Is it supposed to take this long..?

Hair Removal Methods Professional Electrolysis
#1

Ok so summer of 2012, I was unhappy with my upper lip hair. My upper lip hair is very fine. If you are far away you cannot even see it at all. Only if you come within one foot of me will you see the fine hair… and that’s only cause I’m very pale as well. (When I am tan it’s invisible :wink: )

So summer of 2012, I found an Electrolysis near me that charges me $40 for 15 minute sessions (I’m assuming 15 minutes only cause I’m fair skinned and it can irritate me). Sessions used to be every two weeks and have changed to once a month. So once a month since August 2012 I have been getting Electrolysis done on my upper lip…

And I’m starting to feel like is this taking to long or is my Electrolysis not good? I have read stories about people with COARSE hair and BEARDS getting results quicker than me? I only have fine hair? So I need opinions…

As far as my results… I don’t see a huge difference… I only feel like my upper lip hair has gotten thinner … but I don’t see any bald spots…

#2

assuming once a month, 15 minutes, equals about 3 hours a year. X 3 is a total of 9 hours over 3 years. At 2 weeks, double that to 18. Yes that is too long for an upper lip in my opinion, she is tweezing. HOWEVER…

I could see it taking this long to COMPLETE the job, if and only if the hair is very fine, blonde and difficult to see. This can lengthen treatment as the electrologist struggles to see your hair. IT isnt however the fault of the client, but a failing in the optics of the electrologist.Also, if this was the case they should have discussed this with you long before 3-4 years was up.

I’m going to say go to a different electrologist.

Seana

#3

You are coming up on 4 years and I estimate you’ve paid nearly $2000 for just your upper lip…

If you don’t see a huge difference then I think your electrologist is ineffective and has probably been tweezing. Find someone else and consider asking for a refund.

Have you been tweezing yourself in-between sessions? That is a big no-no.

Where are you located? Someone here might be able to give you a referral.

#4

I would like to see a quality before picture and a picture of your upper lip now.

I never work on an upper lip for just15 minutes, unless we run out of hairs.

In the beginning, at the first session, I like to clear the left side of the lip and right side of the lip and then select the biggest hairs in the middle. The middle hairs are always the last to go because there are usually a boat load of hairs in that area and it happens to be the ouchiest part to work on for very long. Upper lip sessions can last for 30-45 minutes, in the beginning clearances. This is what I can do with MY EQUIPMENT and I’m not encouraging your electrologist to go beyond 15 minutes because I don’t know what her set up is like. Some machines are too quirky for longer sessions on the upper lip.

If you have done any tweezing, waxing, threading and sugaring or pulling with your fingers on your upper lip, you cant expect to see much success.

#5

I DO NOT tweeze or wax between … I HAVE NEVER touched my upper lip before Electrolysis lol…

Electrolysis is ALL I have ever done (which is why I’m thinking this is TAKING way too long…)

As far as results… I believe my hair has gotten finer (but it’s still there)? I’m not sure if there is much reduction… I cannot remember 4 years ago…

But still… for someone who has FINE upper lip hair and has never waxed, shaved, or plucked her upper lip… I think 4 years is too long… ??? At lease the sides of my upper lip should be completely gone but they’re not…

What do you guys mean by tweezing?? How do I know if they are tweezing or doing electrolysis?

#6

Four years is too long. Accurate insertions are needed, along with the correct amount of energy . You should not feel any pulling of the hair and you have to put in enough time to get the area’s cleared of all bothersome hair. If you had a lot of fine hair, in my opinion, 15 minute sessions are not going to get you cleared, unless you go weekly for many, many weeks.

I don’t know other details. I can show you what a cleared lip looks like, with stats included, but I need to shuffle through my photos. Be back later.

#7

This is a pre-electrolysis picture of the hairiest vellus hair lip I have ever seen. I purposely chose an extreme case, that is not the normal fuzzy lip case. She bleached the hair. Sorry it is a little blurry.

This picture was taken after her 16th session, 10 months after we started. We worked 47 minutes on her upper and lower lip. We did 525 insertions. So far, she has had 11,535 insertions and is at the 16 hour and 1 minute mark.

I will add a picture update here after Thursday. She is coming for an appointment then for another area that we have been working on.

#8

The average time I worked on her upper lip was 60 minutes, by the way. She always looked a little pink and a little swollen, but those temporary side effects subsided within hours to a day. Average insertion count was 720 insertions per hour.

#9

I have found a picture online from HAIRTELL, (I apologize whoever this is, I am just using it as an example of how close my upper lip hair is) I do not have a good camera at the moment.

That is how my upper lip hair currently is. I think when I started it was slightly longer (I cannot remember).

I guess I wasted my time lol? Should I find a new Electrolysis?

#10

Find a new electrologist.

Also take a current picture so that you can do a Before/After comparison later.

#11

Agree.

#12

I’ll second that as well.

#13

UPDATE!

I have found a new electrologist in the area. She is shocked that I have been going to this other electrologist for so long and no results with the amount of hair that I have.

The procedure hurt a little more than usual (but I was ok), my upper lip is more swollen compared to my previous electrologist. I did not feel any hair being tugged out!! My old electrologist I would feel her pull the hair out. With the new one I couldn’t feel it.

I am so happy I found a new electrologist and do not feel taken advantage of.

I’m very annoyed at my old electrologist. She has the same credentials as the new one. She is in a reputable area. Why would she take advantage of me?

Do you think its because maybe she was using Blend vs Shortwave?

#14

Dont stress over the blend and shortwave issue, blend has a better kill rate because the lye stays in the follicle after treatment and continues to chemically decompose the vital hair producing structures. Hair may be harder to get good release with blend, but that doesnt mean the hair is not dead. With thermolysis , once the treatment is done , the hair is dead or it isnt, and that measurement becomes more meaningful. In general a good release of the hair is our best measurment of the effectiveness of treatment but it’s not an “absolute” either way.

Different electrologists have different skill levels, regardless of years practised or qualifications or even price or area they practise in are pretty meaningless. Some electrologist are taught to undertreat and do so their entire careers ( we call them professional pluckers)

Simlarly dont stress skin reactions, redeness and inflamation is a normal result. IT fades within a few days.

Awesome new electrologist, and I’m certain you will be happy with the progress

#15

Awesome that you found a new electrologist who appears to be more skilled. However, it’s sad that you had wasted so much time and money with the previous one. Unfortunately, credentials and time in business are not necessarily indicators of skill.

I would consider contacting your old electrologist and asking for a refund.