IPL - bloody ow! Worth it?

[RishiRich]

I had my first session of IPL today (underarms and same line as a wide Brazilian). I barely felt the underarms. The bikini part was fine. But underneath! 😲 'Like being flicked with an elastic band' = pinged with a catapult right in the bullseye, followed by a prickly burn. The lovely therapist turned it right down but blooming heck, it hurt. I apologised for my wussy behaviour and waddled off home to sit on an ice pack.

I've booked in for session 2 but I'm not looking forward to it. Please tell me the results are worth it!

If it works it’s totally worth it. Next time when you’re expecting the sensation it will be much better.

Didn't work on my face. Waste of time and money

It reminds me of the time I had a really bad waxing session and was sore for a few days. This is only worth it if it means no more itchy regrowth. Sorry yours didn't work JaneJennifer!

It was so embarrassing. She went down one side and up the other and I was doing ridiculously OTT flinches even as it started getting better again. I'm tempted to slather the whole area in Bonjela before the next session.

Oops, *JaneJeffer

I had my second session today. I bought a tumble of emla cream and used cling film to keep it on my nether regions all morning. I also said straight away when it got painful rather than uncomfortable and they turned down the intensity. So much better.

*tube, not tumble

I did it on my upper lip. It was all back after 5-ish years though not as thick, still I have to wax anyway. I can only recommend electrolysis.

Forgot to add, don't forget to put on sunscreen every single day like your life depends on it while you're doing IPL or your skin might "stain".

Yes worth it. I've had my 3rd sessions on whole body and it's working amazing no growth and if it is very wispy. Love it!

@Oceanus I was thinking about getting IPL but this scares me. What happens??

Full disclosure: I only did it on my upper-lip and a bit between the eyebrows!
I did a pre-session where they checked I was a suitable client skinwise. Then they tested the machine on a patch to see how it healed and they also tested different powers to see what I could take within the safe range (different parts of the body means more or less power).
They also went over the rules: no waxing, always shave between sessions as the hair looks coarser so the machine detects it better and is more efficient and I was told I wasn't allowed to shave a few days before but don't remember how many days before (many sb can shed some light?).
IPL can't be done on very tanned skin (hurt or broken either), so if I went on holiday or to the beach I would have to plan the sessions accordingly which I think took about 3 or 4 weeks in between each. I was told to avoid the sun immediately after and for a couple of weeks after (though I've read somewhere sb say they were told a whole month). Still I did it during spring so the sun wasn't such a big problem. Was also told to wear SPF every single day for a couple of weeks after and stay out of the sun (was told to wear a hat if needed).
Then I went back a few days later (don't remember how mainy days though tbh) and got my first session. I wore these black goggles again during the session and was a bit red afterwards (they put a cream after to help the skin heal). The next sessions were 3 or4 weeks (again not sure anymore) after and I think it took 3 for the upper lip. You can't book sessions too close because you need to give the hair time to grow and the darker the hair the better (so don't bleach it).
If you're serious about it, now's the time as you can wear a mask! I'm pretty pale so it looked super red but I think I was ok the next day.
Almost forgot, I was told to avoid makeup for a while but I don't remember if it's only while it's red, make sure you ask. Also, it doesn't hurt that bad but it does smell of burnt hair. It makes this weird noise too when they press the trigger which I found a lot worse for my anxiety!
P.S. If you're dark-skinned don't do it, it's not worth the risk. You could end up with stained skin or with keratosis (not sure of the name!).

@hobbledyhoy Answered above but forgot to tag you, sorry!

Thank you. Appreciate you taking time to explain

@hobbledyhoy You're welcome, I went a bit overboard but you can never know too much imho! There was a thread recently from sb for whom IPL went seriously wrong, she now has stained skin because they didn't explain it properly.