laser hair removal

[kellyjoy15]

Has anyone tried laser hair removal for the excess hair caused by PCOS? I am wondering if it is effective and permanent. Could I do it now, or should I wait until I am at a healthy weight and my hormones are more normal from taking the insulite supplements for a while? I am sick of plucking and waxing all of the time! I have very sensitive skin, so nair type products or bleaching are not an option for me. Does anyone have any other ideas? :confused:

[drsari]

Has anyone tried laser hair removal for the excess hair caused by PCOS? I am wondering if it is effective and permanent. Could I do it now, or should I wait until I am at a healthy weight and my hormones are more normal from taking the insulite supplements for a while? I am sick of plucking and waxing all of the time! I have very sensitive skin, so nair type products or bleaching are not an option for me. Does anyone have any other ideas? :confused:

Hello, I apologize for taking so long to respond to your post! Somehow I missed the notification in my email. Anyway, I hope it's not too late to respond to your great question. Laser hair removal IS said to be effective for permanently removing the excess hair associated with PCOS. If the hair is really bothering you, you can get laser treatments now rather than waiting for weight loss and hormonal changes. The Insulite PCOS System will not lessen the excess hair that currently exists- once those follicles have started producing that extra coarse hair, they will continue to do so unless destroyed by something like laser. The good news is that losing weight and shifting your hormones with diet and supplemets *should* prevent future hair growth. In other words, the laser treatments are good for the hair that currently is problematic, and sticking with the diet, exercise, and supplements should go a long way to preventing future problems with excess hair. Unfortunately the distressing excess hair growth is one of those symptoms that can take longer to see improvements in than other symptoms. Hang in there and keep us posted!!!
Also, I suggest you take a look around this forum, as other women have posted questions about different hair removal products (like special laser combs) and you might find some more useful information.
Take care and write again anytime.

[LamiaZafrani]

I have had both laser and electrolysis.
I had electrolysis when i was 13 and i am 23 now and i have perfectly shaped eyebrows, no need to pluck, no hair on my upper lip or sides. my mum and aunty and grandma had their upper lip done by electrolysis 20 yrs ago and no growth (maybe an odd one because theyve been pregnant etc) SO yes electrolysis is permanent. i guess you might get some hair growth if you get pregnant or your hormones change again, but electrolysis definitely works! It was my electrolysis therapist who first said to me that i had pcos- because she could tell from my facial hair, it was years later when i was 21 when i finally got diagnosed! i regret i didnt have any electrolysis on my chin becuase at the time i didnt have any hairs! but for last 2 yrs i have suddenly grown some coarse dark hairs. i might go back and get just my chin done.

I have also recently had laser treatment on my body (i wouldnt do it on my face!) laser isnt permanent removal, it is a permanent reduction! but if you are hairy like me lol a reduction is fine! lol my arms, and legs have worked best, underarms were ok and bikini line was ok too. but laser is generally dangerous! i got some nasty burns!!!!!!! make sure you find a GOOD laser therapist!!!! i opted for a cheap one which i could afford on my student budget and got some burns! but for my face i wouldnt take the risk.

I have a friend who had laser treatment on her face. she got back in touch 5 yrs later to ask me where i had electrolysis done becuase her facial hair was worse. the laser didnt work! I personally think for your face dont take the risk- go for something that has been proven to work and electrolysis is that! laser is still new, and for large areas like body hair id say if you want to take the risk then fine. i did- im pretty happy with the 80% reduction in body hair. and its been a yr and a half since my last treatment and i dont have to shave my legs for months and even then its only sparse few odd ones!

hope that helps!

[Kmo]

Hi! I was diagnosed with PCOS about 5 years ago, and almost immediately after started getting laser hair removal done. They said my hair and skin type were great for the treatment and should offer good results, and it did, sometimes...for a little while.

Also, they said it would take maybe 3-5 treatments, and I went every few months for my body hair, and every few weeks for my facial hair, for over a year...and it never actually went away. I just stopped going, and now it has all come back and is actually even WORSE than it was when I started going :-(

I might try the electrolysis next if that supposedly works better...

[drsari]

Hi! I was diagnosed with PCOS about 5 years ago, and almost immediately after started getting laser hair removal done. They said my hair and skin type were great for the treatment and should offer good results, and it did, sometimes...for a little while.

Also, they said it would take maybe 3-5 treatments, and I went every few months for my body hair, and every few weeks for my facial hair, for over a year...and it never actually went away. I just stopped going, and now it has all come back and is actually even WORSE than it was when I started going :-(

I might try the electrolysis next if that supposedly works better...

KMO and LamiaZafrani, it is REALLY great to get your input on this to see the range of experience. Is one much more expensive than the other (laser vs. electrolysis)?
KMO, please be sure you are addressing the hormonal imbalance and insulin resistance of PCOS, otherwise the hair removal will continue to be an uphill battle. Thanks for posting!

[PitPony]

Hi, I would just like to add to this discussion my experiences. I have had facial hair for 30 years. Around 18 years ago I had electrolysis because I was so sick of having to deal with it. I went twice a week for a year, this kept it to a level that I felt was probably not too noticeable - nobody ever said anything to me so I've no idea if they did notice! - anyway, when I stopped having the treatment the hair grew back. 11 years ago I had laser hair removal in a clinic which I paid for privately. The therapist explained that the hairs that were treated would definitely never grow back but that new hairs could grow, ie new follicles could become active. I had 6 treatments over about 3 months. The result was far better than with the electrolysis during treatment. However, I then became pregnant just at the end of the treatment and gained back around 28lbs of the weight I'd worked to hard to lose! After I had the baby hair grew back although it is impossible to say whether it was the same hair or new ones(!) and I have never had either treatment again since then.

Recently I bought a Philips Lumea device which is a home laser system. The instructions tell you it is not for facial use but I use it on my face and have had no problems with it. They also say that the laser does not kill off the hairs but puts them into a 'resting' phase so that they don't grow. I have used it every two weeks for the last 3 months and my facial hair has almost completely stopped growing, I think I will need one more treatment and that will be it completely. :)
I think I will have to use it approximately 4 weekly after that to keep the hairs in a resting phase. I know this isn't a 'permanent' solution in the sense that I'll never have to do it again, but I can live with having to treat my face every 4 weeks instead of plucking the hairs every day! The plucking was having a bad effect on my skin as I was having a lot of ingrowing hairs which I had to dig out with a needle! I also noticed that I have a lot of scarring to my chin area which since I have been using the Lumea has really improved although it is still slightly discoloured but I am hoping that this will fade over time.

Hope this is of some help to others.

[drsari]

Hi, I would just like to add to this discussion my experiences. I have had facial hair for 30 years. Around 18 years ago I had electrolysis because I was so sick of having to deal with it. I went twice a week for a year, this kept it to a level that I felt was probably not too noticeable - nobody ever said anything to me so I've no idea if they did notice! - anyway, when I stopped having the treatment the hair grew back. 11 years ago I had laser hair removal in a clinic which I paid for privately. The therapist explained that the hairs that were treated would definitely never grow back but that new hairs could grow, ie new follicles could become active. I had 6 treatments over about 3 months. The result was far better than with the electrolysis during treatment. However, I then became pregnant just at the end of the treatment and gained back around 28lbs of the weight I'd worked to hard to lose! After I had the baby hair grew back although it is impossible to say whether it was the same hair or new ones(!) and I have never had either treatment again since then.

Recently I bought a Philips Lumea device which is a home laser system. The instructions tell you it is not for facial use but I use it on my face and have had no problems with it. They also say that the laser does not kill off the hairs but puts them into a 'resting' phase so that they don't grow. I have used it every two weeks for the last 3 months and my facial hair has almost completely stopped growing, I think I will need one more treatment and that will be it completely. :)
I think I will have to use it approximately 4 weekly after that to keep the hairs in a resting phase. I know this isn't a 'permanent' solution in the sense that I'll never have to do it again, but I can live with having to treat my face every 4 weeks instead of plucking the hairs every day! The plucking was having a bad effect on my skin as I was having a lot of ingrowing hairs which I had to dig out with a needle! I also noticed that I have a lot of scarring to my chin area which since I have been using the Lumea has really improved although it is still slightly discoloured but I am hoping that this will fade over time.

Hope this is of some help to others.

This is great info. Did your insurance company help pay for the Philips Lumea device, by any chance? Congratulations on your baby, by the way!

[PitPony]

This is great info. Did your insurance company help pay for the Philips Lumea device, by any chance? Congratulations on your baby, by the way!
__________________


No, I am English, we don't have health insurance in the way you do in the US. I paid for the Lumea myself, it cost £400 - around $600 I think. :)

[drsari]

Hi all,
I am new member here and I would like to tell that there are many things available in the market for removing the hairs. But as far as I am concerned the most wonderful product which I liked among all is Verseo ePan. Regarding this product all the things are being told to me by my wife as she was always busy in becoming more and more beautiful.

If you all want then you all can try it.

Thanks for sharing this info. I'm glad to hear your wife has found a product that works for her. If anyone else has experiences with this product (good or bad) please share. It is so helpful to have this forum where women can share stories and ideas about what works for them and what doesn't.
Don't forget, if you have PCOS and excess facial or body hair, you must address the underlying cause of the symptoms: PCOS, hormonal imbalance, and insulin resistance.
Keep coming back with questions and comments everybody!

[vervena]

Laser hair removal technique is really very good technique for coarse dense hairs but I will clear one thing laser reduce the growth of hairs but can't stop.

[Irulan777]

The sooner you start the hair reduction, the better you'll feel. My hair is very stubborn, but I have yet to try the System. I just received it today, and can't wait to start in the morning! I have done the laser treatments. It's very effective, but make sure you go to a reputable aesthatician (sp?). If you go to someone inexperienced they could set it too high and burn you, or not set it high enough, and you will not see results. I am actually fortunate enough to work for an opthamologist who has one on staff she's been doing it for 25+ years! I get one free treatment in that department every month. It was a no-brainer that I chose that. I have had 6 treatments so far within the past year, and the results are fantastic! I also read on the web page that the PCOS System helps the treatments to be more effective. Just be ready for a bit of pain. If you are really sensitive to pain I suggest taking some ibuprophen before your sessions. Feeling like a girl, again, is definitely worth it, though. For years, because of PCOS, I have been struggling with unwanted facial hair. I was 17 when it started to show up, and I am 35, now. It lowers one's self esteem, and makes one feel very self-conscious. I wouldn't go out in the sun for fear that people would notice. I wore lots of heavy makeup to hide it. I feel tons better, now! Hopefully, in a few more months, I can say bye-bye to the expensive razors and shave cream from the neck up! I am so excited that I have found something that can turn my life around! The more you can do for yourself to make your short time with life more fulfilled is worth every dime one can spare!

[drsari]

The sooner you start the hair reduction, the better you'll feel. My hair is very stubborn, but I have yet to try the System. I just received it today, and can't wait to start in the morning! I have done the laser treatments. It's very effective, but make sure you go to a reputable aesthatician (sp?). If you go to someone inexperienced they could set it too high and burn you, or not set it high enough, and you will not see results. I am actually fortunate enough to work for an opthamologist who has one on staff she's been doing it for 25+ years! I get one free treatment in that department every month. It was a no-brainer that I chose that. I have had 6 treatments so far within the past year, and the results are fantastic! I also read on the web page that the PCOS System helps the treatments to be more effective. Just be ready for a bit of pain. If you are really sensitive to pain I suggest taking some ibuprophen before your sessions. Feeling like a girl, again, is definitely worth it, though. For years, because of PCOS, I have been struggling with unwanted facial hair. I was 17 when it started to show up, and I am 35, now. It lowers one's self esteem, and makes one feel very self-conscious. I wouldn't go out in the sun for fear that people would notice. I wore lots of heavy makeup to hide it. I feel tons better, now! Hopefully, in a few more months, I can say bye-bye to the expensive razors and shave cream from the neck up! I am so excited that I have found something that can turn my life around! The more you can do for yourself to make your short time with life more fulfilled is worth every dime one can spare!

Thanks for sharing your story! Your optimism and encouragement are refreshing and sure to inspire other ladies. Please don't hesitate to contact anyone at Insulite Labs if you have any questions as you get started on the Insulite PCOS System.