(no subject)

[dolari]

Last night I hit a real low, one I'm still in. Basically, the laser hair removal thing hit me very hard. It was really the one and only I could do right now to pass better.

If you remember when I wrote about (if I wrote about it, I can't remember), I mentioned the first few blasts from the laser made me stifle a scream. They eventually turned the power down and told me it might not be as effective. When I asked if I would see the same results with more treatments at this level, they said yes.

What they did was tolerable...still painful but tolerable.

After three weeks, I've had no improvement, and by no improvement I don't mean very little...I mean NO improvement. The pictures I've taken from the last three weeks are the same, and any patches and streaks I thought I had I've found on the "before the treatment" pictures.

And before you say "give it time" let me say two people who have had their laser removals were really worried that there was no change at all.

That was pretty much the last straw for me. I can't go to a higher setting without walking out from the pain, I can't afford to be spending $400 on a process that won't work on me on a barely tolerable level, and frankly, I give up.

I've already given up on my surgery, now I'm giving up on making any progress at all. My efforts are now focused on just holding my ground in this losing battle. If I can keep the spiro and the estrogen coming, I can at least maintain what I've got.

That will come to play soon, too. If insurance won't cover my actual doctor's visits then I'll go back to dodging customs again. At least I'll have the insurance for emergencies for now.

When Christians give me the line "God does not make mistakes" I usually say "No, he puts us on a path and it is up to us to interpret what he wants from that path."

Its hard for me not to imply something sinister from the path he's put me on.

Comments

[emilydm.livejournal.com]

I think it would be a good idea to contact the place that did your laser, and let them know: "This treatment had absolutely zero effect. Why?" Inform them that you're an extremely dissatisfied customer.

[lovelyangel.livejournal.com]

Effectiveness of laser treatments vary widely from person to person, machine to machine, and there seems to be no rhyme nor reason, unfortunately. It does seem to work best on people with dark hair and relatively light skin. There apparently are some people for whom treatment doesn't work at all.

My laser treatments were seven years ago, so I hope technology has advanced since then. I appear to be one of the (few?) people for whom laser treatment was effective -- but it wasn't easy. The first three (maybe four) treatments didn't seem to do anything at all, and I did complain to the manager of the service. After that, my treatment was changed to a newer machine (Cynosure). I think it took about four treatments from that machine with a couple of followup treatments a year apart to make the hair loss (semi?)permanent. I had been told that it would probably take five treatments (roughly two months apart) to do the job, and the place where I had mine done charged me for all five treatments in advance -- that is, it was one procedure consisting of five sessions. If your service told you it would take just one session I suspect they are either a) lying or b) incompetent, and I'd have my work done elsewhere.

I was mostly concerned about the issue of scarring. If the laser intensity is too high for your skin, your skin will burn and possibly scar. It's better to use too low of intensity and do more treatments than have the laser too hot and scar your face. The pain is like someone snapping a wide rubber band on your face. I think I took one or two Advil before my sessions to help take the edge off.

I'm sorry you're having such a difficult time all around, Jenn. I'll keep you in my (not necessarily listened to) petitions to The Universe.

[nathan-r.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that was my initial reaction, too. You paid for results, and you should get them. Go talk to the laser people and let them know how unhappy you are.

[missratbat.livejournal.com]

Ditto from me too. Talk to them, maybe they can think of a different method. Or, y'know, if they're not providing the service, then no, they shouldn't get the money.

My experience with laser seems to be very different from yours - are you saying you've been on for three weeks? My lot leave more time than that between treatments altogether, so I can't compare.

I do know someone who would take something for the pain before she went in, which she said helped.

Damn. All I can think of right now... Good luck with whatever you do go for.

[paradox-puree.livejournal.com]

If you are willing to try a few different places, I'd suggest trying a different laser machine. There are several different types out there, and a different one may have different results on your hair. Also, try taking some pain relievers just before going. It might help reduce some of the pain, allowing you to tolerate a stronger setting.

*hugs*

[jenndolari.livejournal.com]

I understand how laser works. I was told 6 treatments, once a month. The problem is, there was ZERO change after the first treatment, when I should be seeing something. The changes I THOUGHT I saw were tiny - I expected that - until I noticed those changes weren't there - the patches were the same as pictures taken three weeks ago.

[lisalees.livejournal.com]

Jenn, I didn't do laser; it was new and not available locally when I transitioned, but I do know that even with conventional electo hair grows in cycles and you have to do the same area at least three times to zap most of the follicles in that area. In three weeks you may be seeing the next cycle of growth in the areas cleared. Talk with them. If they don't tell you something that makes sense, try someone else. Don't give up, please. (A topical anesthetic may be good, once you're convinced the operator knows what they're doing. Pure Aloe gel is good relief for the pain afterwards.)

[kisai.livejournal.com]

I don't really have much to add other than the fact that laser is only effective for certain skin types. The darker the natural skin, the more difficult it is for the laser to be effective, with later being effectively useless on african-americans with dark skin.

I don't remember where I saw the grid for it, but it basically had a grid of hair color and skin color and "how long or effective" with white skin and black hair being the easiest for laser, and white skin and blond hair being non-effective(due to the hair not absorbing the laser energy), black skin and black hair being ineffective (due to the skin absorbing most of the laser energy), and a variety of effectiveness levels for spanish/italian/indian/arab skin where there is a natural tan with black hair. There is also a hair thickness issue.

From your description of the pain, it sounds like your skin tone might be absorbing too much of the energy. In which case regular electrolysis (slower) should still be effective, since it's not dependant on hair and skin color.

I read a thread on the discover vancouver forums on laser hair removal and largely the complaints (and responses from the laser clinic) suggest that it takes at least 6 treatments to have any level of permanence. You could buy the damned laser yourself for as much as it would cost to do the treatments.

Before you write off that laser clinic you went to, figure out what laser they are using and find another laser place that uses a different type. If that is also ineffective, then write off using laser at all, money is best spent on something more effective.

Divine Paths

[laura-seabrook.livejournal.com]

When Christians give me the line "God does not make mistakes" I usually say "No, he puts us on a path and it is up to us to interpret what he wants from that path."

Its hard for me not to imply something sinister from the path he's put me on.

Golly, well in Taoism there are several sayings that reflect on this:

Blessings often give rise to injury, so be careful when things are going your way. Success may be achieved after failure, so don't just give up when you've been disappointed.

Attention is the mind's feet; if you do not control your attention strictly, it runs into misleading pathways.

Wisdom comes with wounds, Turi. If the path is easy, it is the wrong one -Matsu Ketsui

But the bottom line is that LASER treatments aren't equally effective (http://ezinearticles.com/?Laser-Hair-Removal---Know-The-Facts&id=114989) on all people, and there are always problems (http://www.aboardcertifiedplasticsurgeonresource.com/laser_hair_removal/problem.html). The alternatives might be a) electrolysis or b) regular facial waxing. The first is painful and expensive. The second is what I do, using an electric wax pot and my own wax. There's an initial cost and regular ongoing (but only quick bursts of) pain in ripping the buggers out. The drawback is that the hairs still grow, but after 12 years they are much softer and harder to see.