Ok, I feel like kind of an idiot writing a post about DIY electrolysis in a forum that is called the same because that is just redundant. I am in the process of giving DIY electrolysis a shot with a professional unit. It is an attractive option for me since I am transgender and outside of having my face treated by someone else am interested in my legs, feet, hands, and stomach. Spending $50,000 or more to have all of these areas treated seems a bit dumb to me in comparison to the cost of a good machine and even getting the necessary training, especially if I can find someone else locally that I trust who is willing to do the same to do the areas I can’t reach and vice versa.
Currently I have acquired two books the first is the classic “Electrolysis, Thermolysis, and Blend” by Hinkel and Lind (1994 print), The second one is “The Principles and Practice of Electrical Epilation” by Sheila Godfrey. At the moment I’ve read through the most interesting chapters but plan to read both beginning to end a few times. I have some background in electronics communications working with emergency radio systems so I probably have a better understanding of high frequency electromagnetic radiation than the average electrolysis. Since this also involved repairing 100 watt 900 mhz radios while they were live there was some training involved of what happens to the body when it comes into contact, or close proximity to that level of radiation. I feel I have a fair respect for how much damage even the relatively low power of an electrolysis machine can do (and a good visualization of a friend of mine who now has a face that looks like a golf ball because she went to someone who didn’t know what they were doing). Later I moved out of the field and into a prototyping lab where I frequently soldered micro circuitry with tiny wires about .001" to .004" in diameter sometimes with a magnification device, sometimes without so I’m confident I have the ability to learn the skills needed as well.
The order of events I had in mind was:
1: Acquire reading material
2: Acquire video training materials
3: Start researching options for professional training
4: Acquire unit, preferably microprocessor controlled with the ability to do blend.
5: Practice insertions without powering the probe/needle
6: Get a feel for the settings by practicing on an analog such as meat (see reference materials) I have access to a very high end microscope with up to 800x magnification and measuring ability for examination of the specimens, I do understand that meat doesn’t perfectly replicate the skin and folical but it’s better to practice on that rather than myself or someone else
7: Attend training courses if possible
8: Try an area on my self in an area not very visible to the public
Does this seem reasonable? How do I find a training establishment near by? What can I expect for training costs? If professional training turns out to be impractical for my location does the order of events make sense? My friends think I’m crazy for making an attempt at this, which is laughable since one of them went to a south american country in the middle of a civil uprising to have 25,000 worth of facial surgery performed and just about all of them are planning on going to Thailand to have GRS in the next year. In my book anyone undergoing medical treatment for gender dysphoria has signed up for a whole lot of risk, the least of which is screwing up your skin.
All feedback is welcome.