My Progress

Guys! The web is working. Like i said before, this is one of Yahoo’s features to limit broadband activity. the page will shut down after a certain number of visits per hour. It will unlock again an hour after it shuts down.

Update time. Had a 2 hour treatment today. That brings total time to 9 hours, 10 mins.

We did the few strays on my cheeks (this is the most PAINFUL of it all <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> ). Then she did a few here and there on the left, but got started more so on the right side today. We did the side burn and worked down on the right side. It LOOKS hair free but you can still feel some. Some places bled today which has not really happened before. It was pretty tolerable over all. Even with the pain I look forward to appointments because I’m closer to leaving my life of hell behind with each one <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

My skin has a reaction right after treatment that lasts a few hours. It is usually just red and bumpy. I’ve had one day where it was insanely red and looked just awful, but that only lasted approx 12 hours. Usually by the next day it looks normal. I continue to have bumps but I believe that’s from the shaving. I’ve always had that from shaving so close and I do still have to shave. The real test will be when I’m able to put the razor down. I’m hoping I’ll have normal, radiant looking skin.

I have another 2 hour appointment tomorrow and also Wednesday. I think we’ll either acheive clearance or be VERY close by then.

As far as pictures go, I was told about another site to upload pictures to so I gave that site a try. So far, so good. Here is the link: http://www.yesalbum.com/v001/sd101483 If anyone has problems, let me know. I’ve given up on yahoo, as I think their data transfer limit is just rediculous! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Good luck all,
Savannah

Had another 2 hour appointment today. I am VERY HAPPY to report that there is full clearance on the right side (except for the sideburn). This is the first time the right side has been worked on solely. For some reason it went A LOT faster than the left. Total treatment time is currently 11 hours, 10 minutes. I’d say if I had to break it down it would be something like: 2 hours on chin, 6 hours on left side, 3 hours on right, and 10 minutes on cheeks for strays. Give or take a few, but that sounds about right.

Today was pretty tolerable (minus the side burns, that hurts a bunch for some reason). It went fast which is always good! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I just could NOT believe it when I felt it and it was totally smooth. What an awesome feeling. We need a smiley with HAPPY tears! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I have another 2 hour appt tomorrow and then I may have to wait a while because my electrologist has a family emergency in Texas and will be back the middle part of next week. She is pretty confident we will have the left side totally cleared tomorrow (we’ve been extremely close, but I’ve started getting new growth, however, the new growth is coming in slower and is a BIT finer) and if we can’t she wants to sneak me in thur or fri for even 45 minutes to get it done before she leaves. With as fast as the right went today, I’m confident we’ll get the left done tomorrow. I’m hoping we’ll have time left over and I want to start on my upper lip <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> and I have like 3 fine, light hairs under my lip that I want to get. Then after that I want to move on to my chest, breasts, upper arms, arms, and maybe arm pits. I’ve already started, so I may as well keep on trucking. If I run out of money, I’m at least ahead of the game somewhat I figure! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Pictures have been updated!

http://www.yesalbum.com/v001/sd101483

Good luck all,
Savannah

The right cheek will always go quicker than the left, because 90% or more of the time, the left has more hair. This is because the blood pumping from the heart hits the left side first, and has more nutrients. It is a better “fertilizer” for the “grass” of hair growing there. The right side gets the left side’s leftovers.

If you are splitting time in an appointment, spend the bulk of your time on the left, and less than half on the right. You will get to looking almost the same on both sides.

I can usually get away with spending 45 minutes on the left, and 15 on the right and make them look about the same.

James, thank you for that explanation. Now that I think about, that makes A LOT of sense! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Today was another 2 hour appointment, but we didn’t need the entire 2 hours. It ended up being 1 hr, 45 minutes. Total time now is at 12 hours, 55 minutes. I have my first “full clearance” so she says <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> The right side is totally bare, she zapped a few new ones today, and the left side is bare of the initial growth I started with, but there is already some new growth coming in. There were a few spots that had black dots. She said this is new growth but is too short for her to grab with tweezers but she zapped it and said in a couple days I can gently pull on them and they should slide right out. If I don’t feel comfortable with that, I can just wait and she said my skin would get kind of itchy and when I scratch, the hairs would fall out then. Not sure I’ve heard that one before?

Having had 6 hours in the last 3 days, my skin is a bit stressed out. She isn’t able to get me in until next wednesday which is OK because I didn’t want to go back until that time anyway. I need to give it a break to play catch-up with healing. We sched 2 hours for next wednesday. We’ll start with touch ups on my face, and then I MAY start upper lip (I really don’t have that much, but I intend to have that zapped too, why not, right?) and then I want to start on my chest and breasts next week also <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

So far, so good. I hope to get pictures updated later this week as I don’t have time tonight.

Good luck all,
Savannah

http://www.boots.com/shop/product_details.jsp?productid=1054829

http://www.boots.com/shop/product_details.jsp?productid=1007252

does anybody have any opinions on these? would they stop hair re-growth after a while?

Have you seen the finance commercials for some credit corporation with the loveable David Spade? If you haven’t, the answer to your question is: NO.

Hi all. I am very glad to have a few days off of electro as my skin needs it. My skin is healing nicely so far. I have achieved my first clearance, however, spots on the left that were cleared a week or so ago are getting new growth. It’s ver frustrating because it’s just one small to medium sized area that has hair. It can be seen and felt and the rest of my face is clear, smooth, and feels great. So, I am still shaving, just that tiny patch…it’s right under the left part of my chin and over towards the side burn a bit. I noticed this morning that I can feel a few new ones poking thru on the right side, so I ran over that with the razor but they seem take a lot longer to grow back than they did before. It was nice having a couple days off on that side tho! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I refuse to give up tho, I know it’s working, so I’ll TRY to have patience, tho it can be hard! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I return to the electro next wednesday (2/23/05) and she has me down for 2 hours. She said we won’t need that long on my face as it will just be a clean up (I’m assuming that will take maybe 45 mins to 1 hr) and then I am planning on starting on my chest and breasts.

I have updated my pictures.
http://www.yesalbum.com/v001/sd101483

Sav,
Thanks for posting the pictures as they are very helpful. What have you been using for aftercare? Excuse me if you have already answered this in a post.

Glad that you find the pictures helpful. I figure as long as they help one person, they are worth doing (I like seeing my progress too <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />). As far as aftercare goes: Immediately after treatment she puts on witch hazel then I just leave it alone for a few hours. After 3 to 4 hours I wash with a mild antibacterial soap and apply some tea tree oil. I give that a few hours, then I apply aloe a few times here and there. The next day I apply aloe for the most part and then tea tree oil before I go to bed. Two to three days afterwards I start using my mild moisturizer again because my skin gets very dry without it and the aloe only mildly helps. I am seeing an improvement in my skin every day. This week was very hard on it with 6 hrs of treatment in a row so I’m looking forward to seeing how it will be with appointments spaced further apart in the future! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Savannah

Oh good thanks for more info. I was wondering because I have somewhat sensitive skin. Whenever I had a test treatment I had several spots that persisted for a few weeks. I don’t think I took good enough care of the area though so it healed longer on its own. Before I begin I am going to buy some tea tree oil. I might get a mild tan too before I begin so the skin will not be so pale and sensitive. I tan easily I just have not been in the sun for a while. The areas where my skin is darker is not near as sensitive as the paler areas; which are conversely the more “innappropriate” hirsuite areas. I don’t know if a tan will help but I doubt it could hurt. However, to make matters worse, the acne that was on my back has crept up to my shoulders. Its not big pimples, but cystic blemishes that randomly appear. I’m afraid to begin electrolysis with those there! =( Thanks though, and good luck finishing your treatment on the way to smooth, hairless skin!

Tanning dehydrates the skin, and is not advisable to dehydrate yourself just prior to electrolysis. However if you insist on tanning for vanity, make sure that you keep yourself hydrated. You should drink a minimum of 4 oz of water an hour during the day, and have some 100% fruit juice. Make sure that it is not “Juice Cocktail”! That crap is just sugar water with a splash of fruit juice thrown in to make it look good. Get in 8oz of Fruit juice a day for extra insurance on the dehydration thing.

Many doctors advise that anyone drinking “Gatorade” style drinks, should just drink a 4oz 100% fruit juice and an 8oz water chaser, or combine the two for a watered down fruit drink. After all, it is not like Gatorade tastes yummy anyway.

Using the fruit juice and water also lessens (hopefully people will eliminate) the artificial sweeteners, dyes, and other chemicals from their diets. One is much healthier that way, and a healthy body is a happy body.

Well, I am not available to have electrolysis until the first of next year. I will be out of the country studying abroad (if everything works out in my favor) starting in August so I wouldn’t have enough time to comfortably complete the recommended schedule. I would just like to even out the complexion of my skin first. I used to be very dark in my younger days but the more the hair came in the more I stayed out of the sun. I drink plenty of water anyway, trust me!

Hi all. Today was my first appointment in a week. The left side had a good amount of new growth (felt like there was the same amount of hair, but pictures show there is actually less). The right side just really started coming in again a few days ago, which James wonderfully explained the logic behind the different amounts from left to right…thanks, James! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

The appointment went very well. My skin really needed that week off to heal up. It was much more tolerable today than it has been in the past. Sure, there were a few spots that hurt but for the most part it was pretty painless. I’m sure that has to do with a lot of factors; major ones being less hair and more time between treatments for healing to take place. Correct me if I’m off here <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> We almost cleared the entire area again today, 2 hour appointment. Just a tiny patch under my chin left. That’s a HUGE improvement and we’re moving in a very positive direction. It took 13 hours to get to my first clearance and I’ll achieve the second in just about 3! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I go again on friday for 2 hours and we’ll have it cleared out I believe. I will THEN start on my chest and breasts (as I’ve been saying for how long? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> )

It’s like 8 hour since my appointment and my skin looks good. A few little red dots here and there, a bit sore, but will look pretty normal in the morning I think. I have new pictures that I’m hoping to get up tonight, or maybe tomorrow. Just keep checking! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Good luck,
Savannah

sav,
thanks so much for your updates and pics. I am nearly done with my electro but my skin looked exactly like yours when I started last May (i started at one hour once a week on lip and chin, now down to cleanup every 2 weeks for 15 mins.) let us know when you start on the breasts. i am too chicken to go first <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> and wanna hear how it is first!

susie

I want to thank you too for posting your progress back here, makes me want to keep plugging along! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I had another 2 hour session today bringing total time to 16 hours so far. It was not the best session. Some lady broke her chair yesterday and she was at a loss of what to do. She is a beauty salon owner so we moved the equipment to the beauty shop part, propped a chair and pillow up at the rinsing sink, and kind of went from there. She shut the door to maintain privacy but it was a different setting so we didn’t get as much accomplished as usual. Almost have it all cleared out again tho! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I’m going Monday and hopefully the chair will be fixed <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> She said she is very pleased with how things are going. I’m dropping down to 1 to 2 days per week now instead of 2 or 3 and while I still have hair coming in, I’m noticing a decrease, a small one, but, it’s noticeable. Pictures are updated:
http://www.yesalbum.com/v001/sd101483

Hopefully I will be able to report a full clearance on Monday <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Good luck everyone,
Savannah

Hi all. Just felt like coming in and posting today. I’m feeling very down about everything. I know electrolysis is working, it just doesn’t always feel like it is. I’ve had my initial clearance but the new growth came in very fast and while it isn’t taking as much time to remove it, I feel like it will never end. It was so great not having to shave for the first couple days after my first clearance, now I’m a slave to the razor every day again. It feels like the same amount of hair as before but when I look at my pictures I can see there is visually less…thank goodness for the pictures! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I am just sad that it’s taking what I feel to be so long, and so much money. I’m afraid I’m going to run out of funds (which I saved up for quite some time before beginning) and then I’ll have to stop and while I know I’ll be ahead somewhat, I just don’t want to go there. I’m hoping that soon, VERY soon, I’ll be able to get away with an hour a week and keep the area cleared. Right now, I try to go in as much as I can, and it’s starting to drain me.

Sorry for complaining, just having an off day <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> and I’m sure all of you can relate! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

i know how you feel sav… just remember that the months are going to pass by so quickly, you’ll be amazed at how quickly time went by and that your almost done! You will find yourself expanding to other areas of your body because of the success of electrolysis! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

good luck! and hang in there!

-Rach

Thanks, Rachelle. I’ve been keeping updated with your progress and you seem to be doing very well so it is certainly keeping my hopes up.

Today is just an off day for me, hopefully I’ll have a GREAT treatment tomorrow (my electrogist thinks we may not need the entire 2 hours that are scheduled to get me cleared out again, I sure hope so <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />) I wonder sometimes if I went in with my expectations a little too high. I’ve been doing as much as can right now because it’s my understanding that the bulk of the work up front leads to shorter appointments quicker and hence a little less money in the long run, but it doesn’t seem like I’m making that much headway doing it this way, maybe I’m off? I just want to add that I think this board is awesome. I’d still be sitting and wondering how I was going to make it thru another day of shaving, bumps, make up, and embarassment instead of doing something about it if I hadn’t found this board and gotten all this great info! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Thanks all!

sav,
hang in there. the months are going to pass by anyway, you might as well spend them getting this problem taken care of once and for all. I’m not sure how long you’ve been at it, but just think, by summertime, your growth will be so cut down, you won’t even have to own a razor anymore.

it’s a pain sticking with this for so many months, and i remember months 4 to 7 were definitely the worst for me. I got sooooooooooooo sick of going, but i kept with it, and now i am nearly done.

hang in there, baby, summer’s coming! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
susie