Congratulations Peggyo!!
When I started electrolysis in London, some three and a half years ago, I believe I was under a lot a misconceptions. Amongst them, that it takes more than one treatment in an individual follicle before itās permanently destroyed (so regrowth is expected) and that scabbing is completely undesirable and only due to thermolysis, bad technique or poor equipment. I also did not realise how much reaction varies from individual to individual. I used to have Blend and only temporary redness and swelling, so I thought I had resilient skin.
Let me also clarify that in regards to the current treatment I am talking about facial electrolysis and that I am talking about pin point scabbing.
Our current electrologist (Josefa) used an Apilus Platinum, mostly picoflash and for us, the Laurier probe in all areas. Correct me if Iām wrong Josefa - I believe her approach is to kill the follicles first time (so zero to minimal true regrowth) but not to the detriment of the skin or healing. As she says, clients do not pay her or travel so far for plucking. Since she treats both anagen and telogen. To maximise the first treatment, she prefers the area is not shaved or touched for some months before treatment.
She aims to have permanent hair removal results with no scabbing where possible.
When I commented in the Laurier thread, that my sister had two hours work on the upper lip, with only swelling that (visibly) lasted about 24hrs and no scabbing, I was āpooh poohedā by some. āItās not possible for effective treatment to result in no scabbingā. But the results proved otherwise.
Now, for the second treatment we also did another two hours on the upper lip. āMaintain and advanceā because we felt it best to remove even the tiniest, finest black hairs; again there was no scabbing. She had similar results on the rest of her face as seen in her thread; excellent hair removal results after one clearance. A degree of scabbing in some facial areas, such as the sideburns, that fell off within a week.
The second treatment, since the focus was on different areas, there was even less scabbing. She needed little work on her sideburns (only 30mins on each for a second clearance) but much more time on her forehead/eyebrow region, which was mostly worked on for the first time. She had minimal scabbing in this area.
This time, it was my first treatment with Josefa. I had lots of blonde (bleached) fuzz on my face (cheeks, jawline, sideburns) and neck that needed taking care of. We did not clear but Josefa carefully reduced the hairs in a natural way. This probably means more to the electrologists but my downy fur was in telogen so the roots were shallow (less than half a millimetre).
Again, the Apilus Platinum with mostly picoflash and the Laurier IBP. My sister had the first two days of treatment time and I had the latter two days. On my sisterās second day, Josefa test patched an area near the bottom of my ear. After a few minutes she said my skin was very sensitive and I could expect more reaction than my sister. This came as a surprise to me, because previously I only ever had temporary swelling and redness, using Blend. But as Josefa pointed out I also used to have very spaced out and short treatments in any one area and I know I had high regrowth with that electrologist.
Now, I am certain that if Josefa could have given me the same excellent hair removal results with the same minimal scabbing like my sister, she would have. She knew was more scared of scabbing than my sister was because unlike her, I had to go back to work three days later.
So yes, I had the usual chipmunk swelling for about two days. But I also had quite a lot of tiny, pin point scabs on my cheeks and jawline. I thought we would spend a maximum of one hour on my neck. Josefa brought to my attention that my neck hairs were not only long, as I thought, but also very dense with two hairs coming out together many times. We spent more like 3 hours on the neck area and that was only to reduce the very densest areas - there is more work to be next time. My neck scabbing was more significant, given the area that it is and the density of hairs removed.
Yes, prior to treatment I was afraid of scabbing. After treatment, I am not. Not only because I trust that for me, it was necessary for good results but because it was hardly noticeable and did not get in the way of my life. We finished treatment on Thursday night. 00:30 on Friday, we arrived home. I received some strange looks on the flight back due to my chipmunk face. By Saturday, it had gone down a lot. My cousin came to visit on Saturday and she said she could barely tell I had anything done, except of course that I was less hairy. By Sunday, I could not tell if it was swollen or not. On Monday, I went to work. Some of my colleagues knew where I had gone and were interested to see. They did not notice my facial scabbing until I got them to come up close and look at my cheeks, or lifted my neck up for a good view. We even went out for dinner that night, for a colleagueās birthday meal and I felt as good and confident as usual. By the end of the week, most of the scabs had fallen off and by the following Monday, I think all had gone.
My point is, I think for good results itās sometimes unavoidable to have a degree of scabbing. Although the right equipment and skill can minimise scabbing to almost zero for some people, for others it may be more typical. Certainly, my fears around scabbing and how it heals have been allayed.
Here is a photo of my hair, pre treatment, taken by Josefa:
I would like to put up some post treatment photos that I have been taking but Iām having some computer issues, so perhaps in a few days.
I tell my clients at consultation time, that scabbing is not scarring. I tell them that I will do my best not to send them home with lots of polka dots on their skin. I NEVER tell them they wonāt scab. I ask them to give me feedback in three or four days about their healing. If they tell me that they are distressed about the scabs, I readjust some things. I also get feedback about some pinpoint scabbing. Nobody freaks out about pinpoint scabbing because I reassure them that scabbing is not some kind of horrible disease that will ruin them for life. In fact, it does happen and it is something that will resolve itself within a week.
Your detailed account, stoppit, sounds exactly like what I see in my practice. It is fun to share and compare. Some minor redness and swelling that disappears within a short time. Most of the time, there is no scabbing, but sometimes the client reports that there were a few scabs. Nobody gets bent out of shape about this degree of scabbing, including me.
The point I zeroed in on is the correlation being made between necessary scabbing to prevent true regrowth. I am not on board with this. I donāt see it as a trade off that one has to live with in order to reduce true regrowth. I have many real life cases where there was no scabbing at all and they still obtained permanent hair removal anywhere from 9-18 - 24 months. It is funny, but my people with very coarse, very deep hair structures are the ones who rarely scab, while my clients with very thin, shallow hairs a the ones most likely to report some temporary pinpoint scabbing, which is fine. Using an insulated probe is helpful. That is why the Laurier probe is talked about so much.
Having a great epilator like the Apilus Platinum, is the other secret to success. Dectro has their own insulated probes as well. I have tried them as well and they work nicely.
So, an electrologist should never promise no scabbing. It may occur. Would be preferrable if it was pinpoint size scabbing if it does occur. We are talking about the face because people have to go to work, see family and social contacts and they donāt want to be humiliated by having too much skin reaction after electrolysis. Electrologists should always strive to leave no scabs or to have minimal scabbing on the face and clients should not freak out about it. We are only human and we are striving to do the best work for our clients. Give us your concerns so we can strive to serve you to the best of our abilities. Does this sound reasonable?
James or Andrea, should we move the scabbing discussion of this thread to a new thread? Consumers are scared of scabbing and this would help them find information about scabbing much better. Understanding this temporary side effect is a real necessity for prospective clients, especially. Besides, this discussion is interfering with the original topic of our European Guyās diary and Jossieās fabulous work.
I am glad other people have posted their experience with scabbing or not.
I missed 4 months of electrolysis between February and May 2010, but I easily got back on schedule. I want to put a picture up some time in the near future, to show what progress has been made.
One more funny 
thing that happens once the hairs start staying away and your skin becomes smoother: you start touching the smooth skin, rubbing itā¦ Itās very weird. I unknowingly caress the smooth parts of my chin.
A quick update. Today, a new 40-minute session in the left shoulder of this guy. As expected, his shoulders and back are developing new growth (22 years). Nothing to worry, this can be controlled with a couple more sessions.
Note: I never imagined when I started writing this diary that would become the hope of many boys who were in a similar situation. There are more European guys are creating their own personal diary of Electrolysis. Spain, Portugal, Germany, UK, Norway and now Italy! All of them, cases of previous failures with the laser. The Electrolysis is the tortoise in Aesopās fable, but she reached the finish line first.
This diary is a representation of the ādiarysā that my colleagues from around the world write with their work every day, and I am happy to be one more of them.
Yes Josefa, this thread has been the hope and discovery of electrolysis for so many people.
In my opinion, the greatest thread on HairTell.
I cant thank you enough for making this Diary
I have read it more times than I can count, and I always read it with a big smile on my face.
Un abrazo grande 
I have to agree with boy1989, this diary has given me hope after the years and years struggling with laser. It is the best ever diary I ever read!
Im glad I found this thread and got to know Josefa in person. She helped me much. Such a passion for electrolysis and good-will helping people, the perfect technique is for me unrivaled. If there would be more just nearly as good electrologist/people like Josefa isā¦
Same stage, new protagonist.
This time he is a brave guy from the beautiful Italy.
Before (January 2012)
and two weeks later. 14 hours and a half for the stomach and belly.
Note: Someone has made an interesting comment on one of my videos on youtube. He says, āYou will never end.ā
Do you really think so?. My new āDavidā and I have smiled at this comment.
Spectacular job my dear Josefa! How I love the photos
Is this European guy number 3?
No, honey. This is the European guy number 6 or maybe 7. I lost count.
This is the number 2. From the amazing Portugal.
Before first clearance:
Before second clearance:
Some days after second clearance:
I think there are a lot of lucky girls out there who are very grateful to me and my needle.
Josefa,
You are a wonder. You have given me so much hope seeing what youāve done for your 'boys". Please keep us updated. I like to check back in every day or so to see the pics and get the hope to keep going
Hank from NY
Oh yes, I do everything possible (and some impossible too) for āmyā boys. In return they take care of me. My Norwegian boy buy cakes (with the secret intention to make me eat a little more). My Italian boy cooking authentic Italian pasta dishes. My Portuguese boy worries that I work so hard.
Maybe my way of proceeding horrify those who defend a professional attitude away from human contact, but when you spend so many hours sharing their desires, inevitably involve you in their lives if only for a short season.
One thing is certain, they will never forget the person who freed them from the unwanted hair, but I did not forget them while Iām alive.
Buon volo di ritorno mio caro!!
Today. Nearly a year after finalizing the case. There was a one-hour session in late 2011 (chest, stomach, and belly). He has had some outbreaks of new hairs on his shoulders and back, but almost everything is under control.
Once again, I am standing on top of my table clapping profusely.
You are one magic woman,Josefa
This thread gives me the greatest source of hope out of any thing on this site, every time I get down about my hair situation, I view this diary and am uplifted in hope and possibility. I am not where I need to be financially yet, but Iām able to remain positive thanks to everyone here on hairtell. Thanks everyone, -Trey
Impressive. And still a long way to come close to that.
Outstanding! Such beautiful results. Can we clone you please?!
Hairtell was a huge motivation, Dee.
Mumbai, magic is to make possible what is impossible. The permanent hair removal has been possible always with Electrolysis. But judging by the role that our athletes are doing, I begin to believe that the brand āSpainā gives you some super powers.
Trey, I hope to see a successful diary by you, very soon.
Beate, we have a special meeting pending.
Danika, More āJosefasā? ummm, I think that with one we have already overdose. 
thanks josefa
this is something which is just a boosting dose to everybody who are undergoing electrolysis and planning to undergo electrolysis.
i wish i could be in spain so you could have done by electrolysis.
your results are just amazingā¦
sincere thanks from all of usā¦