Hello, I am new here in the Forums. I had no idea there was such a site with extensive information about Hair Removal. It really is quite informative. In the last month or so I have learned a lot more about hair types et etc than I ever bothered to the rest of my life.
Let me tell you a bit more about myself: I am a Portuguese female and I am 26 years old. Last year I decided to have laser treatment to remove the hair on my upper lip, since I always hated waxing it every two weeks. The technician also suggested I do the chin area as well because there were a few numbers of coarser hair there that I occasionally tweezed. Nothing too outstanding. Do I wish I could go back in time now…
A bit about my countenance: I have dark brown hair and pale skin. I’m not sure of what level type but my skin is very white. Anyways, I followed treatment at the clinic monthly. I started wondering that it was strange that between treatments the hair would always grow so fast - I could never go more than one month and half without treatment, against the “months apart between sessions” they so publicized on their site. Other than that, things were going well, at least for my upper lip. Three sessions ago, for reasons that I trully cannot comprehend, the technician expanded the treatment area to the area under my chin without telling me a word beforehand. She only claimed there was a stray hair. I never in my life had hair in that area - the only few hairs I’d plucked were straight from my chin, not my upper neck! As a result, hair started sprouting in that area - I am unsure if due to the shaving they do beforehand or from the laser settings. Maybe both. (I have reported this in the other Laser Forum). I have no idea what the laser settings were but I was told they were set on the highest for my skin type.
Of course I do not want to return there. They are people without standards, without any thought for other people’s well being and self esteem. This past month has been hell on my nerves, I tell you. With each passing day I see the hairs growing under my chin and I am always dreading the day I will look like a man on the streets. Of course, I am trying to find solutions.
I had never heard of electrolysis before and it seems there aren’t many practitioners here in Lisbon - no, the city has been invaded by the type of cheap laser treatment and IPL treatment clinics with technicians that do not know a thing of what they are doing and misinform people. Indeed, one of the lies I’ve been told by said technician was that bleaching causes the hair to grow thicker when I said I was going to start bleaching the area rather than do any further treatments. Not that bleaching will help forever, since some of the hairs that have already grown are long. And they also said that stress makes hair grow faster - it might be true but that’s such a low shot, to make it look like it’s the client’s fault and not their crappy service.
Anyways, I am trying not to touch them with anything - no shaving, no tweezing (even if I really feel like doing the later) so if I do get electrolysis, it will be easier to remove them.
That’s where I’d like some help. Does anyone out there know of electrologists (?) in Lisbon? From my extensive Google search I could only find two. One has 20 years of experience and a number of degrees - the electrology degree in question is from Brazil. Do they use different techniques there? Sorry if it is a dumb question but, as I said, I do not know the practice. The other person I found seems to have 28 years of experience and has 3 places in Lisbon. They have a nice form in the site that we can fill in with our info. I will do so once I am ready.
Well, for electrolysis I would be more than ready (maybe) but first I decided to procure medical advice. I went to an Endocrinologist (again, spelling? Sorry for mangling any grammar!) and he ordered some hormones tests just to be sure. He also ordered a pelvic exam to rule out PCOS but I highly doubt I have that condition as I have always been regular and I lost weight as opposed to gaining it. The only reason I would even consider a hormonal condition was because last year I developped this fine fuzzy blond hair (some have a hint of color) on my cheeks and I’m a highly stressful person. I was also on the pill (Diane 35 here, I think it’s called Dianette in the US) for 8 years so I expect that messed up some of my hormones. But I have been off it for 4 years already and never had any hirsutism symptoms aside from last year. So, I want to rule out any hormonal condition before I starte any further treatments.
So, after this extensive story, I have quite a few questions, if you would (still) bear with me:
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Would some kind of hormonal treatment (be it in the form of yet another pill or any other meds) help reduce hair? What I ask is, if I don’t touch any of the fuzzy hair that I already have on my cheeks or any of the hair of the area that was stimulated by the laser, could some of it get better under medication alone? (I understand this question is not related to electrolysis, I can post it someplace else if needed);
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I understand there are different types of electrolysis treatment. Is there any recommended one for my countenance and hair type? (I have tried to take pictures but it’s hard to target the area properly when taking a picture of your own face…)
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Is electrolysis really effective? I understand you must get this a lot but this is my last hope. The technician had the nerve to state I would have these hairs my whole life now…after they did the mess! I refuse to stay like this the rest of my life. So, I really need to know if there’s the chance of things worsening, of the hair growing thicker with electrolysis.
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How often should one go to sessions? After seeing some (quite frankly scary) pictures of healing after electrolysis, I realize the healing process is probably longer than that of laser treatment. How long should one have it done? Monthly? Especially in such an exposed area as the face.
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Speaking of those scary healing pics, do you get any permanent marks? I have no idea how I am going to plan out things. I don’t wanna go to work with my face looking like a pin cushion…
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And, finally, the really obvious question: does it hurt a lot? I know getting laser in this area really really hurt. Does the pain vary with the different techniques?
Ok, I think this is enough for now. Sorry for the long post. I have been dealing with this constantly since July, when I realized that laser was probably screwing up things for me. I will keep you posted about my blood test results and about my electrologist choice. I was thinking of going to a dermatologist first, so they can advice me further about my skin type and electrology. I am a bit scared of the idea of the treatment, quite frankly.
Thank you very much if you endured until the end of this post. And thank you for any help provided!
Note for any other Portuguese out there looking for info on electrolysis: The name translation is a false friend. I found the two electrologysts through the name “electrocoagulação” (com ou sem acordo ortográfico) and not through “electrólise”.
I’m not a professional, so I am unable to answer some of your questions fully, but I thought I could maybe give you some advice based on my own personal experience.