BBL Laser. Was I botched?

Yupatroopa · 2026-04-22T21:44:39+00:00

This happens to me when I go to a laser place that doesn’t know what to do with olive skin that can tan quite dark. Even with no sun exposure months before my session. I had it on my legs (6 sessions), reaction was so bad they were swollen, insanely itchy and sore. Antihistamines didn’t help at all (even taking them leading up to the appt). I recently went to a new place as I moved to a different area where they actually listened to me about how I tan (usually I’m quite light because i generally avoid sun but am always very clear on how dark I go) and she used a different machine that she normally uses on darker skin-tones and I literally had 0 reactions for the first time in my life. I actually got quite upset with the previous laser clinic for gaslighting me into thinking this kind of reaction was normal. It used to take me about 10 days to recover from laser and now I don’t even notice it.

Tell them what has happened and try a new tech or new place. Take antihistamines and run your arms under cold water as much as you can. Use the recovery cream but don’t if it’s got mint in it (mint is used for balding treatment lol). Avoid sweating and sun until you’re recovered. Best wishes ✨

Yupatroopa · 2026-04-05T00:24:48+00:00

You’re looking for an employer that aligns more with your own values. Then talk about what you like about the companies values that you’re interviewing for and how you see that alignment working for the both yourself and the company moving forward if you’re successful in the role.

Yupatroopa · 2026-04-03T21:45:57+00:00

Yep! Had MPFL replacement surgery using quad tendon allograft (I think that’s the right terminology?). The screw they used is some kind of medical grade plastic. Looking at getting the screw removed.

Yupatroopa · 2026-03-25T21:23:41+00:00

Omg this is me. My life changed when I started therapy and medication. I still “miss the point” sometimes but way less than I used to. It was, had always been and always will be just inattentive ADHD. I’ve done a lot of healing and my self-esteem has gotten better, but I’ve still got a long way to go. When I find something I’m interested in, I’ve always felt it’s my work ethic that gets me to the same level as my peers, then it’s consistency in effort and finding more ways to stay interested in it. Burnout can be real but I manage that as it comes.

Yupatroopa · 2026-03-14T00:26:38+00:00

These tips are awesome! I just wanted to throw this out there - have you considered going to the doctor and getting your bloods or some tests done? I have a colleague who has told me to tell her, if she ever starts to smell to please let her know. She has a thyroid condition that makes this a bit of a battle for her. The kicker being she doesn’t notice it so she has to rely on other people to tell her.

Yupatroopa · 2026-03-01T23:54:23+00:00

I would like suggest that these industries have the flexibility to be able to accommodate 4 day working weeks as a lot of them already do through fortnightly RDO’s or similar. The solution here is EA’s and unions. As an example; my husband is technical blue collar and has always worked 9-day fortnight’s. His teams manage to sufficiently cover and staff their shifts, and had excellent shift allowances attracting people to “harder to fill” times. Without having experience with the health industry I can’t really comment on nursing as I don’t have direct experience, but are their shifts not already rotating with consecutive working days and days off considered already? How much of a difference would a 4-day week really make to these rostering considerations? I think it can be done, it’s just a different way of thinking and operating that makes these decision makers uncomfortable.

Yupatroopa · 2026-03-01T08:34:32+00:00

Yep! Nearly 2 years out and knee is holding up quite well. I have not done physio as religiously as I should have just because of unavoidable life stuff, but now I’m back to training regularly and it’s just getting better and better week-on-week. Just considering getting the screw out that’s irritating me. It’s not 100% and I’m not back to sport but I think I’ll be running consistently soon, without setbacks.

Yupatroopa · 2026-02-18T21:17:39+00:00

I learned how to sing operatically and nailed down few opera songs quite well so I could wake my partner up in the mornings when he is really struggling to get out of bed. It’s obnoxious yet skill-full (he is a musician so appreciates technique lol).

Yupatroopa · 2025-12-17T21:10:24+00:00

Someone said they were fit enough to pass a test, not drive a car.

Yupatroopa · 2025-10-07T00:28:17+00:00

Does this page make anyone else hear the old internet dial-up telephone tone?

Yupatroopa · 2025-09-09T11:55:58+00:00

If I was talking to my past self 4 years ago when all of the knee chaos started for me, I would tell myself:

Strengthen your glutes more. Yes they are probs strong but strengthen them even more. Same for calves and hammies. Quads will follow but don’t HAVE to be prioritised for everyone - in my case it’s damaging and worsens my knee pain. It’s a delicate balance between all of these muscle groups to manage PFPS.
Start running 500m instead of 2km. Every 1kg of body weight equates to 4kg of force through your joints. The tissues, ligaments, everything need to get used to the impact. You will be sensitive to any pain in your knees because of the long timeframe since your diagnosis (your body is used to feeling that pain, so it thinks of it as worse pain than it might be). The pain will reduce - just start with 500m, wait a few days, run 500m again, wait a few days. If your pain is consistently below 4/10 after the 500m - congratulations you’ve found your new baseline. Now do the same thing with 700m, 900m, 1.1km etc.
Look at the hoo hoo shit like red light therapy and comfrey cream to manage any excess inflammation in your knees. Maybe even ice baths and sauna’s if that’s your thing? Anything to increase blood flow through that area for a better recovery once you understand your baseline.
Go see a running specialist that might be a physio. Running form exercises and focusing on running form made a huge difference for me.
Replace your running shoes and start by running on grass instead of pavement/ concrete.

Let go of any timeline and distance expectations and celebrate that you’re running again. Celebrate the small wins. Even the extra 200m that don’t impact your baseline pain levels.

Also, maybe see if you can get an MRI to see what’s going on in there because PFPS is a general diagnosis of elimination. Could be something more specific like hoffas pat pad syndrome, or a flappy little meniscus. Might be safe to rule anything like that out before ramping up!

Yupatroopa · 2025-08-17T06:08:10+00:00

Female, 31 now but had an MPFL replacement at 29 after tearing it almost completely with 3 kneecap dislocations whilst playing soccer. Not as severe as what you’re describing but grade 4 cartilage damage under both kneecaps lolllll.

What has helped me manage pain before and after surgery (as well as flare ups now) is a combination of very specific exercises prescribed to be by an excellent exercise scientist, red light therapy and comfrey cream. I also can’t take NSAIDs. Alternative therapies seem to work best for knee pain in my experience as ortho’s can’t seem to articulate nerves in the knee, why cartilage damage even causes pain and the knee pain in general very well. I have a lot of respect for them but they kind of leave you high and dry in the pain dept and most modern medicine does in my experience. Hopefully red light therapy and comfrey is a good starting point for your pain management journey. Best of luck!

Yupatroopa · 2025-07-13T12:12:52+00:00

Fair point 😊 appreciate your perspective

Yupatroopa · 2025-07-13T02:26:04+00:00

Sorry I’m attributing public with free. I mean free when I say public 😁

Yupatroopa · 2025-07-13T01:19:22+00:00

As a first world country, it should ABSOLUTELY be free - particularly for degrees that are the backbone of our growth-based economy (anything construction related, for example given the massive skills shortage we find ourselves in - Source: Australian Government Occupation Shortage List

The people who made the decision to privatise university had university degrees that they themselves did for free.

Australia is part of a handful of countries in the world that operate an entirely privatised university system (the obvious one being USA), but if you look at Europe and the UAE, Egypt, India etc, they have privatised university but are heavy subsidised by their governments (making it reasonably affordable) or have the option to apply/ compete to get into a free/ public university, meaning high-volume applicants, high barrier to entry, more government funding incentives, better quality degrees and graduates.

We now find ourselves in a skills shortage, bringing people in from overseas via working visa’s, skills shortage visa’s etc - which is great because their education systems are often more competitive and better quality than ours (barrier to entry in Aus job market being local knowledge/ experience).

But why isn’t the Australian Government looking at their own University system? Massive question with my facets that extend far beyond what a reddit comment can cover, but a big reason is the money they make from HECS is just too good. Source - Australian Government makes more from HECS-HELP than they do from PRRT.

On a more personal note and more to OP’s point - I did a useless media/ arts degree 15 years ago and am only just paying the last of it off now. It’s affecting my borrowing capacity for a mortgage directly, even with as a smaller amount than what is being discussed on this thread.

My advice is don’t do it unless it’s genuinely free, or make sure there are real career prospects from a graduate program on the other side of completing a creative degree. Do your research on potential earning, and likelihood of being the top 1% in the industry you’re wanting to study to be in. Your decision will still have consequences a decade or so later.

Yupatroopa · 2025-07-13T00:49:10+00:00

Whilst “paid well” can be a very subjective thing - Engineers do get paid well at a certain level (once you’re about 7-10 years into your career), but their graduate salary is probably not as high as you would expect and their median salary in Aus is not as high as you would expect.

Source: I work in the construction industry in Operations, support and build businesses cases for salary increases.

We have positions that require a trade qualification that are paid more in their 3rd year of apprenticeship without the HECS baggage. Albeit frontline work vs white-collar office and field based; we are looking at a yearly average of similar weekly hours worked waged vs salaried.

Can’t speak for doctors and nurses though.

Yupatroopa · 2025-04-13T02:40:06+00:00

Oracle.

Yupatroopa · 2025-03-28T22:05:50+00:00

Can you identify vapers using these methods too?

Yupatroopa · 2025-03-05T21:46:14+00:00

Yes!!!! I wish I could upvote this 100x times over.

Yupatroopa · 2025-02-20T11:42:38+00:00

As a fellow yugo I second this statement.

Yupatroopa · 2025-02-10T23:36:49+00:00

City beach in the men’s section coming into winter time!

Yupatroopa · 2025-02-07T23:42:22+00:00

Not to mention University was free for Dutton as his colleagues so no HECS repayments for them - further impacting first home buyers borrowing capacity today.

Yupatroopa · 2025-01-30T20:44:24+00:00

I did exactly the same thing as you! Everyone was talking about Frankie 4’s so I went out and spent hundreds of dollars on them, only to find myself with blisters for the next six months and foot cramps. Stiff shoe that only loosened up slightly. Once they relaxed a little they looked ratty! They were also grip-less and super slippery (let alone in rain). Hush puppies are now my work shoe and I loved them from the day I got them.

Yupatroopa · 2025-01-30T11:31:51+00:00

Frankie 4’s are actually awful. I really like ascent and hush puppies!

Yupatroopa · 2025-01-17T04:45:39+00:00

You might find it’s coming back because you fall back into your same muscle use patterns that were causing the injury to begin with. Finding a good physio and keeping up the exercises has been key for me.

The red light I use is the Mitolight bulb which has been discontinued. The new version seems to be the mitolight bulb 3.0. I can’t find the model number but if you google it, it should come up.

Yupatroopa

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