I asked my Dr. to phone in a Rx for Vaniqa. I didn't even stop and think about what it would cost. On the way home I went to pick it up and my doctor had called in 2 months' worth - 2 tubes. The cost was $311.97.

If you don't know what Vaniqa is, it's a cream you apply twice daily to slow facial hair growth in women. It clearly states it does not remove or prevent facial hair growth, it just slows it down. During clinical trials, 42% of women reported no change or increased growth.

It's 4 - 6 weeks before you notice any difference, and after that it's supposed to slow the growth "moderately." You still have to remove the hair. I was told that if I wax my eyebrows once a month, I might expect to only wax them every 6 weeks. That's like paying $75 per week of not waxing. The most I've ever paid for an actual wax was $40, usually it's around $10. Hmm, not much debating the bargain. Oh, and if you don't see results in 6 months (or $935, whichever way you want to look at it) you discontinue use and chalk it up to "not for me." And then cry because you're out the money.

Okay, so I made the appointment for my first laser session for Monday at 2:00. At $750 for 5 sessions, it's a bit more expensive than I thought, but they've got a buy one area, get one area free deal going on now.

Okay, I'm dying to know how it went today. Hope it wasn't too painful.

I found my first chin hair about a year ago -- seemed like it was an inch long. I got very upset with the family and was going off, "Why did ya'll let me walk around like that!!!???"

But in all fairness, it wasn't as much LONG as it was stiff. But very light -- as are the fine hairs on my upper lip. I'm pretty sure the laser thingy wouldn't work for me, otherwise, I'd go tomorrow.

I know a couple of dear hearts I'd love to give them an anonymous gift certificate for laser treatments, but just don't have the heart to bring it up face-to-face!

Please God, let someone always love me enough to tell me when its time to tweeze and to do it for me or take me to get something done if I can't afford it!!!!

I found my first chin hair about a year ago -- seemed like it was an inch long. I got very upset with the family and was going off, "Why did ya'll let me walk around like that!!!???

But in all fairness, it wasn't as much LONG as it was stiff. But very light -- as are the fine hairs on my upper lip. I'm pretty sure the laser thingy wouldn't work for me, otherwise, I'd go tomorrow.

I know a couple of dear hearts I'd love to give them an anonymous gift certificate for laser treatments, but just don't have the heart to bring it up face-to-face!

You can send me an anonymous gift certificate for laser treatment..... I won't be offended. Just kidding, lol. My hairs are dark and stiff and it totally sucks. When I get to my goal weight, I am going to reward myself with laser hair removal, and believe me, I'm gonna get the works. I would be perfectly fine with absolutely no hair on my body, except for my head, I think I'll keep that.

Just curious -- a heard some ladies talking a couple of years ago about a 'treatment' that some spas or salons do to remove skin tags....

But I can't find out the name of it or how to go about tracking down a salon that does it. The GP or dermatologists charge SOOO much because they can't claim it on insurance, I may as well go to a spa to get it done.

I just don't know how to find one. Anyone know what I'm talking about??

Sorry, guys! I meant to post right after I got back from my first treatment last Monday, but I wound up going to my parents' house and didn't have internet. Anyway, the treatment wasn't bad, for the most part. A lot of it, I could either just barely feel or not feel at all. Some of it, though, felt like I was being jabbed with a handful of needles and the person jabbing me was raking them down my skin. Luckily, that was only in a couple of places, apparently where I had large patches of closely-packed, extremely coarse, dark hair. The technician was very good, though, stopping whenever I needed to take a break. The whole think only lasted a few minutes. I can already tell a difference, I think. The spa is making me wait 8 weeks betweeen treatments, so my next one isn't until the middle of January. I'm rather happy with the experience, since everyone was very nice and the treatment wasn't as painful as I thought it would be. Plus, if I don't have to use all 5 treatments that are incuded in the package, they'll give me a credit for what I don't use, so that's nice.

Just curious -- a heard some ladies talking a couple of years ago about a 'treatment' that some spas or salons do to remove skin tags....

But I can't find out the name of it or how to go about tracking down a salon that does it. The GP or dermatologists charge SOOO much because they can't claim it on insurance, I may as well go to a spa to get it done.

I just don't know how to find one. Anyone know what I'm talking about??

I've heard of freezing or burning them off, but I don't know what the procedure is called or if you could get it done at a spa. :noidea:

Some of it, though, felt like I was being jabbed with a handful of needles and the person jabbing me was raking them down my skin. Luckily, that was only in a couple of places, apparently where I had large Patches of closely-packed, extremely coarse, dark hair.

My understanding is the more hair you have, and most especially if that hair is above a bone, that's where it's more painful. When it's above a bone, the laser ricochets off the bone and back again, causing more pain. That's why my legs (shins mostly) were horribly painful and my knees, feet, and toes were practically unbearable. The face (except for the sideburns area) and underarms hurt a lot less.

My understanding is the more hair you have, and most especially if that hair is above a bone, that's where it's more painful. When it's above a bone, the laser ricochets off the bone and back again, causing more pain. That's why my legs (shins mostly) were horribly painful and my knees, feet, and toes were practically unbearable. The face (except for the sideburns area) and underarms hurt a lot less.

Sounds pretty accurate. The most painful spots for me were right on the tip of my chin, and at the edge of my jaw. I have a few spots where the hair is very heavy there. Not comfortable at all. Otherwise, though, I didn't feel much.

Just wanted to give you guys an update.

I just had treatment 6 and I am soooooo satisfied with the results so far! She said I will probably need two more treatments which we scheduled 6 weeks apart.

Maybe a little electrolysis down the road.

Just wanted to give you guys an update.

I just had treatment 6 and I am soooooo satisfied with the results so far! She said I will probably need two more treatments which we scheduled 6 weeks apart.

Maybe a little electrolysis down the road.

I'm glad you are having good results with it. I will eventually have laser hair removal and it's nice to know that many are pleased with their results. Oh, the joys of PCOS...

I just had the 4th of my 5 treatments. Good news is that this is working wonderfully. I had a great skin reaction to the laser, so I'm hoping that the hair at those spots won't be back (a good indicator of positive results is a temporary reddened bump appearing at the hair follicle). Bad news is that they got a new type of laser, and boy does it HURT. The old one was a dry laser, this new one is a wet laser, where they use gel on your skin. It's much faster than the old one, which is great, but it's more painful. It's not so bad at first, but then it seems to build up and winds up excruciating.

I just had the 4th of my 5 treatments. Good news is that this is working wonderfully. I had a great skin reaction to the laser, so I'm hoping that the hair at those spots won't be back (a good indicator of positive results is a temporary reddened bump appearing at the hair follicle). Bad news is that they got a new type of laser, and boy does it HURT. The old one was a dry laser, this new one is a wet laser, where they use gel on your skin. It's much faster than the old one, which is great, but it's more painful. It's not so bad at first, but then it seems to build up and winds up excruciating.

Now I'm scared! No, just kidding. I don't care how bad it hurts as long as it gets all this hair off of my face. The laser treatment is going to be my reward for making it to goal. Sorry it was so painful though. Do they think 5 treatments are going to be enough? I've always heard that women with PCOS may need a few extras.

Now I'm scared! No, just kidding. I don't care how bad it hurts as long as it gets all this hair off of my face. The laser treatment is going to be my reward for making it to goal. Sorry it was so painful though. Do they think 5 treatments are going to be enough? I've always heard that women with PCOS may need a few extras.

I'm hoping it will. I've had great results so far, and I've gone from having hair basically all over the front of my neck and along my jawline to only having a couple of spots on my neck that are about the size of a dime each. From what I can tell so far, all the visible hair follicles in both of those spots seems to have had a reaction to this last treatment. If I need more treatments, though, they've said that they aren't as expensive as the whole package was. I think it's something like $50 if it's less than 10 hairs, a little more expensive for more hair.

Believe me, don't let yourself get talked out of laser treatment because of the pain. Even as painful as this last treatment was, I'd still do it again in a heartbeat. And seriously, this treatment was over in less than 3 minutes with the wet laser. even with the tech going over a few spots multiple times. It really hurt, but it was FAST. It probably would have felt better, honestly, if I'd had the same technician that I'd used for the other treatments. The other one was better about stopping for a bit when it was getting too painful for me. This one would only hesitate a few seconds if I flinched away from the laser.

I'm definitely going to try to save up for more laser treatments. I'm hoping that my eventual tummy tuck will get rid of most of my abdominal hair (TMI, probably), but my leg and arm hair is very obvious. Even after shaving, you can see my leg hair follicles because I'm so fair-skinned. And I've been waxing my arms, so I'm tempted to just do laser on them.

Just curious -- a heard some ladies talking a couple of years ago about a 'treatment' that some spas or salons do to remove skin tags....

But I can't find out the name of it or how to go about tracking down a salon that does it. The GP or dermatologists charge SOOO much because they can't claim it on insurance, I may as well go to a spa to get it done.

I just don't know how to find one. Anyone know what I'm talking about??

Pam I just cut them off with a good sharp pair of cuticle scissors. I've been doing this for years with no ill effects. Some are pretty vascular so be ready with a tissue.

I'm hoping it will. I've had great results so far, and I've gone from having hair basically all over the front of my neck and along my jawline to only having a couple of spots on my neck that are about the size of a dime each. From what I can tell so far, all the visible hair follicles in both of those spots seems to have had a reaction to this last treatment. If I need more treatments, though, they've said that they aren't as expensive as the whole package was. I think it's something like $50 if it's less than 10 hairs, a little more expensive for more hair.

Believe me, don't let yourself get talked out of laser treatment because of the pain. Even as painful as this last treatment was, I'd still do it again in a heartbeat. And seriously, this treatment was over in less than 3 minutes with the wet laser. even with the tech going over a few spots multiple times. It really hurt, but it was FAST. It probably would have felt better, honestly, if I'd had the same technician that I'd used for the other treatments. The other one was better about stopping for a bit when it was getting too painful for me. This one would only hesitate a few seconds if I flinched away from the laser.

I'm definitely going to try to save up for more laser treatments. I'm hoping that my eventual tummy tuck will get rid of most of my abdominal hair (TMI, probably), but my leg and arm hair is very obvious. Even after shaving, you can see my leg hair follicles because I'm so fair-skinned. And I've been waxing my arms, so I'm tempted to just do laser on them.

I am hoping get my legs done too. After shaving, you can see my hair follicles too and my hair is soooo dark. I'm undecided about my arms. The hair on my arms isn't near as dark or thick as the rest of my hair. My neice, who is almost 17, told me that a lot of girls in high school shave their arms. I am afraid to even attempt that one because I fear it will come back thicker and darker. If I have good results with my face and legs, I might have my arms done.

I'm glad you are pleased with your results. I can't wait until it's my turn!