Electrolysis Machine broke while on Genitals

Hair Removal Methods Professional Electrolysis
#1

Hey everyone,

been a long time reader, and have also posted my experiences of getting my genital area done through electrolysis in a thread HERE

However i was in for a session today, and the machine “blew up” while she was working on my teste’s and i wonder if anyone has any experience with these machines breaking? or if i shoudl be concerned that it happened while on such a ‘delicate’ area.

Basically it was a normal session of Thermolysis. she was using a size 2 single piece needle, and the machine was set to 40-41 (i cant generally handle anymore)

we were about an hour into the session and she was changing needles. when she changed the needle, i was experiencing some pain as i could feel it being inserted. so we presumed the needle may have had a small bend in it so she again changed the needle.

i persisted for about 10-15 more hairs and i could feel the needle go in every time (which usually i cant) and then.

BANG!!! (well kind of)

she was about to insert the needle again, when she said there was a large spark from the needle to my scrotum (before she even inserted the needle about 1cm away).

she quickly removed the needle and we noticed the machine was sitting on 100. she then proclaimed to see smoke from the machine (i didnt see this).

She asked me if i felt it, but i did not feel anything more than the discomfort i usually feel, and the same discomfort i had felt for the last 10 needles or so.

i ended up with a lesion on my scrotum now about 4mm long, not burnt from the spark (as i would have expected) but what looks like an actual cut. and being on the scrotum you can imagine how vascular this is and how much blood there was.

so i guess some questions.

has anyone ever heard of an electrolysis machine ‘blowing up’ like this?

is it likely that this could have caused any damage? if you know what i mean.

what actin should i take from here? i think this may have been an equipment failure, however is it likely this could be an operator induced thing?

thanks for any feedback, im going to go and tend to my sore bits now, maybee some ice, as its starting to throb now.

#2

We really want to help you here, but before we say anything, we need to know what brand and model of machine was being used. It makes a difference, as what is possible and what is not possible is very dependent on the equipment.

#3

I did mean to post that, but had to find out what machine it was first.

its a

Rayvue Epilator
EPI-UNIT-FT

#4

This makes me wonder if the current was flowing while insertions were in progress…

This ALSO makes me wonder if there is a listing of epilators out there somewhere. Manufacturing dates would be good to know, too. Does that manufacturing organization still exist?

#5

Are you thinking of pursuing some kind of legal action?

It might be good to go to a doctor & also to take pictures of the injury, just in case. It’s a good idea to document everything you can, for evidence purposes, in case you need it.

#6

It sounds like you are doing the right thing by taking care of the skin. The skin in this area will probably heal with no visible marks. One of my clients had laser in this area previous to tx with me. There were swirly thickened “scars” from the laser that have disappeared a year later.

It could “operator induced” if the electrologist did not properly take care of her epilator, or if the epilator had been acting this way all day and she did not put it out of service until repaired.

My first thought at your description was that this was an antiquated epilator, but I don’t know how many different epilators are available out there. (We need a modern museum here - one that has photos and descriptions of all the epilators.)

I do know that electrologists will often use an epilator for decades, and IMHO that should not happen. New technologies are developed AND it just makes sense that an epilator that has zapped a gazillion hair follicles gets tired…

#7

Wow! I just found this: http://www.hairfacts.com/makers/epltrmfr.html

All that’s missing are the pictures! (Would help clients identify in posts.) Thank you Andrea for all your works!!!

#8

Voila:

http://www.elegans.com.au/beauty_products-electrolysis.html

#9

It seems to me this was physical damage caused by a jerking reflex motion when the machine “blew up”. You were probably scaped by needle, not by a spark. To have a spark jump that far would require about 30,000 volts which is virtually impossible unless there was lightning in the area at the time of the mishap. The machine malfunction was probably a burned up capacitor or output transistor (mosfet) in the power supply or RF output section. Even with these problems out there is little chance of physical damage from the electricity. The RF will always be coupled through a capacitor and/or transformer which will block DC and severely limit AC current. My guess is there was a malfunction of the control circuitry which locked the unit at 100% power. A unit will be designed to operate at 100% output only intermittently, not constant. At this level the output section overheated and blew out. When it blew out the electrologist was startled and physically scraped you. Problems other than being a little sore for a while are unlikely.

#10

Sounds good to me!

Note: Andrea’s epilator manufacturer page as posted by Miss Barbara, has not been updated. Since Andrea wrote this, Silhouet-Tone’s VMC, Clareblend’s Elegance and Apilus’s Platinum and Pure have not added. These are the top models that should get top billing.

#11

thanks for all the responses,

i have been quite sore, and all of the follicles that really hurt for the insertion are now scabbed and black.

im happy to post some pics, but im assuming due to the nature of the area it may not be appropriate.

#12

I can’t help thinking about Jerry Lee Lewis at a time like this.

My original thought was probably right and the machine was locked at 100% power. It could have been a bad foot switch if your electrologist was using one. It sounds like he/she was inserting the needle hot (under power). That would account for the skin reaction. Does the machine he/she was using have a visible or auditory signal for output indication?

I wouldn’t worry about long-term problems. This is a surface issue, albeit a painful one. Let’s hope there’s not some scarring involved. The silver lining is that it wasn’t your face.

#13

Ladies and Gentlemen.
If you have been wondering where I have been all this time, when it comes to answering this question, the guys can picture me as the NFL referee camped out under the review curtain reviewing the play, and everyone has time to go to the restrooms, get some hot pretzels, or what ever else.

The thing is, we take this question so seriously and don’t want to just say, “This could be this, it could be that” and we certainly don’t want to make an equipment manufacturer look bad.

What you describe would be very likely with an old style spark-gap machine, or a modern day Hyfrecator machine, but for this to happen on an electrolysis machine would require a perfect storm of a situation to come together all at once.

I hope to have a better answer for you by Friday. Until then, enjoy the cheeleaders doing a dance routine to Ozzy Osbourne’s Shot In The Dark. :grin:

#14

Well, I tried to get some official stuff to rule on this, but no one wants to go on the record.

What I will say is that the suspects mentioned were a ground fault, and a broken solenoid. In any event, your practitioner should have the machine sent in for evaluation by the manufacturer or an authorized service technician.

This problem could be more dangerous than already displayed.

So to end the joke, The call on the field stands. She needs to have the machine looked at by the service facility. The warranty should cover this.

#15

My advice would be to forget the repair and replace that RayVue with the newest version from Apilus, Silhouet-Tone, Fischer, ect.

#16

I have to admit that this Rayvue Epilator EPI-UNIT-FT is equivalent to an Instantron Tronco 4 SS-69. Even an Instantron Spectrum would be an improvement on this. Their highest end model appears to be a take on the Fischer & Hinkle machines, although I saw no mention of an insertion delay, or sensor mode.

It may be the case that these are the only Australian made machines, and that’s why this practitioner purchased it, however, much better machines can be had here in the States, from our Legitimate Machines On Ebay Thread. (and they would cost less, even with shipping)

#17

Could it be an OLD machine that blew a tube with operator error?

#18

No, the machine is not old. It is a new machine built with very few options on it, and thus the SS-69 reference. The machine works, but it is the equivalent to some company manufacturing a brand new version of the Ford Model T, or Model A. It would be very inexpensive for the manufacturer to make, it could be sold cheaply, or the profit margin could be sky high. Most of all, though, every other car on the road would have more of what you buy a car for, like cruising speeds of 85 miles per hour (unheard of in a model T).

#19

Thank you very much for answering this for me (and allow me to appologise for not responding earlier).

i guess my query is, could this have caused any damage to me? given it is in that ever so sensitive area?

#20

To the best of my knowledge, Rayvue are the only electrolysis machines produced in Australia, and as has been stated, are a very basic model.
Lasting ill effects would be most unlikely, in my opinion.
Have you seen any medical practicioner for reassurance?