Planning for the Future

Laser Hair Removal, a choice.

'Round about the time I decided to schedule my hysterectomy surgery, I also decided to get laser hair removal on my chinny-chin. A few years ago I noticed a couple stray hairs growing thicker and longer on my lower face and planned to do something about them. Waxing and plucking offered a temporary solution, but my skin was often irritated from the process for days. Shaving scared me, as I once sliced out a meaty chunk of flesh when learning to shave my legs at age 15 (the reason I don't shave my legs today).

I remember that grandma had a sparse but positively present, white Fu Manchu and I was not looking forward to continuing the legacy. 

Remember the Fu Manchu tache? No thanks!

Here’s the quick and dirty

At my doctor's office, with Xeo Cutera

My first laser treatment took place 12 weeks ago at my primary care provider's office... it hurt like heck. Lasers can ‘see’ and eliminate pigmented hair, but they have no effect on white (grey) or blonde hairs. The second treatment was 6 weeks ago, and the third just ended. This one hurt too, but not as much as the initial treatment. At my age, there are a couple white hairs on my chinny-chin, but nothing like grandmas (praise Jah). 

For my treatments, the Xeo Cutera laser was set to its lowest setting, for *darker skin, then applied to my lower face upwards of 100 times. My doctor zaps one area and moves millimeters away to zap the next; across the upper lip, chin and under, and jaw. This barrage of high energy will eventually damage the hair follicles so that they no longer grow hair…Woohoo!! Recipients of this treatment will see hair growth cease across the treated area between 1 and 8 treatments. 

Yesterday's may have been my last treatment...I go back in 6 weeks just to check in. After each treatment, my doctor reminds me of a couple things:

• wear ample sun block and avoid direct sunlight on the area for a few days,
• cool any tender spots and use aloe gel to alleviate any residual burning sensation
  (this has been minimal for me after each session),
  
• do not scrub the area when cleansing for several days,
  
• I also halt applying  serums for the week,
  (Hyaluronic acid has 'acid' in the name, and it may cause me extra sensitivity as my skin recovers from the laser barrage)
  Instead I use the moisturizer that I fell in love with in London (SheaLuv London, Lemongrass...that I've been using for the past 5 months--magic!)
  

* The lighter the skin, the higher laser setting it can withstand. Darker skin requires lower settings, as it can be burned more easily by lasers; resulting in hot spots, scabbing, or loss of pigment (I've read about this happening in extreme cases). As with anything else, do your research and consult experts to get a better idea of how specific treatments can work for you.

Funnily enough, other body hair doesn't bother me at all.