If It Doesn't Hurt It's Not Working

Well tomorrow I will be getting a PDT. It stands for PhotoDynamic Therapy and its when you but this aminolevulanic acid on your face and then wait 12 hours and then use 4 different lasers on your face. It reduces pore size, eliminates pimples and acne and any redness, diminishes brown spots (I'm not that old yet), improves wrinkles and sundamage, evens out your skin tone and texture and pretty much brings your skin back about 10 years. And the joke is that it stands for Pretty Darn Terrible.

After putting the acid on my face I will begin to look like a beet. This will take place at about 12 o'clock tonight. Then when I head to work in the morning, I have to wear a hat and scarf to protect my face from the sun, if I am exposed to UV I will get an immediate sunburn and be in immense pain. This includes the fluorescent lights in the office, therefore I will be wearing my hat and scarf until about noon at which time I will be lasered. The lasers feel like someone is snapping rubber bands all over your already sensitive face. If I am not dying from excrutiating pain at this time, I can opt to participate in laser hair removal (anyone who thinks that hair removal is painless is kidding themselves). Then I will be sent home. I will be able to expose my self to the sun without the aforementioned risks, but it will be painful to do so....so basically I will be a shut in until Saturday night. At which time my skin will peel off. Then I will have skin like a baby.

I know it sounds pretty painful, but everyone in the office has done it and they all insist that it works and that it is so worth it and that they would do it again (and they do, once a year). Whenever there are new creams or lotions or beauty techniques and we ask the doctor if they will work she always says "If it doesn't hurt, it's not working" SO basically exchanging excrutiating pain will get huge results...maybe. Not gonna lie, I'm nervous. I prepared myself by getting all the items an agoraphobic would be happy to have. I rented three movies and I have TONS of books. ( I rented Aquamarine, and yes, the guy at Blockbuster said I was the oldest person that he has seen rent it) I also bought lots of food. I thought I would post a before pic so that we can all judge the results...and so that I can post a picture of my beet face tomorrow! And you will also see the stick of death...the acid that I will be rubbing on tonight.

Wish me luck!


In typical "before" photo fashion, I have removed all my make up and I have a stupid look on my face...but let's be honest, if I looked good, it wouldn't be the "before" picture.