laser hair removal

Charlotte_K · 04-30-2003, 06:16 PM

I am planning on having laser surgry on the 14th of May. I have severe PCOS. And I have terrible hair growth, all over my body, my face, chest, and tummy are the worst. i am 21 and fear it is only getting worse. Does this procedure work and extremly course hair?? is there a recovery period?? Do I have to let the hair grow out before I go, or can I continue shaving it until I go ?? HELP!!!!

northangel · 04-30-2003, 09:35 PM

HI there i just wanted to let you know that yes you can keep shaving , actually that is waht they prefer you to do and it works really well with course dark hair , i had my first last week and the person i went to see said she has had nothing but good results with the laser for women who have our condition. I wish you the best of luck and im sure it will work well if you have more questions feel free to email me at tracylc34@hitmail.com and i will answer what i can , again good luck .

NutraSweetly · 05-06-2003, 08:55 AM

Don't waste your money. I just finished a course of treatment. It doesn't help. I thankfully didn't have to pay. I worked for the doctor. It's painful and the only difference is that I have to shave now. I never shaved before, I plucked, I naired, I waxed but now I have to get up every morning and face a razor. It makes me feel like a man and I don't like it. For me, shaving my face is humiliating. I am what they called a "perfect canidate" for laser. Very pale with very dark hair. and it didn't work. The hair is still there and now its stubbly. I would instead invest in an expensive home waxing kit. I'm trying the cream next. I hope that helps.

Maureen77 · 05-07-2003, 04:40 PM

Make sure your hormones and insulin are under control before you attempt this, or it could come back no matter how many treatments you have.

Hezzer · 05-07-2003, 05:07 PM

Not all laser treatments are the same. Lasers vary. Some are very effective whereas others are not. Doing research on which lasers are the best is important before investing that much money. Unfortunately, the better laser treatments are way more expensive. As well, the success of the treatment depends much on the doctor or tech performing it.

There are too many cysters on this site that have benefited from laser therapy to discount it altogether. If you haven't already you might want to read through the following threads. They contain comments by cysters who have had success stories with laser therapy.

laser hair removal

Success Stories!!!

Good Luck!

tweety612 · 05-07-2003, 09:02 PM

I had 2 treatments before I realized that I was wasting my $$$. It was working really well (chin area)...until I went off the pill (now ttc). I wish I did it like 5 years ago, maybe at least I could've enjoyed being hair free for a while! Now I wax about once a week. It's messy, but it seems to be the best thing for me. I bought a wax heater (about $30) and the cans wax are only about $10 and last a pretty long while if only doing the face. Hope I can save some of you from wasting your $$ on laser.

spiritwalker · 05-08-2003, 01:17 AM

Hi everyone,
I had my first laser treatment approximately four weeks ago and I am so happy! The hair on my face was very dark and very coarse. I was having to shave twice a day and I still had a noticable "shadow" even through layers of makeup. It took about two weeks before the majority of the hair started falling out. During this time I continued to shave and in the back of my mind I was worried that the treatment did not work. Then it seemed like in one day it all started falling out! I could run my fingernail over the hairs and they just fell out. I am sure people think I am strange because I am constantly touching my face now. lol I just can't help it. I have been dealing with this since I was 15 (27 now) and my face feels so smooth. I am starting to see a few hairs grow back, but was assured that this is normal because hair grows in cycles. I am going for my second treatment next week.

The pain for me was very tolerable. I was expecting it to be much worse, and was willing to try anything to free myself of the daily shavings. It is not cheap, my first treatment was $300 but will be less each time I go back, but I am very happy that I went for it.

Kara

DawnS · 05-12-2003, 11:37 AM

Nuetrasweety,

I want to ask you something, when you went for your laser, did you have photo light or laser? The two are NOT the same. I want to say, DO NOT LOSE HOPE! I had a pulsed light treatment done years ago, and lost NOT ONE HAIR on my face/neck area! I was sooo discouraged. Also, the first 2 laser sessions I had done before that really didn't yield results. However, I have had about 4-5 LightSheer™ Diode System laser sessions done over the course of 2-3 years and now I have absolutley awesome results. All thats left are some stays hairs that are now thinner and lighter, which I think one more session will take care off. NO "five o'clock shadow" or dark patches of hair on face or neck. They say 4-6 sessions brings great results, and I've found this to be true. Now, I can't wait to begin on my legs, lower arms, and stomache. I've learned that not all laser's are created equall, or work best on all skin types.

Dawn

heaven · 05-13-2003, 08:34 PM

hello i also have the same problem. i'm also a 21 i'm a african american with course faciual hair i hate it so much i would like to know more info if you have any on laser surgey. please if posable write me back to know how every thing goes . i wish you the best i hope that things work out great.

tweety612 · 05-13-2003, 09:30 PM

heaven:

I pulled this off a website for you. If you are from the NYC metro area, I'm sure you can find tons of places that do laser hair removal. Hope this helps you.

Christina

LASER HAIR REMOVAL:
The lasers on the market today come in all shapes and sizes.
There are also different lasers that use different wavelengths of light. Some utilize a cooling device and some do not. All laser systems emit a gentle beam of light that passes through the skin to the hair follicle where it is absorbed by the hair. The laser energy is then transformed into heat that can disable the follicle. People who have white skin and dark hair will see the best results because the laser light is attracted to dark colors (melanin) in the hair. Melanin is also present in our skin. Some people who have tans and darker colored skin will have less of a benefit from the laser because the darker pigment in the skin will absorb some of the laser light energy and it could burn the skin. These people can either use a lower energy level with the laser to avoid burning the skin or electrolysis. Most laser also do not work on white, gray, light blonde or red hair. Lasers that utilize a cooling device will help protect the skin by cooling the upper layers providing the patient with increased comfort. This cooling selectivity helps to protect the skin while effectively treating the unwanted hair.

MadamHoney · 05-14-2003, 01:26 PM

Dawn, it is so good to hear a success story. For the past year I've been going through phases of thinking I'll go for laser treatment but then I don't. I'm in one of those phases now because I'm so sick of it. I just keep changing my mind about which laser is best!

You're right, from what I've read light pulse is no good plus it's more likely to damaged the skin. I don't fancy old lasers such as Ruby. I'll have to see if I can find anywhere that does lightsheer. I've heard Gentlelase may be quite good.

My biggest problem is that I don't shave, well, I shave and pluck. I've never been able to get a good enough result from shaving. I have thick black hair and the whitest skin! It looks awful, I can never get make-up to match my skin colour either and I can't bring myself to go to a make-up counter and have one of those dreadful women look down there nose at me!

Anyway, rambling here,

thanks for the positive posting. I have a friend who also has excess hair (but doesn't have PCOS) and we've discussed going together so at least that would be great to have support.

Can I just ask if you had any redness or blistering after?

Honey

soya · 05-16-2003, 05:45 PM

hi ladies,
After reading all your posts and responses;I would like to share my laser experience with you.I went for laser treatments...the light sheer diode laser.I had a total of 5 treatments for full legs.I have had amazing results.My last treatment was7 months ago and I only have e few very light stray hairs on my knees and thighs.I would say a 90 reduction in the hair.My lower legs are still hair free after all this time.The tech recommended one more treatment but money was a factor.I paid 3500.00.I know it is expensive but to me it was well worth it.I had been on met and spiro about 5 months prior to starting the treatments.Now I have decided to go ahead and do the upper lip and chin.They recommend 3 weeks without plucking prior to the first treatment.I go next friday.It has been really hard he past two weeks to resist the urge to pluck and just do the dreaded shaving.I hate every minute of it.After all these years of plucking my face,my skin has become rough in those areas and pluking just isn't an option anymore...every hair I pluck,the follicule gets inflammed and infected.What a mess.My bf is very supportive and says he loves me whether or not I go for the laser.I personally can't wait till next friday.I have scheduled my first laser treatment on a weekend that I do not work.....so the redness and swelling has time to go down before facing the public.SO>>>>>>please do not discount laser as an option.It has worked wonders for me.I too am quite white and have jet black coarse hair.My friends call me GHOSTIE.Courage.
SOYA>

DawnS · 05-16-2003, 06:51 PM

Madamhoney and ladies,

It's great to find another success story with the Lightsheer Diode. We may be on to something ladies, and maybe this device works good/best for our unique issues. I just found this weblink regarding this particular laser, and if you do some searching on this site it will lead you to who/where offers this partucular laser is offered in your area:

http://www.aesthetic.lumenis.com/opt...iode-laser.htm

Soya, I'm so inspired by your results. If only our insurance companies would pay or even subsidize the exorbant cost. Is this something that anyone has inquired about? I know my MD inquired for me but I never heard back about it. Does anyone know anything on this? Anyway, I never knew at age 16, when I went through a horrible body immage depression, that there would be hope for this. I think i'm going to give up food until I raise the funds to do this! Ha ha ha.

The woman from NYC, there are lasers now that are developed for darker skin/woman of color out there.

MadamHoney · 05-19-2003, 05:56 AM

Dawn, that was a really interesting site and the before and after pictures really offer hope! Unfortunately there is no info for the UK, I often find it so difficult to get information off the web, it's nearly always stuff based in America - oh well. I shall have to keep searching!!

DawnS · 05-21-2003, 01:24 PM

Madam honey,

I was flipping through the UK edition of "Marie Clair" magazine and in the back there were several adds for laser in the London area. Just FYI!

Dawn