luv4paz

my laser hair removal story

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What kind of laser or IPL did you get?
(please include brand name or any info. you have)
Lyra the first time.
Don’t remember the latest laser but will get the name.

How long ago and for what duration?
In 2003 I tried Electrolysis. This was painful and it dint last long. I would not recommend this at all. First time in 2004 I tried laser hair removal. The next treatment was March 2007. Subsequently I have had 3 treatments since then.
How many actual treatments did you receive?
5-6.
September 2004 Lyra (can’t remember the amount, this laser is for people with darker skin) I had chest, sideburns, mustache and chin done.
March April 2007 ) I had chest, sideburns, mustache and chin done.(chest got burned bc the laser was at wrong level. I was petrified. The specialist gave me a cream that made it heal quickly.)
September 2007 sideburns, mustache and chin done
January 2008 chest, sideburns, mustache and chin done (thank God no burns on chest)
Present- Due for a treatment, but I am waxing and shaving at that’s tiding me over. I can say I went from daily shaving to once weekly/bi-weekly on the areas that have received laser hair removal.
What color is the hair that was being treated?
dark brown and course
What color/shade is your skin?
dark brown
Do you know what setting the technician used?
can’t remember but has decreased has the hair has decreased. Make sure your specialist adjust the setting to your specific skin color. Everyone is different. No one setting works even if you are in the same culturally group. The setting is based off the melanin in your skin.
What were/are your results?
I am so happy the bumps are gone. The hair has decreased. (Remember there is no permanent fix.) The dark areas where the hair was have evened out. I would recommend to all but doing your homework.
How much did it cost?
September 2004 $500.00 I had chest, sideburns, mustache and chin done.
March April 2007 ) apx. $250.00 I had chest, sideburns, mustache and chin done.
September 2007 $200.00 sideburns, mustache and chin done
January 2008 $150.00 chest, sideburns, mustache and chin done (thank God no burns on chest)
Additional treatments- price has decreased since thankfully hair has decreased. The lease hits of hair, the less the time you need treatment. The less money out your pocket.
Would you do it again?
Sure. I am African-American and many women in my cultural group are not aware of the wonders of laser hair removal. Those that are do not get it for personal or financial reasons. During my senior year in college I noticed that I had chest hair in a T. It was quite annoying and didn’t bother me until some girl brought attention to it. (high school student can be so mean.) I started getting hair about my sophomore year in college on my face. Soon I noticed plucking became full shaving. By this time I had a full beard (well at least I felt like it.) I had a crap load of hair on my chin, sideburns and a light mustache. (Funny that many women, even those without PCOS) have hair growith in areas they do not want it. I started shaving and for my skin that was the worst I could have ever done. Many African-Americans have course hair. When course hair is shaved, the new hair coils up inside causing The medical term is Pseudofolliculitis barbae. From continous shaving I developed the worst reaction ever. Within months I had nasty bumps in all the areas I had hair. It was embarrassing and annoying. The bumps were also very painful. (I am happy to say that I dealt with it. I kept my head up high and focused on all the blessings in my life. I didn’t use makeup to cover the bumps. I got facials to get rid of the bumps. It helped a bit but as quick as the hair came as quick as the bumps came back. I was just treating the outside of my skin when it was really an internal problem. (Funny I wear makeup not because I enjoy the way it insinuate my beauty. I don’t use it to cover up.) In addition to the bumps I got the bad skin discoloration. The areas were hair grew became very dark (since I have dark skin the areas were a very dark brown.) To give you a visual, my little brother said it looked like the sides of my face had been burned. (This was the first time that someone actually pointed out the obvious). Others, less innocent made comments but I kept my esteem high. (What kept my head up high is that I reminded myself that there are a lot more people in the world suffering with a lot more life threatening situations.)
So back to the original question. Yes I would do it again. After the 5 to 6 treatments I am happy to say the hair grows much less. (Unfortunately you will always grow new hair follicles, especially where you do not want them lol.) I think a combination of the laser hair treatment and the new hormone treatment (1500mg glumetza daily, provera, prenatal vitamin) the hair will stay under control. Luckily my hair is growing back on my head too. I started having male patterned baldness (it runs in my family too for the women) this could have been from the stress of grad school and the pcos.
If you want to get rid of hair. Research it and find the best specialist for you. I have heard horror stories about people getting burned. Make sure you find someone that knows what they are doing. Make sure they show you pictures of their clients. Make sure they actually have worked on people will your skin type. Know that there is no way that the hair removal will be permanent. You just will have to receive fewer treatments down the road. (in-between treatments I shave or get waxed for the little hairs that grow.)

Did insurance cover any of it?

No way!

One last question! What should you expect? How does it feel?
You should have a consultation with the laser hair removal specialist. This should be free. That meeting they will discuss what hair you want removed. They will look at your skin color and type and decided the setting to use. My first visit the specialist also did a test area to make sure I was a candidate. (God forbid you get your entire face done on your first visit and end up getting burned. That would be horrifying) Once you see there is no reaction from the test area then you are all set. When you arrive for the hair removal you lay down on a table. There is cool gel applied to the area where hair will be removed. Then the specialist gets to work. You can feel every time hair is zapped. It feels like a plucking a hair really hard with tweezers. It’s a bit uncomfortable at first but you get use to it. (Focus on the fact that it small price to pay to remove annoying hair.) Be aware too, you can smell the hairs burning. You don’t need to shave to have it. It’s actually good to not shave before you first meet with the specialist so that they can see your hair at its full potential lol. Use sunscreen on the areas that got hair removal (yes even people with dark skin). I used it for a couple of weeks. Stay out of direct sunlight too.

Hope this helps. I can answer any questions.