Updates...

It's been 3 weeks since my last appointment and here is whats going on...

Armpits: I havent shaved them in 3 weeks... 90% of the hair is completly gone.

Lower Abs: I havent shaved there in over 6 weeks... 99% of the hair is completly gone.

Bikini: I havent shaved there in 3 weeks... 80% of the hair is completly gone. In fact there is only one strip of hair that still grows.

Brazilian: Growth is very slow... 75% of the hair is completly gone.

I am soo happy with the results so far! My next appointment is January 10th. So 2 weeks until another update!

I just started birth control today... so I guess we will see if it plays any role in this sucessful story!

2nd Treatment

Numbing cream today was a total fail.

I applied it correctly, but had an eye lash extension appointment before the laser appointment. (at the same med spa) Lesson learned. By the time my laser appointment rolled around, the numbing cream had wore off.

It was pretty ouchie. I felt my body's adrenalin start pumping, I started sweating and shaking, so I  tried to just grit my teeth and power through. Within a few minutes it was all over. I was relieved and still believed that waxing is way more painful.

Fingers crossed for permanent results!

Sooo happy!

So in my last post, I was worried about nerve damage.
 I must have been having a weird day... cause I am not worried about it at all now.

I am however really excited.... I haven't shaved in two weeks!!!!

Here is an update in the areas:
Armpits: there is hardly any hair seriously... feels like peach fuzz (I used to have to shave them every other day!)

Lower abs: no hair has grown back yet! yay!

Bikini Area: very thinned out hardly any visible hair.

Brazilian Area: some serious bald spots where nothing is growing back. The other areas the hair is super fine and soft.

Also all areas I have noticed the hair is growing back way way way slower!

3 more weeks before my next appointment!

Nerve Damage?

One of the possible side affects of laser can be nerve damage.

I may be paranoid.

That being said... I am not sure I have complete feeling back in some areas...

Stay tuned...

Bruising?

In all the research I had done, I kept seeing a warning not to take aspirin. People claimed it caused bruising. I decided to take 4 ibuprofen before the appointment instead.

I have to report. I have minor minor bruising. One small area in my armpit, and one that could be blamed on riding the exercise bike instead.

I have also noticed my armpit hair is growing in slower and is less noticeable. I am pleasantly surprised and didn't think I would be able to tell a difference after just one treatment.

Huzzah!

My next appointment is on December 6th!

Feeling like the gross kid...

Do you ever have to go to your gyn/obgyn and are paranoid you are the gross kid?
(Or am I alone in that?)

I mean thats not an area that is "flaunted around" often for me.
So preparing for these types of appointments can be stressful.
These are the types of questions and thoughts that go through my head.

Do I shave completly?
Do I leave a landing strip?
Do I let stubble come back in before?
Do I not shave for a while before so, I dont have any ingrown hairs by the time the appointment rolls around?
Should I get some of those Summers Eve personal wipes to go... so I can freshen up right before?

Dang it I should work out my inner thighs more.
What? where did these stretch marks come from?
Gah! She probably sees soo many people it doesnt even matter, she isnt going to judge me basied on my neather reigions... or will she?

So the fiance and I went out to dinner tonight and he got the messy sticky chicken fingers. I decided my parinoia was a good thing when he needed a wet wipe, and I was able to supply him with a "on the go" vag wipe (see question above) ahhhh life is tooo goood.

Treatment #1

Done!
I had my first treatment this morning and I am back at the office.

All night I had nightmares about tanning (which is a HUGE no no before and during treatment)
I got up early and applied the numbing cream to all areas every 8 mins, for an hour before the treatment.
I was worried it wasn't working and about 40 mins in I suddenly felt like I had gone to the dentist.

I arrived at the Med/Spa and met with the Dr. He made sure I was a good candidate and reviewed the risks and possible results. He checked my armpits and told me how happy his wife was that she got it done and it was one of the best things she has ever done.

Everyone left the room and I was instructed to wipe down all areas that had numbing cream and slip into a wrap around robe. That numbing cream is crazy good. I couldn't feel anything as I wiped down the areas.

The Tech came back in and handed me some fantastic pink goggles, and we were underway. Armpits were first and they were done literally 1 min later. It was an uncomfortable feeling, but wasn't too painful. It felt as if a sewing needle was being jabbed into your pores, but due to how fast it was done and over, it was completely manageable.

Then we were on to the Brazilian area, all the places I expected to be really painful.. weren't (lips and back door) and all the areas I thought would be no big deal... hurt. (inner thighs, lower abs) I just squooze the side of the bed with one hand and held on to my goggles with the other and gritted through the pain, knowing that the hair follicles were getting zapped forever (fingers crossed) at one point I thought I felt sweat dripping off my forehead, but it could have been my imagination. My thought when I was done was "That was it?" It wasn't anywhere close to how bad I thought it was going to be.

In less than 10 mins I was completely finished. Aloe Vera was rubbed on all areas with a cotton square. I got dressed and was out the door. My entire appointment took 20 mins. I had no redness, no swelling, no after pain.  I decided the shaving for the treatment was more of a hassle and more difficult then the whole treatment. Waxing defiantly hurts worse and I will never wax again now that I have found laser.

Night Before Treatment #1...

All areas to be treated are shaved. My prescription numbing cream ready. All I need is a good nights sleep.

 My Tech explained in the consultation that all areas to be treated needs to be shaved.(complete front to back) Hair = fire hazard. (Wow, thank you for that image) I have read that some Med/Spa's will shave you for an extra $50. So if you don't want to deal with the hassle, there is an option for you.

Gah, can I tell you how long and difficult that was...
I asked my Mom to fly home to help me... My fiance so sweetly volunteered... In the end I decided to suffer through and figure it out on my own. Consequence= several nicks on my poor bummie. I am sure the tech is going to love that... (heaven help me)

Tommorrow is the day...

I am nervous, scared and slightly excited.

My presciption numbing cream is sitting on my fiance's counter, just waiting...

Cross your Finger and Wish me Luck!!!

Why on earth am I blogging about this?

Before I make important or expensive decisions in life.... I try to research every angle I possibly can... Hopefully (in my mind) lessening the possibility of disappointment or surprises later. (after the fact)

The choice to do laser hair removal was no different. I searched blogs, articles, laser hair removal sites, asked family and friends who have had it done etc... and decided I wanted/needed to add my story to the very few I read. My darling fiance noted most people with positive experiences are usually the ones that don't express their experiences unlike the negitive ones...

I am crossing my fingers this story will be one of those happy/less documented ones.