I went today for a consult & they said that after 6 treatments they guarantee the hair removal for 2 yrs from the last laser treatment. Supposedly the hair in that area grows in 3 wk cycles so after the 3 treatments most of it should have been treated & it's as though you're going through them again to make sure you've gotten them all. As a matter of fact they do not recommend having any stubble. Regardless of what part of the body you have done they tell you to shave it off the day before your treatment. They tell you not to tweeze or use a depilatory though. Having any hair will make the procedure more painful b/c the laser ends up having to zap that hair, making it smell awful & also causes more pain at the skin surface vs. if you allow the laser to concentrate on just the follicle. My place requires you purchase the topical cream. I start my treatments next wk! Michie

I have wanted to try laser hair removal, but haven't. From my understanding you are a best candidant if there is a big difference in your skin color and hair color. Like pale to med-light skin color with dark hairs. Doesn't work as well for someone pale with light colored hairs or somone dark with dark or light hairs. It's the same whether you are naturally darker toned or are usually light but have a tan from sun exposure or sunless tanning products. Also, your hair grows in 12-week cycles where it is dormant for 10 weeks (approx) and actively growing for 2 weeks. Only the hair follicles currently active will be killed in any one treatment. I don't think 100% of the active hair follicles are killed, but I don't know what percentage are. I know that it takes about 6 treatment sessions to get about 70-80% of all the hair follicles. That being said, being the cheap-o that I am, I am trying the Igia Finally Gone. It only claims to kill 50% of the active follicles in any one session. So, if only 2/12's of the hairs are active and it only kills 1/2 of them, that is 1/12 of the total hairs per session, so I can expect to be hair-free in about 12 sessions ? I have only done about 4 (maybe 5) sessions over the last couple years. It is very very time-consuming even with the pads that cover more area at a time because I am doing my lower legs ... a lot of area to cover there. I can see some reduction in the number of hairs that grow on my legs and both legs have areas that are almost completely bald on the lower half of the lower legs towards the front and the inside. These are the areas that are the least "meaty". Don't know if that has anything to do with it ? For what it's worth, I have very hairy very coarse very dark hair on my lower legs and I am able to tell a difference already. When I "treat" my lower legs, I shave and then let the hairs grow for about 1-1/2 to 2 weeks, then I spend a saturday morning zapping my legs, and a few days after I have my legs waxed. Igia says you are to pull out each hair after the treatment, and waxing is the fastest way to get all of those hairs out ! I have also heard the "infomercial" for Nad's and they say after you wax a number of times that eventually the hairs stop growing. Not sure how true that is but don't try Nad's ... it does not work ... it is painful and it does not remove all of the hairs. If you want to wax, buy Gigi Honee All Purpose Hair Removal Microwave Formula from Sally's. It's also painful, but at least it removes all of the hairs ! You can also buy a Numbing Spray by Gigi that helps a lot. http://www.sallybeauty.com/ I don't have the guts to rip the waxing strips off myself, so I have someone else do the ripping.

I gave up salon hair coloring to pay for my laser hair removal! I'm having my upper lip and chin done...oh what the change in hormones can do! It sure does hurt a lot but only for the nano second that the laser is applied to each area. If you think of something like a staple gun or nail gun that is similiar conceptually---each "dose" of the laser takes about the same time as one staple thru a staple gun. Although I've never counted, I think they hit my upper lip with the laser about 20-30 times per treatment. Nurses do it where I go and they are very fast with the laser--which is a very good thing. Usually, I need a few seconds of a "break" twice during the session. They wisely don't allow more than a two or three second "break". There is no sense prolonging the treatment. Have you ever had a small section of your skin pinched to the point you get shivers? That's how it feels to me. After the treatment, I can "remember" the feeling and will shiver. The freshly lasered area of my skin looks and feels sunburned after a treatment but that is all gone by morning. I agree it's wise to shave well right before going for the treatment. I get mine done after work also. Despite the cost and the seconds of pain (I don't have the numbing gel), it has been well worth it to me and my morale. I don't need to shave for a week or so afterward until the next crop grows in. I've had 3 treatments and the majority of my upper lip and chin are hair-free. I no longer look like I have 5 o'clock shadow on my lip (by 5 o'clock!). I can't describe how good it feels not to be checking for stubble all day long and feeling self-conscious. Going through menopause is hard enough without visible signs that suggest you are becoming "manly"! I know people who have had their legs, underarms, bikini, lips and chin done and are glad they did. I also know one poor young guy who is having his whole super furry back and neck done-it takes a lot of his courage and determination to face even one treatment and I don't know how many his requires. The nurses told me a lot of guys have areas of their beard done because of chronic problems with infected ingrown hairs. I have not noticed any skin darkening due to the treatment. I have had the skin all around my mouth darken along with the hormone changes (think "clown")although I don't think anybody has noticed but me. Another good way to give yourself darkened patches is going in the sun while taking an antibiotic. I noticed that sun will darken the area. I went to Sephora and they have a product that will lighten the darkened areas in about three months. If darkening is a problem, it's important to always apply sunblock to those areas. Another thing I learned is that the laser won't work on gray hair. Wish I knew that before a few of my "whiskers" turned gray! I have to tweeze only those but it's no big deal. Hope this helps someone out there!

coolmama- I have not noticed any side effects. I was cautious as I have been known to react to certain things. The dermo said to use 2X a day but I started out by using 1X a day for a few days and everything was fine so I have been doing it 2X for almost 2 months now. I didn't notice any drying, burning,etc. I'm not sure yet but I may use a depilitory on the rest of my face (as I have never done that before). I very carefully put a small amount in the eyebrow area and have noticed a big difference there also. I believe for the VANIQA to work, the hair has to be eliminated first because I have been putting it on my jawline and I don't see any difference. My jaw line is blond peach fuzz. What does everyone else do with theirs (if it is just peach fuzz)? Like I said, insurance doesn't cover it and it is $85 for @ a 1oz. tube. I think it will last me @ 6 months if I continue to put it on my jawline too. The instructions say to really rub it in. Otherwise, if you just put it on the upper lip..it will last forever. If you quit using it, it is my understanding,that the hair will return to the pre VANIQA.