GenderLife Forum: The Information Exchange

Okay, so I got my first laser treatment on my face on Thursday, and was told that the hair would basically fall out on it's own between 2 and 5 days later. Well, that didn't happen. I hit 5 days of growth, had about 3/4 of a centimeter of hair sticking out, with about half a centimeter beneath the surface. How do I know how much was beneath the surface? Well, because I started plucking. First with my fingernails, and then I just got out the tweezers and went to town. Hurt like hell, too, lemme tell ya. I'll never complain about tweezing eyebrows and nose-hairs again. (Well, yes I will, but more because I like to complain.)

So, I pluck about 60% of my face (like a 12 hour project, lol... I need a job), and realized, "Hey, maybe this wasn't such a great idea." Durf. So, I looked fucking ridiculous, and I didn't want to sink another 8 hours into plucking, so I just shaved the rest. (My skin had returned to normal since the lasering... so it's not like I was shaving burned skin.)

So, anyway, I guess my question is... did I fuck up, and how badly did I fuck up? Has anyone else done this? How did it work out? What's done is done, but I'm anxious to know what my punishment is going to be. Ahhhh, stupid stupid stupid!

I don't know why they told you two to five days, I've never heard that and I've had laser done by three different places on different body parts. It's been a consistent three weeks for it to really start to fall out, but I do start plucking things after about two weeks. If the hair doesn't almost fall out when you tug on it a couple weeks after laser, it wasn't fried. Don't pull it out, or it may not get zapped next time!

That's also been the experience of my family and friends that have had laser.

I don't think you'll be in too much trouble from the plucking, just don't make a habit out of it, you don't want your skin to have the texture of an orange - which I'm told occurs after you've plucked for a while. The only downside to what you've done, to my limited knowledge, is that the hairs you've plucked will not go away permanently until they grow back and get zapped with the laser or electro, and you never know quite when those particular hairs will grow back. Maybe now, maybe later.

The other downside is that if you're prone to ingrowns, like I am, your face might be a mess in a few weeks or a month...

Good luck!

Cassandra

You likely interrupted the growth cycle, but that should be all, so no real damage, afaik. The laser needs a growing hair in order to effectively destroy the follicle, so you will probably just have to wait until the tweezed hairs are growing before lasing those areas. I'm sure your laser nurse/doctor/tech can give you better info, though.

I had laser, too, and as soon as the laser zapped a spot, the dead hairs would immediately pop out. The nurse would then gently scrape these hairs away. The few remaining dead hairs (10-15 each visit) were easy to tweeze once I got back to the car, since they were sticking out and easy to identify. I never noticed any hairs falling out after the day of the treatment, however.

Also, the laser hurt iNTenSeLy when applied at the desired power level (to effectively kill the growing hairs). After about 10 treatments spaced 6-8 weeks apart, my nerves were totally fried but my facial hair was reduced to about 15% of it's original density. Happy lasering!

Maybe it's different lasers, I so wish mine popped out immediately. I have a friend (GG) who hated the way her bikini line looked on her vacation - she had laser there a week earlier - and the black dots drove her nuts.

Anyway, what of laser was it that the hair popped out immediately? I should try that

It was a Lumenis One with LightSheer. I only had subtle redness and round areas of minor swelling - no black dots.

I was zapped with an alexandrite laser with the cryogen blast. It was on power level 14 out of 16, and my lip, sideburns, and chin line were honestly the 3rd most pain I've ever experienced. I can't believe I'm going to pay her to do it again as soon as possible. :'P

Only maybe 10% of the hairs were coming out really easy while I was plucking...

Guh. I should have just shaved to begin with. =(

darlin you can get home kits here there 200usd or 99pounds there ok....

http://www.ciao.co.uk/Rio_Scanning_Laser__Review_5569559

Actually you didn't "Screw up" In the real sense. No permanent Damage was done. So There is no punishment except to your pride. So begin again with the Lazer treatments and continue.

My laser experience was with the Elos system. It is basically usees both laser and the radio frequencies used by one method of electrolysis. Anyhow...it took about 2-3 weeks for the hairs to fall out, and I would begin tweezing them as soon as I could, because they would itch. Like Cassie said, if the folicle is dead, the hair slides right out with no resistance.

I thought the pain was brutal. I've had electrolysis as well, and there was no comparision. I thought electro was uncomfortable, but about a 1 on the pain scale. My laser treatments were a 6 even after ibuprophen, acetaminophen, benadryl, and bourbon. It was a 7 on my upper lip.

I'd recommend the benadryl because it will help control the redness.

I would recommend that you try TOPICANE 5 you can buy on the net. I have been clearing with lazer and electro and finished up in december of last year. Between using emla cream or topicane 5 there is no comparison on pain reduction be topicane 5 and emla.
and do as they tell you let it fall out you can shave if needed but let them fall out IMHO .

good luck
Ana