Part II: Laurier

Hair Removal Methods Professional Electrolysis
#21

the funny thing about me attending any electrolysis event was that I would end up with a spontaneous Q & A session going on where ever I went. In some cases, I would have to correct a few of the misstatements made by the guest speaker, who was brought in for the letters behind his or her name, but had no connection to our industry, and gave info that was totally wrong for our audience. One example that comes to mind is the speaker who chided the audience that they should be compiling and selling their client list to beauty salons and other marketers to increase profits, and in trade for their client lists in return. That little thing about confidentiality seemed to elude that speaker.

Oh, and Micheal, I got you beat. I was not only “sanctioned”, I actually was threatened with having security walk me out of the convention area (forget that I was a paid attendee).

You think I may ever get an apology for that one? :confused:

#22

The AEA has become something like the old Soviet Union. I try, I REALLY try, not to become set in my thinking. However, institutionalization creates stagnation. The best thing about the AEA? The members!

#23

Indeed. Moreover, i do not believe that “average” clients can be convinced to accept re-use of re-sterilized probes, except, maybe, they are individually re-packaged before they go into the autoclave (which is actually possible).
This also makes pricing an issue, at least for those who intentionally have “affordable” prices.

Thins we also might test:

durability. Will a size 2 probe still be usable after a 3 hour session?

fluency of work: some uf us advertice of being able to work faster than 10 hairs per minute. Taken from the manufacturer’s info:

When using the Insulated Probe coagulation does take place at the tip of the probe and adherence of material is unavoidable. It is, therefore,imperative that the Probe be cleaned often by pinching in a sterile cotton ball wet with sterile water, alcohol, or Zephiran Chloride solution. Unless this is done often the Probe will build up dried oil, etc, and become difficult to insert.

How will this affect fluency of work, or better how can we retain that fluency?

@Mike Roy: i assume You are following this thread. Please read this as friendly scepticism in the hope to find solutions if this really will turn out as a problem.

Beate

#24

“i do not believe that “average” clients can be convinced to accept re-use of re-sterilized probes, except, maybe, they are individually re-packaged before they go into the autoclave (which is actually possible).”

This is a custom gone by the wayside for the most part, although I do have customers that re-sterilize probes for use with the same patient.

“durability. Will a size 2 probe still be usable after a 3 hour session?”

For a given operator you will find our probes far outlasting others.

“It is, therefore,imperative that the Probe be cleaned often”“How will this affect fluency of work”

That statement comes from the days when operating microscopes were unheard of in electrologists offices due to cost. To maintain the ease of insertion we provide, one must keep it clean of buildup that is obvious under a microscope. Also the Laurier Insulated Bulbous Probe was designed to control levels of RF much higher than needed with the refinement of present day machines. Blend will produce less buildup as it uses a less violent type of energy release to function compared to thermolysis.

#25

This reply is my personal response to some statements made about the AEA. I could be “fired” from my volunteer job because of my reply, but I’m jumping in there, anyway!

First of all, when claiming “sanctioned” - I have no idea what you are talking about. I know what it means - I just can’t imagine that such an extreme action occurred. (Come on, Michael, you know the old and new regime all love you!) I am not saying that it never happened, however, I do wonder if it was in the context of a one-on-one conversation and not an “official” action. I have never heard of anyone being told that they would be escorted from the premises. While having volunteered since the last century, I’ve only recently been involved in the actual workings of the board for 2 1/2 years. I saw the old regime, the old regime is gone, as far as I can tell.

I have witnessed interactions between electrologists that are not always agreeable, but I’ve never heard any form of “shut up”. (I do remember Arlene telling me her story about MNG, if I remember correctly, this was at her local regional meeting, and in the 1990’s.)

So how long are we going to blame an association for things that occurred a decade ago?

Regarding continuing education. As with the certification exam, the education required to obtain renewal of the certification needs to be defensible. I might be wrong about this, but it is my understanding that continuing education credits cannot be given from discussions between colleagues - that there are very specific guidelines to the kind of presentation that can be given. There is a lot of work involved in determining if continuing education unit fits our profession, as well as determining if the presenter is appropriate to the subject. There are many events I have attended that I would have selected another subject or another presenter. There have also been some very excellent conventions. Were you there when they video-taped electrologists working on real people and discussing their techniques? They covered electrolysis, thermolysis and the blend - imagine that!!!

For me, the best education IS talking with colleagues and sharing treatments. My own state association used to have about 20 members, and we got together several times a year at a different office, using each others equipment, talking about positioning, sterilization, lighting, and just about everything else. We are now down to 3 active members. This is due to deaths, retirements, injuries and just plain apathy. We still get together and we are still learning. If there were some way to break out into small groups and do this, then it should be done. I’ve also witnessed this type of thing in the large group (convention sized) and it was a big mess. Some were too “shy” to step forward and work on others, so they stand back and whisper to one another. We simply have to learn any way we can, unfortunately, there are many who learn a little and that’s enough to last them a lifetime. I do wonder what the percentage of non-participating electrologists there are out there. I’ll bet it’s 75% or more…

When I ask clients how they selected me (Topeka has 4 electrologists) they tell me that they read my website, looked at my local colleague’s websites, did some research and selected the electrologist with the certification. So, besides wanting to be the best I can be, I will keep my certification up. Just because I belong to this association does not mean that I only look to that fountain for information.

I must say this (in addition to my opinion, above): the current AEA board is doing the best that they can. It would be great if more people volunteered. That’s what we all do, you know, volunteer. One member spends hours every day updating the membership listings. Another electrologist updates the continuing education database. Another goes through all the continuing education events for approval and to track the members who attended and didn’t follow the directions and write their name in a legible fashion. This list goes on and on and all of these members have families and are in practice.

So, if you don’t like the current regime, please volunteer. My job will be open soon, as likely will be most of the others.

#26

Yeah, you are right … ancient history and best forgotten. Who cares anyway? I don’t even care, actually.

BTW I dedicated my “new” book to the AEA — it’s right there on the second page, logo and everything. AEA has done wonders and continues to be the only thing going. The CPE IS the real deal, the only REAL credential that means anything.

(But I was actually told, at two separate occasions, that should I discuss telangiectasia I would be removed from the convention. Sad, but true. You never really forget something like that. Except for “TP” I have always been looked at with great derision and suspicion.)

#27

Really, with Blend, the needle does not accumulate remains. Except something of dry lye in the blade if the intensity of DC is high and the HF is low.
This happens in all the needles that I have used, with or without insulation.

It is not clear for me, if Beate’s question has been answered. If the needle should be cleaned when we use Flash, this will slow the process, right?

There is another thing that I do not understand:

[color:#CC0000]“There are many factors over which you have no control. For example the ability to know which phase of growth a hair is in at any given time, twisted follicles which provide no indication from the surface as to which direction the root is growing, etc. For these, and many more reasons professional electrologists require tools designed to overcome the greatest number of the many problems, which confront them.”[/color]

How this needle will help us to overcome this problem?

By the way, I do not agree on one thing. The electrologist has the ability to know which phase of growth a hair is in at any given time prior to insertion.

#28

Please note the date of my father’s words. Not so much was known in the past.

The Probe must be kept clean to maintain superior insertions, but not so often as to slow your work. Machines of today are of a much more gentle nature than those of the past, and produce less residue as a result.

#29

I wrote this to Dee, before reading your last post. I think my words are in the same direction. Give me a few minutes and I’ll answer your last comment.

"The first thing that caught my attention when I bought my first Platinum was precisely that the needle did not accumulate remains, for very high that was the intensity.

This is a thing that the Spanish distributor me had not mentioned. And I think that it is a fundamental information that we must have, because this changes everything. My initial reticence to changing Blend into Flash was based principally on the form on that the current keeps the needle always clean from the beginning up to the end of the session.
A needle with the damaged tip has an effect similar to a mechanical saw, the insertion hurts more and the impact of the current in the follicle is higher too."

#30

When these were introduced, they produced more accumulation that the bare needle operators were used to at the time. I have never heard of it becoming an issue at all. We pride ourselves on our ease of insertion. In a side by side comparison, I believe you will be impressed. Our insulation is behind the bulbous tip, allowing for a much smoother insertion, and the micropolished finish makes keeping them clean during use less of a task.

#31

Please do not misunderstand me. I do not doubt your words.

You must be very sure of the quality of your needles if you’re willing to let them be subjected to such careful scrutiny.
This experiment is very bold. If I participate in it, I will share photos that allow us to assess the reaction of the skin, both the needles Laurier and brand ones. I will show videos in You Tube where you can see how easy is an insertion with your needles compared to others.

I hope to be to the same level of exigency that your needles deserve.

#32

Another pre-idea:

Does the bulbous tip of the probe reduce the risk of cutting effect in Flash?

It´s important in fast insertions.

#33

Jossie, can you explain what you mean by “cutting effect”. I move fast as well, so I’m curious about this, but not sure what you mean. :confused:

Dee

#34

I would have to say if the probe is fully inserted when the pulse is applied, yes. The insulation restricts the Probe’s cutting ability above the tip.

#35

Cutting edge? Cutting effect? I think I know, but I may be using other terms for something I already know. Can someone explain to confirm?

#36

Just trying to clarify “cutting effect”…

Does this mean the hot needle’s ability to tear through tissue?

#37

With enough RF energy applied a bare or insufficently insulated needle is capable of “cutting”. Somewhat similar to the principle applied to an electronic scalpel, that will cautreize as it cuts.
I’m sure James can explain it in more relevant terms.

#38

Hi Dee. It seems like Synchro is similar to the Gentronics SIMPLE.
The thing is, it was stressed to me that I should only use Insulated
when using Synchro. Sometimes I don’t know when to break out of
the safety zone. Have you tried Synchro with a gold probe?

#39

Fast inserts using Flash in inexperienced hands is a high risk of producing cuts.
The current is applied before the probe reaches the proper depth in the follicle, this increases the risk of causing superficial cuts on the epidermal layer. I’ve seen this many times in some students.
If the skin is not sufficiently stretching, the needle can not move forward because it encounters an obstacle when it has barely reached the infundibulum, the probe is bent and the result is a longitudinal section of about two millimeters.

#40

While waiting for the explanation of James I illustrate with some pictures.

Is the treatment of verruca vulgaris or acrochordon. A dry cutting with a needle without insulation.

Before

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During the treatment

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After

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