Looking great. Remember, every session counts! I’m sure the 2 hour session will really make a difference. Good luck and keep posting your progress!
You are on the right path, and I look forward to seeing your progress.
Thanks!
I’m a bit worried - I haven’t developed any scabs or white heads etc during my three treatments, however my skin looks like a rash has appeared. It’s not itchy or painful or anything, but I’m worried that my skin will remain like this. The skin is slightly red around many of the follicles, like you would expect to see straight after waxing an area of your body. Is this temporary, or will I be left with these marks once my electrolysis is over?
Some skin reaction is very normal with electrolysis, not to worry it will go back to normal. It sounds like you have found a good practitioner, you need to relax and go with the flow.
You are doing fine, Paradise. 
Had a bad day today and almost gave up on my electrolysis journey. I was lying there in so much pain and I suddenly just became so overwhelmed by everything and the scale of my problem. Why me? Why should I have to spend all this money I don’t have and go through this excruciating pain?
Because today it WAS excruciating. It’d been bearable, painful yes, but bearable the first few times. But today I’d scheduled a 2 hour appointment then a break then a 1.5 hour appointment. My electrologist could see that I was in pain and frequently offered to stop for a while, but I let her carry on, as I want the first lot of hair gone asap. When I went for my break I noticed my chin area, where she had been working, was incredibly swollen and crusty. And the pain just wouldn’t go away. I know we worked on a really dense area and I am pleased with the result, but the pain is still there and I am still extremely swollen. I know it will go down, but it’s depressing me so much that I look so horrendous on a daily basis. I either have a face covered in stubbly hair or I have bright red skin, swollen and hard.
I know I need to just deal with it, but today was just so hard. Genuinely considered giving up on it all and had to force myself to stay there, despite every bit of me screaming to be anywhere but that electrology room 
On the plus side, one side of my face is looking a lot clearer. It’s taken 9 hours so far and I estimate another 3 or 4 until the right side is cleared. Then judging by that, it’ll take another 12 or 13 hours for the other side 
it seems like such a long time to me, but I’m happy with my Electrologist’s work, and I don’t think I could cope with longer sessions to get it done sooner.
I’ll post pics tomorrow if I get a chance
Has anyone out there ever felt like giving up? How did you get past this?
Hiya,
You’ve done a lot of work in a few weeks and it sounds like you have made great progress. There is nothing wrong with taking a break and letting your skin recover a bit.
My situation was a bit different from yours since most recently, I had more than 10 hours work on my face over five days but I can relate in that my tolerance was far lower when the same areas were re-treated during that time… and it is frustrating and exhausting.
Since you don’t have to get it all done in a short period, take a break if you need to. Obviously, you want to get the hair off asap but you won’t lose anything by having a rest. Even just two weeks will allow the swelling to subside and the pain to disappear. Or, for your next session, you could start on the other side while you give the right side a break.
Hope you’re doing ok Paradise Just so you know your post inspired me to make an appointment to speak to an electrologist. Something I’ve been too scared to do until now.
Paradise,
the initial clearing of the treatment area is the most difficult part of the process, it sounds like you are well on your way. When you do have your treatments make sure you are well rested, have a snack so you are not hungry and avoid caffeine if you can. Take a blanket to the appointment, the more comfortable you are the easier it is to tolerate the treatment. If you need to take a break do so, make it short, maybe a week.
Use a cold washcloth on the swelling, don’t use ice.
Good luck!
Tessa-Lou, I can’t tell you how happy that makes me! I didn’t consider that sharing my story might inspire someone to take those first steps, so I’m so glad I shared it now hope your appointment goes well, it honestly will be so worth it if you chose to go for it!
I’m feeling a bit better now, I think I was just having a particularly down day the last time I posted! I’ve been for another appointment since and I did feel a bit upset during it, but I just kept reminding myself how much the pain would be worth it. I had a look at the photos I’ve been taking, and that reaffirmed to me why I am doing this. I can definitely see a bit of a difference now I’ll post the pictures in my next post.
Electrolysislady - thank you for the advice! I’m usually starving during my sessions as I’m always running late and don’t bother reading, so I’ll make sure I do next time! And a blanket is a good idea , anything to make that horrible bed a bit more comfortable! My appointments are every Tuesday, so I generally get a week’s break in between each session. It’s usually enough to help me mentally prepare for the next lot of pain! 
Once this awful first lot of hair is gone I’ll be in a much better place mentally!
Right, I’m going to see if I can figure out how to upload pictures using my silly new tablet thingymabob!
Here are pictures of my progress so far. I’ve had 12 hours of treatment, and I usually go once a week. The entire left side of my face hasn’t been touched yet, but nearly all the dark, coarse hair on the right side had been cleared.
Right side of face. (Under chin is slightly swollen in the ‘after’ pic as this was straight after a particularly long treatment)
Under chin
My electrologist (and myself!) is really surprised every time I go in as no new hair has grown in at all (well there may be a few but I haven’t noticed). The area she first worked on 5 weeks ago is still as clear as she managed to get it at the time. I’m confused, shouldn’t hair have grown in by now?! Do I have a strange growth pattern? I haven’t been removing the hair in the areas she’s worked on!
Also, those ‘before’ pictures don’t really show the full extent of the hair! I had shaved recently and a lot of the hair hadnt grown in when I took the photos. It was actually a bit worse than those photos show!
It looks like your skin is reacting well to the treatments, doesn’t look like there is much swelling. Stay the course! And yes make sure you have a snack, it is difficult to handle electrolysis when you are hungry, tired, cold or uncomfortable.
Thank you for posting your journey, Paradise. I have a very similar pattern and amount of hair as you do. It has affected my whole life. I am just starting electrolysis treatment, and I’m still trying to find the right person. It’s amazing to see the patches of smooth skin. Good luck to you, and I can’t wait to be where you are.
My stomach area is the same way seems like the hairs are growing back in really slowly… When I had some of my eyebrows electroed, some of the areas never grew back after the first appointent even 6 months later… WOOPEE!
WOW! That is AMAZING! I have alot less hair yet have never had such a thorough job done !Looks good. Congratulations!
Paradise,
Your electrologist is doing a great job. Just remember if you are in excruciating pain let your electrologist know, she can make some modifications to the settings so you can be comfortable. Also remember to stay hydrated before treatment.Avoid stimulants like caffeine, sugar onthe day of appointment.Do not make appointments before and during menstrual cycle. This all will help to make your electrolysis treatment more comfortable.
I’m going to pile on and ditto what everyone has said about the great job your electrologist is doing. Give her a big hug.
If this was already said, then ignore this. [size:14pt]Make sure you get a medical evaluation to attempt to see why you have this bea[/size]rd.
Just stopping by to tell you that it looks amazing! Congratulations and keep up the stamina/goals.
I hope you don’t mind, Paradise, but I did embed your pictures so people could compare all four pictures. The last picture is the most stunning contrast. I am so excited for you!
So how many hours did it take to reach the point of what we see in the fourth picture?
I , too, am surprised that there is no hair growth to speak of in the five weeks of no treatment. I would think by week three there would have been.
Edit: could you share in your signature more details of your journey. For example, gender, age, previous method of hair removal before electrolysis, any laser?, when you started, lab tests (optional, of course), name of epilator your practitioner uses, probe choice, modality (galvanic, thermolysis or blend). That way, we can glance down and refresh our memory about your case and not have to go back and read pages of posts for that kind if information.
Of course, sharing the name if your fabulous practitioner always gets a high five!