Question about Thermolysis

Is Thermolysis as effective and safe as electrolysis. I read in some places that its kill rate is very less as compared to electrolysis

From a consumer’s perspective it’s all the same thing. Different techniques and modalities are not as important as the skill of the practitioner. There is no one single method superior to another.

You might want to have a look at the outcomes of our dear Jossie (http://www.hairtell.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/users/17264.html). All these great results are obtained with thermolysis alone.

I recently started undergoing thermolysis (by a Dermatologist) to treat some stubborn hairs. In the past I have also undergone electrolysis. I recently moved to a new place in my country and electrolysis is not available there so that’s the reason.

I noticed slight difference between the two techniques. The pin used by electrologist was a very fine and that used to go deep inside my skin. This pin which is currently being used by the Dermatologist is not as fine and so doesn’t go as deep in the skin. I guess the heat energy still reaches the root of the hairs.Is it like that only.

Also, while she is doing this process I get a smell of burning hairs. Is it like that only

First off, I am skeptical that a dermatologist is doing the thermolysis. It’s probably an electrologist, not a medical doctor.

The needle does need to reach to the bottom of the hair follicle, and there is normally no smell associated with treatment.

What area is being treated?

I am doing it on cheeks

I am doing it on cheeks.

The rest of the devices are all similar. She switches on some electrical machine and gives me a metallic plate to hold in my hands(She says its for earthing). Its not wet as usually happens in electrolysis.

I asked her why she doesn’t put the pin deep in the skin and she says that it will damage my tissues.

Is she doing it with some outdated machine.

You’re seriously worrying me!

If your therapist is a dermatologist, she is probably using her Hyfrecator or Bovie for the procedure. And yes, although this is pure HF, you will hold a dry electrode (that’s the “give away” for me). Indeed, you have described a typical Hyfrecator experience; “bravo” to you.

ASK if she is using such a device (these are also used for a very wide variety of procedures, e.g., cauterizing blood vessels during surgery.) If this is a Hyfrecator, Bovie or similar medical device, I have only one word of advice: RUN! I’m assuming that “Rajneesh” is Indian, and if this is the case … RUN FAST!

I have used these things assisting in facial plastic surgery and they are “brutal” devices … NOT the fine work done by qualified electrologists! Electrolysis is BEST done by electrologists: trained and with the right “dedicated” equipment. “Smell burning tissue?” Shallow insertion? Yes, typical of these devices … OYE VEY! (All electrologists know that a “shallow insertion” is damaging … a proper “deep” insertion … to the base … is well below the “scar level.”)

In many cases, the hyfrecator “exchanges” facial telangiectasis and hairs for lovely “pitted scars!” (Maybe phone in and then don’t go back!)

If you tell us in what city you are located, we might be able to provide you with a referral. In certain places, electrolysis can only be administered by a physician or a physician’s assistant.

Thanks Bono

I believe you are correct. She is indeed using Hyfrecator which is probably not the right device to do hair removal. But I also read that dermatologist use Hyfrecator to do hair removal too.

Anyway, then its the end of road of electrolysis for me. There are no electrologists here. I think I have to look towards Laser Hair removal now and there are lot of them here. I have always been skeptical about laser hair removal. Never really understood what ‘Permanent hair reduction’ means. Can you throw some light on this. Does permanent hair reduction means that hair will always be there but its shape and size will be reduced. It its so then is it good enough? Will it be reduced so much so as not to bother any more?

and Yes, I am indeed located in India in New Delhi.

Since you are doing your “facial cheeks” my best recommendation is to simply and gently shave the area.

Indeed, the literature SAYS the hyfrector can be used to remove hairs … but I don’t buy it! (And the FAT needle? “Meine Gute!”) These are primarily medical devices used to burn off various skin lesions. The HF levels of the hyfrecator are stunning when compared to any electrolysis (HF) device. Even at ZERO on the hyfrector dial, they are producing WAY more HF then most electrologists use at a HIGH setting. (I have a graph showing this and will post it, if I can dig through all my files and fine it.)

Laser? I cannot speak to this with any authority; I’m not a laser tech. Many on this board are versed in laser and I would consult with them. Dee knows a lot about laser and can steer you in the right direction. Good luck!

It’s hit or miss with LHR. You might be a good candidate or not.
Permanent hair reduction means that all of the hair follicles
might not be able to get an effective treatment.
If the hair on your cheeks is dark and coarse, you might have success with laser but electrolysis is best for facial hair removal as in some situations, laser has stimulated more facial hair growth.

I am located in Queens, NY and about 25% of my clients are from India. Some visit India regularly and have told me that they have had electrolysis back home too. I will ask them where they go and hope we find someone to suggest, conveniently located.

Thanks Arlene.

I would love to find any electrologist in my area although I doubt.

Yes, the hair on my face are dark and coarse. One more thing - the hairs that do absorb the laser, do they get permanently ‘reduced’ or ‘removed’ after the series of treatments?

I must say I am stunned ! A Hyfrector ? As Hairadicator said on another thread, one can also remove unwanted hair by jumping into a volcano, but there are undesireable side effects involved.

I suggest you contact Skip at Instantron. They sell quite a bit of their equipment and our Probes to customers in India. He may be able to point you in the right direction. www.instantron.com

There is a story of a child whose doctor attempted to use a Hyfrector to do a circumcision. Allegedly, the power was turned down low. The poor boy’s penis was blown to bits, and to cover up the mistake, they told the parents to raise him as a girl, and did genital reassignment surgery on him as an infant. Eventually the parents were given a small cash settlement. I think the book written about the boy was called, “As God Made Him.” (Interesting point. Although everyone was telling the kid he was a girl from birth until adulthood, and the vitamins he was taking were female, the kid always argued that she felt like a boy, and wanted to be a boy. Hmm… nature or nurture?)

I finally found an electrologist( not a Dermatologist) around my area. The pin she uses is the same one that I my previous electrologist used and she even gave it to me to bring it next time. I underwent treatment with her to remove some hairs and I watched and saw that she is going deep and when she pulls the hairs it comes out gently. No smell of burning hairs.

One question though, I was expecting that she would give me a wet “handle” to hold in my hand but she didn’t. When I asked she said that its a short wave Diathermy electrolysis and not Blend. Is it like that only?

Not all electrolysis machines and modalities require the client to hold an electrode. If the technician is using a short-wave (diathermy) the machine in foot-pedal mode an inactive electrode is not required.

I have been undergoing electrolysis for almost 2 yrs now. I have a question. Up-to how much time should I wait for a hair to come back before considering its gone for ever. Also for a male pattern facial hair( on cheeks to be precise), how much time complete permanent hair removal could take?

If you get to the point where you have cleared everything, and you go one year without treatment on a male, you can generally consider yourself finished. The same would be true of women for the hairs that were treated, but because women have so many things that cause them to grow NEW hairs, it is technically possible to need to do short touch up appointments of 5 to 15 minutes once every 3 to 6 months for years to come. This is because they have little chance of making enough new hairs that get cleared, to the point of exhausting all potential follicles in the given treatment space.

I have seen hairs regrowing from same point even after 6 months. Was wondering if this thing ever be finished. Thats why I was asking how long does it take for male pattern facial hair to treat( I know its a very open ended question)