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Facial Laser Hair removal recovery time
Hi Girls,
I have booked an appointment for Lightsheer Laser hair removal on my face. As I have never had any laser hair removal done before I am unsure what to expect and I am wondering how long it will be before my face is has settled enough for work not to notice.
Should the operator have booked me in for a test patch first, they booked a full appt straight up and advised I will need to come 1/2 hour early for application of EMLA cream.
Kate
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8 Replies
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I havnt used that company before, but my laser treatments at Nads usually only took 2 hours for the redness to go away, and you couldnt notice the next day at all, but will really depend on the power levels they use.
electrolysis is still a little red the next day.
Beth.
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Kate:
The EMLA cream is supposed to assist with numbing the area, although, for me the process was, – on a pain level from 0 (no pain) to 10 (most pain ever experienced) – the IPL sessions were a 2 for face. But of course everyone’s pain threshold is different.
If the IPL level is high what you might experience afterwards is a like sunburn aftereffect. The usual topical lotions can help with recovery. Also a soft cold pack can help (I kept one in my car in an ice box).
For me any redness only lasted a few hours and was totally cover able with make up, so but the next day you should be back to normal skin color.
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It’s interesting that the salon actually applies the EMLA gel for you. I haven’t used it myself. The girl who does mine (and I’m off for another burst in two hours) started on a lowish setting and has ramped it up every time since. As the number of hairs reduces the extra zap is balanced out by having fewer hairs to conduct it. She’s only had me in tears once! I looked freshly sunburnt when finished but was fine the next day. I put a cool cloth on my face to take out the heat and no makeup for 24 hours at least. A friend of mine used makeup the evening after an afternoon session and ended up with a face rash for days.
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and something I should have mentioned in my last post. You will initially be disappointed in the result. In my experience and that of others, for the first week your beard actually looks darker. This is largely because a lot of whiskers have been killed off and razors don’t do such a good job of shaving a dead hair. The shaved whisker gets pulled out of the follicle but doesn’t retract like a normal one. Consequently, until they fall out or finally get tugged out by your razor the they are more apparent. Give it about a week, perhaps two depending on your beard.
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Thanks everybody for your replies.
I had my first treatment with the Lightsheer ET on Saturday and while it was more painful than I expected even when using the EMLA gel it really wasnt too bad.
I was fairly nervous prior to the treatment mainly worrying about the operators experience and if I would be left with any scarring, discoloration, etc as I have fairly olive skin but it was fine.
This afternoon is the first time I have shaved (48 hours since treatment) and I would say today it is probably the most noticable so far. It is slightly bruised/red looking in some places but not too bad, similar to to bad razor burn and definately a lot more visible with the stubble gone.
My plan is to give the laser a good try and hopefully reduce most of the black hairs and then tackle the remaining greys with electrolysis. Hopefully the laser doesnt make my hair turn grey as some of you have experienced.
Kate
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Hi Everyone,
Well I have had 4 sessions of lightsheer laser and then approx a 2 month break and while I did get some results in the first 2 sessions after the 2 month break my hair is back as thick as ever and a lot of it has turned grey. I also have a lot more freckles, etc after the 4 sessions.
I have decided to move to electroysis at this point and have just had a 2.5 hour session yesterday which in hindsight was probably a bit too long and by 2 hours I really had more than had enough but I wanted both sides done the same
Kate
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Quote:Hi Everyone,
Well I have had 4 sessions of lightsheer laser and then approx a 2 month break and while I did get some results in the first 2 sessions after the 2 month break my hair is back as thick as ever and a lot of it has turned grey. I also have a lot more freckles, etc after the 4 sessions.
I have decided to move to electroysis at this point and have just had a 2.5 hour session yesterday which in hindsight was probably a bit too long and by 2 hours I really had more than had enough but I wanted both sides done the same
Kate
Hi Kate could you if possible keep us posted as to results and costs, I am very interested in heading down this path, I believe that Bambi has used this method, I am so over waxing..
Pat
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Hi Kate, I guess these comments are a bit late given that you’ve already moved onto electrolysis. After about a dozen treatements over 18 months my “lady zapper” has declared (last Thursday) that I am now in maintenance mode as far as laser removal of my beard is concerned. I reckon I had six treatments before the effects were such that I could keep make up use to a minimum (just normal foundation was enough). Now I can go out with nothing other than eye makeup and lippy. Overall it has been something under $2k to get to this stage.
You say that your regrowth indicated that your hair had turned grey. I’d suggest it indicated that a lot of black hair had gone permanently and hence the proportion of grey had increased but not the actual quantity.
Now that said I do have a lot of grey hair left and at the moment I’m prepared to live with it. Regrowth rate is half what it used to be but even after a day is invisible.
I only mention this because I know that electrolysis is more effective but from what I’ve been told it’s more painful and far more expensive. By hanging in for at least six treatments I got visible results and ultimately success. Anyway that’s my bit just for info.
