Hi everyone…I just figured I would circle back 6 months later and give a follow up to my journey…
I started electrolysis on the sides of my face and the back of my neck in January…with the exception of maybe 2 weeks, I have been going weekly. (I have been tweezing my face for years) I ventured out a couple of times and had her work on my upper lip as well as the line below my belly button (I currently get both waxed)…needless to say, the lip and belly didn’t work out for me…too painful…went back to waxing
I have been using a numbing cream about 30 minutes before my appointment and it has made all the difference in the world! (for whatever reason, the cream didn’t help enough on my lip and belly)
Anyway, so 6 months later, I am happy to report I can ABSOLUTELY see a difference…I no longer HAVE to go weekly and I am now starting to go every other week. Today it will be 2 and a half weeks since my last appointment and while I can’t wait to go, it isn’t horrible. When I started, I would never have been able to leave my house if I stopped tweezing for 2 weeks. The hair that comes back is FAR less and it is much thinner and lighter. The first few months, I was feeling a little deflated because it seemed like every week I had a mess to deal with, but I am so glad I hung in there…it was literally overnight that things have slowed down…I hope I am not being overly optimistic, but I feel like I can see a light at the end of the tunnel…I suspect I still have another 6 months to a year, but I think the appointments will start to be a bit more spread out and shorter as I go forward.
This site was wonderful for me when I started - all my questions were answered and I felt like if I needed support, I could come here…I wanted to post my follow up so people see what an “uneventful” treatment is like (I hope mine continues to be “uneventful”)
Thanks for the update! It makes me feel hopeful because I think I am in a similar boat! I began my treatment in March of this year so I’m a little behind you. I’ve plucked my chin and lip daily since high school (I am 32!!), have been going weekly and seeing consistent amounts of grow-in with no relief in sight, etc. I think I am finally starting to see a slight difference (knock on wood). I had to miss an appointment two weeks ago, had a longer catch-up session last week, and now it seems like I have much less to deal with for my appt tomorrow. I am waiting to post a treatment diary until I have good news to share and I feel more assured that the amount of hair is really getting lighter.
I find the upper lip really painful too. I have found a combo of things that help (exercise prior to appt, tons of water, Advil (or Vicodin if I can get it!!) and a double dose of numbing creme), but nothing makes it totally awesome. I’m committed though because it’s a bad scene up there.
Hello! I hope you don’t mind me jumping on board this thread! I logged in to post an update and saw you, Helpme, had done the same! (Except mine was was going to be called ‘7 months on’).
I too am pleased to report definite progress! It seems to have taken a little longer but as I tipped into the 7th month mark I noticed a big difference! Over the past month or two I though my hair had thinned out a little but wasn’t too sure but I can definitely tell now!
I am 30 and I have course black/grey hairs on my chin and side of lips. I started off going for 30 min weekly, then 15 min weekly and I have just been told I can staring coming in for 15 minutes once a fortnight! Wahoo! (Although, I’m a little scared to jump straight to that so I’m going every 10 days for the next few sessions).
Just like Helpme, on the day before my ‘zap’ I know I have some hair, but nothing like it was!!! And I also hope I’m not being over optimistic and know there is a long way to go but I actually feel confident to say electrolysis works! The first 5 months were definitely the hardest for me - seeing so much hair coming in each week and thinking it would never end, but I am so glad I stuck with it!
If you haven’t tried EMLA covered (occluded) with plastic wrap for 60 minutes prior to your treatment, that is an excellent anesthetic for your upper lip. You might also consider trying Maximum Strength OraJel in the same fashion. It contains 20% benzocaine, which is not quite as effective as xylocaine/lidocaine, but effective nevertheless.
Dee, I’m not using the OraJel, I’m using a prescription 10% lidocaine/xylocaine spray on my upper lip. I’ve read about other people (in other forums) using the OraJel for topical numbing before skin “work”.
