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Original poster

Trivial - my laser hair removal experience

65 replies

CohensD · 15/10/2023 10:50

I'm a really hairy woman. Thick, dark, coarse body hair (legs, stomach, etc) which would be more common on the opposite sex than on my own. But this is just one way in which females can differ from the average for other females.

A couple of years ago (after years of wrestling with either painful waxing or trying to not mind not fitting the mold), I got some laser hair removal, because there were some areas I just couldn't learn to love this hair on. It cost me over a grand (on some quite limited areas).
In the waiting room, I met a transwoman who was getting the whole lot done on the NHS.

Obviously, this is very trivial. But it really fucked me off. Just wanted to share, and this seems an obvious place 😁

OP posts:
quantumbutterfly · 15/10/2023 11:53

The NHS is broken. It has taken me 10 years to get the diagnosis for my son after spending thousands on private clinicians.
It took 3 years to get him seen as an NHS patient for his condition.
He now has no feeling in his feet and loss of manual dexterity which would not have progressed so quickly with timely treatment.
He's one of the lucky ones.

IcakethereforeIam · 15/10/2023 11:51

I recall that they won't fund hair removal for detransitioners.

RethinkingLife · 15/10/2023 11:48

And given it takes a trans person five+ years now a days to even get to see someone for help, then I dont begrudge a course of laser therapy that it probably took a decade to secure.

It's almost as if some posters don't consult waiting list information for a variety of other health conditions.

https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/news/faster-diagnosis-process-for-women-with-endometriosis/ (Typically, 7-10 years for the diagnosis and it can be longer for treatment.)

https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/

Statistics » Referral to Treatment (RTT) Waiting Times

Health and high quality care for all, <br />now and for future generations

https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times

Imicola · 15/10/2023 11:46

MishyJDI · 15/10/2023 11:41

Dangerous game here. Should we rank treatment types that should be funded and not others? Quick path to a broken NHS.

Personally, I trust the clinicians at the NHS fund stuff that needs it.

And given it takes a trans person five+ years now a days to even get to see someone for help, then I dont begrudge a course of laser therapy that it probably took a decade to secure.

This is how the NHS already works... they don't just fund every single possible treatment in every situation. That truly would be a quick path to a bankrupt and broken service.

MishyJDI · 15/10/2023 11:41

Dangerous game here. Should we rank treatment types that should be funded and not others? Quick path to a broken NHS.

Personally, I trust the clinicians at the NHS fund stuff that needs it.

And given it takes a trans person five+ years now a days to even get to see someone for help, then I dont begrudge a course of laser therapy that it probably took a decade to secure.

quantumbutterfly · 15/10/2023 11:38

CohensD · 15/10/2023 11:00

Indeed @BlueKaftan . And I don't fit some of the stereotypes for my sex. I'd quite like to look closer to my internalised image of who I'd like to be. Why won't the NHS fund me to realise this ambition? (Obviously I don't want it to really - I'd like NHS funding to go to treating/preventing illness).

Completely agree, I have felt guilty because my son has recently been diagnosed with an incurable, degenerative illness and requires lifelong NHS care now our health insurers won't cover him.
I wish I did not need their help but I do.

Imicola · 15/10/2023 11:15

SunnieShine · 15/10/2023 11:05

Slightly off topic but have you tried Phillips Lumea? It worked for me.

It wasn't available when i had my underarms done, but i have now got one and done my legs (the cost was too much for me to do my legs at the salon, so they had to wait about 10 years under trousers and long skirts)

SunnieShine · 15/10/2023 11:05

Slightly off topic but have you tried Phillips Lumea? It worked for me.

ArabellaScott · 15/10/2023 11:05

CohensD · 15/10/2023 10:53

I don't know @ArabellaScott . This was about 3/4 years ago?

According to the lnk above the NHS are still potentially funding hair removal for trans people.

Imicola · 15/10/2023 11:03

That would be galling. I forked out for laser hair removal due to ongoing painful and unsightly ingrown hairs. I never even considered requesting it on the NHS. (It helped massively)

Original poster
CohensD · 15/10/2023 11:00

Indeed @BlueKaftan . And I don't fit some of the stereotypes for my sex. I'd quite like to look closer to my internalised image of who I'd like to be. Why won't the NHS fund me to realise this ambition? (Obviously I don't want it to really - I'd like NHS funding to go to treating/preventing illness).

OP posts:
Original poster
CohensD · 15/10/2023 10:53

I don't know @ArabellaScott . This was about 3/4 years ago?

OP posts:
ArabellaScott · 15/10/2023 10:52

Yes, that's infuriating. I thought they weren't funding this anymore?

BlueKaftan · 15/10/2023 10:52

At least you are a woman.