Hello, i’m sorry for the double posting (i’ve already posted this message on askhairtell) not sure which is the more appropriate forum…so my apologies for this.
I’m really upset about the damage done to my upper lip. Please have a look at the attached photos and please give me your feedback: is the damage permanent? should i stop seeing this electrologist?
I would really appreciate your help.
Just looking at the attached photos I couldn’t pinpoint where exactly the damage was… Everything looks a-okay to me and will heal up. I’m sure the other professionals here will give you a more in depth response.
Out of curiosity, how long ago were you treated?
For clarity and to avoid the same discussion in two places, the double posting in different sections have been merged here.
It seems to me you need only hit that with a little tea tree oil and aloe and give it some time. I see nothing to be worked up over here. All will be well in time.
Thanks a lot James!!!
Thanks for your reply. it was 3 weeks ago
Permanent damage?
Stop going to this electrologist?
Slipping into depression?
Can’t live with the hairs!
Ruining my skin!
The above are your statements. Here’s the thing: electrolysis is a controlled “BURN!” Yes, sure, do some tea tree oil and aloe (it will help), but for God’s sake don’t go into “depression” over this! Your lip will be fine. A “burn” makes a boo-boo and healing causes some unwanted “stuff to happen.”
You know, a burn? BURN!
I have questions: Did you talk to your electrologist about this “disaster” on your lip? If not, why not? Why didn’t you talk to her first and instead allowed yourself to become “really worried?” “Depression?”
Question to electrologists: Do you “warn” people to expect a normal healing episode? If not, why not? Do you spell out every post-treatment detail?
Somehow her electrologist did not “connect” with her. And, that’s the only problem here!
My own opinion: we zappers need to give patients the real story and explain post-treatment in no uncertain terms. Or … if we do not … we will have patients slipping into “depression” over nothing.
Oh another suggestion for the client here:
Are you “pushing” your electrologist? I mean, do you want these hairs off “immediately” because they are driving you crazy?
Indeed, a super-worried client can sometimes push us to overdo the treatment. I’m (as you can imagine) very tough with clients: when I say, “the treatment is over” … it IS over, and they cannot get me to do “one more hair!”
Whatever a “safe treatment” means to you, well, do THAT! You’re the “doctor” and everything you do is, actually, YOUR fault!
We deal with über-anxious patients all the time. We can never allow them to control the treatment. If they “get themselves in trouble,” it’s ONLY our fault! Can you blame the patient, ever? “The patient made me do it?” Well, actually no!
Yes, it is imperative that we teach and reinforce electrolysis information on a regular basis!
I have an aftercare sheet with simple instructions, but on the back of that paper, I have random comments about what to expect in regard to healing. We have a thread dedicated to Electrolysis side effects here as well, to help the consumer.
I ask new clients to email or text me with their healing outcome and concerns. New clients need a lot of reassurance.
Florence Nightingale said in 1859, " if a patient is cold, if a patient is feverish, if a patient is faint or if he has a bed sore, it is generally the fault of the nursing care".
We can use the same tactic as electrologist to explain this over reaction to normal temporary skin reactions after electrolysis. We need to teach more. Consumers just don’t know what is normal and what is over treatment when it comes to electrolysis and I don’t blame them for asking these kinds of questions. It may indicate that they are not communicating with their own electrologist, but some people do communicate with their practitioner and want second opinions.
Your lip is fine! Do not worry! Get on with being happy and fulfilled.
Hi thanks for your reply. I don’t know about pushing my electrologist to do more than necessary but while I had initially decided to have my upper lip done once a month, once i started the treatment and stopped plucking i saw the full extent of the hair growth and have been going every two weeks for the last 2 months. Perhaps these sessions are too frequent for my sensitive skin. But the in-between sessions time is quite hard since I don’t want to shave and am effectively walking around with a stubble :s
Hi Dee, thanks for your kind reply. Actually one of the areas that I encircled becomes wrinkled when I smile and remains lined for a while afterwards and that is what has me panicking. Anyway, I will give this time to heal and apply tea tree oil as James recommended.
Thank you for your patience and help 
I am by no means and electrologist but my chin looks much worse than this 3 weeks after treatment and by 6 weeks it looks fine.
I know I’m “pushing you buttons” on this, but would greatly like an answer to the question of why you have not discussed these matters with your electrologist? (Yes, I can be a bit “prickly” at times. But I think the question is important for you to think about … and your relationship with your therapist.)
Think about this: Your electrologist can see your skin in person (not a photo). She did the work! Why not ask her what’s going on? Why not ask her for her recommendations?
Remember, you are taking the opinion of people that are thousands of miles away from you, cannot see the “real deal” and did not do the work.
Have you talked to your electrologist about your concerns?
Hi again Michael,
Yes, I’ve spoken to my electrologist since the last session: She’s told me that with my skin, pigmentation is likely so we should wait for it to fade before working on the area again. She’s the only electrologist in the city so I can’t even go to anyone else to get a second opinion.
Okay … I’m glad now. Don’t be afraid to ask ANY question: that’s what we “do!”
Okay, will do Thanks for taking the time out to reply to my posts, Michael.