Apilus 27mhz, PicoFlash and PicoBlend

Hair Removal Methods Professional Electrolysis
#1

Hi

I trying to learn about how effective some of the features on the high-end Apilus machines are.

My understanding of the benefits of the 27mhz frequency is that the HF energy is absorbed better by water leading to less skin damage. However, is there a benefit in practice or is this just marketing?

I understand the benefits of flash thermolysis such as PicoFlash is that there is less pain, due to the shorter time period, and less skin damage. However, the disadvantage is that it is less effective at killing hair then traditional thermolysis because the area of area of damage is smaller. How does the kill rate for PicoFlash compare to traditional thermolysis? Also, for what hair types of hair is it most suitable - I would guess straight deeply rooted hairs. Finally, do insulated needles have to be used with PicoFlash to prevent skin damage?

In blend thermolysis is just used to heat the lye. I would therefore assume that there are no drawbacks to PicoBlend over more traditional versions of Blend.

Theory is all very well, but I am very interested in how people have found these newer modes in practice.

Many thanks
Sarah

#2

Pico Blend when using it pulsed is a bit more aggressive than pulsed blend with similar parameters on the Apilus Junior. Id did that inj my first treatments with the Platinum and then switched to Multiplex and Synchro.

Concerning Pico Blen, please have a look in the old threads covering the Platinum either explicitly of implicitly (Diary of a European Boy) and judge on the settings reported there. That should answer most of Your questions. There is a lot of material on the actual practice of the Platinum in this forum.

The most notable benefits of the Platinum are the “new” modes, mostly Multiplex and Synchro. I have not yet tried the two additional blend modes.

Just today a new customer who was used to well done blend was really surprised on the speed and tremendously reduced pain of Multiplex (well, at 0.1 s/0.001s pulse time and around 150 EL, the difference should be tremendously).

My personal preference is using Multiplex (which You might imagine as the combination of a longer and weaker flash pulse with an extremly short an strong flash pulse) with fine an shallow hair having a large portion in telogen phase and to use synchro for all the heavy duty work on deep routed hairs (except in some situations i consider difficult with distorted follicles where i still prefer blend as i wrote just yesterday).

Which means that i work mainly in synchro mode.

As for insulation: it does not really matter. Both is possible in almost all modes. On fine shallow hair i prefer insulated probes, otherwise plain probes (or Laurier bulbous ones).

#3

Nicely put. To date there has been no objective study of these methods: how they really compare. Sure, everyone has their opinion (based on personal experience), but as of this moment no scientific, verifiable, repeatable, objective experiment, and fact has been established. I stand ready to be part of any study. This is not a matter of “competition” but fact gathering.

A highly skilled and respected California electrologist has attempted to establish such a study and has developed an approved protocol. She could not get anyone to participate. She has tried for at least 20+ years. Bottom line: it’s not going to happen.

Nicely, the “puffery” in electrology is not all that bad. Puffery nonetheless, but not as extreme and in other “cosmetically oriented” fields. Consider, if you will, the virtual lying that takes place with the myriads of skin creams and non-medical health preparations.

#4

Sorry for the typo. Should be “ … but not as extreme as in other “cosmetically oriented” fields.” I’m taking a few days “off” in anticipation of the “you know what” hitting the fan with this eternal subject! I have to watch my blood pressure. “Gone Fishing.”

#5

Probably shouldn’t be here because I’m not an electrologist (yet) but perhaps heading down to the Laurier thread will answer some of your questions in regards to kill rate. As well as discussion about the probe, there is some discussion about the Platinum modes. As far I know, an insulated probe is not a requirement.

Electrologist depilacionelectr (Josefa) uses picoflash extensively I believe. I know she did most of my treatment using picoflash (maybe some multiplex too?). My facial hair that was treated was dense, extremely fine fuzz, mostly in telogen and with a depths of less than 1mm. From a client perspective, I just want the hair gone and every hair she treats is killed so I’d say it has a pretty excellent kill rate. I’m sure all the newer modes do if the user knows how to apply them appropriately.
We tested some synchro and I found it a lot more painful so we did not continue as there didn’t seem to be any requirement to use that over picoflash.

http://www.hairtell.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/95649/38.html

I hope to start my training later this year and will probably start with a basic machine. My day job is as research scientist/engineer and the equipment I understand best is the stuff I’ve had to fix (or in some cases build). So when it comes to electrolysis, I want to start with an uncomplicated unit so I can really understand what is going on. But having been treated with both ‘regular’ Blend and manual thermolysis in the past and then with the Platinum more recently, in the future I really hope I can own one, for both the benefit of future clients (fingers crossed) and myself.

#6

Many thanks for the interesting and informative replies. Will check out the recommended threads.

#7

As I have read here, the frequency 27 MHz is not new in electrolysis machines. Apparently some manufacturers (I forget which) used the same frequency years ago.
For me, the issue of the currents remains a mystery, my curiosity is more focused to know what we can get from them. Specialists like me who for years used the slow thermolysis to achieve coagulation of the hair, were frustrated by the limited capacity of Flash. The Flash produced a desiccation in a small portion of the follicle, insufficient to cover the entire target area. It was necessary to repeat the pulses, breaking down the main object of this mode (the absence or reduction of pain). Flash mode was frustrating because the tip of the needle tissue debris adhered to the needle became a kind of saw. Before purchasing the Platinum, I thought impossible to achieve coagulation with 2 milliseconds and the needle remained impeccable.

I have no link whatsoever with the manufacturer. I have not even done the training course offered by the Spanish distributor. I discovered all by myself and with the limited help of the manual. I do not think the Platinum you will have a higher rate of elimination, you can have the same results with any other machine. The difference is that you will be faster because you can remove more hairs per minute. If you have the opportunity to try before you buy, do it yourself and then decide.

As probes Laurier, what else I can say that I have not said already? there is nothing safer for fine hair on the lip of a girl, or nothing more spectacular in the thick hair of a man’s beard (as I have tried so far, and I’ve tried a few brands).

By the way, if anyone is interested in using a slow Thermolysis in the Platinum, this can be done. Multiplex: thermolysis in time that you want, and cancel the last shot of Flash. An example, 0.3 seconds / 25%. And .001 s /–%/ 0 pulse.

#8

The Apilus Platinum is a wonderful epilator. Smooth, strong, gentle, well-engineered, so versatile and most important, deadly to hair follicles. New clients that come to me that have had electrolysis before say they can only do 15 minutes because electrolysis hurts too much. After their 15 minutes is up, they say keep going, it hardly hurts. PicoFlash and MultiPlex are very acceptable as far as sensation goes. Synchro can be, too, but if I see any squirming, it will be with this modality usually. Again, adjustments can be made to the recipe to ease the sting. Insulated probes should be used with Synchro, but I have good outcome with ballet gold probes as well. I enjoy my career even more because my clients are more comfortable and skin reaction is good.
I have no affiliation with Dectro. I just like their product.

Sarah Archer, for your technical questions, you can contact Dectro California or Quebec. Just google for the contct information.

#9

Thank you Micheal. Firstly, I really enjoy Beate’s logic and sharing. Secondly, there is so much information about the Apilus and which mode to use with which probe etc, it can be very confusing. I find I’m gathering constant advice from all on hairtell, ready and willing to help us newcomer’s to Apilus. I love my machine and am so thrilled I made the switch from Sterex.
As for they lying that exists regarding skin creams!! Well, after years of being taken in, even after I qualified as a beauty therapist, I now make my own moisturiser and lip balm and add essential oils. It’s gorgeous and costs me nothing compared to the ridiculous prices demanded by the ‘big houses’. I read Drugs From Your Garden, written by an ethnobotanist James Wong here in the UK, I use his recipes. Best wishes.