Well Ladies let us say it was not as bad as I thought it might be..........but it was a little uncomfortable...........somewhat like a rubber band sting each time the laser was moved to a new area.I had no clue as to what was going to happen as noone I knew was familar with this procedure.
First thing they applied a topical to lessen the sting (this is optional) I would highly reccomend it this is real thick and they have you sit with it for about 5-7 minutes
Next you get a lovely ice pack wrapped in a washcloth (this is to help to numb the area and soothe as well (make sure you have at least two )
Also she put a spray on my face to help the laser move a little easier across my face.
She started on my chin area first and that area was really numb because I hardly felt the sting but as she made her way above my lip then it was a bit painful.She had me put my tongue between my teeth and lip and there was a hot sting on my tongue.before this it was a little painful on my teeth.After about an hour we were done and although my face was red it lasted about 15 minutes and was back to normal.
I was a bit disappointed at first because I thought I was going to have instant results,this is not the case.She explained to me that after the procedure your hair will grow out as the bulb is dying off (she said it is like grass it will come out fast and just shave it )I shave anyway so no big deal but she said there will be a big difference in texture and instaed as course as it was it will be finer and over the the next 8-12 treatments it will most likely be gone and then maybe a followup every 6 months.Oh and the treatments are spaced 5 weeks apart.
I paid 80.00 today for my upper lip and alot of chin( I could grow my own goatee just about)So that is my laser visit, I am scheduled 5 weeks from now and I am looking forward to a smooth face one day.
I am glad that you tried the laser hair removal. I have a consultation on Thursday with a MD. I wonder how much it is going to cost in NYC. Did you have to let the hair grow before the laser treatment or did you go freshly shave? Would love to know! I am petrified of pain, but it doesn't seem that bad if the end result is what I so badly want! Keep up posted!
Well, I just got back after my first laser treatment and I am absolutely ecstatic! I went to a very well known and usually very pricey spa, after doing much research on line and calling around town. They use the Lightsheer diode, and it only costs $55 for the chin, which is the only place I'm having treated for now. After I made my appointment 3 weeks ago, I saw a coupon in the paper for "buy 3 treatments, get 2 free". So I paid $165 today for 5 treatments (the usual package deal is $250 for 5). I'm sure I'll need at least 8 treatments. The clinician has 15 years experience with electrology, and is very knowledgeable and I was very impressed with her. They consider themselves "medically supervised" because they have two nurses there as well. Although I was wary at first of having this done at a spa instead of a medical facility, I decided to give it a shot and I am so glad I did! I also have become very skeptical of doctors anyway, and decided that a dermatologist or plastic surgeon probably doesn't have as much experience with using the machine as someone who only does this day in and day out. The typical price around here at a medical facility is about $200 per treatment.
The treatment itself took less than five minutes. She didn't use a numbing cream on me, and said they usually don't for that small of an area. I was all ready for it to be very painful, but it really wasn't. I sort of enjoyed the sensation of those damn follicles being zapped. I had two years of electrolysis 20 years ago, and I well remember the pain of that, and this was much less. There is a burning smell that smells just like popcorn.
She applied a benedryl cream, told me to stay out of the sun unless I use a good sunscreen, and I made an appointment for 6 weeks. By the time I got home it wasn't even red any more! I expected it to be red for a day or two, after what I've read. It will take up to two weeks for all the hair that was zapped to come out, but for right now, my chin is so smooth and I feel so normal!!!!
I realize that after the initial treatments are over, I will probably need to return every 6 months or so for follow up, but after a lifetime of shaving once or twice a day, that's such a small price to pay!
I'm so escatistic about your results. That's wonderful for both of you. I wish I knew a trustworthy place in my area. Also, the money for it would be a God-send.
Enjoy your smooth face Ladies.
Later Days,
Linda S.
__________________ GOD IS TRUE! GOD IS FAITHFUL!
GOD IS LOVE!
Beloved, I wish above all things that you prosper and be in good health, even as your soul prospers. 3 John: 2 NIV
Here ,Here Stacey1 I am right there with when you say No Pain!!
I said to the tech "this is the first time I have ever paid in advance to be inflicted with pain".That is why electrolysis was never an option for me needles and I do not mix.and yes they want you to shave before you go in.
Great price nobimbo I am hoping for some deals as 80.00 a pop is a little pricey for me.As a mom sometimes I just can't justify spending the money on myself with a teen who NEEDS every little thing.I am of course being sarcastic ,after all these years of the shaving the extra time it takes in the morning, the stares,the small children who annouce it to the grocery store,the never satisfied look I give myself in the mirror after putting on a ton of foundation,powder etc...,never letting my husband of 18 years ever touch my face ,and so many more reasons If it works it will be the best thing I ever did for me.
And stormie I will be thinking of you and just check your local phonebook or your next big city I had to drive an hour and a half to get to mine but well worth it every 5 weeks.Take care ladies
Wow, you all are lucky. Those are good prices. I'm going to a pretty well-known place in LA for my laser hair removal and have to pay $300 per treatment. I asked them why their prices are so high, and they told me that some places that charge much less will set the laser at a much lower setting, so that you have to come back more frequently and have more overall treatments. Just something to be aware of if you're researching this.
I can say that after one treatment, my results were wonderful. I had the first treatment about 2 weeks before my wedding and it was so great not to feel self conscious about facial hair on my wedding day! I was totally smooth!
However, I have really sensitive skin. I had my second treatment yesterday (7 weeks after the first one) and today I'm having more swelling and what almost look like whiteheads where hairs were removed. I've called the doctor's office to see what I should do - because it looks pretty icky! Because I had tolerated the first treatment well, they cranked up the power to the highest setting on my for my second treatment - looks like next time I'll be going back to the lower setting! Anyone else had side effects like this?
Hi all....well I just goet back from meeting with the Dr. I didn't realize how expensive this is going to be. He quoted me 3,000 for the entire face (including upper lip) and chin and neck. This would be 5 sessions of 12-14 minutes a piece. I do live in NYC, so I can see it being expensive, but 3,000? I think I may have to shop around some and see what some of the other prices are. The interesting thing is that he has had his face and arms done. He looks great! I so want this, but don't know if I can really afford it right now! UGH!!!
Do you know what fluence was used on you? Mine was at 18 this first time, and she said she would turn it up a little each time. From what I've read, that is a pretty common setting and I don't think it would be considered lower than average (thus not necessitating any more treatments than a higher priced place).
Stacey, that does seem rather high priced, especially for just 5 treatments. Do they guarantee it and allow extra treatments with no charge if needed? From everything I've read, it takes women with pcos more treatments than that. I am expecting that I'll probably need at least 8 but probably more, and I plan to finish up with electrolysis for the gray/white hairs that are left. Have you been to any of the hair removal boards? Here's one you might want to look at. You can search the archives and find what prices people have paid:
__________________ dx pcos 1984, type II diabetes 2001, also hypertension
Met 2000mg since 2001, started Glucophage XR 4/22/04, then switched to Met ER 6/04; also: multi, Vit. C, Vit. E, B12/folic acid combo, fish oil & borage oil combo, garlic capsules, cinnamon, Vitex, calcium with magnesium/zinc, biotin, CoQ10, selenium,iron
Other meds: Verapamil and Altace(for blood pressure)
Started laser hair removal 7/29/03, completed 3/04 (it works!)
UAE for fibroid 3/24/03 and 3/16/04
Originally posted by nobimbo Well, I just got back after my first laser treatment and I am absolutely ecstatic! I went to a very well known and usually very pricey spa, after doing much research on line and calling around town. They use the Lightsheer diode, and it only costs $55 for the chin, which is the only place I'm having treated for now. After I made my appointment 3 weeks ago, I saw a coupon in the paper for "buy 3 treatments, get 2 free". So I paid $165 today for 5 treatments (the usual package deal is $250 for 5). I'm sure I'll need at least 8 treatments. The clinician has 15 years experience with electrology, and is very knowledgeable and I was very impressed with her. They consider themselves "medically supervised" because they have two nurses there as well. Although I was wary at first of having this done at a spa instead of a medical facility, I decided to give it a shot and I am so glad I did! I also have become very skeptical of doctors anyway, and decided that a dermatologist or plastic surgeon probably doesn't have as much experience with using the machine as someone who only does this day in and day out. The typical price around here at a medical facility is about $200 per treatment.
The treatment itself took less than five minutes. She didn't use a numbing cream on me, and said they usually don't for that small of an area. I was all ready for it to be very painful, but it really wasn't. I sort of enjoyed the sensation of those damn follicles being zapped. I had two years of electrolysis 20 years, and I well remember the pain of that, and this was much less. There is a burning smell that smells just like popcorn.
She applied a benedryl cream, told me to stay out of the sun unless I use a good sunscreen, and I made an appointment for 6 weeks. By the time I got home it wasn't even red any more! I expected it to be red for a day or two, after what I've read. It will take up to two weeks for all the hair that was zapped to come out, but for right now, my chin is so smooth and I feel so normal!!!!
I realize that after the initial treatments are over, I will probably need to return every 6 months or so for follow up, but after a lifetime of shaving once or twice a day, that's such a small price to pay!
Linda
Hey Nobimbo! I'm in STL too and was wondering where you went? I'm getting electrolysis right now but it is moving slow and I have excess fine hairs that they don't seem to get rid of so I'm considering laser. Did you go to Sona?
__________________ Thin, oily skin, excess hair, mild acne.
DX Idiopathic Hirsutism
Have regular cycles, apparently have very low fasting insulin (below normal), low free testosterone (though total testosterone higher than recommended-in that wonderfully accurate normal range but high for a female), DHEAS was the highest androgen. No polycystic appearing ovaries. ????
The person who would be doing the treatments is an actual MD. Also, I live in NYC and EVERYTHING here is more expensive then everywhere else. So, it is always hard for me to judge the true value of something. I looked at a couple of other places in NYC and since they charge per area, when I added it all up, the price was about the same for the treatment. I don't know, I am really confused. I have another consultation with another Dr. next week. I want to make sure that I am getting a good price, but I am not willing to risk getting burned or anything like that!
Another question I had was, "If I buy the face package, and I don't need all of the treatments (yeah right!) could I apply the extra time to another area of my body?" I am going to have to call about that one tomorrow! Has anyone here done something similar?
Thanks for all of your responses! It really feels great being able to talk to people who are also going through this nightmare! I chuckle when I hear people say "Boy, I am having a bad hair day" I always want to respond " You have NO idea what a bad hair day is!"
Stacey have you looked into doctors in Jersey?
I used to live in Jersey and often worked in NYC, it would be a bit of a commute but the money savings might be worht it. Just a thought
__________________
Dara~who rocks!
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I went to The Laser Center at The Face and Body Spa which is in Clayton. They have been running coupons in the Post's Thursday Get Out section, by the way. I highly recommend them. I have also noticed Sona running coupons in the paper for buy 3 get two free. Here is a link to the Channel 5 web site that has an article about it with their phone number:
I had also called The Laser Center of St. Louis which is at St. John's hospital and made an appointment, but ended up cancelling it after I saw the difference in prices between that and The Face and Body. Here is the web site for the one at St. John's...they have some good info. and they also list their prices. They use the GentleLase and The Face and Body uses the Lightsheer; both are very good. Good luck and let me know if you have any more questions!
__________________ dx pcos 1984, type II diabetes 2001, also hypertension
Met 2000mg since 2001, started Glucophage XR 4/22/04, then switched to Met ER 6/04; also: multi, Vit. C, Vit. E, B12/folic acid combo, fish oil & borage oil combo, garlic capsules, cinnamon, Vitex, calcium with magnesium/zinc, biotin, CoQ10, selenium,iron
Other meds: Verapamil and Altace(for blood pressure)
Started laser hair removal 7/29/03, completed 3/04 (it works!)
UAE for fibroid 3/24/03 and 3/16/04
I went to the Advance Laser Center (Chicago area) for 5-6 treatments about 3 years ago. At that time, they were using the Alex laser. I do not know what level, but I do know that they increased it each time. Then I paid $250 per treatment for the first 4, then $150. This was for entire front of neck, chin, cheeks, sideburns, upper and lower lip. I would go in about an hour before my treatment for an application of Emla numbing cream. I had great results, and after my last treatment, probably should have gone for 1-2 more, but I was satisfied. Still had to shave every couple of days to get the strays, but it was quick (did it right in the shower) and smooth when I was done. Prior to treatment, I would pluck, then shave daily, and still never be smooth. The Emla cream was good at numbing – only still had some pain on upper lip.
This lasted for 3 years. I’ve been going for IVF and after I came off all of the meds last time, I crashed. All of my PCOS symptoms came in much worse – especially the hair. And before, my neck was really bad (like a full beard) but I only had some strays on my cheeks, not it is the other way around. Just went in for another treatment 2 weeks ago. They used a “new” laser, but I don’t know what it is called or what level it was at. They also used a different numbing cream that they said I could buy at Walgreens (and didn’t require me to be wrapped in plastic wrap) This cream worked even better. They also iced the areas right before lasering them. Still have some hairs that have not come out yet, but it is much better. Still charging me $150 for the same areas. They told me if there are still hairs that don’t come out after 3 weeks, to call and they will do a touch up treatment at no charge
Hello ladies,just thought I would give you a 10 day follow up on the laser progress.I shave daily as usual but the hair is kind of different almost wirey if that makes any sense.The tech said it would come out fast as the hair follical had been zapped with the laser.I go back in a little over 4 weeks.Keep you posted on what happens.Good luck to you all, Abra
First Time Laser Hair Removal 
this is real thick and they have you sit with it for about 5-7 minutes
