Pakistani descent and am considered fair for my ethnicity. My hormone levels have been checked multiple times and are always within the normal range. I have always been told my hirsuitism is idiopathic and perhaps my skin is just androgen sensitive.

Thanks in advance for any advice. I would REALLY appreciate it.
Thanks in advance.

#2

I’m sure you could get lased in some of those areas. I am uneasy about advocating laser on a woman’s face because I have seen increased hair stimulation in this area. What would be best is if you could submit some quality pictures of body areas. Maybe we could help you out better.

#3

Thanks Dee :slight_smile: I have started electrolysis for my face as a last ditch effort.

I am only wondering about laser for my thighs and lower arms where I only have coarse hair. I have a few coarse hairs on upper arms but mostly I have fine vellus hairs so I will not touch them.

I just shaved today so it will be at least a week until I could get some good pictures. But trust me, it’s dark, it’s coarse and there’s a lot of it :frowning:

#4

Yes, electrolysis is the net people fall in when nothing else, including laser, has not helped them. Hardly archaic / old-fashioned like some people like to spout. It is the only thing that will relieve people of their hair problem when nothing else has worked.

I would definitely go for laser on your legs! I have seen wonderful results for those who have lased their lower legs, but for some reason the thighs respond with less success .

#5

Can you please post some photos so we can judge which areas may benefit from laser?

LightSheer is a diode and pretty difficult to use. Without settings info and photos, it’s hard to tell whether it was the settings or type of hair.

Generally, any hair that’s dense and coarse like that on bikini, underarms and lower legs can be effectively treated with good laser treatments. Any finer and more sparse growth is safer to treat with electrolysis.

#6

Hi Cheni

My skin sounds similar to yours i.e. relatively fair Asian skin with coarse hair. I had laser on my arms and legs 7+ years ago my legs are still super smooth, my arms still have the odd patch of hair but are generally hair free. After each session a large percentage of the hair had gone.

Just make sure it is the correct laser for you i.e. dark skin, fair skin or not you are still asian, and the right settings. When I had my first laser sessions in the mid 90’s I was burnt and still have the scars, I like to think that it no longer happens but still believe in warning people.

Sorry to hear that the laser practioners weren’t more honest about its limitations/dangers when used on the face.

Good luck

#7

Thank you for your posts. I will post the pictures in a week when I have some growth to show up in pictures.

Can anyone please suggest a good place in Houston? I guess I need a YAG laser? I think I’m a IV on the Fitzpatrick scale.

#8

There is Smooth Solutions which is a TX chain owned by someone who used to be on this forum, but he’s based in San Antonio. But you should check out 3-4 clinics to compare things. Yag is best if you’re IV or darker. If you’re in between, it’d be good to find a place that has both alex and Yag.

#9

Thanks LAgirl.