Laser Hair Removal? - Herndon,VA

Hi Y.:

I had it done on the bikini line and my lip. It didn't work on my lip (hair was too light colored), but the bikini line worked great. I also became pregnant, so I missed my final treatment, but depending on where you go, they may offer 2 years of touch ups for free (like the place I went which is in Frederick, MD).

It works best when the skin is light and the hair is dark. It the color contrast between the dark follicle and the light skin that allows the laser to 'see' and shoot the follicles.

Also, it may not be permanent. The place where I had the work done guaranteed my results for only 5 years because hair follicles can come back or new ones generated and hormones play a role.

Good luck,
B.

I had the itchy problem from shaving also. I found that when I pluck the hairs out I don't itch. It's time consuming but lasts longer than shaving and more comfy. I don't know about laser but I hear it is a permanent solution. AF

My friend has very dark hair and fair skin... she is going through the process and very happy with it, thus far.

In regards to your in growns... there was a fabulous posting a while back on the bikini area... all kinds of tips... one was to use desitin (the diaper rash) cream... it totally cleared up itching and swelling related to ingrowns in my bikini area... I wish I tried it sooner.

Try this place: I have used them and found for me it works... you can look at what they offer on their web page listed below and see the prices of each service. A plus for you if you sign up your e-mail with them they send you coupons ... for discounts sometimes up to 20% off.

http://fountainsdayspa.net/

Fountain Day Spa
Washington St
Alexandria, VA

I have had 8 treatments and I think it is great. However, you need to know an important fact before you start this process. I was told it would take 6 treatments to get all the hair on my chin. I have fair skin and dark hairs. I had all of the treatments and then became pregnant again. The changes in my hormones caused more/new hair growth to occur. I had to go back and pay for 3 more treatments. I have had 2 of those treatments and I still have some dark hair, but not as much. I am waiting till the fall to do the last treatment. The blonde hairs are still there and some are very coarse so I have to pluck them still. Also, they say that if you do the laser hair removal, it may generate new growth around the site of the laser treatment. I'm guessing that is part of the reason they want so many treatments. (plus they say your hair grows in cycles so they want to get each cycle)

If you are planning to have more children, I strongly suggest you wait and do the treatments after. It is a waste of money to do it before hand. I would love to have my underarms, bikini and legs done someday too... but it is so expensive, I doubt I will. Good luck. I hope it works for you.

Liz

It works, but it's not permanent. I had my thighs, chin and upper lip done over seven years ago - before I had kids. I don't like to shave my thighs, and because of the expense, I didn't have my lower legs done to keep the cost down. I'd really like to, but it's not in the cards for a while.

As I understood it, after several sessions, the laser kills the hair folicle (I don't think it has anything to do with the pigment of the hair as mentioned in a previous post.) What does matter is the pigment of your skin. They may have made advances since I had my treatments, but the fairer skinned you are the better, as darker skin has a tendency to be "burned" by the laser because it has more pigment in it. Anyway, your body can generate a new folicle wherever it wants, so over time, hair can develop again.

I continued some treatments after my first child was born, but I have not been back in years. I do have some hair on my thighs again, but it is mostly blonde and I am a brunette. It is also thinner so it doesn't concern me. I will probably go back for my chin and upper lip soon, as some darker hair is returning there.

You should also know that it can be painful, but all in all, I'd say it was bearable and worth it. You can ask them for a topical numbing creme to apply ~30 minutes before the procedure to help ease the pain. You may have to pay for it, and it wasn't cheap for me, but worth it. Basically, the closer the area is to the bone, the more it hurts. So the meaty part of my thighs weren't bad, but the area closer to my knees was worse. I have no idea how doing the area along your shin would feel.

Also, make sure the place you go is experienced. I started out with a dermatologist who as it turned out, rented the laser from another dermatologist's office one day a week. I only went to him once and that was a nightmare! For my next treatment, I went to the dermatologist who owned the laser. They did much more to prep the skin before and after. The difference was night and day. Even their fees were better, and the treatments got cheaper as I went along.

I wish I had had a forum back then to ask people about it. Good luck!

Hi Y.. I get laser done frequently. I started with hair on my face that I didn't want; and now have moved on to any part of body that I don't want hair! It is painful, but not terribly. I would describe the pain as being popped with a hot wet rubberband. They have numbing cream that you can use before the treatment I just don't use it, so it may be less painful if you do. It's not so bad that I feel the need to use it. It takes a couple of cycles though b/c hair grows in cycles. So the first time you get one set of folicles (sp?), then the next ones come in and they get those and so on. So plan on at least 3 treatments. My dermatologist is great, Her name is Dr. Yolanda holmes. I don't have her number with me right now but she has a website www.yolandaholmesmd.com if you want her number you can send me a message and I'll get it to you. She has very reasonable rates. Oh you didn't specify you ethnicity but she has a laser that is suitable for colored skin. I am a woman of color and haven't had any problems with scarring. Good Luck!

Ive not done it but yeah if you want both your legs done it will be super pricey.
Have you seen a dermatologist to see if he can recommend a better way to shave to avoid ingrown hairs? Maybe you use too heavy a moisterizer after shaving/waxing and its clogging your pores? Maybe you arent lathering up enough...
I dont know, sorry...

I had laser hair removal at Sona Med Spa. The staff are certified nurses and are overseen by a doctor.
I had my chin and underarms done. It only works on darker hair---not blonde, because there is no pigment in blonde hair.

The best small fortune I ever spent.
You must commit to once a week or month treatments and only shave. I went thru a dermatologists office and was happy with the results. It was over 6 years ago. It's a great investment really. I still do wax because not all the hairs stopped growing but it's better than looking like I had a disease in the bikini area.

My sister has had this done and it has worked great for her. She too had an ingrown hair problem and it was really bad. So in any case it worked for her and i hope it works for you.

Hi! I had laser treatments on my entire legs. I figured the crazy amt of money I was spending on waxing would even out eventually if the laser really worked. I had 5 treatments and then found out I was pregnant right after my 5th and therefore could not go back until after I delivered. I had horrible problems since I was very young with dark coarse hair and the laser did dramatically decrease the hair. I wish I would have known to wait until after I had children b/c as others mentioned, the hormones do cause hair regrowth. It is still nothing like I once had, but eventually I hope to be able to go back after I am done having children. To me, it is worth the investment. Waxing was horrible b.c I looked like a monkey having to wait for the hair to grow back in and shaving was always a nightmare. I think it is worth trying to save for this process, but definitely wait until you are done having children..

man, i can't wait to see if anyone has any advice on this one. i have the same problem

Dear Y.,
Yes, it does work very well. I did it under my arms couple years ago, when I went to Brazil (I am brazilian) I didn't do the recommended number of sessions I think they wanted 3-5 (one per month), since I stayed there just 1 month, I did 1 session one year and another the next year. The hair under my arms now look like a 10 year old, just a little bit and very very thin. I have friends who did it because of allergies, like you mentioned to wax and shaving near the bikini area and they love it.
I do waxing with a lady in Silver Spring. She is the best I've seen, not expensive and she does her own wax with honey and sugar and I never had problems with ingrown hairs with her. If you want I can give you her number.
good luck,

T.

My nickname was the hairy beast for several years and I am glad I don't have to worry about it anymore. I have not done the laser hair removal because they don't do all areas of the body. I started with electrolysis on my face and love it. Electrolysis is permanent and a bit cheaper than laser. The woman I go to is Phyllis Sayne ###-###-####) and she has been doing this for over twenty years. She is wonderful. I wouldn't trust just anyone with my face. She gave me a free consultation and has really taken that extra care to make sure I am happy with my results. I would recommend getting a numbing cream from your doctor no matter which way you choose. Some areas are more sensitive than others.

Also be careful with waxing. My dear friend had a bikini wax back in April at a professional salon. It cost her $75 to give you an idea of the type of salon. She ended up with two abscesses which took her to the hospital. She had to have surgeries and is still having issues because they won't heal. The doctors determined the cause to be dirty wax from the salon. My friend has nearly died and spends a lot of time at the hospital. She has not been able to work for three months. I don't want to scare you but I believe in educating people.

Good luck!
P.

Hi,

I started to get laser hair removal I had 3 sessions and then found out I was pregnant once more hence they wouldn't do it whilst I am pregnant so now I have to wait to continue the process after this one is out. It normally takes between 6-10 sessions so friends who've done it say and my beautician. I decided to get it after seeing a Spanish friend of mine that had done it and it looked great she'd done it 3 years prior legs, bikini arms the works. Mine was working well and now it's grown back but my husband says it's less than before.

My sister bought an epilady hair removal so I tried it when I visited her, it hurt the first time a little but lasted for a month so we decided to buy me one for me, and it's great, no ingrown hairs and much cheaper than waxing or depilitary creams. I just run it over my legs whenever I see hairs and off they go. This is a great solution and much cheaper than laser hair removal if you not have the money. But if you do have the money laser is worth a try, you do have to shave the area that is being lasered when you have a treatment and that does itch, also the higher the zap the more effective it is and so you don't want to go on your period or sensitive time of the month as it will hurt or pregnant (grin)!

Shaving is awful I gave that up as a teenager. Waxing was better but still occasional ingrown's, creams don't last long, epilady's are great (you can buy them between $40-$90)and they just keep going and going and laser is great if it works.

Also for epilady's don't do it on long long hairs as it hurts more get them when they are shorter but still long enough to be ripped out. Once all the hairs are out there is minimal upkeep.

Good luck. Hope this helps.