Hello. I’ve been receiving electrolysis for almost 3 years now and I have seen no improvement. I get my upper lip, chin, and three coarse hairs on my stomach done - I have mixed long vellus hair and terminal hair that are closely compact in small patches on my face. I only ever trim.
The first clinic I went to made the hair growth worse due to the treatment not being performed correctly; I went there for 5 months until I realised my hair was growing back thicker. The electrologist, who used thermolysis, was zapping multiple hairs as fast as she could and plucking them out. The clinic agreed that my hair was worse but said that it could be due to my hormones. I got my hormones checked twice and they were absolutely fine.
I then went to another clinic with an electrologist who’s registered with the BIAE, and she used thermolysis also. I went there for over a year, never missing an appointment, but stopped due to lockdown. During that time with my hair not being treated consistently, my hair grew back and I realised that it looked exactly the same as my starting point. Even the three coarse hairs on my stomach were still there. When I went back to see her she also agreed that there’s been little improvement, and didn’t know why. She said that electrolysis may not work for everyone.
I decided to try somewhere new once again as everything I’ve read online says electrolysis does work, and that it is permanent, so I’m still hopeful. I’ve been at this new clinic, who are Sterex trained, for 4 months using the blend method, and haven’t noticed any improvement so far. What worries me is that I feel little to no pain when they treat me (which hasn’t been like my experience with electrolysis previously) and a tugging sensation when they take the hairs out, which I have commented on but they say the tugging sensation that I’m feeling isn’t plucking but just the hair being released from the follicle. They use a low setting as I have sensitive skin but I don’t know if this means it’s not as effective. I go every 3 weeks for 30 minutes. I’ve never scabbed with electrolysis, only ever gotten red marks that sometimes lasts 3 weeks max, and I use aloe vera for aftercare and I don’t wear makeup for 24 hours after - I even change my pillowcases for good measure. Why am I not seeing any improvement, and is there anything else I can do if the treatment at this clinic doesn’t work either? Also, how long should I keep going until I know for sure the treatment is not working? I would love to hear some opinions and thoughts as I feel I’m in this alone and don’t know what else to do. Thank you.