Just had 1st Laser Treatment on Face...

JCassy · 10-10-2009, 04:28 PM

Hi everyone,
Last Wednesday I had my first Laser Treatment on my face.
For about 7 years now I have had very coarse, dark hair on my sideburns, chin, and moustache area. I have had to pluck and shave aggressively every day and usually my skin is red and irritated, sometimes with folliculitis flare-ups. Also, the hair is always a dark shadow, even if just shaved. Little black dots can always be seen on my chin.

So I decided to begin the treatments and Wednesday had the first - they used a GentleLase set at 18 joules and she performed about 285 pulses. It hurt more than I thought it would! The worst part was the smell of burnt hair too! Right after I did notice the black dots or pepper-spots slid right off my face.

But for the last 3 days since I've been so disheartened! No hairs are "shedding" on their own and when I try to shave it is not really getting much of the stubborn hairs. Is this a bad sign???? I desperately want this to work - I am at a place of despair over this beard situation!

I've tried Vaniqa with no positive results and I really REALLY want this Laser to work. Also, I should say that I am on 100mg of Spiro and also on YAZ.

Any input or advice would be greatly appreciated. My next treatment is scheduled for early December. Also, I'm going to try to make an insurance claim on my own - the dermatologist wouldn't do it as it is "cosmetic." And just as a point of reference, I was charged 400 to do sideburns, chin and lip areas.
Thanks for reading and responding!

Rebecca23 · 10-10-2009, 09:18 PM

First of all good luck! I did the laser thing a few years ago. (maybe 3-4). The hairs that are treated are supposed to fall out on their own, but i always had trouble with that. I hated going to work the next day with all these hairs popping out everywhere. I switched my appts to Fridays and "helped" the hairs out with a bit of tweezing on Sunday night if it needed it (and it usually did), it wasn't like real tweezing because the hairs were already ready to fall out, (FYI, the laser people DO NOT recommend this) you can also try exfoliating your skin and seeing if they fall out that way. Shaving these stubbled hairs was incredibly ineffective for me, they were too tough for that.

After I finished all the treatments I was actually able to leave the house without having to do anything, it was amazing.... no shaving, no heavy make-up. I felt almost normal.

It is very important that you stay on your meds though or your hair may grow back. I have slacked off and now my hair is back... probably about 70% about as bad as it was at its worst.

I am currently a tweez-a-holic with support shaving and not really happy about it, but am not in a stable enough financial or emotional state to try lasering again. (it really is a commitment) I can, however, see myself going back someday.

So best of luck to you. It really will help.

-Rebecca

trinigilly · 10-11-2009, 12:58 AM

hi JCassy...i also do laser on my face....i did about 10 treatments already..when i am now finish my face is always clean from hair....then over d nex couple of days some will grow back and drop off...that process takes about 3 days but after dat i'm good 4 about 6 weeks and then d whole process starts all over again

i know of ppl who have had great success with laser however my hair jus keep growing back even after 10 treatments but my research have shown that its new hair that grows back (especially as someone with PCOS) so i am working on that 1st b4 i start back the laser....i'm nnow goin 2 start glucophage ....so my advice 2 u is make sure ur see about that 1st in order 2 see more effective results.....and good luck wit getting ur insurance 2 pay 4 it...mines most certainly wont as u rightly said its cosmetic....s they not gonna cover it

JCassy · 10-11-2009, 02:28 PM

Thank you all for your response!
And to MintCha - I cannot PM because I haven't posted enough yet...
Thank you so much for your message! I've been so doubtful, and you totally put my mind to ease!!
The technician told me to be patient - but to hear it from someone who has real experience makes me a believer!! I can't thank you enough for your message. Just one more random question - do you know why we are not supposed to pluck right now? I broke down and did a couple and some of them are sliding out easily. But I read that I shouldn't do it - do you know why?
Thanks so much for all you've said!

Marionettez · 10-13-2009, 01:25 PM

I didn't get the results like some of you ladies did. I had 6 laser treatments done about 5 years ago and still to this day have to shave. If anything it's worse now then it was back then. Of course at that time I wasn't on any meds and was telling my mom that I had something wrong with me but she refused to listen. So I dx myself and then went to the doctor till they listened. Maybe if I was on some meds at that time I probably wouldn't have any hair right now. My dad didn't want to pay anymore for the treatments because he (as well as my mom, sister and I) didn't see any results. So I had to stop them, but I hope it all works out well for you.

MintChai · 10-13-2009, 03:31 PM

Your welcome! I know it's frustrating not being able to pluck stray hairs but hang in there! Why not to pluck:

During treatment the laser emits a pulse that travels through the skin and is attracted to the pigment in the hair follicle. The laser then heats up the hair's shaft and root, destroying it. Laser energy requires the hair shaft to transfer it down into the unwanted hair follicle to destroy it. If the hair has been plucked then there is no shaft or root because it's been pulled out.