I’ve had electrolysis treatments for my annoying tummy hairs for a little over a year now, once or twice a month because the hairs start growing back after 2 weeks, although now it’s about 3 weeks. 15 min treatments are enough to clear the area. Sadly I can’t say that I’m seeing any remarkable improvement. I count the hairs that grow back and the number stays the same… which is not much, 15 coarse dark hairs. The practitioner says the hairs have gotten softer and weaker but I can’t tell any difference. I’m starting to feel impatient. Is it normal for the process to take this long? Are my appointments too far apart? I don’t want to give up but this is frustrating.
Hair doesn’t start “growing back” after two weeks UNLESS the hair is not being properly treated. If it breaks off below the skin, you will see this. Do you feel any pulling? Have you observed any bulbs sliding out when she lifts the hair after treating?
I would think that after a year of steady appointments to clear an area, you would be 90% of the way there and would notice a remarkable difference.
I like to clear and wait for 4-6 weeks in the beginning and then after that, spread out the sessions every 2-3 months. Always get cleared. If you can’t get cleared in one session, do weekly sessions until you do get cleared.
You can try another electrologist if you are fortunate enough to have more than one in your area.
A properly removed hair will be gone forever the first time you treat it; the fact that your electrologist is claiming the hairs just come back “softer and weaker” would be of concern to me. After a year you should be almost done. It can take up to 18 months to get clearance in an area, but if I were you I would get a second or third consult with other operators. If there truly has been no reduction by this time, something is wrong.
WRNA, I’m laughing. We were typing at the same time to doubly answer this poster and said the same thing. You know your stuff, girl!
Thanks for your replies!
I did feel plucking with about 1/3 of the hairs… Is it posible that they’re not the same hairs? I’ve read that even though they grow from the same spot they can be different hairs. I always got cleared with every session.
Anyway, I went to a different practitioner yesterday and she also said that a year is a long time for so little progress. She was using a paddle, what kind of electrolysis could that be? She also told that after 3 treatments the results should be visible. She was more harsh with the treatment, it stung more than with the previous one and if the hair didn’t want to come off she gave it a second zap. I didn’t feel any tugging which was nice.
that all sounds positive
Good! No tugging. Second insertions are fine. If one has to go in more than three times, the recipe needs some tweaking perhaps?
Galvanic, Blend and Thermolysis can all be performed by using a foot switch or what you call, a “paddle”. The foot switch enables the current to be delivered when the practitioner decides the insertion is perfect.
Most epilators come with an automatic timing mode, where no foot switch is needed. The practitioner sets it anywhere from .3 seconds to over 1 sec (on Dectro units) and then inserts before that time is up and the epilator releases the current at the designated time.
I do not use a foot switch. Depending on the difficulty of the hair project, I set the timer lower or higher, as needed. It allows me to sit more ergonomically comfortably and do longer sessions without much fatigue.
You are being served well with any modality of electrolysis whether a practitioner uses a switch foot or automatic timing. If they are not using a foot switch, you will be holding an indifferent electrode or something that will be touching you somewhere.
footswitch or no is just a preference of the electrologist. I use a footswitch because I prefer it and I’m more efficient than most timers.I dont seem to have too many problems with ergonomics, my saddle seat keeps me in the right position to prevent back fatigue.
Either way, good releases, with a practitioner going back and retreating hairs that dont work out right the first time, would indicate a thorough treatment by a practitioner of some skill. All good things in my opinion, and likely to garner good results.