Hi from a new member (23/M/UK) chest/stomach :-(

Hair Removal Methods Professional Electrolysis
#1

Hi HairTell,

I’m a student (23) studying in North West England but currently on a year abroad in Japan.

I have very white skin and dark hair.

I’ve saved enough money to start on what I originally thought would be Laser treatment, mainly of my stomach and chest which are my main problem areas. (although money permitted I would have a lot more work done)

When I turned 18 I did something stupid, got a high interest credit card (with no job) and paid £200 to get Laser, I could only afford a single session and obviously saw no results at all.

I put this down to the lack of a series of treatments and so wanted to get a full set… but after reading so many stories about laser not giving the desired results or only reducing the hair I’d lost hope in getting the results I want.

Then I saw the HairTell Electrolysis forums and began to think maybe Electrolysis can give me the permanent results I need for probably around the same price.

I wasn’t planning on starting the search for a decent electrologist until I returned home in July of this year but then I saw Michael Bono’s post about him having done work with the Japanese company TBC and thought I might check it out as there are stores close to me and he gave them high praise.

do you think this is a bad idea?
should I wait until I return home to start?
will they only be good at treating asian people?

Anyway sorry about the super long intro post.

[color:#FF0000]TLDR[/color]: I’m new, male, 23, from the north west of england & looking for an experienced electrologist to treat at least the whole of my stomach and chest!

#2

I decided to go and try it out just to experience electrolysis in Japan and to go for my first experience with electrolysis.

None of the staff spoke english and I’m only a (very lazy) student so it was a little difficult to understand everything but thanks to these forums I recognised most of what he was saying when talking to the electrologist.

I was shown various diagrams and he explained about there being 4 stages of hair growth (I think) and he said as he only had 10 minutes what did I want him to do? so I said to focus on the most noticeable hairs.

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As I only had 10 minutes, I decided to do in between my eyebrows, as I always pluck that area normally (I stopped plucking 2-3 weeks before going to the appointment) and it is small enough I might see a difference afterwards.

Michael said they use their own designed machines, I’ve never been treated with anything else so I couldn’t tell you how it compares, but during the treatment I felt hardly any pain, it felt like being pinched I guess?

I’m pretty sure he used thermolysis as he said he was treating the hairs by ねつ which means heat.
anyway I took a picture of the machine incase any of the pros were curious:

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I wouldn’t say it felt like he was plucking the hairs, but he did pull them out after treating them? it didn’t feel forceful but I wouldn’t say they glided out.

Anyway I might go back after a month or so if it seems like the results were good and the guy told me he had been working for 10 years.
do you think after around a month I will be able to tell?

The first session is at a reduced rate:
10 minutes cost me 1000 Japanese Yen / $10 / £6.50

which seems pretty good but after the first treatment it that same usual session normally costs 11000 Yen / $110 / £70… for 10 minutes… which seems very expensive compared to western prices… I really don’t have that kinda cash laying around to be treated in Japan no matter how good the electrologist is.

My main area of concern is still my stomach / chest so I think I will probably wait to return to the UK in July to get started on those areas.

#3

$110 for 10 minutes??? No matter how good you are, that’s not worth it, especially if you’re coming back to the UK in 2 months. I’d recommend you to just get treated there. I’m sure the Japanese guy knows what he’s doing, but that’s ridiculous

#4

Technically that price is for 14 minutes as they count two minutes of consultation and time to clean the area beforehand and finally apply cold towels to the areas after as part of the treatment time which you are charged for at 800 yen ($8!) a minute even when hairs are not being treated!

Japan is crazy expensive sometimes.

#5

Hmmm well that explains why Tokyo and Osaka are considered two of the most expensive cities in the world then lol.

#6

Yikes! Yeah, expensive.

Yep, that’s the TBC unit. Madonna Mia!

Think about a “stop over” on your way home … “Holy Sushi Kenji!”

#7

I would love to be treated by you Michael! though I think getting several return flights to america for more than a single clearing would use up too much of my budget sadly :frowning:

I could probably afford to go as far as Spain though…

#8

Erm well if you are paying $110 for 10 mins (whaaat??) for treatment you are not confident in, flying back to UK via LA to get a first clearance with Michael would probably be cheaper in the long run! Then you can do subsequent clearances with someone in the UK.

#9

Yeah, that’s it: First clearing and you are nearly half-way there. My $70 per hour and their "$110 per … what, REALLY? Although if your time frame is 2 months, I probably can’t do that … English guy will be here (Westminster).

You can’t beat “Our Lady of SPAIN!”

#10

Oh yes you can, with another week like this last with an Italian guy (whom I adore because he reminds me of someone…) and I will be the one that is finished. :frowning:

#11

I would have to pay that if I went back, which I probably won’t because I’ll save that money for treatment in the west instead.

I thought that sounded like a great idea too, the work would be done by the best… but a quick search on how much a stop over at Santa Barbara is and seeing it will cost me an extra £1,400 ($2100) more than just returning to the UK!

That’s the price of the flight never mind the 20 or so hours work I want.

really that is the price in Japan lol here is a copy of my receipt

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yeah it is a shame the flights from here are too expensive for me or I’d be begging you to fit me in :stuck_out_tongue:

Heres hoping I can get onto Josefa’s waiting list!

did something bad happen?
I never want to hear that your work will be finished! :eek:

#12

Wah! You are kinda pessimistic :stuck_out_tongue:

I just did a quick search and return flights from London to LA are between £500 and £700. So visiting Michael is something you could do when you are back here.

You can probably find someone in UK but it would still most likely require travel. I’d look at contacting Mairi Hawkes in Oban - she could probably book you in now for when you return from your year abroad.

I know you say X amount of money could buy you X number of hours but you need to look at the quality of hours you are buying. You might need half the number of hours with Michael that you would need with someone else.

#13

Wow that is basically half price of the tickets I’ve seen could you tell me where you’re finding these?

Yeah I’m aware of that fact, I’d sooner travel to a good electrologist which takes time than go to a local person because they’re accessible but I’m afraid I don’t have the money to fly as far as america, maybe if I was working full time and not a student, that won’t be for a few years yet and the longer I delay starting the longer I’m unhappy.

#14

They are probably not direct flights and you would need to work out a time that suits both you (in terms of money) and the electrologist. But it is possible to get good deals on flights if you are flexible.

I use sites like skyscanner… there are loads more that do searches for cheap flights. Use incognito mode in your browser as prices are automatically bumped up if the site sees you’ve searched the same route more than once.

In regards to your position… I’ve been exactly there so I know how you feel. In my first year of Uni a guy in my class was like ‘shave your beard!’. I finished my underdgrad and masters and started working before I had the funds to do it. Michael wrote an inspiring post the other day about making a plan and working towards it. I can’t agree enough. Don’t let your hair get in the way of enjoying yourself.

#15

No, quite the opposite. We managed to do the first clearance of the two arms from just above the elbow to the hand. A more clearance in chest, stomach, abdomen, shoulders and mid-back. All in record time, 6 days.
It takes more than an Italian to let me out of action … at least… half a dozen of them. :wink:

#16

Wow that sounds amazing :o
Those must have been some long sessions? but the pay off should be worth it!
I’m glad to hear that you can’t be defeated :slight_smile:

If the pics in your other thread are the same guy and it took 6 days to do all that, you could probably treat me in half that time for a first clearance! … well a boy can dream :tired: