Worth Every Painful Penny, As Long As It Lasts! - Manitowoc, WI

It has been almost a year since I finished my underarm laser treatment. Results are amazing and I would do it again. I typically shave once a month or pluck the 2-3 strands of hair on my underarms. My burn scars have healed, thank goodness! I am in the process of having my lower legs done also, just by a much better doctor. The picture here is from one of my appointments, the burning, mostly caused from tanning, but can also be caused from the laser itself. This wasn't the worst one but I don't have a photo from any other burns.

I just finished my 8th and final underarm laser hair removal appointment. I have 100% hair loss and have not shaved for months. Not one hair follicle. Can't tell you how great it is! With Summer right around the corner I will really get to enjoy it. It became less and less painful each session. With my tips below you can have a MUCH better experience. My 100% results are not typical but I didn't have a ton of hair to start with. Also, some hair may grow back over time so it is too soon to tell. Each appointment took only about 15 minutes from start to finish. Each appointment had to be about 6-8 weeks apart. His assisting staff members were all super sweet, polite, and professional. One appointment there was a doctor in training and she massaged my feet while I was waiting a lengthly time for the doctor to come in. She was very pleasant and told me that patients always take treatment better when they are nice and relaxed. It made a difference. The doctor on the other hand, I would not recommend. Aside from the appointments being extremely inconvenient (only two days a week for minimum hours) and painful, he was rude. He was the part I dreaded the most. If I didn't have to pay for the whole thing up front I would not have gone back. When we first met I didn't have a good vibe and should have trusted my instincts. He assumed I was a rich house wife that didn't have a job, maybe like the rest of his clients, and showed shock when I told him I what I did for a living. At first, I thought it was me until I saw him interact with a few other female clients. He seemed to feed off of their insecurities. He told me I could definitely use some botox and they had a special. I also heard him say to another lady that she needed a lot of work. Rude! Also for my 7th appointment he asked that the trainee perform the hair removal. Clearly I was her first patient EVER but honestly didn't even care. I was so displeased with him but happy with my results I told myself to suck it and never come back when it was over.

Couple of things I want to make note that I wish I knew ahead of time….

1: Get numbing cream. Use it. Use it. Use it. Doctor gave me a prescription for it. Cost about $60 with shipping. My doctor made a super annoying (but now funny) joke asking if I was saving my numbing cream for something special when he saw that it wasn't globbed all over my underarm. That was the first & last time I didn't use enough. Now I laugh with my sister about saving it for something special, my sister said she will be using the rest of mine for her next tattoo. My doctor failed to tell me the full instructions for applying this product until after appointment number 3. I read all the instructions and there was nothing on the bottle for laser hair removal. Apply as needed were the directions. He told me that I need to apply it 60 minutes before my appointment and then every 30 minutes after that as it starts to wear off. So mine was wearing off as he was burning my underarm for the first couple and most painful appointments. He said "Oops sorry, probably should have told you that before" and laughed. Thanks Richard Cranium!

2: Do not go tanning. Again my doctor made super annoying (and still not funny) jokes about me tanning. He did not however tell me the consequences. I researched them on my own and found the type of laser used is used to kill pigment which is the hair follicle and when you tan it changes your skins pigment. This type of laser is NOT for everyone. You will decide which type of laser to use during consultation. Do not do any plucking during your sessions. Shave about 3-4 days ahead of appointments, you don't want any razor burns or redness going into your appointment. I got burned, badly. When I stopped tanning I noticed a huge difference. I will post burn pictures another time. I should have listened earlier and I may not have the very light but still visible scar from a burn. Other than that the burns healed as I nursed them twice daily to prevent from scarring.

3: Use Ice Packs. Before & during your treatment. I would bring them to work with me, as I had to always go straight from work or even on my lunch break. I would set my phone alarm to go into the bathroom and apply the numbing cream one hour before my appointment. Then on my 30 minute drive I would hold the ice packs under my arms. Moved my seat and everything to be able to still drive with both hands. I figured this method out before my 6th appointment and made all the difference in the world! Barely felt a thing. Did not have to ask him to stop at all. What a relief! Then during your appointment it does start to burn, like touching a stove burn, and I would hold them on my underarm in between "hits" to instantly soothe it. There are times when I would have to ask him to stop because the pain was so bad. Again it gets much easier and with these tips I hope you have a better experience. My 8th appointment he introduced me to ice rollers, basically a lint roller but a big ice cube. Felt nothing this appointment but the pressure of him touching me. He made me feel like he liked seeing me in pain, I would have to ask him to stop more than once before he would stop. What kind of doctor wouldn't tell you pain management tasks before hand?

4: Choose the right clothing. I have to dress professionally for work and it was difficult to find outfits that did not have dye, this laser kills pigment and dye is pigment-also why tanning causes you to burn, were sleeveless, and easy to take on and off for my appointment. I also found my doctor creepy so I never wore the rob he gave me. I would just wear a tank top under a work shirt, etc and just wear that for the appointment.

5: Wear Protective Eye Wear! He gave me eye protection the first couple appointments, he also had them on, then about the 4th appointment, he put on his googles and was starting the procedure and I had to remind him I needed mine. He said "If you just close you eyes you won't need them." Regulations require them, just like for tanning. Thanks again Doc!