A question for professionals

Hair Removal Methods Professional Electrolysis
#1

The answer to your question is No and Yes.

Most electrologists practice in such a way that they would only effect permanent removal on anagen hairs only. Hairs in other phases would be weakened, but would return thinner and weaker later. At that time they can be killed for good with a lower treatment energy.

There is a process that has shown that hairs in any phase can be treated, but since it is more painful, very few electrologists outside of Japan practice it.

So although there is a way to do it, most US and UK electrologists don’t practice it, and if you are getting full clearances anyway, there is no need to do it because you will look finished while catching up with the other hairs as they come in. An electrologist can treat hairs you can’t even see yet. This is especially true of those who have better vision equipment than a simple circle lamp.

James,

Can I ask what method you are referring to? This involves a double pulse right? Do you know any figures involving kill rates and such for this procedure? Any information you have would be great.

Thanks,
Jes

#2

I’m sorry, I did not mean to exclude anyone. I would accept information from any of you.
Thanks!

#3

Hi Jes,

The technique you are referring to is the Kobayashi Yamata technique and was obviously developed in Japan where it is still more widely practiced than elsewhere.

I was taught a variation of this during my training, but I do not use it as there really doesn’t seem to be much advantage to increasing the discomfort of a treatment without the clinical data to support any additional benefits from it.

Basically, the Kobayashi Yamata technique involves a different treatment pattern than normal thermolysis. This is a dual pulse thermolysis mode that uses 1 pulse to break a catogen to late telogen hair free from the inner rooth sheath and then the probe is further inserted to the determined “full anagen depth” for the area being worked and a second pulse is released. The intent is to destroy the remaining germinative cells in the remaining portion of the dermal papilla after the hair has seperated from the root, beginning it’s ascent up the inner root sheath.

There are two things that I have personal concerns with regards to this type of treatment. The first is that the dermal papilla of a telogen hair will have already moved quite a bit closer to the outer skin. Inserting to full anagen depth will penetrate the lower portion of the hair follicle and the energy will be released into the surrounding tissues of the skin. This can greatly increase the discomfort for the client during treatment.

The second item is that it takes electrolysis from a relatively uninvasive to a more invasive therapy and increases the risks for infections and skin damage.

Another thing to consider with this. The vast majority of the clients that I treat are able to deal quite nicely with a quick zap of microflash, have the treated hair epilated and then move on to the next hair. This is quick and effective and a lot safer.

Joanie <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

#4

And I agree.

#5

Hi Jes,

If you are curious about the “double pulse” noted in your post, currently, many involved in development, education, and research, are using this application more.

A leading manufacturer in Canada, Dectro., the manufacturer of the Apilus, Mr. Clemont Beaumont, has noted some advantages of pulsing in micro flash and even suggests that we treat hairs in telogen as we can weaken the follicle as we are still able to destroy the bulge area. In addition, the owner of a school in Illinois, Suzanne Anderer, talks about the advantages of pulsing as a way to minimize regrowth.

Those noted above each have several decades of experience in the field of electrology and have applied theory, tested theory, shifted from theory… and what ever they share is worth a try so I have started to do a lot more pulsing in my practice. It takes time to track and see the results.

Although pulsing techniques differ, many educators are suggesting using microflash with pulsing (micropulsing)however one has to learn how to use the pulsing application in order to maintain the integrity of the skin. The discomfort that comes with pulsing is minimized with these newer epilators that can release energy at thousanths of a second.

The goal is to complete a client as quickly as possible as it would be ideal to complete a client in under a year; this is rarely the case with standard thermolysis.

Perhaps those noted above have some documented studies.