Mike's Electrolysis

Hair Removal Methods Professional Electrolysis
#61

I have sympathy for you, Mike. This is a case of not knowing enough about how the process goes and what to expect. Much of our work involves a lot of talking, teaching and predicting what will or may happen step by step so you are not afraid or disappointed. This is hard work for both the client and electrologist. Your electrologist may have given you detailed information? I have found that certain information has to be repeated more than once, reinforced, if you will.

If you were my client I would have prepared you to fasten your seat belt and be ready for the hardest days to come. The first six months are the hardest, no doubt about it. DON’T get too excited too fast or you will feel deep disappointment and doubt… That is the warning I give my clients. Hair growth cycles are something you must learn about, so you stay with the program. People need to be informed honestly about what to expect in the beginning treatments from an electrologist that understands that this may redundant to them, but it is all so new and mysterious to you. If anything, you need more love and support - not condemnation.

Keep healing, learn about hair growth cycles, ask your electrologist as many questions as you need to. See if she might be open to using a Laurier IBP #6 probe. Are you located in the United States where it is easier than most places to get an IBP?

We are here to support you in a respectful manner to get you through these tougher times when you are filled doubt and despair. Your electrologists is on the other side to do the same.

Caith is great consumer contributor here on HairTell. He has been through the same thing with a lovely electrologist. I would read all of his posts to get a much needed dose of reassurance.

#62

Patience. It’s something I don’t always have a lot of. :frowning: I was doubtful many times during my treatment, and even after six months. How could so many hairs keep reappearing? Well they did, and my electrologist treated them. And eventually, they stopped coming back. I still have the odd stray hair appearing every few weeks and those are quickly disposed of. Treating these few hairs takes less than 15 minutes each visit.

Do continue, and have faith in the process. Facial hair is coarse, deep-rooted, and hormonally-driven. It takes time (months) for all the hairs in an area to appear above the skin’s surface. Schedule bi-weekly appointments, and don’t miss any. After the area is cleared, the re-appearing hairs will be less coarse (more like hair than whiskers) and easier to treat. Because of overlapping hair growth cycles, it will require a few months to truly treat all the hairs. But it will happen over time. Patience and trust are the keys that make it possible.

#63

Thanks for helping out, Caith. You are the best.

#64

definately…caith is best and best person who can benefit you from his experience.dont get panic…such deep rooted hairs need patience and dedication.Even fine vellus hairs takes 2-3 sittings…so no need to worry.All the best…

#65

Now that I think about this a bit, I suppose my underlying issue is this: how would I feel if one of my patients posted all his post-op photos on-line and didn’t actually come to me for the explanation of what’s going on? Answer: I would feel violated. I remember, some time ago, when Arlene was being “battered” by an unhappy client.

Seriously, which is a better way to analyze a patient: a PHOTO or the REAL PERSON … in the flesh? I don’t know why “Mike” would come to Hairtell and not the electrologist that is working with him? I’m also uncomfortable with the “self-proclaimed experts” (myself included) that sit in judgment of another person’s work.

If a patient started doing that to me, I would discontinue working with him/her. It feels like “tattle-tale” stuff.

Furthermore, the message that is being implied to the clients reading this board is that there aren’t all that many electrologists “out there” doing great work or that know what they’re doing … so, better come here and we will decide for you. If this is Hairtell’s standard practice, it’s a disservice to the profession as a whole.

Patients should consult with their own therapists first …

#66

I’m going to disagree with you here for a little bit. The way I see it… it’s equivalent to asking another doctor for a second opinion. I imagine a doctor would take offense for getting a second opinion for something minor, but for some sort of major surgery, I would expect a doctor not to take much offense to wanting to get another opinion before embarking on something so major and drastic. I kind of see electrolysis as the big hair removal “surgery”. Of course, your doctor knows you best. As for the: “there aren’t all that many electrologists “out there” doing great work or that know what they’re doing” – I think a lot of us are just worried about investing all this time and money into something if we don’t know if it will work (think about the clients you’ve had with “failed” electrolysis). We don’t want to be one of those! I think it helps that a lot of electrologists here post before and after pictures, as well as “in-the-process” pictures. In that way, we as the clients have standards to compare our treatments to those we know have been successful. Anyways, just my two cents. Feel free to disagree all you want (as I suspect you will :wink: ).

#67

More or less agree with Brenton.

I do think people should talk to their electrologist first. But HairTell provides a wealth of information and has on many occasions stopped clients going down a route where follicles were not being properly treated or conversely, when the post treatment reaction was too severe.

Take for example Karii’s thread. HairTell members, advised, encouraged and gave her honest feedback without scaring her away from electrolysis. The result is that she has found that another electrologist in her clinic is managing to do the work without so much facial scabbing.

You already know that for the UK, I am in disagreement about there being lots of good electrologists out there who know what they are doing. Another example - look at mam91’s recent efforts in trying to find a good electrologist.

In the end, as the electrologits in this thread have pointed out, it seems Mike’s electrologist did not fully debrief him on the process and what to expect. This is a great failing in my mind and warrants this thread. The end result? He will hopefully be continuing whilst being better informed.

#68

There would be no need for a site like Hairtell if we were not honest with our opinions responding to our consumer neophytes. Hair removal consumers would see through the BS quickly if our main goal was to cover for poor work. Opinions can be expressed with kindness without demeaning other colleagues. I look on the positive side and believe we all help each other when we gather in the name of commitment and care for consumers that are confused about what constitutes good electrolysis care. Judgement is not always a bad thing. Judgement can improve others. I am not afraid or insulted when someone judges my work because I know that the motive is to help me improve for the better. As with anything, the manner of approach is more damning than what is being judged.

Speaking of judging others, I love watching Judge Greg Mathis and Judge Judy. Judge Mathis is sexy, smart and so unbelievably cool. :blush: :blush: :blush: :blush:

#69

Hey Dee,

Yeah, that sounds good to me too … well said!

#70

Thanks, Mike.

#71

I toatally disagree with you michael here…this forum was set with good faith of helping people about various hair removal processes and tell them pros and cons and help them.I being a cardiologist always tell my patients to seek second opinion if they are in delimma.After all they are paying money and their life is at risk.They should feel comfortable.This forum has got a few very good electrologists…their opinion will help mike to get out of confusion and feel comfortable and happy.In this forum we have specialist as well as the patients(dont mind using this word) who will help others with their own experiences.So why not take advice from the specialist here…its my right.This forum has guided many like me in which way we should go…good examples are of karii ,pokka and stopit$tidyup.So I found your post a little offensive.

#72

I’ll chime in. :slight_smile: I asked here how long to achieve first clearance on my (out of focus) upper lip, precisely because I did not want to put my electrologist Margaret on the spot for an answer, so early in our relationship. I also wanted to obtain answers from more than one source, so I could have a realistic idea of what was possible.

#73

Yeah, I can see the offensive … (nice that you say “a little offensive” …)

I suppose I didn’t understand why somebody would not consult with the person that was doing the work. Not talking to your therapist and only “complaining about her” is also "offensive. Again, a photo is not at good as “the real thing.”

I never take things at “face value” and often stir things up to see where they go … It’s in my nature to “challenge everything” … even my own sacred beliefs. Getting you to “disagree” also got you to put your thinking in order and express them. I even agree with YOU!

#74

Why do you think michael that mike has not brought his concern in his electrologist notice…he must have and she must have adjusted and must have assured him.But he is apprehensive like everybody…its a human nature.After all electrolysis is not a easy take home cake…brings some serious side effects.So its our including electrologist here duty to guide him…boost his moral…reassure him.I leave it to you to think like that.But I have my point to write down…so i wrote.

#75

Okay … maybe so … that makes sense.

I do hope Mike DID talk to his own therapist (I would guess he did not). I also hope he reconsiders removing ONLY the upper lip hairs. As I said before, this is going to be an odd look for him. I don’t think he should do it at all.

Sometimes the people on Hairtell are not as “reassuring” as they should be. “Bumps and lumps” happen and it’s part of the process. Yes, I have seen “the experts” not being as forthcoming as I think they should be. (Pain, inflammation … it’s what we do!)

I suppose my concern for Mike “doing something that he will later regret” is the basis of my post. There are also patients that “over-focus.” My guess is that Mike WILL find some “permanent damage” to his upper lip after the process is completed. (I actually spotted a potential “problem area” in his photo … but won’t go into detail because I don’t want to “set off the alarms.”)

You are a cardiologist, I’m an electrologist. Believe me, I know “electrolysis patients!” I have seen everything in the last 36 years.

#76

Surely the first person who should have advised him against an “odd look” is his electrologist!

And on that point, let’s say he brings this up this up with his electrologist as something he was advised to consider on the internet… the reaction might be something similar to what you posted on the previous page.

Yet, what you said was with his best interests in mind. Not as an attack against the work his electrologist is doing. I think that’s more or less what we all do.

#77

michael…i know you are an expert in this field…if you see some potential problem in mikes upper lip due to electrolysis,you should tell him,warn him and advice him what he can do to avoid it.I hope you could help him with your knowledge and experience.Take care.

#78

“Please protect me from myself!”

A couple years ago a very beautiful 30-year-old woman came in and wanted Dr. Chapple to increase the size of her lips. (It’s all the rage these days). Looking at her, her lips were perfect; she needed nothing done at all. The doctor was adamant that any “augmentation” would be a very bad idea. She went to another doctor and had the procedure done.

She looked ridiculous. She was totally “freaked out” with her new look, no other way to describe her reaction. Luckily the implant was “Gortex” and thus reversable. She was left with two tiny scars where the doctor (incorrectly) inserted the band. She looks okay, but NOT as good as she did before the first procedure. And, so I ask you …

With “our Mike” these are the points I see:

  1. He should not do the procedure at all. Having upper lip hair is an important “secondary” male sex characteristic. At the moment, with his “baby face” it might be okay, but when he’s in his 50s, and the beard fully grows in, having a female upper lip is going to look strange. (Indeed, when doing a person “transitioning” the upper lip is the FIRST area to remove because this presents a female look.)

  2. Mike is “uber-focused” on his appearance to the point of minute observations. He almost certainly is going to see skin damage from electrolysis (real or barely seen). Overall, he’s going to be unhappy.

However, not one of our experts is telling this guy what they are really thinking. Is this really “encouragement?” Is it right to tell a 15-year-old girl that she should have breast augmentation? (Oh, it’s done all the time in Beverly Hills!)

The question is how “agnostic” should we be when a patient is making the wrong decision? Of course, I already anticipate your “more Liberal” answers: it’s the patient’s choice, not ours.” But is it! Don’t you have the responsibility to “protect the patient from making the wrong decision?”

Sure, Mike (and everybody) is angry with me and that’s okay. I am, however, looking out for his long-term happiness. If somebody asks my opinion, I will tell them and usually not very “politically correct.”

Funny thing. I have traveled a great deal doing my “electrolysis gig.” The people that REALLY were angry with me ALWAYS became my best friends! Maybe it’s the “passion?”

#79

Michael, I totally get what you are saying but it sounds like you assume the practitioner is always a well-trained individual, who has his patient’s best interests in heart and who takes patient feedback seriously.

This is unfortunately often not the case.

First you have the great electrologists who are more rare than Dodo birds.

Then there are those who have relatively good training but lack in the other two areas. Some of those make up for it with a godawful bedside manner.

Others have their patient’s bests interests in heart, but lack good training and the feedback often leaves them frustrated because they don’t know how to improve upon it.

Quite a few have neither good training, nor care for the feedback. They know there will always be a steady stream of desperate suckers.

By the way, I feel this applies to every profession out there.

Personally I’m very glad that Hairtell exists and we are able to ask for opinions here.

#80

Michael, your last post was right on the money and very diplomatic in tone.
I think Michael has done Mike a great favour by stating the truth and saving him from himself. I would have mentioned it before but for the prevailing notion that Hairtell doesn’t judge and just advises based on the situation. I hope Mike is humble enough to take the advice and leave his face alone.