Illustrating the typical results of electrolysis.
In both (first) photos, the first clearing has already been done and now 2-3 months of regrowth is showing. The second photos show the areas 3-4 month after the second clearance. In both cases, the job is pretty much finished (after 2 clearances): the 3rd clearing took only a few minutes. The one underarm was about 2 hours total (all 3 clearances). The neck about 3 hours on this side only (TTT).
Jossie:
Trevor:
Note: On the underarm case, I removed the large “skin tag.” What is left over is a bit of hyperpigmentation from the removal.
Also, these are the kids that have a tentative “gig” hosting a new TV show. Both promise to “promote electrolysis.” Keep your fingers crossed; we DO need the publicity!
lovely! electrolysis is addicting…looking at before-after pics never gets old for me. If I weren’t doing what I am doing, I’d take up electrology as a career!
Michael, did you use any anesthesia to remove this skin tag?
No anesthetic … and cut it off (no zapping). Dr. Chapple said it was okay, so I went for it. Jossie is Italian, so the hyperpigmentation is going to last … funny but, she didn’t get PIH from the electrolysis … “Funny Butt??”
You know, I really am “losing it.” The whole point of showing these photos is that clients must understand that they are not going to see results after only ONE clearance. This is espeically true if they have been shaving. In fact, the second clearance will take longer than the first … if they have been shaving right uup until the first clearing.
So, PLEASE “stay with it.” Don’t get discouraged. You WILL see results after the SECOND clearing and you will be very happy. (Now I have to get back to weeding. Damn California, stuff REALLY grows here! I had 15 barrels of “Giant Bird of Paradise” palm leaves, yuck! I’m moving to the desert! Just rocks!)
Interesting photo of Trevor (the — above — neck and chest guy, actor). His agent had these photos done because he thought Trevor was “Gable-esque?” That’s the real deal on the left and Trevor on the right. Just keeping my fingers crossed for him and his GF.
On how many more celebrities did you work, Michael, during your career? 
(No, I am not asking all their photos here! )
a couple here and there … the suckers all moved into Santa Barbara! We TRIED to keep them out, but we couldn’t!
The “freakiest” thing happened a year ago. I was watering my lawn and Paul Walker walked by. He bought a house up the street for his brother who is going to City College (half a mile from me). It was a bit odd really since mine is a VERY modest (poor? ghetto?) neighborhood.
One question, Michael:
Some leading roles require the presence of hairs in certain areas to give more realism to the scene. For example, star in the role of a gypsy Spanish woman, who often have very low sideburns. Or the role of a Latino man with plenty of hair on his chest. Or the role of a French woman who was not used to shave their armpits 50 years ago. Do you know if these young players have raised this issue? I suppose the expert makeup artists in the film industry could achieve a similar look, but… permanent hair removal is not a disadvantage in such cases?
last how long? forever?
How come she didn’t get PIH from electrolysis? Did you use any special technique or probe? I didn’t know Italians too were prone to hyperpigmenation from electrolysis. How much time does hyperpigmentation from electrolysis take to completely disappear? I know you cannot give an exact estimate but I would like to know what the time range is. And does it always fade away completely? Or there is some risk of permanent hyperpigmenation?
Excellent point Jossie, yes I think some hair should remain, depending on the “expected” look of the particular person. In this case, Trevor has black hair (blue eyes) and some chest hair is expected. In the photos you can see (sort of) the pattern I was trying for: removal of hair on the shoulders and “pecs,” but attempting to leave a nice patch in the center. The “final” photo is about half-a-year after the last treatment. It’s somewhat acceptable, but I want to feather the patch a bit more. (We didn’t have time this weekend.) I also do not have the original “before” photos … there was a TON of hair all over the place! (I also left a centerline on the abdomen.)
The “selling point” for electrolysis is that we can create a very natural look by “feathering in” an area. Laser cannot do this at all (only one of laser’s many drawbacks). I’m planning to “feather-out” another 1.5-inch strip to give the area a more natural look and create a higher angle to the “V.” Hard to do this, since these kids are in constant motion! But this guy should have some body hair, and he will.
Same idea with people having plastic surgery. For example, you would not give a Greek woman a tiny turned-up nose. Dr. C is very artistic and always wants to keep the person looking normal. Another surgeon, I used to work with, has (in my opinion) ruined a few people by giving them unexpected facial features. It’s these “mistakes” people point to when challenging plastic surgery. And, they are right! People should look like themselves, just better. “Tiny nose” on a Persian guy? Giant boobs on a woman with a small frame? These are the horror stories of plastic surgery.
Oh, forgot this: The nipples were originally enveloped in a “toupee” of hair! It looked horrible. (Removal of such was the original/starting goal.)
Most guys should have some chest hair, but can completely do without hair on the nipples. Such a dense hair pattern looks like an old guy with thick wiry eyebrows.
Not avoiding your question Rebecca; just not answering it. This question has been talked about all-over-the-place for “donkey years.” (“Talked to death” actually!) Certain issues I decided to never discuss on Hairtell:
With most of these subjects, opinion trumps objective fact. And, you know what they say about “opinions?”
…thanks for not avoiding the question
Well, this is not an opinion but a proven fact.
The racial origin is not a determining factor for developing hyperpigmentation. I have seen hyperpigmentation in individuals with white skin, while some dark-skinned clients have not developed any of hyperpigmentation. Perhaps what has always confused is that in people with dark skin, hyperpigmentation is much more evident.
A few months ago, two friends nurses began their bikini line at the same time, one is of Arab origin (very dark), the other Spanish with extremely white skin. While the Spanish girl developed yellow pigmentation, the Arab girl absolutely nothing.
So it is …
(I’m too lazy to look it up in my book) … however … YES, white skin and dark skin have two different types of melanin. One is a yellow color and the other a brown/black.) PIH is somewhat unpredictable, but a warning in those you “suspect” to develop it is a nice way to go. I developed gigantic patches of PIH from electrolysis … just lovely!
“The racial origin is not a determining factor for developing hyperpigmentation.” And, I disagree with this.
Experience is not fact. Saying “racial origin is NOT a determining factor for developing hyperpigmentation” is simply silly. Such a statement is in disagreement with every text ever written on dermatology and every physician I have worked with and my own experience of 30+ years.
The point is you cannot “go” from a few observations and ramp that up to “scientific fact.” Nobody should rely on “what I have seen.” Yes, observation is very worthy of note, and stimulates more scientific research, but a few observations are not therefore FACT. “I ‘seen’ it and I believe it!”
Racial and skin-types are one of many factors to consider when doing surgery, laser or electrology (micro-surgery). For example, blacks “tend” to develop keloids. Do all blacks get keloids? Well, NO of course not. But if you don’t consider these parameters you are not doing the patient any good. White people can get keloids too; but not as frequently.
When I work on, say, a Persian I tell them that PIH is a likelihood. With this warning they are not “freaked out” when it develops. Usually with very white people, I seldom mention PIH, because it seldom happens.
Are there “other factors?” Of course there are; medical science is full of situations that don’t fit the common understanding. But, for God’s sake, do throw out the entire book because you have made a “different observation.”
Sometimes I wish I smoked pot … or got drunk! But, alas, I don’t. Maybe I should? Happy Easter!
When you figure it out, let me know.
