Some really helpful advice everyone. Thanks. I'll refer back to this thread once I've saved up enough money to do it at the places you have recommended. No point in going through all that trouble and pain if it doesn't work properly 
Hopefully by next summer even if I don't have the bikini body I want I'll at least be hairless in all the right places!

My other piece of advice is to use a medical IPL centre and not a beauty salon offering IPL. I used renew medica and although painful (but no more than very bad period pain and much better than child birth) was very happy with the results. I had my underarms done nearly 7 years ago and even now I have a child i just have the very occasion hair coming thro- which i tweezer out. My bikini line i didn't quite finish so again have a few hairs and maybe once a year i have the area that i didnt get to done. The beauty salons who have done the waxing always comment on how well it worked for me unlike other clients. When i ask if they know where they went they always say one of the local beauty salons who offer IPL.

Good luck - its fantastic and so worth the money!

I have just recently started having it at the Wimbledon branch of Harley Medical Group. The 1st session was painful. I am having my under arm, bikini line, moustache and full leg done! The underarm was pretty agony, the bikini line and 'tache were fine and the leg...oh my word! The lower half of the leg was agony - especially round the ankle and all down the shin bone.
They told me the 1st session is the worst so i am hopefully it will be easier but the bikini line is fine - i didn't feel a thing actually and the results are incredible. I used to have to shave my underams and bikini line every day and i have only shaved them once in 5 weeks and the skin is so smooth and that's only after 1 treatment.
Can't recommend it enough but:
1. take a paracetamol half an hour before
2. do not go if you're on your period
3. use EMLA cream - i am going to do that for the next leg session as anything must help!
Good luck!

Hello
I am on my 3rd of 6 treatments with the Purity Skin centre on Clapham High Street who claim to have pain free technology. Whilst, I would not agree with that entirely, I would say that it's more uncomfortable than painful for most of it, until you get to the more sensitive spots and then, it's probably on par with a bikini wax.
I am doing underarms and bikini and hope to be hair free by Christmas - Hoorah!

It is painful but bearable. The therapist had told me before that it's close to the sensation that you get when you cook something and that some oil/butter split over quickly on your hand. It's exactly that.

I had it done before childbirth so I think that after childbirth, I would now find it less painful !

One other thing: someone told me that there's no point doing it before you have children as the hormonal changes you go through during pregnancy may affect your hair growth. In other words, it could come back. It did a tad for me.

Thanks for the advice. Its good to hear from someone thats done it rather than rely on the sales patter. I guess I'd better start saving up for it

I found it painful but applying Emla cream (available over the counter) beforehand really really helps.

I am half way through a course of laser on my bikini area and although the first time was incredibly painful (I put it up there with childbirth!) I am so thrilled with the results and very happy I have gone through the process. The second and third times were far less painful (less hair to zap, and I was more mentally prepared).

The results have been amazing and I haven't had a single ingrown hair since and my skin is baby smooth. I can't recommend it enough (for the bikini area) if you can put up with a painful first treatment. The treatments take about 15 mins, so it's over very quickly.

I showed the results to the beautician who used to do my Bikini waxes and she's booking in to go herself ha ha.

I went through the Harley Medical Group, Wimbledon branch.

Good luck

Has anyone had laser hair removal underarms/bikini line?

I'm thinking about doing it, but wanted to have some advice. Does it hurt? Is it true that the laser kills of sweat glands too? What are the longer term effects? Is it really safe?

Thanks in advance for taking the time to respond.