just opened up as advanced electrologist

Hi Forum folk.Ive just gone back into practising electrolysis after teaching for many years and am getting to grips with my amazing apilus platinum.I am going to have lots of questions as I truly believe you never stop learning and Ive been learning for 30 years now.This might sound like a silly question but how can I answer the “How many sessions will it take” question without rambling on about growth cycles or it depends etc.Do you have a great one or two liner that you use?

I’m not an electrologist (rather I’m a “consumer”) but I will tell you that as a consumer, the most straight-forward piece of advice I’ve heard was from Sabrena Smith in Los Angeles: “To put it bluntly, it gets done when it’s done”

Were you satisfied hearing that answer Brenton?

thanks Brenton its probably the most truthful answer ive ever heard but it might be a bit blunt if I didnt know the client so well.

Sort of. Of course, as a client, I would love to know exactly how many hours it will take, exactly how much regrowth to expect, etc. Since no one knows, it is nice for someone to be honest and say “I have no idea how many total hours it will take, but if you follow my schedule, I guarantee you that you will be done by this time.” I was satisfied that she was at least honest and didn’t guess a random number. Of course, the bluntness was only 1 line. If you want to read the whole page (it’s fairly short), here you go:

http://www.sabrenasmith.com/sabrenaweb_020.htm

On her site in Download New Client Forms - PDF File I found next information:

[i]Treatment Consent and Release
I acknowledge that the practice of skin care and massage including microablation, microdermabrasion, electrolysis, facial toning, body treatments, laser treatments, tattoo removal, vein treatments, brown spot removal, BOTOX, Collagen, Dermal Fillers, Sclerotherapy, Mesotherapy, Dermaplaning, and various other beauty or health procedures is not an exact science and no specific guaranties can or have been made concerning the expected result. I understand that some clients experience more change and improvement than others. In virtually all cases, multiple treatments are required in order to realize a difference.

I also realize that the following risks and hazards may occur in connection with any particular treatment including but not limited to: unsatisfactory results, poor healing, discomfort, redness, blistering, nerve damage, scarring, infection, change in the skin pigmentation, allergic reaction, muscle damage, and increased hair growth. I understand that even though precautions may be taken in my treatment, not all risks can be known in advance.
Given the above, I understand that response to treatment varies on an individual basis and that specific results are not guaranteed. Therefore, in consideration for any treatment received, I agree to hold harmless and release from any liability Sabrena Smith & Associates as well as any officers, directors, or employees of the above companies for any condition or result, known or unknown that may arise as a consequence of any treatment that I receive.


Client Signature Print Name Date
Model Release
In consideration for treatment received, I herby grant permission to Sabrena Smith& Associates to use any photographic treatment records for the purposes of clinical and statistical studies, advertising, or promotion without any additional compensation to me.
___________________________[/i]

I really wonder how many clients sighed this form?

I’ve been in contact with her so I can always ask her. I know she’s been recommended multiple times by people of this forum. I think it’s more of a liability thing than anything (CA laws are overly obnoxious with this stuff).

Yes, I know that it looks like more of a liability thing. But who would be comfortable sighing “I also realize that the following risks and hazards may occur in connection with any particular treatment including but not limited to: … nerve damage, muscle damage, scarring, infection…” …???

Probably the people who didn’t read it lol (the same way people install new programs on their computers without reading the “terms and conditions.”) I assume she discusses this with the potential client before they sign the form. Maybe one of the few people who feels this way, but I appreciate her being honest saying “these things COULD happen”… I like it more than the “everything is 100% safe and nothing bad will happen.”

wow, don’t think i’d be signing that before electrolysis. it kind of gives someone permission to do a bad treatment.

I don’t like the “it gets done when it’s done” although I appreciate where the sentiment is coming from (depends on how often appts are booked, if client doesn’t tweeze between appts, etc, etc)

The best answer I ever received as a client was “out 100 hairs I treat 95 will not return”. Also very blunt. It sounded pretty good to me and she delivered on her promise.

Of course you have to really know how effective your technique is to make those kind of claims.

I tell my clients that most people know that something good is happening between month 6-9. From month 9-12, they really know it and may be 90% finished. From month 12- 18, there is not much to do, if anything at all, and they are basically “finished” if we are talking about female facial hair, that is not accelerated peach fuzz. That is as short as I can get, but you really have to emphasize the variables because there are numerous variables and many challenging hurdles to jump over, for some cases. The good news is, you are always moving forward, eliminating hair follicles. We were all born with all the hair follicles you will ever have, so there are a finite number of hair follicles to deal with, as long as a person is not a hormonal basket case.

Your short line speech will be different for each area. Working on a woman’s face is totally different than working on a man’s upper arms, shoulders and entire back. Transgender care will be different than doing a teenage girls soft, upper lip hairs. Know your concepts, carefully educate your clients truthfully in the very beginning and often after that. Remind them that you will do your very best to get the hair off as fast as you can and as skillfully as you can with that quite awesome Apilus Platinum. Why did you purchase an Apilus Platinum, if I may ask?

Hi Dee
Thanks for that,I like the 6-9 month approx line.
I have had several machines over the last 30 years that I have been an electrologist and had always wanted an Apilus but couldnt afford.I could have had a senior to start with but really being a geek I would still have wanted the Platinum because of the vast choice of modalities and the 27MHZ technology (and I can now afford).I have also ensured that I have synchro.I am experienced and have freelanced in many salons over the years working mainly in blend please dont think “oh dear here comes another novice with a platinum!”

I tell clients that since hair grows in cycles, and the hairs you have in January are NOT the same hairs you have visible in May, and so on, we are playing a game of “Whack-A-Mole” the only difference is, if we miss one, we have to wait a full year for that hair/mole, to come up again from that follicle/hole to give us another chance to try to get it. That is why full clearances and the schedule of treatments is so important, and that will limit what we can do, and how fast, or slow the day we are finished comes.

9 months would be perfect for most areas, but that would be like scoring a perfect 17 in Olympic Gymnastics. More likely is an 18 to 24 month process that looks great in 3 to 6 months.