Ouch!! Began laser treatment today

[flyershoe]

I just wanted to whine and complain a bit...

I know we had that thread a while ago about being 'inked' and I think that I mentioned in the post that one of my tats, I regret. It's my "I'm cool, I'm 18" armband with the horrible placement and mediocre quality. Well, I've begun the process of having it removed... I was kinda prompted to get it because my girlfriend is having laser hair removal now, which she raved about. I started thinking about doing it myself, and then though "hmm... laser hair removal, laser tattoo removal... what the hell, let's do it all!"

So I'm in the process of getting my underarms & bikini area lasered, as well as having my tattoo removed. The underarms were fast with minimal pain, bikini, more pain, of course. So after the bikini I was thinking "ahh, this tattoo should be a piece of cake!"

Oh boy was I wrong!! She injected me with a numbing agent, which was bad enough (I get weird about needles, and with her pushing on my arm and whatnot, I started feeling woozy).. and since we took a brief break when I started feeling woozy, I think the lidocaine started wearing off. Anyway, once she started the laser, as long as she hit a place that was totally numb, it felt fine. Where she'd missed or it had worn off - OWWWWWWWWWW!!!! YIKES. The lasering was the fastest part of the procedure, but it was not fun. And of course I find out after the fact that taking advil, aspirin or other NSAID's contributes to bleeding and bruising! Tylenol only!! I'd taken two advil in advance.. which would've been fine for the hair removal, but not the tattoo. Oh boy. So now my arm hurts way worse than it did when I got the stupid tattoo. When she was done, it looked really gross.. I'm trying not to peek under the bandage too much, but I want to see what it looks like. It's starting to seep a little bit, so I may have to change it anyway. I've decided to keep a photo diary of it, so if you're interested, you'll be able to see it on my 101 list blog.

In the end, I'm glad that I'm having it done, but I wasn't expecting this much pain!!!!

/rant

[christykay]

YIKES!!

Note to self: Make sure that the tattoo I decide on IS one that I want forever! Goodness- that laser treatment sounds very painful. How many treatments do you think that you will have to have? Just wondering.

[flyershoe]

Well, the package is six... so five more... hopefully fewer! The nurse told me that mine looks like a full package deal and that it will most likely take all six. But maybe that's just what they tell people to prepare them, just in case it does. Sometimes it takes fewer, sometimes it takes more. The good thing is that my tattoo is all black, which is one of the easier colors for them to remove.

BTW, Christy - sorry I haven't replied to your other message yet.. I've been alternating between being 'good' and doing my schoolwork (I stupidly signed up for a mini semester class - not a great idea!) and catching up online.

Oh, and Draco got sick the other day and we had another guest clean it up!! I couldn't believe it - it was one of Brian's guy friends, too! It seems like he only gets sick when we have people over. Weird.

[christykay]

Originally Posted by flyershoe

BTW, Christy - sorry I haven't replied to your other message yet.. I've been alternating between being 'good' and doing my schoolwork (I stupidly signed up for a mini semester class - not a great idea!) and catching up online.

Oh, and Draco got sick the other day and we had another guest clean it up!! I couldn't believe it - it was one of Brian's guy friends, too! It seems like he only gets sick when we have people over. Weird.

No stress! Be good and get that schoolwork done! I'm well, just a little blah, but trying to remain positive. It's all good!

Poor Draco...guess he doesn't like anyone in his room?

[Amanda]

Lauren- you made me queezy. Thanks a lot.

BTW I had laser treatments on my bikini a while back in AZ- it actually wasn't that bad.

It was your description of the tat removal. Blech!
Just think about how good it will look when it's finished being removed.

[flyershoe]

Originally Posted by Amanda

Lauren- you made me queezy. Thanks a lot.

BTW I had laser treatments on my bikini a while back in AZ- it actually wasn't that bad.

It was your description of the tat removal. Blech!
Just think about how good it will look when it's finished being removed.

Hehe... sorry! Didn't mean to make you sick... Crystal (Brian's SIL) said the same thing - but then again she's pg.

I remember you saying that you'd had the treatments done! How many did you end up getting? Are you happy with your results? From what I understand, there's typically an 80% reduction, it doesn't get rid of everything. I bought a package that has 6 sessions. The place I'm going is called Monarch Medspa - I think there's one in King of Prussia, too! If I don't get this all finished up before I move, I may see if I can have my package transferred to that one.

I'm glad that I'm finally getting it done... I just don't want this ugly thing to be the focus when I'm walking down the aisle, KWIM?

[Amanda]

Originally Posted by flyershoe

Hehe... sorry! Didn't mean to make you sick... Crystal (Brian's SIL) said the same thing - but then again she's pg.

I remember you saying that you'd had the treatments done! How many did you end up getting? Are you happy with your results? From what I understand, there's typically an 80% reduction, it doesn't get rid of everything. I bought a package that has 6 sessions. The place I'm going is called Monarch Medspa - I think there's one in King of Prussia, too! If I don't get this all finished up before I move, I may see if I can have my package transferred to that one.

I'm glad that I'm finally getting it done... I just don't want this ugly thing to be the focus when I'm walking down the aisle, KWIM?

I have a friend with a tat and she covered it with heavy (maybe theatre type) make up. It's not the same as permanently removing it, but you have thatoption if you can't stand the laser!

I go yo Monarch MedSpa in Kof P. They did some recent 'work' on me and the results weren't great. In fact I'm not sure if I'm going back. I can PM you w/ details. They didn't do laser on me though.

When I had the laser hair removal (can't remember the name of the place but it's a chain I think), I had only 5 sessions. It definitely wasn't enough because of the growth of hair- I was told you need about 10 (ran out of money!). The area where it was done does look a ton better and if I continued with that I would have been in good shape. I still continue to shave.
Trying to keep this reply without giving TMI!

[Regina]

I know this might be a personal question, but I am going to ask anyway, and it will be your choice to answer or not.

I would love to get the laser hair removal done, but I was wondering about a price range of the cost involved? I totally understand if you don't want to say, but I thought I would ask.

Thanks

[flyershoe]

Originally Posted by christykay

No stress! Be good and get that schoolwork done! I'm well, just a little blah, but trying to remain positive. It's all good!

Poor Draco...guess he doesn't like anyone in his room?

Hang in there, girly! Easier said than done, I'm sure - and I don't have four kids. You're a pro, though... you'll get used to it in no time. It's been an adjustment to have Brian gone lately.. his lines had been pretty good, then with bad weather he'd had days dropped off trips (and was pay-protected!!), so things have been good for us lately. He just got back from a 4 day and now he's gone on another one! The good news is that when he gets home on Friday night, he'll be home for 12 days. I'm gonna put him to work!!! Oh, and he's also going to teach me how to ski on his time off.

Schoolwork is crawling right now.. honestly it's hard to focus with my arm hurting so much. I think I'm heading to bed now and am just going to try to get some reading done. Hoping that this weekend I get more motivated - I have two 5-page papers due by next Wednesday!!

This time he threw up by the front door... I noticed it as I was walking out to buy groceries on Sunday. After I said something about it and started heading into the kitchen for the supplies, Brian's friend said "ahh, Phillip (his cat) throws up all the time... I'm a pro, I'll take care of it." Funny that Ernie offered to take care of it, but Brian didn't!! I almost had a heart attack when I got home yesterday - Brian had vacuumed WITHOUT my asking!! It's like when a guy brings flowers home.... "okay, what did you do???"


Okay, off to bed/reading now, I swear!

[Amanda]

Originally Posted by Regina

I know this might be a personal question, but I am going to ask anyway, and it will be your choice to answer or not.

I would love to get the laser hair removal done, but I was wondering about a price range of the cost involved? I totally understand if you don't want to say, but I thought I would ask.

Thanks

I think it was $75 a session but not 100% sure. I had to drive a bit to get there so it wasn't just the cost- it was also a bit inconvenient.

Also (just in case Nick reads this)- it was way before I met Nick. Now I try to save my money (heh heh).