Ideal Image Hair Removal - My Story

If you follow me on Facebook you'll know that I have been doing laser hair removal on my legs for approximately the past 2 years.  This has been one of the most requested blog posts I've ever had.  Now that's I'm finally done, it's time to write all about it.  I know that a lot of people are leery of laser hair removal, but it was the best choice for me.

Okay, so lets back up about 5 years before I committed to laser hair removal.  I was starting to have some serious pains in my arms and legs, I had no clue what it was.  After too many tests , 4 months and hours and hours of testing at the doctors office they finally gave me a diagnosis.  I had Fibromyalgia. 

Fibromyalgia is a nerve disorder that effects they way your body responds to pain.  In my case my arms and legs were the areas that hurt.  So the only way to describe the pain is that of a horrible bruise.  Just imagine that your entire arm and leg are bruised.  That's exactly what it feel like.  So needless to say it hurt to be touched.  And don't even talk to me about accidently bumping into chairs/walls/etc. - OUCH! 

After my doctor prescribed me some steroids (which didn't work) it took me over 6 months to get off of that medication.  Once you start you have to wean yourself off  s  l   o  w   l   y.  So you can only imagine that pants of any kind were a serious problem for me.  I still have a hate/hate relationship with jeans.  They were just too hard for my skin, and the pressure made them incredibly painful to wear.  I'd have to be swimming in jeans for the pain to subside, but that didn't work because they would fall off.

So during all of this it was so incredibly difficult to shave my legs.  I would be in the shower for over an hour shaving my legs.  It was so painful, that tears would be streaming down my face as I inched over every bit of skin.  It was too much pressure on my legs.

Okay, I swear I'm getting to the point...

After some careful consideration, I decided that laser hair removal was for me.  At the time I started my treatments my Fibromyalgia pain had subsided somewhat (I could wear pants without pain), but I wanted to do something more permanent.  My doctor said that this condition could flare up again, at anytime, for any reason.  So that lit a fire under me to do something about it.

So I went to consultation appointment at Ideal Image in Maple Grove, MN.  I met with a very nice woman who explained the treatment and payment options.  She looked at my skin and leg hair color to see if I would be a good candidate for their lasers.  Thankfully I was a good match. 

Once I scheduled my first appointment I felt so relieved.  Relieved that I was finally doing something about my problem.  This issue that plagued me for so long would finally be over.  Mind you this was going to be long process, but that being said, at least it was start.

Most people want to know about the pain....  Yes, it's painful.  But it's a laser, what do you expect?..  If you've ever had a rubber band snap on your wrist, that's what each pulse feels like.  When you start the treatment, the pain isn't too bad.  But the longer you go the more intense the laser gets.  But at that point they are only "spot treating", so they don't have to cover the whole leg - thank goodness. 

I did my treatment for almost 2 years.  Each person's hair grows in different cycles so there is a time lapse in between appointments.  It was usually 6-8 weeks until the next one.   

After my last session I am happy to report that I am pleased with the results.  There is no more dark hair on my legs and they feel so much smoother.  But be aware that most lasers will not remove blonde hairs.  So if you have any lighter colored hair, that will stay.  The lighter hair is typically softer and less noticeable.  So I still have to shave, but I can go more than a month without shaving and I'm still comfortable wearing capris or shorts. 

All in all it was a great experience.  Painful at times, but no more pain that what my shaving was causing at the peak of my Fibromyalgia.  Even if I didn't have pain with shaving I would recommend this to anyone.  I'd love to do other areas someday, but I now live over 250 miles away from the closest Ideal Image.  So for my last few treatments I had to drive...  Which sucked, but then I had excuse to hang out with friends and family in the area.

If you've made it this paragraph - HOORAY!  Would any of you like to do laser hair removal?  If so, what would be your reasons?  I'd love to know in the comments below.

Thanks for reading!