my laser hair removal update

august75 · 05-20-2004, 11:17 AM

I had my consultation yesterday and my test patch. It didnt hurt at all and today you can't even see where she zapped me. I'm using the Lightsheer laser with a cool tip. I'm having this done at my ob-gyn's office. I can't wait to start treatment next Friday. I plan on updating after every treatment so if you are interested in laser... you can follow my experience. I CAN'T WAIT! My only fear is that in the paperwork it said "a small number of patients don't respond to the laser" I hope that isn't me! Now i just have to call my insurance and see if they just might pay for it... I doubt it though. It actually isn't going to be as expensive as I thought $408 for my first three sessions @ $136 each and after that ... the area and time needed will go down and so will the price for the following sessions.

My tech explained everything in extreme detail so I totally understand how it will all work etc....

Has anyone else had good luck with laser hair removal?

Wiggleynose · 05-20-2004, 02:27 PM

August, Where are you from? I'm currently trying to get my insurance to pay for my laser treatment but it was like $235 a session.

My ins. said they would pay for it if my dr. submitted the paperwork but now he's telling me that there's no chance they would cover it (even though i just had this dicussion with him two weeks ago and he finally agreed to do it). Now he's saying he doesn't think submitting it would be worth it.

I guess it's a lot of work or something but I'm going to take in some articles and pictures of my hair growth to submit and lay into him if he doesn't submit it when I did most of the work for him.

august75 · 05-20-2004, 03:02 PM

I'm in Atlanta, which isn't cheap, but my doc is very reasonablely priced... My doc says it should take about 20 minutes for the session @ $170, but since I promised 3 visits.... I get a package discount to make it $136 a visit. After that... she thinks my sideburn area will be finished and she will still focus on my chin and lip and they will probably need 3 more visits, but they will be cheaper because they will take less time. If you do arms, legs, etc.... it's much more because there is so much more surface area and it takes so much longer. Where are you located? How long did they quote you that your session would take? It all has to do with the area and how much hair you have I think

I called my insurance and they said no deal. they only cover it if it is medically ness. to remove it. I said it was caused by a medical condition and she said it wasn't covered.... it has to be nessesary to remove and this is cosmetic to remove. I was pretty irritated, but oh well. id rather pay than not have it at all.

dberg · 05-20-2004, 04:38 PM

August...who is your insurance through? I'm in Atlanta also and mine is supposed to be covered.

august75 · 05-20-2004, 06:05 PM

I have united health care ... who do you have. Also, who are you going to? I'm going to Dekalb Obstetrics and gynecology. My doc is Dr. Pamela Brown. She is so awesome. She delivered my baby

august75 · 05-20-2004, 06:11 PM

also... are you going to an ob/gyn or a dermatologist?

dberg · 05-20-2004, 06:44 PM

I"m seeing Dr. Ana Murphy - an endo at Emory. I called around to all the endocrinologists covered under our PPO until I found one that performed laser in their office and would bill it under PCOS. I guess I better double check just to make sure.

dreamcatcher · 05-20-2004, 08:33 PM

August, I look forward to reading about your treatments!

How dare people can say that removing hair is not medically necessary. Trust me, when you are a woman with excessive amounts of facial hair, it lowers your self esteem, causes depression, and I'm sure for some people will cause certain social disorders. This excessive facial hair that we want to get rid of is definitely more for just "cosmetic reasons"...gosh, we need this in order to live! (at least for me it is).

nomadic_existence · 05-21-2004, 02:52 AM

I wish our HMO would pay for this, because I do consider hirstuism a medical condition- it's caused by hormonal problems!!! Paying out of pocket is going to cut into our funds bigtime...but it'll be worth it in the long run.

My consult with the derm went well and she told me that we're looking at about maybe 5-10 treatments, but I don't know whether to believe her or not. I have VERY coarse hair.

I'll keep you all posted. It's a pretty penny but I wanna feel like a woman again.

Good luck with your laser treatments and continue to keep us posted!

lizziebelle · 05-21-2004, 08:08 PM

Just want to put in my 2 cents!!

august75~ isn't it great! I had my 1st treatment done about 3 weeks ago. When I tell you the 90% of the hair is not there. I have totally had a whole personality change. I no longer avoid talking to people in the sunlight or looking them in the face. I no longer worry that they are looking at me like I am some kind of freak. I know that I have to have more treatments and that there will be more hair growing as the other hair follicles that were not growing at the time start to grow, but I can not believe the results of the 1st time!!!. It is expensive- I paid $300.00 for my upper lip, chin, neck and sideburns, but let me tell you, it was the best $300.00 I ever spent and will continue to spend just to feel "normal".

nomadic- I have very coarse hair also and a lot of it!!.. I was also told between 5-10 treatments. they also said that coarse hair like I had actually is the best for the laser as when the hair is fine it tends to not be so dark and the laser does not reach the pigment and follicle as easily. It is a bog out of pocket expense, but like you said, just to be able to feel like a woman again is so totally worth it. If you have any more questions about my treatment results, feel free to PM me. Good luck with the treatments Niki

PilotGirl · 05-21-2004, 08:51 PM

Lizziebelle--

What type of laser are you using?
Thanks,

Michele

Wiggleynose · 05-21-2004, 09:04 PM

I think i'm going to call around to all the ob/gyn's here on my plan and see if any of them would do the laser and bill it under PCOS.

I'm fighting my insurance hard right now just to get some gyn ultrasounds done (well it's my billing rep that's being a moron).

anyway, i'm sure i can find one. Anyone have Atena insurance and had this covered under their plan?

lizziebelle · 05-21-2004, 09:11 PM

Michele~ I have totally lost my mind. I can not remeber the name of it. I believe that it was the Lightsheer? I tried to call them, but they are closed right now. I will check with them and let you knowwhen I find out. His website does say, however, that the laser he uses also works on darker skin and fine hairs also, but it does not have the name of the laser on it. I'll let you know. Niki

LaurieAnne83 · 05-25-2004, 04:32 AM

WOW. Your insurance paying for laser!!! My insurance won't cover my retin-a or my birth control pills OR my prevacid even anymore (acid medicine), i have a 500 deductible, i pay 30-50% of my prescriptions.. 20+ copay..and they dont cover psychiatric care!!! It SUCKS...plus I pay 400 bucksa month for just me to be on the insurance. Sigh. My doctor wrote a note saying i had to have BCP for my PCOS--not havinga period, and they still won't pay for it, they said they wont pay for any BCP's ever doesn't matter the reason. Grr.

nomadic_existence · 05-26-2004, 04:46 AM

Quote:

nomadic- I have very coarse hair also and a lot of it!!.. I was also told between 5-10 treatments. they also said that coarse hair like I had actually is the best for the laser as when the hair is fine it tends to not be so dark and the laser does not reach the pigment and follicle as easily. It is a bog out of pocket expense, but like you said, just to be able to feel like a woman again is so totally worth it.

Thank you so much for this info! I'm really scared about the pain though...I'm afraid it'll hurt bad. It may be longer bc right now I'm looking for a new derm but I'll keep you posted!