Laser hair removal on face ....advice please or I am going to start shaving soon (am a sad hairy lady)

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Has any one had it done, is it worth it? I have bleached depleted, waxed,threaded and plucked for years now and it is getting me down now. Whatever I do I have stubble the next day nothing lasts. Advise please....

Have booked for consult a skin clinic so will also update tis really getting me down now used hair removel cream on chin yesterday and had stubble this morning

Well it does go a bit red at first, but I think it depends on how sensitive your skin is. I found that within about an hour, you couldn't really notice any redness specifically. But then I am fairly rosy anyway!

I had 6 treatments, they tend to do package prices so if you pay for five up front you get one free. The hair did go completely, but it does take a few treatments before it really starts to reduce noticeably. Haven't been back for some time now, probably about 9 months as pregnant and busy etc, and there has been a bit of regrowth. Nowhere near as much though. And I think this is certainly less for some people, I am a bit of an ape woman

Don't think the people who saw me were doctors, specialist dermatological nurses I think. They also have plenty of training though. I guess it varies depending on which clinic you go to.

Good luck! I would definitely say it is worth it if it is really getting to you.

I second those who say go for it, I was a horribly hairy and self-conscious teenager, and only finally went for laser treatment in my mid-30s, wish wish WISH I'd done it before. It changes your entire outlook, you know how jealous you get of 'smooth' women, well you become one of them! If I'd had a daughter suffering from this I would seriously consider buying her the treatment as it was such a blight for me.

Took at least two dozen sessions as I recall and v. expensive but well worth it and I really should go for a top-up one of these days but happy enough with current result.

To get into the gory detail, I did:

• underarms :great, as it's only really a few coarse hairs in one concentrated area and they're gone for good
• lower legs :still a few strays but don't bother me, shave them from time to time when they get really long.. I find a few strays don't bother me, funny..
• arms: had ucky hairy arms, could see swirls, now all smooth and lovely with very fine regrowth can barely see and will shave them maybe 2-3 times a year
• bikini line: great, as with underarm, thick hair so responds well [am pale with dark hair so good combination] -- was worried but the attendant knew her stuff; mine was a fairly modest trim so still a triangle left iykwim; also you can tell where the zapping ended and further along the thigh, I may consider lasering the upper thigh at some point but not really bothered, again the occasional quick shave is enough. The real joy of bikini line is that you can go swimming with the kids on the spur of the moment, not have to do a last-minute prune that leaves you all red and raw.
• Face: Had sideburns, moustache, chin done; on all of them there are still some strays (this sadly is the area that takes the longest as there are numerous and fine hairs) so I still need to do a quick shave every few weeks but have been happy to live with this, it's SOOOO much better than before. That said I am seeing some new chin whiskers that are really starting to irritate me so may be booking a new round of appointments soon.

Pain was nothing bad, nowhere near the agony of waxing, just a brief bzzzt. Initially treatment required first holding an icepack to the skin for a few minutes before zapping, and I found that the worse bit, then the technology changed and there's just a thick coolish gel then zap. A bit of redness but nothing to stop me venturing back into the world once treatment is done. Got paranoid about sunburn since then though (no bad experience but just cautious), and they make you sign a mega disclaimer form. You need to understand it will take months to see any results and then it tends to come in patches, but yes it does work.

Thanks so much ladies -

I have just turned 40 and my mum gave me some money. Without saying so (she would never be that tactless), I think she knows this is what I've wanted to do for a while but couldn't afford.

I can't afford the whole thing, and the arms don't really bother me now, even though they are very hairy, but it will be very liberating to not have to worry about the face.

BTW - using my new name

To some extent yes - you have to stop waxing, or using any form of removal that would take the hair out from the root eg. epilation, waxing, plucking etc. This is because the laser needs something to destroy iykwim. They advise you to shave the area though, as this makes it easier to treat, and obviously means that you don't have to walk around with a full-on 'tache for weeks! I had always resisted going anywhere near my face with a razor, but actually, it didn't cause any problems like quicker regrowth/stubble that I had expected.

HTH

that's useful to know quasimomo - I use Veet, so I suppose I could just leave it a couple of days so there's some growth there .....

supersal - me too, but lets re-group after our consultations/treatment, to compare notes

Spend the extra money and go to the most reputable place you can find! My sis claims the first place she went to overstimulated her and made it worse. She has now had fantastic results from an expensive but expert place. I went for a consultation and they recommended electrolysis which has been sore and long but really, being nearly hair free on my face is just wonderful and so worthwhile

Or get Smooth Skin from Boots which is laser hair removal you can do at home.

It's the idea of shaving in between that puts me off. Mind you, can't be as bad as the current situation...how do you determine who's reputable and who isn't? Am in London...

well my consult is at the Sk:n clinic on sunday and a few pointers on whats reputable or not would be very helpful

Mine is at Sk:n too. it's mentioned above by one of the other posters.

Double eek ! It's the same. I'm going for a course of 6 (special offer 6 for the price of 4). £525 !!. She said this is the average number of sessions you'd need (1 per month) to get rid of the hairs, because each one will be at a different stage of growth each time you go.

Had my skin test today.

I could never afford this if my parents hadn't given me some money for my 40th Birthday (bless 'em)

(£2000 for the whole body )

My skin test cost £25 - and i agree it only stung a bit and I smelt the burning. Have had no reaction at all, no redness, since Monday.

Am having first treatment tomorrow - and she said not to pluck the hairs in between treatments. She said you can use hair removal cream in between, but shaving is better in the days leading up to each treatment, as they need a little dot of hair to be visible (I would worry about Veet causing a reaction as well, as it does make my skin a bit sensitive anyway when I use it on chin and moustache).

Am a bit [hmm[ about shaving as well.

That should be about shaving

Maybe we should post before and after pictures !

(On second thoughts .......)

fivecandles, do you have any experience of the boots system?

I've had it done in my hairy chin. Was EPL. Had four sessions but also had veins on legs done and got cross that they weren't v good so haven't returned for more chin, so a bit rubbish.