In today’s blog, we’re talking to the lovely Hannah Smethills. She has kindly taken the time to tell us about her experiences with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and how life-changing laser hair removal has been.
Hi Hannah, thank you so much for chatting with LaserHQ. Shall we start with what made you decide to get laser hair removal?
I couldn’t cope with the excess hair on my face any longer. I’ve struggled with it since I was 18, and I’m 30 now, and I wish I’d had laser done back then! For years, I managed it through shaving, but I’d always get bad rashes. Waxing was okay, but the downside was that I’d have to let it grow out for two weeks. I always thought laser hair removal was a pipedream and that it was really expensive – I didn’t realise how achievable it was.
My first step was having it done on my face because the excess hair was making me feel so low, it had such an impact on my life. I was never confident, and it even affected the way I moved and carried myself. I wore scarves a lot. I also always had my hair down. Or, if I wore my hair up, then I’d always have my head down. It isn’t until I look back now that I realise how heartbreaking it was, and it makes me really sad for my old self.
That’s so sad to hear what a huge impact excess hair had on your life, Hannah. Would you mind telling us how PCOS affected your experience?
I was diagnosed with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) when I was 19, and I’m 30 now. It was difficult because it wasn’t really spoken about, and there wasn’t much support around. Because it isn’t a life-threatening condition, it feels like it gets swept under the carpet, and you’re just expected to carry on. I feel lucky that I have good family and friends because it was awful when I was diagnosed, but their support made a huge difference. I felt like I looked so different from women on the TV and around me; I felt really self-conscious. Social media wasn’t as big then, but I can’t imagine what it must be like for young girls going through it now, with social media everywhere. No woman really wants to open up about excess hair, but it’s important that we normalise it and talk about it. It has such a huge impact on your mental wellbeing – that’s something nobody ever tells you about PCOS.
Thank you so much for bravely sharing your experiences with us, Hannah. How did your confidence change when you had your laser hair removal treatments? And why did you decide to go with LaserHQ?
To be honest, I didn’t look at many others for laser hair removal. I knew straight away as soon as I found LaserHQ on Instagram that I liked them. I’d always received email offers on Groupon with laser hair removal, but it wasn’t the route I wanted to go down. As soon as LaserHQ caught my eye, I booked a consultation, and now, I’d never go anywhere else. The girls are amazing, the clinic is gorgeous, and everyone is really friendly – but the most important thing is that you feel comfortable there. It’s quite an intimate thing, and excess hair is very personal, but I’ve always felt completely comfortable at LaserHQ.
It really was the best decision I’ve ever made – and as soon as I booked in for my face, I also booked in for my whole body, and I’m now more than halfway through all my treatments. It’s a lovely environment to be in – everyone’s always laughing and smiling. They’re so professional and you really trust them. I didn’t expect to get the results I have, I didn’t expect to enjoy it, and I didn’t expect to be able to afford it – but it’s exceeded my expectations in every way.
That’s so amazing to hear! We’re so pleased you’re enjoying your treatments with us – that sort of feedback is always incredible for us to hear and it makes us so happy. What would you say to anyone who’s thinking about having laser hair removal?
I would say do it – go for it and do it! The thing I found the most difficult was the battle with myself in my head. I kept telling myself it wasn’t going to work, and I wouldn’t have good results because I was used to the disappointment. But if I can have the results I’ve had that honestly changed my life, then I believe anyone can. It might feel daunting, but go and have that first appointment – it’s the last time you’ll feel low and self-conscious. I really wish I could tell myself to have it done ten years ago, now that I know what an impact the results have had on my life.
What an incredible story – thank you so much for sharing it with us, Hannah!
As part of our’ Break The Taboo at LaserHQ’ campaign, we’re creating literature about Endometriosis and PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), showcasing clients’ stories and experiences, running advertising campaigns and hosting live sessions on social media with hormone and skin specialists. We’re also unveiling our fantastic billboards, close to our clinics in Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester.
To launch this campaign, we’ve created bespoke facial and body hair packages, which will be discounted throughout the campaign period (15th November – 5th December 2021). For every package purchased, we will donate £5 to Endometriosis UK (registered charity 1035810).
According to Endometriosis UK, diagnosis can be difficult and often delayed because it manifests itself in various ways and shares symptoms with other conditions. Recent research shows that there is now an average of 7.5 years between women first seeing a doctor about their symptoms and receiving a firm diagnosis. Please visit Endometriosis UK for more information about symptoms and diagnosis.
Disclaimer: It’s important to say that this blog is not official medical advice – this is based on our experiences of Endometriosis and our clients’ experiences. Please seek medical advice or speak to your GP if you are concerned about any health issues. There are also many resources on our charity partner’s website: Endometriosis UK.
LaserHQ charity fundraising: £5 from every package purchased as part of the ‘Break The Taboo at LaserHQ’ campaign will be donated to Endometriosis UK, registered charity 1035810.
