Giving up......!

[Simon1]

Hi there, I am at a complete loss and am giving up but really do not understand why its not working?

I am now at a total of 2 years with electrolysis, 18 months with no laser and I feel like I’m back to where I started with the amount of hair. From having my top lip clear July last year I am now at the point of being just as hairy as I started albeit there seems to be a lot more grey/white?

I put a post in last year where I had concerns about my progress and changed my electrologist as a result so I have had c 1 year with two new electrologists. 1 with 25 years+ experience and well sought after.

I was going every two weeks from the end of December 23 but did increase to weekly from Feb through to May to try and get on top of what seemed to be an increase in hairs. In all this time it has never got to being clear at all.

The hairs were sliding out on the original setting the new electrologist used when I started with her but now she is having to go in several times to try and get the hair to release even when increasing the current. She has tried increasing the current pretty high but also using a lower current but for longer but nothing seems to work? She and I are at a bit of a loss of why there is no progress.

I believe I am the only male patient at this establishment and I fully trust this electrologist as she has come highly recommended.

My top lip is pretty much destroyed at this point through PIE, PIH and also a lack of pigmentation so it is time to call it a day. I have also seen a dermatologist who has advised to stop but he only seemed to say apply a basic moisturiser.
I have had my hormones tested regularly and was advised by my GP there is no issue there.

Hopefully the picture shows a red semi circular band that runs from each corner of my mouth up to under my nose and the complete lack of pigmentation in certain parts below.

[Thermo]

The first clearance within one treatment is an important milestone to reach. After that, your electrologist is maintaining the progress until the hair reduces to nothing. If your electrologist hasn’t done this after a year, then the whole process is going to drag on for much longer than the standard 18-24 months.

Based on the picture you provided, the amount of dark hair is not so much that it cannot be treated within a single hour session, so I really don’t understand how you’ve not seen any progress with weekly treatments or twice monthly treatments over a year.

I remember the picture you posted a year ago, and I’d say your skin is actually in pretty good condition all things considered. Some of the pigmentation issues are likely caused by your previous electrologist, but even a skilled electrologist with a careful treatment is going to produce this sort of reaction on the upper lip. It’s just the nature of treating that area that the skin looks a bit rough and uneven for the duration of treatments. It tends to improve towards the end as the amount of hair decreases considerably.

If your dermatologist has suggested stopping, then it may not be the worst idea, at the very least to prove that the pigmentation issues will resolve. If you want to take it up again, it might be best to find an electrologist that has a history of treating transgender clients as they will have experience working on male beards.

[Maddy]

I would think that could be complete in about an hour each time, worst case 6 times and it should be clear.
For those dark ones i would (this is just me) i would use galvanic mostly and very low thermo. Get good lye and slide them out. Long slow treatment to each hair letting the lye do most of the work.

This is just my personal idea of treating them but im sure there are others
Good luck
I only work on tg clients, starting at 3hrs per week tapering off to 1hr per fortnight at the end, can take 18 months to 3 years depending.
My pricing is cheap compared to general as my clients need so many hours.

[Jdesloges]

There does seem to be areas of loss but 2 years is a long time. Are you have your lip cleared every time or are random areas being done. It’s very important to focus on one area and spread out as time allows. The important questions is “how does it feel”? Are you feeling the hair being taken out? You should not be feeling hairs being tweezed. If you are then the electrologist isn’t doing her job properly. I have an online training program that she might consider taking.