Just a quick update -
Have been going for almost 13 mths now, have had treatment every 2 weeks on average for 30 min on upper and lower lip with an Apilus. So spent approx 1600$ so far and I would say am about 3-4 mths from being done. SO thats the good part that there has been a lot of progress.
My main problems-
Too many accelerated vellus hairs, waxing for years
More regrowth than desired - A constant feedback at most tx would be that all hairs are telogen and lower lip hairs are too shallow and have no follicle, there was too much resistance when hairs released.
Too much sparking and popping - attributed to the no follicle
Hyperpigmentation - type 4 skin prone to it, plus constant scabbing since the hairs left were shorter, thinner, shallower
Full clearance rarely achieved - because skin couldn’t handle more than 30 min, whenever we did 45 min or 1hr appts, scabbing was a lot
Despite the problems I didn’t switch because the options available are not great and the comfort of this machine as compared to blend for this area, well there isn’t even any comparison.
Don’t think there are many real good electrologists, my experience is that you just choose which side-effects you can live with.
Okay, so you have had about one hour of treatment per month for 13 months. Are you really paying like $62 per half hour??! Having spent $1,600 for an hour X 13 months sounds pretty high. Is she using an Apilus Platinum? Maybe that could justify such a high charge.
Accelerated hairs, too much regrowth, constant scabbing, full clearance rarely achieved? SPARKING AND POPPING because of no follicle??? Don’t get that last one.
Do you know if she is using an insulated probe and turning down the intensity and timing for those shallow follicles?
WHAT KIND OF MAGNIFICATION AND LIGHTING IS SHE USING? I capped this sentence to highlight the importance of seeing the hair before you zap the hair. It is absurd to pay lots of money for a quality epilator and not match it with QUALITY magnification and lighting. I’m assuming this is a problem. There could be other things that are off. I’m glad you stated that you felt there was some good news in your opening statement, however, several of the concerns that you raised are my concerns as well.
Electrolysis is not a proceedure that one has to choose which side effects one can live with,especially if someone is using an Apilus. Skin maifestations, if they occur, should be temporary on the face. Scabbing does not have to be inevitable, but sometimes it can’t be avoided totally. Scabs should be very small and should fall off on their own within a week or 10 days. That’s acceptable outcome.
I don’t know how much hair you started with so I don’t know if an hour a month in the beginning was enough. Probably wasn’t because you never got a full, first clearance.
There are some things that are not ideal, but you will get there eventually. I hope it happens by the 18 month mark.