OT - Laser Hair Removal experiences anyone?? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

General

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

OT - Laser Hair Removal experiences anyone??

MNsara

Veteran

Scarlet's post about leg care made me think again about laser hair removal for myself. I am seriously thinking about saving the $$ for total leg hair removal, but it would be a HUGE investment for my frugal self and I would be SO disappointed if the results weren't amazingly good.

Elika spoke up about her laser experience - she was thrilled with it --but mentioned significant pain :-\

I know one person who had it done and LOVES her results - she said the pain wasn't too bad

Anyone else out there with first-hand experience? I know some might consider laser more private than other beauty treatments, but it would be so helpful to hear others' outcomes. . .

My sister told me to look into some home laser product that QVC just began selling . . .hmmmm. . . then I could go to town

General

17 replies

Latest reply was from Scarlet

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

I have had literally one laser treatment for bikini/underam. I was due to go in for my second treatment today but had to postpone due to my knee arthroscopy (I figured that should take precedence). I found the results impressive after one treatment - I'd say I have somewhere between 25-50% of the hair not grow back after only 1 treatment. The pain wasn't a problem at all - definitely less painful than a bikini wax!!!

Frances

I have to say, I was disappointed in the results. I was supposed to be an ideal candidate (pale skin, dark hair), and I had it done by a pro in my dermatologist's office, but still had mixed results even after many sessions. That being said, however, I've heard from so many people who have had great success with it and been overjoyed by the results, so I guess everyone's experience varies. If you're up for reading through it, there was a great (though long) post and thread of commentaries about it over on Corporette recently at http://corporette.com/2010/04/.....r-removal/

MNsara

Veteran

Yublocka - that's encouraging! and I hope your knee surgery is even more successful!! How many treatments total were you thinking you would get?

Frances - thank you for the link I have read about half so far. Pretty interesting discussion. I would have thought a dermatologist would be a preferred choice, but not necessarily so - based on your experience and some in the link too. I like the idea of having a test patch done before a big commitment.

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

MNsara not really sure how many treatments to have. I think they say about 8, but really it depends how it goes. Given that you go in once every 2 months the cost is spread out too, which is good.

I'd be interested to hear how leg laser goes too, as I imagine regrowth time etc would be even longer than for bikini/underarm, wouldn't it?

MNsara

Veteran

Regrowth - do you mean in the weeks between sessions? or really growing back again? Because some of those people on Frances link said their hair started growing back after a few YEARS

I would be SO disappointed. I am thinking this is a permanent cure for hairy legs. . .

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

I mean the % of hairs growing back again. I have no idea about the permanence after 1 treatment, and agree it would be dissapointing to find a lot of regrowth several years down the track. But anything that saves me having to go get waxes every 2-3 weeks is worth it in my book. I don't have the patience for that!!!

Reneeb

Veteran

I had about 8-9 sessions 4 years ago on my entire leg. It was pretty pricey to me but worth it. I still have to shave my legs about every 3 weeks because of a few tiny spots. I don't think it was regrowth maybe a few missed during the sessions. It was not that painful to me it was like getting a little too close to a candle flame and pulling back. I got a discount because i was a trail run for my friend who had just purchased the machine.

mummy2thea

I had my first under-arm treatment around 2 months ago. It took about 1 week to notice a difference, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much difference only 1 treatment has made. The clinic said 8-10 treatments would be needed but I have since found somwhere else slightly cheaper that says 6 is the average number of treatments required.
As for the pain level, apparently it depends on the thickness and darkness of the hair. The darker and thicker the stronger the laser pulse hence more painful. I personally found it a little painful. I was very pleased when they finished one arm and moved on to the next, as it is the repetitiveness that makes it uncomfortable.
It is a tad expensive, but the convenience and outweighs it in my opinion.
I am booking my second treatment soon and have high hopes of the results! Fingers crossed

MNsara

Veteran

Thank you, reneeb - if I only had to shave every 3 weeks, I would be very happy but do you ever consider going back for 'touch-up' treatments? (Never shaving my legs again would be the ultimate goal. . .)

Thanks, mummy2thea - it's encouraging that people notice some difference right away!

Bump for any more laser experiences - I need to KNOW it's worth cutting back on shoes, clothes, etc. for quite a while to save for this

Reneeb

Veteran

I have thought of going back but it is so few hairs i keep putting it off. also i could go longer than 3 weeks nobody would notice. I think it is well worth the money .(but I got an discount). I think i paid $400.00 for both legs all the way up. .

MNsara

Veteran

Wow, reneeb - I think your $400 was really quite the deal!

My typically overpriced dermatologist/skinspa was about $2500 for 5 (I think) treatments of total leg. But I would definitely shop and investigate around while I was saving up

Scarlet

Veteran

I think my Mom tried this and was really disappointed by the amount of regrowth. I don't know the details though. I would imagine that laser can help a lot in eliminating a lot of hair, but regrowth is always possible with hair, especially connected to big hormonal changes (hormone treatments, pregnancy, menopause...)

Megan

I've had a full course of treatments (10) for brazilian and underarms. I'm really happy with the results- there are a few very fine little hairs left but they are not noticeable to anyone other than me when I'm scrutinising!

I'm in Australia so pricing isn't really comparable but I paid between $50-70 per session (which was for both areas). It took less than 10 mins for each session and the pain was tolerable- less than waxing IMO.

Make sure that you get medical grade laser rather than IPL (which is less effective)

MNsara

Veteran

Thanks scarlet and megan - I appreciate the medical grade recommendation, megan. This is a big 'investment' and I don't want to wish I could do it over!

greenglove

(website)

Veteran

OK, I am going to be the one with bad news. I spent close to 1000.00 for hair removal on my chin before my wedding. It has been 3 and 1/2 years and most of it has grown back. I am distressed about it. I keep putting off going to show the woman who did it mainly because they will likely say that it is not guaranteed to be permanent therefore, they are not liable. I would not recommend but maybe it is worth it for some individuals.
I am thinking about electrolysis but do not want to waste more time and money.

MNsara

Veteran

Oh greenglove - what a disappointment! That is exactly what I worry about. You don't know if you had 'medical grade' laser, do you?

I don't know about electroysis results, but I agree that it could be a waste of more money for temporary results

Scarlet

Veteran

I had electrolysis on my face and the results were lasting and FANTABULOUS until moving forced me to change my pill and suddenly my face experienced a lot of new hair growth. It's still not as bad as it used to be, but I am back to waxing and plucking. I would probably go back to electrolysis to clean it up if I could still go to the same technician.