Advice on electrolysis methods

Hair Removal Methods Professional Electrolysis
#1

Hello, i am looking to start electrolysis as soon as possible, thus i would like some advice on the methods used. The area i would first like to treat is upper arms, and if the results are good i will then move on to shoulders/shoulderblades.

I found this place that advertises three methods:diathermy,galvanism and blend. which one do you guys think would be more appropriate in my case? moreover if anyone knows any good places in london,UK please let me know.i’ve searched the site and looked in the referrals but it seems quite hard to find a good place.

I should also add that i am 22 years old and as i’ve read in the forum, it is more difficult for younger people to see results because their body is still producing new hair.so, is it worth it or do you guys think it will be a waste and i should wait a few years?

Thanx, Nick

#2

diathermy, or thermolysis, is fastest (although they say has the lowest kill rate). i would go in for consultation and have them decide. if they’re experienced, you should trust their judgement. it’s not about which method, but more about the skill of the electrologist.

i think it’s worth it to start now. the hairs you have now will still be there if you wait. so why not clear them now, and then just come in to get new hairs that come in later in life?

i would also recommend shaving the area prior to appts so that they’re only treating hair in the growing stage each time. and schedule your treatments longer in the beginning so that you can get your clearance faster and just come in for new hairs that pop up after that.

#3

I don’t think there is anything wrong with starting now. It will just help you as you get older. I would definitely do a lot of reading and research before you get started though.

~ Megan @ Hair Removal [hair-removal-options dot com] A Guide to find the best hair removal option for you

#4

Megan,

Is the link you provide, your site? Do you do laser hair removal?

Thanks,

Dee

#5

Take it from somebody who’s been around the block on this; go with Flash electrolysis, pure thermolysis.

Mantaray
-not a regular at the Galvinism Temple

#6

Thanx 4 the replies guys. i have another question for someone with experience, does electrolysis hurt a lot more than laser? or is it kinda the same thing? specifically, i am talking about the upper arm area. thanx

#7

Hi Nick,

The upper lip is the most sensitive area I’ve had work on to date. The newer machines with microflash, with a good operator, makes this much more tolerable. My electrologist uses a very old Fischer epilator and, while her work is good, it could be a lot more comfortable

So far I have had about 8 hours on my upper lip and I am surviving quite nicely, although I do use a topical and take Tylenol about an hour prior to my treatment.

From reports of a couple of my girlfriends who have had laser on the upper lip, it was not without discomfort, especially later. I realize that this is anectdotal, so perhaps someone with laser experience can give you a better answer in this regards. I am not a suitable candidate for this removal method.

BTW…Beware of anyone who advertises laser as permanent. They are operating outside of FDA guidelines which only allow the term “Hair Reduction” to be used.

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

#8

Nick,
To answer your question as well about whether one modality hurts more than the other, there are too many variables to consider that I don’t have time to list. Pain is very subjective, so what is intolerable for some is no big deal for others. The newer electrolysis equipment offers so many different paths to a treatment being tolerable to the point where a client actually dozes off.

My tattoo clients say that tattooing was far more painful. My laser clients also say that laser was more painful and my electrolysis clients vary their comments about pain sensation, but the neat thing is, if someone is not tolerating a certain level for their electrolysis treatment, I can make some adjustments, so as to get them to the point where we can happily proceed, without anesthetics.

Dee

#9

Thanx for the clarifications, guys.

Dee, i’ve had tattoos done and also laser on back of the neck and both were tolerable,so i presume electrolysis would be fine.
I would like to ask you whether after the first clearance the electrologist maintains the area clean, or if u need to wait for many hair to grow up before you go again.

Thanx

#10

We work together to get that precious first clearance, as you know. We roll up our selves and get down to business to get the hair that can be seen now off as soon as possible. To make this happen, you need longer and more frequent appointments in the beginning, depending on the amount of hair you have and how large an area being cleared. You don’t want to sit back and wait too long to treat the hair that will come up in a couple weeks after your clearance. You can always look like you are hair-free after the first clearance by staying true to a schedule.

Once the area is cleared, then you will need to see the electrologist every 2 weeks to grab those fragile new hairs that will predictably pop to the surface. They are not the same group of hairs you had cleared in those beginning sessions. You need to keep to a good schedule to MAINTAIN the area so you will always looked finished even though you are not finished yet.

So basically, think to yourself: CLEAR and then MAINTAIN, MAINTAIN,MAINTAIN,MAINTAIN… KEEP GOING ON A GOOD SCHEDULE. This will get you to a permanent solution as fast as possible. The first six months can be a challenge, but overcome any doubts and keep going.

As you get to the end, you may only need to go every 3-4 weeks for quick cleanups. Take heart, all will work as long as you have a professional electrologist working for you.

Dee

#11

Nick,

It’s impossible to answer that question really. One reason I can think of is that you said that you were only treated at 10 joules with a laser. At that level, laser was probably not very painful at all, at least not as painful as it should be to be effective. Second, the treatment is very different as well as the length and the process. With electrolysis, the electrologist removes hair one by one. You feel a little pain shoot with each insertion as opposed to one large beam of laser. Pain is also subjective. Either way, it shouldn’t be a concern. Modern machines make it very tolerable. Some people do electrolysis for several hours in one session without a numbing cream and they’re fine. Some just use some numbing cream on the upper lip as that area is sensitive, but I personally never used it at all and I was fine. Just go and get several sample treatments and you’ll see how it feels and decide whether you need a numbing cream. It doesn’t sound like you will.

#12

This is what scares me about electrolysis, the same thing that scared me about Laser. You guys say to get the first clearance as fast as possible. At this point you will not have any hair. Then new hairs start to grow in, and you must treat them gasp right away or else it won’t work! I don’t know about this, this is the same trick they pull in laser to trick you into thinking it’s working. They say, oh this is a new hair growing, and oh look it’s working after six weeks, when in essence the hair has only fell out and is regrowing.

Why not get a clearance to one small area. Wait a few months, evaluate. Then go back. Surely you should notice at least SOME reduction after clearance of one small area. And that way you could save yourself 30K if it didn’t work.

I don’t know about this keep at it stuff. I’ve kept at laser for over 25 treatments and I have MORE hair. One laser tech even tried to tell me that if the hair is treated, and sheds, then that hair follicle is now dead. Ya right, my hair sheds every single time, and you know what, it comes back every single time from the same freaking follicle.

Why do you have to treat a hair in the anagen stage when it’s growing? And why is it such a big deal to wait a few months to evaluate, then just shave the area and wait for whatever to grow grow. Whatever grows, well there you go, it’s a growing hair in the anagen stage that can be treated.

#13

Shaving IS something that electrologists prefer so that they’re saving your and their time and effort adn only treat the growing hair. Many people prefer not to shave though because they don’t want stubble on certain areas like a woman’s face or stomach etc. So, sometimes there is no way around wasting some time treating follicles that will come back. If you personally choose to shave beforehand, which doesnt sound like it will be a problem, you won’t encounter this problem.

The fact that only hair in anagen can be killed has been proven. This is when hair is most vulnerable and easily killed because it’s new. Once the supply is cut off and the hair is not “alive” anymore, you can’t kill that part that supplies the blood that makes the hair grow since it’s not attached anymore. That’s the easiest way I can explain it. With laser, it’s not proven for a fact that this is the case yet and that hair needs to be in anagen. It’s ASSUMED based on how electrolysis works.

Electrolysis is not a trick. It’s a method that’s been proven and around for over 120 years. If you find a good electrologist, the hair will be gone (unless of course something is causing NEW hair to constantly develop the first place). You can clearly see this from many experiences on this board. Have you taken the time to read through them? The way you will notice that it’s working after intensive treatments in the beginning is that you will have to come in less and less, more rarely. So you would start say at every 2 weeks, but in a few months will only need to come in every month and then 2 months and then never. You can try just plucking hairs on one side and do electrolysis on the other side and you will see the difference in terms of how and when the hair would come in or stop coming in.

#14

Chuck, if you wanted to test electrolysis by having a treatment, and waiting to see what the regrowth looked like, you would have to take a before picture, get treatment, take a post treatment picture, AND THEN WAIT A YEAR AND TAKE ANOTHER PICTURE ON THE SAME DAY THE NEXT YEAR. That is the only way to actually see the efficacy of your electrolysis treatment. Why? Because the hair you will see in that area 3 months later (or even a week later) has no relation to the hair that was removed in your treatment.

If you have the patience to try that tact, go for it. Most people want to get in there and get it done. For those folks, the fact that the duration and frequency of treatments falls rapidly after the initial stabiliazation is all the proof they need.

#15

Sometimes, thinking too hard about something only serves to confuse. The information in this thread can’t do anymore than it has to convince you. Just pick an area, maybe a small area and go for a clearance and then maintain it until there is nothing to maintain. That’s the best I have to offer for you.

Dee

#16

Nick n’ Chuck,

Just a few things I wanted you guys to know. Don’t get thrown by this ‘Total First Clearance’ stuff. Hair can be cleared with electrolysis any way you please. You can completely clear an area, or you can, thin it out and move on to thin out other areas. A hair is a hair, and that’s all there really is to it, whether you get it now or later. Just tell the electrologist which areas you want to do what with. The process of clearing is far more fluid and customizable. And if someone wanted to say that full total clearance is what’s necessary, that’s only their approach. Me, I’m getting beautiful results using a completely mixed approach, with some areas for complete clearing, and other areas thinning now and then.

As for stages to attack the hair, you can attack the hair in any stage you please as long as there is a shaft in place to approximate the location of the hair bulge and papilla. This has been brought up here before. Success is better in the anagen stage, but hair can be killed in other stages as well. That’s what makes electrology clearly superior to laser, it’s targeted and exact.

Also, hair stays in it’s active stage for awhile. It’s not like shooting a prairie dog at mid-peek. There are hairs that I have postponed getting week after week, then nailed later successfully. Hairs come and go, and as Dee (dhafey) said, just stay on your schedule and you see success.

Speaking of laser, it hurts like your skin is pretty much being burned, and sometimes it does actually burn. I have permanent burns from laser. This is not rare and it can happen to you. You may spend lots of money, and go through lots of pain, just to see it all grow back, and in some cases, grow back worse. It’s not rare. It has happened to many.

Be wise with your health. Trust what has been proven for 130 years, don’t go with this ‘Uh, sir, did we say five treatments? We meant you needed ten to see reduction.’ You know how dried out your skin looks after ten laser treatments? Have you ever seen ‘Leather Face’ from the band Slipknot?

Good luck.

Mantaray

#17

I’ll have to jump in and say that I haven’t had ANY skin dryness from laser and/or burns. I also only needed 6 treatments on the areas I got treated. Let’s not generalize based on the skewed population of a forum where people are looking for resolutions to their problems. I would also have to say that if a clinic changes the # of treatments on you AFTER you’re pre-paid, it is not a trustworthy clinic to begin with. An honest clinic is upfront about the variation in terms of reduction expected after a certain amount of treatments. My doctor was. I should add I also used a more effective machine.

#18

Dear Mantaray,

You discuss how initial clearance is not as critical as some suggest. You also indicate that we can still do destruction in the follicle in all stages of hair growth. Yes, tis true but…

Initial clearance is preferred. Full, faster clearance in an area enables the electrologist to monitor growth. We are able to revisit the previously treated area and have a frame of reference. Working scattered is certainly an option and we also do that. It all depends on client goal and definately BUDGET!

If one has the budget and opts for that initial clearance ASAP, their overall treatment time will be less than for those who opt for scattering electrolysis who do not stick to a suggested treatment schedule.

You also indicate that damage can be done to the follicle even when the hair is no longer in anagen. Yes, the bulge can be destroyed even in telogen, hence, some electrologists will say that regrowth will be finer. For complete destruction, the dermal papilla must also be destroyed. If anyone knows of any research that indicates to the contrary, or research that tells us if the bulge does or does not grow back after it has been destroyed, let me know. Dr. Schuster doesn’t seem to devote time to electrology research anymore. I know that Anderer is, as is Beaumont but I don’t think that their reseach is as scientific/controlled as Schuster’s.

In any event, yes, Mantaray, a 15 minute scattering electrolysis appointment is better than no electrolysis, especially when work is done on the face, when more than 70% of the growth is actually in anagen.

I enjoy reading your posts.

#19

I’ll have to jump in and say that I haven’t had ANY skin dryness from laser and/or burns. I also only needed 6 treatments on the areas I got treated. Let’s not generalize based on the skewed population of a forum where people are looking for resolutions to their problems. I would also have to say that if a clinic changes the # of treatments on you AFTER you’re pre-paid, it is not a trustworthy clinic to begin with. An honest clinic is upfront about the variation in terms of reduction expected after a certain amount of treatments. My doctor was. I should add I also used a more effective machine.

I have to agree with you about laser and the skin. I don’t get any long lasting problems whatsoever from having 25 laser treatments. Nothing long term I have noticed with my skin, and actually, as far as IPL’s go, they say you can help wrinkles and give skin a more youthful appearance from using certain pulses with them.

I still am kind of weary about long term effects of laser though, since I will be getting it done on my chest and stomach for the rest of my life for sure.

#20

Electrolysis will work. The only thing you need to do carefully, is search for an
electrolo gist .

Contributer, Barbara Greathouse, CPE is 1 hour away from you. You could get a consult from her and some that are listed below. I will emphasize, get several consults. It will help you a great deal with your decision making.

Kansas City

Electrolysis by Ellen
851 Northwest 45th Street,
Kansas City, MO 64116
(816) 455-4710

Glover Debbie Electrologists
10912 East State Route 350,
Kansas City, MO 64138
(816) 358-5122

Kathy’s Electrolysis
6313 Hedges Avenue,
Kansas City, MO 64133
(816) 353-3538