hello...just thought i'd keep a journal on here with my treatments...my first one is friday!! july 18 2008!! i'm so excited! i took a few pics so you can see what everything looks like now and the first pic is of my test patch area which was done on june 6 2008! this is what it looks like when i go 30 hours without shaving (yes, i do have PCOS!) GentleYAG laser was/will be used! http://www.richmondlaserskinsurgery.com/ i will most definetly post more pics after the first/future treatments!

test patch


other side of face without test patch





left chin

I think that looks great. Yes, do come back and thanks for the pictures. Very nice, adoreme.

Thanks for starting your diary. We look forward to your updates.

Are you on medication for PCOS?

yea i'm on metformin 500mg and spiro 100mg....and yaz is supposed to help too

hey guys just wanted to update...had my first treatment on july 18...i'm still shedding a little bit...but i went in sooo excited and came out crying because it hurt so bad i guess there was no point to the numbing cream which i just wont use next time...my next appt is aug 29...here are some pics...i guess i need to start using some skin lightening cream or something on my chin? havent shaved in about 21 hours in these pics... you can really tell the difference though...

right chin


right sideburn


left sideburn



left chin

- Looks like everything went well

- How long did you leave the numbing cream on? Sounds like it may have been too short and you didn't get the full numbing effect. Most creams are left on for an hour or so.

- Why do you feel you need to use a lightening cream?

- Generally, shedding is a bit faster if you don't shave and let it grow out and shed. But if it's working for you, it's all good.

Many clients report that the numbing cream did not work as well as they desired on the face. You may still want to continue to use the numbing cream for a few more treatments as the face is very sensitive.

Did you mention your settings? Thanks for posting such great pictures.

Whether numbing cream makes a difference or not doesn't depend on the body area. Pain depends on how dense and coarse the hair is. If almost no difference if felt, it's likely the cream wasn't left long enough for it to take effect.

How many of your clients LAgirl have reported not feeling much difference between using the cream and not using it? Which numbing agent do you prescribe most to your clients?

It is true, that the coarser and denser the hair causes more pain to the client. Which is why the face is so sensitive, lots of thick coarse hair. That is why I suggested to adoreme, that she continue to use the cream for a few more treatments until the hair is thinned out.

I don't personally perform treatments.

This person has dense coarse hair on the face, so that's why it's painful. Not necessarily because it's the face. Upper lip is most sensitive on the face. The other areas are usually fine.

Creams like EMLA should be left on for an hour or so and using serran wrap if possible. Many patients don't wait long enough because that's a long time to sit with it on. We see it here all the time. It won't eliminate the pain, but it will make it much much easier. It doesn't sound like it had any effect given this person's description - that's why my concern that it may not have been left on long enough. Let's see what she says.

Is this a debate? Should I respond with obvious evaluations of the pictures? Since we do not disagree I do not understand how this turned into a debate. I was only trying to help the poster.

As I stated above. Some clients believe the EMLA cream is great, while others don't. We advise all of our clients to apply the numbing cream for an hour and ensure that it has been an hour before performing treatments. I cannot argue with the opinions of my clients. Some people have a higher pain tolerance than others.

So true. This is all so very subjective, since we are talking about pain. On the electrolysis side of things, I have very few clients that need EMLA because the machine and modality that I use is fairly comfortable. The middle upper lip is more ouchy than other areas whether it be with laser or electrolysis, however, if the hair is thin and light, less energy is used with electrolysis, making the only part of treatment that is uncomfortable is the eye tearing and stimulation of the sneeze reflex, if one is being treated by 27MHz technology, PicoFlash, or the better MicroFlash professional epilators.

EMLA response is pretty good for the most part. One hour is helpful, but for deep, coarse hairs 1.5 - 2 hours is even better if it is applied with a 1/4" thickness and then occulded.

I think you helped the poster, pdeco1, and thank God for EMLA. It is very helpful, I'm sure, for those first laser treatments where the hair is coarse and dense when the energy levels have to be increased to affect the hair. The feedback I get is laser hurts like hell in the beginning and if it doesn't, then it it not as effective. Is that pretty much what your experience has been???

Thanks,

Dee

By the way adoreme, your pictures are fabulous! I am so impressed with the condition of you skin. You really must keep us updated. I don't understand why you think you should use hyperpigmentation cream, as I think your skin is in beautiful condition.

I personally don't choose to use it either, but many swear by it because they can't handle the pain otherwise, or think they can't. Like I said, it sounds to me that the cream wasn't left on long enough because it's rare that the patient doesn't experience any difference if they used it properly like this person says.

hey all. I went through with my 2nd treatment without the numbing cream and it wasnt that bad. They gave me a stress ball (thank god!) But anyways, it's a few hours before my 3rd treatment today...The following pics were taken without shaving for 34 hours...still alot of hair there but you can tell the reduction...what do you guys think?

Left chin


Left sideburn


Right Chin


Right Sideburn

Looks like your next phase of hair came in and it definitely looks like exactly the type of hair that laser likes. You should get very good results if you continue with Yag treatments and keep having good shedding each time.