First laser treatment today!"

[VivC]

Woo-hoo! The day didn't start off that well, since my appointment was for 9:15 (it was supposed to be yesterday, but they rescheduled me), and when I went out to my car at 9:00, I had a flat tire. I haven't changed a freaking tire since Driver's Ed 14 years ago!

So I finally got that done and called the laser place in tears, terrified that they were going to cancel me. But they didn't. I got there late, so the appointment ran late. Not too bad.

She put cream on to numb my skin for about 45 minutes. Then she cleaned the cream off and shaved my lip and chin. Then she zapped me. It didn't really hurt that much. There were a few stray hairs outside the numbed area, and she zapped those. I felt them, but it wasn't that bad. It HURT when she did my chinbone. She said the bone's so close to the surface that it attracts some of the heat from the laser. But that part was over pretty quickly. I put gauze inside my upper lip to protect my cap (sometimes artificial dental work can attract heat, too). Lots of the little buggers came out as she was zapping! When that happened, there was a POP. And the burning hair smells like burnt popcorn.

When she was done, she wiped off my face again and gave me a frozen towel to hold on. They kept giving me new towels for about 1/2 an hour, and I was done! I put on my makeup (did need more than usual) and went off to the VA/MD get-together (after stopping at the mechanic to try to deal with my freaking tire - that's another story, though).

When I took off my makeup tonight, I noticed that there are hairs visible under the skin, but they're not poking out. Those should shed soon. And there's a little bit of stubble in one spot - not sure if those will come out or not. They didn't when I gently tugged on them, so I'll just shave them tomorrow if necessary. My chin is sore (where the laser really zapped me), but I'm not red at all. I did put on some icy cold aloe gel, though.

Overall, I'm happy - we'll see how it goes. I have my second appointment on 10/8. And for those of you who want details, I'm using the Lightsheer laser and it cost $937 for five sessions (spread out over 10 months)...they do offer different payment plans. I'm paying the second half of my $937 at my second appointment. It's more than worth it if it saves me 45 minutes a day plucking!

[KatrinaAnne]

Viv,

::BIG HUGS:: to you sweetheart. I am so sorry you had such a stressful morning, you poor thing. But I am so happy that you are happy and I really hope that your laser treatments give you the results that you have been wanting sweetheart. ::HUGS:: Congrats!!!

[tiggerlily5278]

Thanks for the details. I've been hoping that this symptom of PCOS will go away for me, as I get a better handle on my PCOS. If not, I am considering having this done. Are 5 treatments what they consider effective to take care of the problem permanently?

[G2]

Good luck with the laser treatment, hope the day of your second appointment goes better than your first!

Hope you get the results you wish for! If not better! ((hugs))

[MandarinMarie]

I'm a marylander, too. What section of Maryland was this place in? The price doesn't sound as bad as others I have heard. Did you get just your chin/upper lip area, or did you get other places, like maybe the underside of your chin? Thanks so much for this info!

[VivC]

This was Alase in Rockville. They did my upper lip and chin. Chin extends down to the top of your adam's apple. But if there are just few outside of the area, they'll add them for free. They're also having a summer special - if you buy one package, the second is 50% off. So, I thought about adding my tummy in, but I really can't afford it right now. They'll give me 25% off any future packages, anyway. Everyone there was so nice. Nobody stared or gasped at my beard! And they're all going through treatments themselves, since it's an employment perk.

5 treatments are what they consider necessary with this laser. But, if your hormones aren't under control, new hairs might grow in. So, while they'll permanently get rid of what's growing now, more can come in a few years later in other spots. But she did promise that it will NEVER be as bad as it is now.

I did notice that with low-carbing and regular exercise, my hair growth slowed WAY down. That was before I was pregnant...that seemed to screw me up all over again, so I needed Met to get the same results. As I told the lady at the laser place, if I have to do this again every 3-4 years, I can handle it. It's more than worth it.

Day 2: I feel a tiny bit of stubble. I don't know if it's growing (don't think so), or if it's dead hair trying to push its way out. It's definitely not as much stubble as I would normally have 36 hours after shaving. My chin is still a tiny bit sore when I push on it. They said that the hairs should all start coming out in 10-14 days. So we'll see!

Viv

[MandarinMarie]

Oooooh this place sounds awesome. I feel like I've heard their ads on the radio, too. Down to my adam's apple would be just perfect, although I have a little bit creepin on my sideburns too. My upper lip actually doesn't bother me that much. Maybe I'll work there for the free treatments next summer between graduation and whatever the heck I'm going to do after college.

[VivC]

Day 3: My skin's very dry and itchy today. They warned me that might happen. And I noticed a LOT of stubble this morning, so I tried to shave it, but it didn't work because it's all under the skin still (dead hair that will shed next week, I guess).

Hmm...I've caked on as much makeup as will stick, and I'm avoiding sunlight so nobody sees it. Other than that, I keep reminding myself that the end result will be worth it!

Marie, I'm sure you've heard their commercials. One of our local radio announcers gets free treatments in exchange for commercials, so she's ALWAYS talking about Alase. The offices are beautiful, too. Not at all sterile as I expected.

Viv