Well, I did it (first laser treatment yesterday, and some questions...)

AnaYogaMama · 09-08-2004, 04:43 PM

Hi everyone, I'm mostly a lurker here but thought I'd come out and share my experience for anyone considering getting laser etc. I also have a couple of questions.

Quick intro: I'm Ana, work-at-home mom to a 2-year-old girl. Live in Canada. Recently diagnosed with PCOS but have had symptoms since puberty...

I went in yesterday for my first appointment/treatment. I had had a consult about 2 months ago, but because I had been waxing and plucking the hairs, I needed to wait at least 6 weeks before starting treatment.

I had to show up with a day or two's worth of growth, so the tech could see the area to treat, the hair thickness in the different areas, etc. They first took photos of the areas to be treated (what a treat that was

, having a camera shoved right up close at the places where you just don't want anyone looking too closely!), but I got over that. Then they put the Emla (lidocaine, or numbing cream) on, saran wrapped me and let me relax for an hour on the bed. It was a mini-vacation for me

I'm sure those with young kids will understand...

She came in an hour later, and put on the protective goggles, and was very good at explaining the procedure as she went along. It was a bit weird not being able to see anything, and I'm a bit of a claustrophe so it was strange, but not terrible.

She started at the sideburns, zapping along. It didn't feel too bad, kinda like a rubber band being snapped at the side of my skin. But once she reached the chin and upper lip, OMG, it really did hurt. I can NOT imagine doing it without the numbing cream! Ouch ouch ouch!!! I kept reminding myself how badly I've wanted to be rid of this hair.

After the treatment was over, she gave me the little hose thingy to blow cold air on my face. Ahhhh relief. Temporary, but nice. I also got an ice pack for the drive home, and spent most of yesterday applying ice.

I'm wondering if most people reacted the same way as me. Though I guess people have different pain thresholds too.

So anyway, it was fairly red, but here is my question. Today, I have these red not-so-attractive bumps on my skin, and some little tiny white things. I'm guessing they are blisters?? They are very small, like tiny pimples. The tech said this might happen. But I've read that blisters might mean the tech used the wrong setting, is this true?

I don't know, I'm going to call the clinic, but I thought I'd share with you all here. Overall, it was a good experience and I am so happy to finally be doing something about this embarassing hair. I just hope it works, and doesn't scar. So I'm

and

at the same time! lol

Edited to add: The laser is the LightSheer Diode, if that helps. I called the clinic, but I got the answering machine. Will try again...

Thanks for reading!
Ana

AnaYogaMama · 09-08-2004, 07:21 PM

Ok, the tech just called me and thinks that the white-head looking things are just hairs that are trapped under the skin. It should disappear in 2-3 days.

Great thing about technology: I told her I have a digi cam, so I e-mailed her a photo so she could see the spots I'm talking about and will let me know for sure.

Still curious if others have had reactions like this though. I know some of you have had only slight redness which goes away after a few hours. I wish!

thinkthin98 · 09-09-2004, 02:06 PM

I had no pain, I think it depends on the type of laser they use. Hope you start feeling better...

AnaYogaMama · 09-09-2004, 08:59 PM

Thanks thinkthin. I am feeling a lot better today, and the skin is healing just fine. It still feels a little bit bruised or tender to the touch, but a lot better (it's day 3).

What kind of laser do you have used? I'm in Canada, and the clinic I went to says that they use the only FDA-approved laser (this lightshear thing).

kalista · 09-09-2004, 09:15 PM

Hi Ana

The place I go to uses the Light Sheer Diode Laser System thats FDA approved as well. Where in Canada are you? I'm in Calgary.

Kali

Rasburry · 09-09-2004, 09:34 PM

...for posting your experiences. I have nothing to add about experience with laser yet since I'm awaiting my first treatment. I was scheduled to start last month and they called the night before to tell me that the laser machine had broke and it would be a month and a half until it was fixed. Talk about taking the wind out of my sails!!!!! Oh well. I'll be anxious when the time actually comes to get rid of some unsightly hairs. It helps hearing from cysters that have been there!!!

AnaYogaMama · 09-10-2004, 12:06 AM

Hi Razz

You're welcome. That's too bad about the broken machine, I was so anxious to get started. For more reasons that one. We'd like to start TTC for #2, but they don't do laser treatments if you are pregnant or possibly pregnant. So I'd like these treatments finished soon, so I can get on with other things

Kali, I'm in Ontario

They said it's the best laser available in Canada. How did your skin react to the treatment? They told me this was all "normal" but I'm skeptical lol!

hanshab · 09-10-2004, 02:11 AM

I've had 6 treatments using the Lightsheer laser. My experience was the same as yours during the treatments. My tech says that the thicker/more hair, the worse the pain. My tech puts an ice pack on my face immediately after the treatment for about 5 minutes. It is really to cool the skin and not necessarily for pain. My experience after the treatment is that my skin is red (actually pink) for about 20-30 minutes. I do tend to break out in a few places after the treatment, but never white blisters. It could be that you have suffered a burn from the laser, but your tech probably knows what she's talking about better than me. Stick with it, you'll never regret the decision. I use to shave everyday (sometimes twice) and after 6 treatments, I have about a 90% reduction in the amount of hair. I am also shaving about 3-4 times between appointments (4-6 weeks between). I am scheduled for my 7th visit at the end of this month and hope that it will be the last treatment. Be prepared though, my tech explained that I will need maintenance 2-4 times a year to take care of any of those stubborn hairs that come back and any new hairs that sprout. It has been a real esteem booster though. WORTH EVERY PENNY (OR DOLLAR!! LOL).

Good luck to you.

AnaYogaMama · 09-10-2004, 02:19 AM

Thanks so much Hanshab. Can I tell ya how nice it is to be able to "talk" to someone about all this and get feedback?! Ahhhh

Well, the white blister-looking things are not blisters afterall. They are almost all gone by now. My skin is a little dry in the area that is treated, a little bit of redness around where each hair follicle would've been...but otherwise it looks better.

Thanks for the warning, and my tech said the same thing, that I most likely will need touch ups every few months...but my goodness, that's nothing compared to spending at least 45 minutes a day and who-knows-how-much on hair removal products.

I'm still being cautiously optimistic because it is too soon to tell if this treatment will work for me. But I hope that the day will come when I can "face" the world with more confidence

Rasburry · 09-10-2004, 09:12 AM

My doc said that the laser hair removal system only picks up the darker/coarser hairs. Is this true of all lasers? I have hair that is less coarse that I want gone just as bad! Is there any hope?

AnaYogaMama · 09-10-2004, 01:16 PM

I could be wrong, but this is my understanding of how the lasers work...

They work best on dark, thick/course hair against lighter skin, because that is the way the laser differentiates between hair and skin. So it's most successful on those dark, thick hairs because it can "see" those hairs better. Does that make sense?

I have less coarse, dark hair on the sides of my face which were treated as well. The tech seemed to think that the laser would remove these hairs, and that it would take less treatments overall.

So I think it's a combination of hair colour, skin colour and thickness of the hair.

Again, this is just my understanding of how it works. Anyone else have input?

Hth!
Ana

Rasburry · 09-10-2004, 01:48 PM

good then bc my hair is brownish/red and my skin very light with freckles...the laser should love me!