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Smooth Skin Laser Hair Removal
I've seen laser hair removal work its magic on friends and family - it's a total game-changer. Say goodbye to unwanted hair and hello to a more confident you. Our laser hair removal treatment uses advanced tech to provide long-lasting results with minimal discomfort. It's a quick and easy way to get the smooth skin you've always wanted. Plus, our treatment is safe and effective, with minimal side effects. I've tried it myself, and the results are amazing. Don't let unwanted hair hold you back - try our laser hair removal treatment today and start feeling more confident in your own skin.
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My Journey with Laser Hair Removal: The Good, the Bad, and the Long-Term Results
summarizeEditor's Summary
I've been on a journey with laser hair removal for 15 sessions, trying to get rid of unwanted hair in various areas of my body. While it's not a magic solution, I've seen some decent results, but it's not without its challenges. The technology itself is pretty cool, but preparation and maintenance can be a real hassle. After all the sessions, I'm still not completely hair-free, but I do recommend it to others with dark hair. It's a solid option if you're tired of dealing with excessive hair growth, but be prepared for multiple sessions and some discomfort during the procedure.
settingsSpecifications
Kararİyi
Işlem9/10
Kalite8/10
Sonuçlar7/10
I've been on a rollercoaster of laser hair removal sessions for 15 visits: 8 times for my bikini area, 7 times for my legs, 11 times for my underarms, and 7 times for my upper lip.
And, yes, the hair is still growing back in all these areas.
But I highly recommend laser hair removal to all the girls out there with dark hair who are fed up with unwanted hair. It works, trust me.
So, let me tell you more about my experience.
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My Story
After my failed attempts to boost my breast size, the issue with excessive hair growth became super frustrating for me.
Don't get me wrong, I had hair before, but it was manageable. I used creams, waxed, and shaved – it was a temporary fix, but it still bugged me.
But then the hair in my bikini area started growing outside my underwear... and I decided to give laser hair removal a shot.
It wasn't an easy decision, I was hesitant at first, and I'm a bit self-conscious, but I thought it was my only chance to not become a total Yeti.
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The Technology and Preparation for the Procedure
You can read more about how the laser works and the contraindications by expanding the quote below or searching online – there's a ton of info out there.
During laser hair removal, powerful light pulses of a specific wavelength are used to suppress hair growth. These pulses easily penetrate the skin but are absorbed by melanin in hair follicles, converting into heat energy that damages the follicles and stops hair growth. The laser's energy and pulse duration are adjusted to destroy the follicles while preserving the surrounding skin.
First and foremost, I want to stress that it's absolutely not worth risking your health by getting laser hair removal if you've got any kind of skin infection, like herpes, or if you've got cancer, diabetes, or very dark skin.
You should also be aware that some people might be super sensitive to the procedure itself.
I had to postpone my appointment a few times because I was dealing with some chronic skin issues, and I've got a few moles on my skin that the technician told me to avoid.
If you've got varicose veins or a tendency to get keloid scars, it's best to reschedule.
And if you're feeling under the weather – whether it's a cold, the flu, or just a general feeling of being unwell – it's not a good idea to go through with it.
I do want to mention that different lasers are designed to work better with different skin and hair types.
I opted for an alexandrite laser, which is super effective for dark hair on light skin.
The darker your hair, the better the results will be, since it's got more melanin.
The specific model I used at the salon was the Candela GentleLase – it's a popular one, but there are other types, like diode lasers, that work well for different skin types.
Each salon will swear by their own laser, but at the end of the day, it's all about finding the right one for your individual needs.
Preparation is key, and it varies from salon to salon.
In my case, they asked me to come in with hair that was about 3-4 mm long, but I've seen other salons that require you to come in completely shaved.
So, be sure to check ahead of time.
Generally speaking, you should avoid sunbathing for at least two weeks beforehand, and try not to pluck or bleach your hair for as long as possible – ideally a month or more.
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The Procedure: Is It Painful?
I had to fill out a form before my first appointment, listing any serious health conditions or medications I'm taking.
Then, I had a chat with the doctor, who explained the procedure and answered my questions.
Then, it was just a normal process: undress, lie down, skin gets cleaned, and they start zapping away with the laser.
I decided to go for the deep bikini area in my first session, but I had a bit of a nervous breakdown beforehand and took some painkillers.
Big mistake! Don't get me wrong, the laser zaps aren't exactly a pleasure, but I didn't want to jump up and run out of the room either.
The Candela laser has a built-in cooling system, which kicks in right after each zap, so my skin didn't get too heated up.
Most salons offer a painkiller cream for those who are more sensitive.
For me, the most painful areas were my face, for some reason my knees, and the genital area.
A few times, when the laser zapped my upper lip, I let out a tiny tear.
Luckily, I had protective goggles on, so the doctor didn't see it.
On the other hand, my armpits, forehead, and shins didn't bother me at all, and that's saying something, considering the laser power keeps getting turned up each time.
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Treatment Time
It takes around 3-5 minutes for the upper lip or armpits, and 20-30 minutes for the bikini area or shins.
It really depends on the technician and how meticulous they are.
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After the Treatment. The Results
The hair will keep growing and falling out two weeks later, so don't plan on going to a party right after the epilation.
The main recommendations after the treatment are: don't sunbathe for two weeks, don't pluck the hair from the root, and try to avoid deep exfoliation for a couple of days.
Right after the procedure, the doctor slaps on a soothing cream with panthenol on my skin in the salon.
I'd totally recommend buying this cream if you're worried about burns.
I bought it right after my first procedure, but I only used it once, after I had to spend a long time walking in the sun after getting my upper lip waxed, and I was freaking out about the potential consequences.
But everything turned out fine.
I did get a tiny burn on the mucous membrane near the edge of my lip, but it only lasted for about a week.
I didn't get mad at the doctor back then because she made sure to clean up all the hairs around the edge, which some other doctors might skip out of fear of burns.
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Choosing a Master or Salon/Clinic
I've been going to the same salon for all my procedures, but the doctors do change periodically (I've seen three different ones).
I chose this place based on reviews.
Now I'm looking for a salon closer to home because my usual one moved and it takes over 40 minutes to get there.
The salon itself is great: the service is top-notch, they have coffee while you wait, discounts, and even little things like they carefully wipe down your skin before the procedure and apply soothing cream afterwards.
As for the technicians. A lot depends on the technician.
I've got to say, the real test is how comfortable you feel and how well it actually works.
So far, I haven't come across any blatant 'freebies,' but I have missed one or two hairs on larger areas with all three.
It's not a huge deal for me, since I know I'll be back, but still.
Also, the doctor's technique can affect how low they go on the leg during bikini epilation: obviously, no one will fully treat the entire leg, but some doctors will remove stray hairs outside the designated area, while others won't.
I also had some growth right above my knees, and some therapists will treat it, while others won't.
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How Many Sessions Will You Need
Yeah, everywhere promises 4-8 and says it's all individual.
As you can see, my case was pretty unique.
If I had known it would take this many sessions, I still would have gone for it.
Each time, there are fewer hairs, they're thinner, but they still grow back.
The time between hair-free periods is also increasing.
It was about a month and a half between my first and second bikini epilation, and three months between the seventh and eighth.
It feels like I'll be visiting the cosmetic doctor to remove a few stray hairs forever.
Another stat: I started laser epilation in July 2016.
In the remaining six months of 2016, I had six sessions, in 2017, I had seven, and in 2018, just one so far, but I'll be back for leg epilation before summer.
I keep a sort of log of my appointments, mainly to track my progress.
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Cost
I spent around $1,050 over the past year, which is surprisingly low considering my salon often runs promotions with 50% discounts.
This creates some inconvenience - I have to wait for the right time to get my appointments, which can be tricky considering my schedule.
If I factor in my kid's schedule, it's a whole different story.
In my salon, the prices without discounts are: $420 for a deep bikini wax, $85 for upper lip, $150 for underarms, and $55 for legs.
But I almost always pay half of that.
You can find salons that are even cheaper, like the 'Friends' chain - their prices are similar to mine with the discount.
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Results
I'm really happy with the results.
Smooth skin without hair for at least two to three months is a game-changer.
It's so nice to go on a two-week vacation without worrying about razors and creams.
The longest-lasting results I've seen are on my legs, followed by my bikini area and underarms, which last for about a month.
My upper lip results, unfortunately, don't last as long - less than two months.
Unfortunately, I didn't plan on writing this review when I started getting laser hair removal, so I only took one photo of my bikini area.
I'll be showing you the results on this area because it's hard to imagine how hairy my other body parts were from my description.
The 'before and after' photos will be hidden in quotes.
Some of the photos were taken in the evening, under lamp light, so the skin tone might look slightly different.
But I hope you can still gauge the hairiness.
It all started with this - dark, thick hair that reaches my thigh:
Initial StateAfter 8 sessions, the hair is thinner, and it no longer reaches my thigh:
After 8 Sessions Before the 8th treatmentAfter the 8th treatment (some minor redness, which faded quickly):
After the 8th treatment. Laser hair removal for bikini areaA month after the 8th treatment:
A month after the 8th treatmentLet's zoom in to see all the hairs:
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The area between my thigh and hip a month after the 8th treatment:
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The Verdict
+ I no longer have ingrown hairs, period
+ My hair growth has definitely slowed down
+ No other procedure has given me such long-lasting smoothness
- It was a lot for my case and the number of treatments was unclear
- I've noticed some light hairs appearing on my armpits that the laser can't remove
- When you get rid of hair in one area, another part of your body starts to feel hairy!
I'm not going to count the money I spent on hair removal as a plus or minus, but it seems like a small price to pay for the freedom from unwanted hair – especially given the job cuts that are planned at my workplace, and it might become a big deal for me soon.
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I'll keep updating this review as I get more important news.
Feel free to ask me any questions.
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For a more detailed review of upper lip hair removal, check out my other post here:
- My journey from waxing to laser hair removal: can you get rid of unwanted hair for good?
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UPDATE October 2023:
As of now, I'm still going for regular sessions:
my armpits are completely hair-free,
my legs have only a few stray hairs left,
my bikini area has a bit more, but I go for sessions every 8-10 months, and it's about 20% of what it was initially,
my upper lip is the worst result – I've only managed to get rid of the darkest hairs, but the lighter ones keep growing back every time.
Since I don't go for sessions as often (every 8-10 months), it's hard to say what the result would be if I went for them as soon as the hairs grow back.
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If you're interested in other reviews, check out these:
- My search for the most effective anti-cellulite massage: main types and results. Before and after photos.
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- Collagen: to drink or not to drink? At what age? Fish or beef? Why I recommend this one. An investigative report
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- Reducing cheek fat with Sassi water method: photos before and after. Is it really effective?
- Does flaxseed oil help make your body more elastic and preserve breast tissue during weight loss?
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- Investing vs saving: which is better and how to get an extra RUB 52,000 per year?
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Why I recommend endoscopic face lift at any age: rehabilitation and complications. Photos before and after.
live_helpFeatured FAQ
How many laser hair removal sessions do I need to see results?
The number of sessions required can vary depending on the individual, but I've had to do around 8-15 sessions for each area of my body. It's not a one-time fix, unfortunately.
Is laser hair removal painful?
It's not super painful, but you will feel some discomfort during the procedure. It's similar to a rubber band snapping against your skin, but it's over pretty quickly.
Can I get laser hair removal if I have light hair?
Unfortunately, no. Laser hair removal works best on people with dark hair, as it targets the pigment in the hair follicle. If you have light hair, other methods like waxing or shaving might be more effective for you.
How long does it take to see results after laser hair removal?
It can take a few weeks to a few months to see noticeable results, depending on your individual skin and hair type. Be patient, and don't get discouraged if you don't see results right away.
Is laser hair removal worth the cost?
It depends on your budget and priorities. If you're tired of dealing with excessive hair growth and are willing to commit to multiple sessions, it might be worth the investment. However, if you're on a tight budget, there are other hair removal methods that might be more affordable.
Can I use laser hair removal on sensitive areas?
Yes, but you'll need to take extra precautions to ensure your safety. Make sure to follow the instructions carefully and inform your technician about any sensitivities or allergies you may have.
How do I prepare for laser hair removal?
You'll need to avoid waxing, tweezing, and other hair removal methods for a few weeks before your session. You should also avoid tanning and using certain skincare products that might interfere with the procedure.
What are the long-term effects of laser hair removal?
The long-term effects are still being studied, but it's generally considered safe. However, there's a small risk of side effects like skin irritation, redness, and scarring. Be sure to follow up with your technician after the procedure to ensure everything is healing properly.
check_circlePros
- •Decent results after multiple sessions
- •Relatively quick procedure time
- •Technology is pretty cool
- •Good for people with dark hair
- •Can be a game-changer for those with excessive hair growth
- •Build quality of the equipment seems solid
- •Long-term results are still being studied, but it's generally considered safe
cancelCons
- •Not a magic solution for hair removal
- •Multiple sessions required for decent results
- •Preparation and maintenance can be a hassle
- •Not completely hair-free after all sessions
- •Can be pricey
- •Not suitable for people with light hair
- •Discomfort during the procedure can be a challenge
