Hello all! I am surprised there is not an FAQ post here to introduce anyone that has never had electrolysis to all the important information. I have several questions. I have had numerous laser treatments and am now considering electrolysis for touch up and certain areas that can’t be done with laser. By the way I am a 34 year old male. Type III skin (don’t think that matters with electrolysis though). Thick dark hair.
what is the best modality of electrolysis?
what do I look for in a practitioner?
what is the typical skin reaction to first time clients?
say for the remainder of my beard (which is thick dark hair, dense in some places, patchy because of laser)? Is scabbing typical? Redness? How long does this last?
what can you do/use to minimize skin reaction?
what is the typical “schedule” for electrolysis? I’m used to laser treatments being spaced at least 8-12 weeks apart?
how much/ how many hairs can be cleared in a typical one hour session for an average to good electrologist?
how much does a typical one hour session cost? I know it is different per specialist and for different geographic areas, but can someone give me a ballpark range of what to expect?
is it advisable to do large areas at one time say my entire face? or just small areas. sideburns, then chin, then neck, then lip, etc.?
what is the typical sequence of events after treatment? scabbing or redness for the first 24 hours, hair fallout within one week, regrowth at 3 weeks? etc.
I am used to laser and hence only schedule treatments during fall and winter to minimize sun exposure as this can lead to burning or adverse side-effects. Does sun play any role in when to schedule electrolysis treatments? can you have treatments when you have a tan? Does sun exposure after treatment cause any complications?
do most or any electrologists treat the male genital areas? (such as buttocks, scrotum, anal area, perineam, etc.) This is important because I have had these lasered but have stray hairs and my new laser clinic (my only option now) refuses to treat these areas.
how is pain level comparable to laser treatment? my face has been an extremely painful experience with laser but had to be as aggressive settings were used to see results.
is there any topical cream, etc. to numb the treatment area?
what side effects are possible? scarring? pitting? pigmentation changes? and how are they avoided? how do you know what to look for in a practitioner to avoid a bad situation?
If anybody can answer some or all of these questions I would be extremely grateful. This forum is great.
you can find the answers to all these questions by reading through questions on this forum. you should also start by reading FAQs on www.electrology.com
I’ll try to tackle a few:
There is no “best” technically, but some are a lot faster than others, though some claim that the faster ones have a lower killing rate on the first try. But considering the fact that it makes the entire treatment faster by clearing the entire area asap so that you’re only coming in to get the new weak hairs afterwards, faster methods usually make more sense. Thermolysis (including microflash variety) is fastest (5-10 hairs per min), following by blend (2-3 per min) and then galvanic (1-2 per min). I would choose thermolysis for most hairs, and blend for some deeper curlier ones. Either way, thermolysis would be good to start in all cases even if you switch after your first clearance. Find someone who uses both if you want, and they’ll choose the best method for your situation.
You should not feel plucking. Hairs should slide out without much resistance after they’re zapped. Magnification, newer machine, cleanliness etc are all important.
3/4. Redness shouldn’t last more than a couple hours. You may get some scabs a few days later which fall out within a week. You should be using witch hazel and pure aloe vera for several days after the treatment.
The schedule is going in as often and for long sittings up front to clear the entire area, and then coming in as soon as you see new weak hair pop up so you can have the best chance at killing them on that try. Exact schedule depends on how many hairs you’re removing. Most people have to come in every 2 weeks or so after the clearance, which then drops down to 3-4 weeks and you should be done about 12 months after the clearance if you stay on schedule.
See question 1.
$50-100 per hour, average is about $60-65. Yes some areas like NYC are more expensive on average.
You can do whatever you want. Just depends on how much time you are willing to commit to this and staying on schedule is very important to be finished in a 12 months.
This is not like laser at all. Each hair is treated one by one. It is zapped and it releases without resistance. You will leave the treatment without the hairs that were treated. Then you come in as soon as you see new hair pop up.
Laser is attracted to pigment. Electrolysis has nothing to do with that. The heat is delivered through a probe (needle) to kill each hair root individually. You should stay away from tanning and sun for 2-3 days before and after treatment just to minimize irritation. That’s it. You can treat tanned skin with no problems.
No. Some do and some don’t. It’s a private area and some choose not to treat it for personal reasons. You need to ask when you call.
The pain is completely different, so you can’t compare it to laser. It’s a sting every time the hair is zapped. You can use numbing cream, but most don’t find it necessary. Some areas like upper lip are more sensitive. Others, you might not feel much at all. This also depends on the skill of electrologist, so it’s a good idea to check out 3-5 of them to compare things. Be sure to stay away from coffee and drink lots of water around treatment times to reduce pain. You can also take an Advil.
Yes. Same as with laser. EMLA is popular. There are others. I would try treatments without it first. Most people don’t need it and some only use it on the most painful areas like upper lip.
You should sample 3-5 electrologists. You should judge treatments by how your skin reacts after the treatment. Scabbing on the face should be minimal. You shouldn’t have any pigmentation if the treatments are good. Everything should heal within a week and look normal. Redness shouldn’t last more than a few hours. If you notice any pigmentation, pitting, etc after your treatment, you should be concerned with their skill. Also, you have to communicate with your electrologist so they can adjust settings in the beginning. Check out 3-5 people though will give you a good idea of differences in skill and reactions post-treatment. Some people may have more sensitive skin. This will help you compare different electrologists on YOUR skin, so you can find one that leaves your skin feeling the best.
wow! great lagirl. thanks for all of the input. I think I will try several clinics/small areas and gauge them and my reaction as you suggested. I think it is great that electrolysis in sun-exposure independent. When I was undergoing laser treatments, I got burned once right after the end of summer and from that point on I only did treatments in the fall/winter. It just makes progress drag out though to space things like that. I guess I can keep up plugging away with electrolysis added to the equation. Thanks again.