Hair post-plastics...

I had an extended TT and brachioplasty a few weeks ago.  Starting to feel cooped up in the house - that's a good sign that I'm getting better!!

My question is this - with both my pubic area and arm pits, the plastics have "moved around" the skin with hair somewhat.  I find that my pubic hair is PRETTY high now (or maybe I just couldn't see it before under my panni?) and my armpit hair is no longer right in my armpit, but kind of spread a bit up the underarm area toward my upper arm?  Know what I mean?  Most of my armpit hair is gone (YEAH!) but there is this little strip.

Anyway - anybody else have this?  How did you deal with it post surgery (immediate and long-term)?  Shave?  Nair?  Laser?  Electrolysis?

Erica, I had laser hair removal about 8 years ago and it is all gone...haven't shaved my legs, pitts or pubic area in at least 6 years.  I'd recommend you do this once all healed.  They can shape the pubic hair and only leave it where you want it.  I have a small strip right down the middle and it looks nice and clean.


Laura

Ok - I have NO idea where to even start with this.  Is it some kind of clinic or did you go to a plastic surgeon or something?

The thought of NO hair sounds terrific - legs and all huh?  Did it hurt?  Leave a mark?

Well I do believe that both Dermatologists and PS's do it.  There are also laser hair removal clinics.  It hurts a little bit...like a rubber band snapping on your skin.  But they have topical creams that have an anesthetic in them to make it more comfortable.  I love being hair free.  And, no it did not leave any marks...just smooth skin!

Laura

Hi Erica,

I cornered the market in razor blades and shave gel.  I'm having laser hair removal right now along with treatments for my LBL scar, hip to hip, to lighten and smooth it.  I'm having them at my PS office.  Laser treatments, especially IPLs, should be done only by thoroughly trained professionals.  I've read a good amount of horror stories about people being burned and scarred (just search "IPL" and you can read both the good and the bad for yourself.) So far, I've had 3 Genesis and IPL treatments. The IPL is removing some of the hair below the scar, the trapped hair within the scar (which had caused bumps all along the scar line), and the redness; the Genesis is lightening and smoothing the scar.  The person who does this in his office is a surgical R.N. who went through lengthy training and has been doing laser work for about 10 years.  I'm sure there are qualified aestheticians, but for me personally, I feel more comfortable in my doctor's office with a medical professional.

The good news is after three treatments, I'm already see a great deal of improvement.  I am having eight total.  Keep in mind too that the results continue to accrue after the treatments end.

Best wishes,

Terri

Ok - I had read this somewhere - thank you for confirming.  I don't want some quack frying my skin lol.

I am confused.. what happens after PS that you need to have laser??  Does something happen during surgery to make your hair change?

Nothing happens to the hair per se - it just "shifts" position with the movement of the skin.  My armpit hair is no longer deep in my armpit - it is nearer to the outside edge of my "pit" area.  And in a kind of weird "strip" along my incision (where most of the rest of the hairy area was cut off).  And my "down south" hair isn't quite as far "down south" as it used to be - KWIM?  ;0)

I'm thinking it's time to get things taken care of.

Plus in both areas it runs RIGHT up to my incision line.  It is hard to shave there right now (without cutting myself on the little "raised" area that is the newly healing incision) and I don't know if that will get any better as time goes on...?

Omg! I would of never of thought of that...totally makes sense now.  I have recently gotton laser on my lip and chin and I just love it.  It is amazing that I dont have to tweeze or wax.  It works great!  I will not have to look into doing some more!!

Aloha-

I discovered this problem post-weight loss but pre-plastics- when I hit goal, I had lost so much fat and built up so much muscle that my axillae ( armpits) became incredibly deep- like a 3-4 inch deep pocket. You can kind of see it in my photos. I didn't reaize it, because I was so used to just gliding my razor down each side quickly in the shower....but when I shaved, I was missing the entire middle strip of hair- and it wasn't til I stood in front of the mirror with both arms raised that ( gasp) I realized I had a perfect stripe of hair right down the middle of each armpit, and it was about 2 inches long- eeeek! Remember I was still very mirror phobic even after that amount of weight loss, so I NEVER stood in front of mirrors and gazed for very long.

I did not have the problem with my bikini line, even thopugh I lost 8 inches of skin on my front- most of my lower body lift was an upper body skin pulled DOWN, I guess. I have heard other women complain about this, though, post LBL.

I looked into Laser- eeek, about $350-400 per session at PS or aesthetician's, multiplied  times 5-7 treatments. I found a nurse who travels with her laser and "batches" treatments when she comes into town- sets up appointments every half hour all day long- and her cost is only $100 per session/half hour. It might be something to mention at your PS or aesthetician's office- if you were to collect/refer a bunch of patients and batch their appointments during a slow time, or host at someone's home, like hosting a Botox party, you might all be able to barter quite a deal and save some money.

It's been great- I've had 5 sessions over the past 8 months and do not see the need to shave at all. So get inventive - in this economy, you are bound to find someone who wants to maximize their time with an expenditure considered to be a luxury, after all, their laser isn't generateing any income if it's not being used, but they still have to pay the purchase or lease price....

Good luck- and yes, totally unexpected side effect of the weight loss! XOXOLori