I have been hearing about a method of electrolysis where a single needle/probe is used by the practitioner, delivering what is a DC current directly into each hair.
Anyone know what I am referring to?
And would anybody know what modality of electrolysis this method would fall under ? Would this be considered a type of galvanic or is it something else?
Lastly ,can anyone familiar with it comment about the effectiveness and speed of this method ?
cheers,
Hank
Hiya Hank,
Single needle sounds like either thermolysis or blend.
I am having thermolysis performed on my face and multi-needle galvanic on my body. There is such a thing as galvanic single needle apparently but it is rarely used nowadays in a professional setting as it takes too long.
Cheers,
Oops, forgot to add,
Thermolysis is very effective although there is a higher rate of re-growth. However, with a very skilled electrologist, you will get to clearance much faster than with galvanic so you’ll have the “no hair look”.
Hi mrhanky. What electrobaby said is correct.
Single needle/probe electrolysis is what the majority of electrologist do everyday, as oppossed to multi-needle electrolysis. Both work well to destroy hair follicles,but have their advantages and disadvantages.
Single needle galvanic would be very, very slow for treating a lot of hair, as you need to treat one hair at a time for 1-5 minutes, depending on the type of hair.
Single needle is used most frequently for flash thermolysis (less than a second timing) or manual thermolysis (one to several seconds for timing). Single needle is also used for the blend method where thermolysis (A/C current = heat) and galvanic (D/C current= chemical) currents are combined. You get the best of both worlds by combining the two currents. Thermolysis is the quick boy and galvanic is the sure guy, both delivered through the deadly single needle.
If are doing single needle galvanic yourself and have lots of time to go hair by hair, then that is fine. My clients would never want to pay for this slower method. Getting a quick first clearance and looking finished is what they are seeking. Just remember, any modality of electrolysis, galvanic, thermolysis, or the combination of both will result in permanent results when done CORRECTLY.
Dee
Thanks for the replies people.
I dont know whether it is blend or thermolysis that I was told about, but ther person having these treatments said that their electrolgist “uses a single needle with a dc current, and it takes a few seconds”. They stressed that the electrolgist had told them that it was not galvanic.
weird!
Anyway am curious to know what modality is generally considered to be the best for treating large body areas for males ( because multi-galvanic sure doesnt seem like it is the most effective $$ and time-wise)
Hi mrhanky. What electrobaby said is correct.
Single needle/probe electrolysis is what the majority of electrologist do everyday, as oppossed to multi-needle electrolysis. Both work well to destroy hair follicles,but have their advantages and disadvantages.
Single needle galvanic would be very, very slow for treating a lot of hair, as you need to treat one hair at a time for 1-5 minutes, depending on the type of hair.
Single needle is used most frequently for flash thermolysis (less than a second timing) or manual thermolysis (one to several seconds for timing). Single needle is also used for the blend method where thermolysis (A/C current = heat) and galvanic (D/C current= chemical) currents are combined. You get the best of both worlds by combining the two currents. Thermolysis is the quick boy and galvanic is the sure guy, both delivered through the deadly single needle.
If are doing single needle galvanic yourself and have lots of time to go hair by hair, then that is fine. My clients would never want to pay for this slower method. Getting a quick first clearance and looking finished is what they are seeking. Just remember, any modality of electrolysis, galvanic, thermolysis, or the combination of both will result in permanent results when done CORRECTLY.
Dee
Thanks for that great explanation Dee.
Approxiamately how much would you say the re-growth rates differ between galvanic and thermolysis?
What percentage would you estimate the galvanic regrowth rate (of hairs treated ) to be at , as opposed to the rate of those treated with thermolysis?
And generally how many more times would the average regrown hair need to be zapped before its done for good?
cheers,
Hank
Okay, I’m ready to try this again. I answered your questions in between clients this morning and just as I was ready to submit my post, the electricity went off in my office building. I lost everything I wrote. I think I said, “Just shoot me” 400 times. I’ve recovered now, so this will be a condensed version of what I was trying to explain before.
You ask very good questions about comparing the regrowth rates between the modalities. There are no really good studies to fall back on for this question because it is nearly impossible to precisely identify each hair follicle that has been treated. We need to rely on clinical observations and take into account the various features of hair growth. It is said, and I believe this, that galvanic, although it is very slow, is very sure. One percentage quote I have seen was 80% kill rate for straight galvanic. Thermolysis, especially flash thermolysis, it is said, has the highest regrowth rate and the same hair may need treatment several times. That may have been true several decades ago, but it not true today if one has a digital computerized epilator, good vision equipment and treatment levels that are properly set for the right amount of time. A state of the art, well engineered computerized epilator using microflash,or better, is really powerful and fast and puts those old pedal jobs, that many still use, to shame. The modern 21st century epilator has the distinct advantage of delivering a consistent treatment to each follicle every time because it keeps a steady working point that really messes up the follicle without damaging the upper skin. The pain factor is less, too.
If more electrologists would up date their equipment, continue their education and employ special techniques there would be less frustration on the consumer side of things. Galvanic electrolysis and blend electrolysis would probably not be used as much because clients would see faster results, with less regrowth, using microflash that gives quicker results in the hands of one who knows what they are doing.
When you ask about galvanic verses thermolysis regrowth rates, galvanic would be the winner if one were still using an epilator and techniques from WWII and beyond. A modern electrolysis epilator breaks all the old thinking about regrowth and modality usage. Unfortunately, there are still many electrologists that hang on to their old equipment because they are comfortable with it. If I had to use some of the older epilators that were available to me when I went to school, I would probably not have the client satisfaction, as well as personal satisfaction, I have today. Regrowth is reduced and faster completion times are the norm with modern equipment.
I never pass up an opportunity to thank James W. Walker VII for enlightening me on the equipment issue. He is very unselfish with giving his valuable time and advice to help us all understand this. After purchasing the same epilator he has, I truly “get it” as to why a lot of old information about regrowth and completion time is not relevant today. Sadly, we see such misinformation in Lucky and “O” mag rags that make it look like electrolysis has not changed in 130+ years. So James keeps saying the same thing over and over until he’s cyanotic, I’m sure. He keeps reiterating that the newer computerized epilators and vision equipment will give the consumer what they desire. Faster completion times and effective results with undisturbed upper skin is the goal. I am in agreement.
Treating an anagen (growing) hair once is the norm. If it is really thick, it will come back in the next hair growth cycle much, much smaller and then re-treating it the second time is all it needs to meet its doom. I could have never come close to this scenario with an old flash epilator. Good equipment does blow up all the old information about regrowth, from what I have personally observed. Now if hearts and minds can be changed to move forward toward better electrolysis equipment and special techniques, you consumers will get what you seek in PERMANENT hair removal.
Try to find someone who isn’t stuck in the past. So much for my condensed version.
Dee
Hi mrhanky. What electrobaby said is correct.
Single needle/probe electrolysis is what the majority of electrologist do everyday, as oppossed to multi-needle electrolysis. Both work well to destroy hair follicles,but have their advantages and disadvantages.
Single needle galvanic would be very, very slow for treating a lot of hair, as you need to treat one hair at a time for 1-5 minutes, depending on the type of hair.
Single needle is used most frequently for flash thermolysis (less than a second timing) or manual thermolysis (one to several seconds for timing). Single needle is also used for the blend method where thermolysis (A/C current = heat) and galvanic (D/C current= chemical) currents are combined. You get the best of both worlds by combining the two currents. Thermolysis is the quick boy and galvanic is the sure guy, both delivered through the deadly single needle.
If are doing single needle galvanic yourself and have lots of time to go hair by hair, then that is fine. My clients would never want to pay for this slower method. Getting a quick first clearance and looking finished is what they are seeking. Just remember, any modality of electrolysis, galvanic, thermolysis, or the combination of both will result in permanent results when done CORRECTLY.
Dee
Where can I read more about the pico- and microflash electrolysis equipment? Any links would be helpful.
How much faster are pico- and micro- compared to conventional thermolysis? I have heard James mention it but I would like to read more about it.
RJC2001
Hello,RJC.
Aren’t you an engineer by profession? I can’t guide you to any reading material about microflash or picoflash, because there is no information that I can find on the internet. If you are truly interested in delving into real engineering specifics,may I suggest that you call Jim Jenson at Gentronics. He can answer any questions relating to the engineering side of questions about microflash, I’m sure. I’ll give you a number at the end. One of the epilators I own is the Gentronics Digital Combo Epilator, Model “MC160D”. I use it, now, mainly for clients who specifically request multiple needle electrolysis, but I was happy with the blend and thermolysis functions, also. I decided to purchase another epilator four years later and decided on the Silhouet-tone VMC after much thought. I mainly use the VMC for flash thermolysis and blend treatments,now. It can microflash, but cannot do picoflash.
Way back when, we had slow flash thermolysis defined as 1/10 of a second. Then came flash at 1/100 of a second. Then the time was improved and microflash burst on the scene as quick as 1/1000 of a second. Now, as James has reported, we are about to enter a new era with a product that Apilus has introduced that performs picoflash, which is ultrarapid. I think, and may have to be corrected on this, but I believe the picoflash thermolysis is 1/10,000 of a second??? I know it is much faster because the frequency is 27.12 MHz. This is 2 times faster than the 13.56 frequency that all other epilators operate with. The FCC has assigned 3 frequecies for electrolysis equipment,the two I mentioned above and 40.68 megahertz is the last. So with 27.12 MHz that the new Apilus Platinum is equipped with, the client gets a quicker and more concentrated treatment. The client is more comfortable,too, because the quicker timing at the beginning destablizes the pain transmitting nerve fibers, thus,this action increases the comfort level even though there is more energy in the follicle. That is also the case with microflash, but this picoflash appears to reach another level that is even better.
So, here is Jim Jenson’s information for further questions:
Gentronics
8721 Santa Monica Blvd., #210
Los Angeles,CA 90069
1-800-950-3265 ( he usually answers the phone himself)
e-mail: Gentronics@hotmail.com
Or you can inquire about the new Apilus that does picoflash at the California location:
1715 East Wilshire Avenue
Suite 712
Santa Ana,CA 92705
1-888-332-8763
e-mail: dectro-ca@dectro.com
website: www.dectro.com
You can also inquire at www.silhouet-tone.com
or call
1-800-552-0418
They use a combination of thermolysis techniques, slow flash, flash, microflash that are automatically combined when the current is activated in the follicle.
I apologize that I can’t supply you with better information, but hopefully the manufacturers will be helpful.
There’s a whole new,wonderful world in the field of electrolysis when a practitioner updates their equipment. It’s like the difference between using an old typewriter as opposed to a using a word processor.
Dee
The PicoFlash is so new that even the company that makes it had absolutely nothing online about the machine that performs it until yesterday!
http://www.dectro.com/dectrodex.htm?index-etop.html&index-e.html
that is the only blurb on the web from the company (dectro/apilus) that at least tells you about the machine that makes this possible.
For more detailed info on the PicoFlash, you would have to contact the company directly and talk to one of their technical guys. Although they do speak English, you could probably find a better conversation if you can speak French (their native language)
As for the MicroFlash, that is available on the SX-500, the Senior 2 (or Senior II as they are printed), but I don’t know that they go into any great discussion of them on their web pages. Again, I am sure the technician you speak to will be able to give you all you seek via phone, or email.
Dectro International, makers of Apilus is a family owned and operated company, and everyone who works there is helpful and just the brightest, nicest people you ever met.
Dectro International, Head Office
1000, boulevard du Parc-Technologique, Québec (Québec) G1P 4S3
Telephone: (418) 650-0303 · Toll free: 1 800 463-5566
Fax: (418) 650-0707 · E-mail: info@dectro.com
I would start with Ms. Karine Beaumont, or her dad, Clement Beaumont as a contact person. (that’s pronounced Clay-moh Bow-moh) or Mr. Denis Bourgault (Denee Boor-go). Tell them you are my friend, and I say hello <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
They will get as technical with you as you like, and may even email, or snail mail you the information you need complete with pretty pictures.
Thanks, Dee! Yes, I’m an electrical engineer. I didn’t realize the FCC had to authorize frequencies for electro! I suppose they want to make sure the epilators don’t cause interference with everyone’s TVs, computers, etc.
RJC2001
Don’t forget pacemakers