Is this a scam?

Hair Removal Methods Professional Electrolysis
#1

So I’ve been having HUGE difficulty finding electrolysis in the DC/MD area. Basically, there are no reviews for anyone on Yelp or Google businesses…so it seems like a major shot in the dark…except…

One place had all these 5 star reviews. I looked around at their website and saw that a typical treatment lasts 5 minutes. This seems way too short. I called and explained the area (“beard” area) and she said in 5 minutes the first treatment would be done. It is $25 for a 5 minute treatment (she has decades of experience apparently). She said they don’t do “test areas” - 5 minutes for $25, that’s all.

After hearing that I started to get skeptical…were all the reviews written by her? Some of them did seem to have similar writing patterns. I signed up for a consultation and 5 minute hair removal slot anyway. But am now thinking of canceling…

Basically, can you all help me out? Does this 5 minute time frame seem unrealistic/wacko?

#2

YELP and GOOGLE reviews are not totally trustworthy. There can be a lot of game playing going on. A mother may write a self-serving review for her daughter so the daughter gets more business or a competitor can write a less than glowing review of another competitor in order to gain favor. I’d rather see no reviews rather than wonder if the reviews I do see are accurate and honest. I know I have many satisfied clients and no one has taken the time to review what we have done together. I am perfectly fine with this and have never hinted to my finished clients to say good things about me. It feels slimy to me to ask others to rate me.

Best thing to do is make a list. Get consults and short treatments. Keep a private journal or you can come here and log in on your own thread to keep a journal so others can see how you tackle finding an electrologist that impresses you. Please do not mention names of businesses though or we will have days of drama ahead. Private business owners are devastated by anonymous posters that trash their hard work and livelihood. We all have different setups and strategies and it is up to you the consumer to pick the setup and strategy you like the best.

I would not even consider a five minute appointment for $25.00. Your instincts are correct on this one. Search on and get SEVERAL CONSULTS and then use your instincts again to guide you on what seems right for you.

There are great electrologists near enough to you, I’m sure. If you private message me, maybe I can guide you to the starting line.

#3

Thanks, I sent you a PM. In the interests of anyone reading the thread, is 5 minutes for $25 too short and cheap? It seems horribly short…on a good day it takes about an hour (per day) to do a good tweezing job on the area. Yesterday a new roommate was leaning over my shoulder and remarked, “Is that stubble?!” and I’m putting my foot down…I’m tired of this holding me back!

And you are correct about not mentioning the names of the businesses so publicly. I will edit my post above to reflect that.

#4

Here’s what we’re working with after not tweezing for a day…(though it looks awful/like I have stubble even when I do tweeze, and my skin is very sensitive so it leaves red blotches/scabs/etc.):

qwerty Attachments

Snapshot_20110924.JPG

#5

collegekid89: Not all, but most electrologists offer a free consultation. That “usually” includes a short treatment - or at least the removal of a few hairs so that you can see how it feels and how your skin reacts. IMHO - 25 dollars for 5 minutes is too much. Now, most electrologists charge more per minute for short appointments than they do for long appointments - but surely a 15 minute appointment is not $75.00 there!!!???

Ditto to everything Dee said, too!

Visit http://electrology.com/find.html?st=1 to search for an electrologist near you.

#6

College, your picture is fuzzy, but I can see that you have a tough problem. Have you had a hirsutism work up with your doctor yet? That would be a very smart move. You may need medical help in addition to an electrolysis program. I’m very serious about that.

#7

Thanks all! I have seen several doctors about this and they do find slightly high androgen levels. But apparently it’s not PCOS or worthy of any kind of medical intervention. Just “hairy” genes :stuck_out_tongue:

#8

Tweezing, seems to have drammatically worsened your problem but an electrologist, who works efficiently, can make a huge difference quickly. Has anyone had any referrals for you? Over what length of time have you been tweezing? Did you notice a rapid increase in growth, soon after you began to tweeze. Does anyone else in your family (mother,aunt,sister) have a similar problem?

#9

No referrals…I didn’t see a rapid increase in growth, but certainly is seems as if the problem has worsened over time.

No women in the family have the same problem but the men problems with excessive hair.

#10

Update: I did go to the appointment, and when I arrived I was told it would be $30 for the consultation alone (no treatment). This was not disclosed to me on the phone when we were discussing the appointment and treatment cost. It struck me as very dishonest and when I said this, I was told they “don’t voluntarily disclose the cost of the consultation.” Great! I traveled 1 hr to get there but am questioning their professionalism overall. I ultimately did leave an online review because I don’t think other customers should be subjected to a “surprise” and “voluntarily undisclosed” cost upon traveling a far distance. I was so turned off I left immediately. What a waste of 2 hours!

I will look into all the links provided and schedule further appointments…thanks :slight_smile:

#11

Bummer.

#12

Double bummer …

We seem to be running into some greedy therapists these days. In a “bad economy” all of us need to be doing more for our clients. For most, electrolysis is a luxury and not a necessity. Rent and food will trump cosmetic treatments every time (well, almost).

I always do a free consult (nearly all of us do), and at least a 15 - 20 minute treatment. I do this for a couple reasons: 1) I want to see how the patient is going to react to the treatment, psychologically. And, 2) Just launching into a treatment, without somewhat knowing the therapist and post- treatment manifestations always creates “more pain” for the client.

I will treat a good solid patch and have the patient wait a couple weeks before getting started. When they return to “get going” they are always very comfortable with the treatment, because they have seen the short-term results and they somewhat know me. A sense of trust creates less pain for the client: less anxiety reduces, for example, adrenaline and epinephrine, which translates into a much higher pain threshold.

How to build a solid business? Do everything right for the patient and everything drops in place. Always put the patient’s needs first!

(Sometimes this can be a tiny problem. Three weeks ago a fellow showed up with a gigantic tele on his nose. As always, I did a free treatment. He called me yesterday to say the whole thing is gone. He thanked me and wondered if he owed me any money. I said: no, I’m just happy it worked for you. Is this bad? Not really. I now have a “believer” and someone who will speak well of me in my community.)

#13

Note: yes, the first 15 - 20 minute treatment is free. I forgot to stipulate that.

#14

Gosh, Mike, I would have at least asked for a homemade loaf of banana nut bread. I once got some fresh basil from a clients garden for doing a short treatment for free. Her idea and I enjoyed a lovely caprese salad.

#15

Try Karen at Skin Care Solutions in Springfield, VA