Ouch! Zap. Ouch! Zap.

March 18, 2006 6:38 AM

Photocaine - for use before laser hair removal. Does anyone have any experience with it? Google isnt too reassuring...

This would be for use in the bikini area (think - Brazilian). Also, its 20$ for a very small 8 oz. jar. The cost, combined with the risk, really make me want an alternative.

posted by anonymous to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (6 answers total)

This isn't directly answering the question, but for what it's worth, I've had laser hair removal (full bikini) without any kind of anesthetic and found the procedure to not be terribly painful at all. Except for a few small spots, I hardly felt it -- in fact, after the first few passes with the laser, I didn't even realize the doctor had started. The "painful" parts were nothing more than a sharp, warm "pop," much like the snapping of a rubber band.

Interestingly, I did use a topical anesthetic (Emla) for laser tattoo removal years ago. You put a very thick layer on and wrapped the area with plastic wrap. It was best to have it on for an hour, basically no more and no less, before the procedure. Any later and it wouldn't have fully anesthetized the area, and any sooner it might wear off before the doctor was done. Now, this was just the ankle area, not the whole legs like in the link you provided -- I'd think covering such a large area and then wrapping them up tightly in plastic would be inadvisable even if she hadn't died.

Feel free to email me if you would like any more anecdotal information about either of these instances.
posted by justonegirl at 8:14 AM on March 18, 2006

Oh, one more thing -- you certainly can take a couple Tylenol (or your pain reliever of choice) beforehand, and avoid scheduling the procedure the week before or during your period. Additionally, know that even the Brazilian takes *way* less time than a waxing -- I'd estimate mine took about 5-10 minutes tops per appointment, for everything to be lasered.
posted by justonegirl at 8:16 AM on March 18, 2006

I've also had a laser hair removal, and I'd agree that you don't need a topical anesthetic. Its overkill - either use nothing or pop a Tylenol (as justonegirl said), and that should be sufficient. If you can withstand waxing, you'll be more than fine with laser.

Secondly, i just have this thing with people referring to Google as the source of information, it bugs me! (Its the newsobserver that isn't reassuring; google just directed you to it. Its like blaming your bad plumber on the Yellow Pages.)
posted by Kololo at 12:50 PM on March 18, 2006

Thirding all the above. It really doesn't hurt all that bad and is over really fast.
posted by RoseovSharon at 1:17 PM on March 18, 2006

I've had laser hair removal and I found that using a lidocane cream (Ela Max) helped.
posted by radioamy at 10:12 PM on March 18, 2006

It is possible to overdose on the chemicals in those creams at the levels suggested by some of the clinics. Just be careful and if you've never had a "cane" drug before test first. I'm fine with them, my mother is horribly sensitive- sends her heartrate through the roof.
posted by fshgrl at 11:15 PM on March 18, 2006