Question
This is my first post, and I have SO many questions. I have dark facial hair, mostly upper lip, but also some chin and neck. I currently shave the upper lip, and pluck the chin. I would like something permanent - question is, is anything permanent? I once did electrolysis, and had an upper lip with about 100 red bumps, which I was ashamed for anyone to see. If no one had noticed my facial hair before, they did then! I never went back. I want ot know before I go to a laser hair removal place the real facts. I'm afraid they will tell me "of course" they can remove all of my hair. I've read some of these posts about joules, etc. and wonder where one gets ALL of the facts. If I went today for the hair removal, and had to work tomorrow, would anyone be able to tell? What are the long term effects, i.e. 20 years from now? How will my skin look? I'm sad, and just want all of this hair gone. Anyone who cares to weigh in and lend their expertise will be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much!

Answer
This is my first post, and I have SO many questions. I have dark facial hair, mostly upper lip, but also some chin and neck. I currently shave the upper lip, and pluck the chin. I would like something permanent - question is, is anything permanent? I once did electrolysis, and had an upper lip with about 100 red bumps, which I was ashamed for anyone to see. If no one had noticed my facial hair before, they did then! I never went back. I want ot know before I go to a laser hair removal place the real facts. I'm afraid they will tell me "of course" they can remove all of my hair. I've read some of these posts about joules, etc. and wonder where one gets ALL of the facts. If I went today for the hair removal, and had to work tomorrow, would anyone be able to tell? What are the long term effects, i.e. 20 years from now? How will my skin look? I'm sad, and just want all of this hair gone. Anyone who cares to weigh in and lend their expertise will be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much!

Answer
Like you I had many questions! I have only received one treatement so far, I go back next week for my second treatment.
Mine is being done with a Palomar Q-Yag 5. I do not know what the joules were set at for my first treatment, but I plan to find out next week.
I decided to have the treatments because a friend of mine had great results, she went to the same dermatologist two years ago and she is very happy with the results. Since her last full treatment she did go back once for a "touch up" on her chin; the touch up was much cheaper.
I was also worried about returning to work; I had my first treatment at 9am in the morning and went directly to work from the derms office...I did apply a little make up afterwards. The redness was no worse than a "good" plucking session for me, but my face was VERY warm all day long! It took about two weeks for all the hair to shed, but it is absolutely amazing how much of the hair is gone!! My face has never felt smoother...although I am growing new hairs in a different cycle that need to be treated now. I waited a long time to decide to have the treatments; now I wish I wouldn't have waited so long! Good bye tweezers!!!!
Good Luck!

Answer
Whether laser is a good option for you depends on your skin color and hair color/type. Laser works best on very light skin and dark coarse hair. In my opinion, laser should only be done on a woman's face is you have that combination and a considerable amount of hair. There have been stories on here from women treating finer or sparse hair on the face and ending up with more hair seemingly than what they started with. Can you let us know what your skin and hair type is and approximately how much hair you have to treat? Is it dense or sparse? etc That determines if electrolysis is the best option. I'm actually getting electrolysis done for my upper lip and have had great results.
You can shave between laser treatments. After treatment, you will probably have some redness for at most 1-2 days, but for most under 24 hrs. Then hair will start to slowly come out and will shed within 2-3 weeks. You will need 5-6 treatments at least to get rid of most hair because some hair is dormant at any one time. And treatments are spaced 6-8 weeks apart. Basically, when you see new hair coming in after shedding occurs, you go in for next treatment to get the new hair killed.
Hair removal lasers are not known to cause skin damage. You will probably need touch-up treatments on new hair that your body develops maybe 1-2 times a year at most after you're done with the initial set of treatments.

Answer
My skin is very fair, though I have dark hair. My facial hair is very dark, though I would describe myself as "furry", with a fine, light hair on most of my face, similiar to a baby with that fine hair they are born with. One time my little nephew asked me why I have so much hair on my face. Only the upper lip and scattered chin hairs are thick and dark. So does that make me a good candidate or not? Can you estimate what treatment like that would cost? (In addition to all my other questions above). Will I get a lot of dark hair in the places that I only have blond peach fuzz? Too many questions, too many worries! Thanks.

Answer
i wouldn't get laser on any sparse hairs and you definitely need to avoid any peach fuzz with laser. that's what people here complain stimulated more hair. laser might be a good option only on your upper lip in your case, only if the hair there is thick and dark and pretty dense. Cost for just that would be from $50-100 per treament and you will need 5-6 treatments for the initial set.
For any sparse hairs, I would recommend electrolysis. I know you said you had a bad expreience, but that depends on the experience of the electrologist, what modality of electrolysis they used and what kind of aftercare you had afterwards. I am seeing a very good electrologist and have no issues. Electrolysis is best on fine hairs that haven't been touched before as well as it takes less zaps to kill the hair if it hasn't gotten strong yet from continuous plucking etc. Laser works the other way around, it's most effective on the most coarse and thick hair since it's attracted to the dark pigment of the hair.
If you are going to have consultation for laser on your upper lip, you need a diode or alexandrite laser and it's important that they use high settings (highest without burning your skin) to avoid stimulating extra growth.