Questions on electrolysis process

Hair Removal Methods Professional Electrolysis
1

I can’t find a good FAQ page on electrolysis methods and what to look for and expect.

Do I have to wait 8 weeks between each session for the right hair cycle like with lasers or hair stage doesn’t matter with electrolysis? Is it right that you do not shave for electrolysis.

What is the difference between chemical and non chemical energy methods? What is micro-flash pico-flash and why do they differ?

Do energy amounts vary like in lasers and what is the optimal energy that’s needed to kill the root?

Do the techs use real needles to insert the probe and does the needle poke feel like an actual vaccine shot every time they poke a new follicle? Do these needles need to be disposable for hygiene?

How painful is the experience and what’s allowed for pain management during procedures?

How much money should I expect to invest for both shoulder treatments. Are there any reputable clinics in NYC that you can recommend?
Thanks

2

You want to get a full clearance at LEAST once every 8 weeks with electrolysis, but you can get cleared every week if you like.

You need to leave enough hair for the practitioner to grasp, in order for it to be removed, so you usually will avoid shaving for about 3 days to accomodate that need.

Hypodermic needles are not used, it is a fine probe, and fits inside the follicle. Without treatment energy, a good insertion can be made without you feeling ANYTHING. What you do feel can vary from nothing, to a warming sensation, to a tingling sensation, to a burning sensation, to a stinging sensation.

Everyone is different, and there are ways to make your experience better or worse, as far as preperation goes.

That’s all I have time to discuss. Hopefully, some one else here can pick up the ball here and tell you more.

3

I’m setting up appointments to consult with electrologists hopefully this week or next. One I found on this site and another in my borough of Brooklyn through doing a google search. What type of questions should I be asking them about the process and the equipment they use?

I see CPE,LE is a licensing to have and I only keep finding references here praising the Apilus machine. What other equipment considered top of the line in electrolysis? Is there an equivalent comparison like between lasers and IPLs when it comes to electrologist machines or techniques that I should be aware of?
Thanks

4

There are no LEs in Brooklyn, since in NY state electrologists are not state licensed.

There are other fine electrolysis machines, but the Apilus and Silhouet-Tones are currently the latest and greatest. In addition to their electrolysis machine, the type of vision equipment used is also important; look for an electrologist with surgical magnification.

5

True, New York is not a licensed state, but there are many excellent electrologists in New York State. Regarding who uses what epilator to remove hair permanently, just know that ALL epilators used for professional hair removal accomplish the job of permanent hair removal. The differences come into play when we start comparing sensation, healing and speed issues. You are very smart to get as many consultations as possible so you can compare. Observe whether an office is clean and if the electrologist adheres to hygenic measures, such as hand washing with actual soap or using a sanitizing agent for 12-15 seconds, wiping the table and other areas before they start, wearing gloves, opening a new package with a sterile probe, steriling the tweezers/forceps, etc.

Dee

6

Anotherdude, in response to your questions as follows:

“Do I have to wait 8 weeks between each session for the right hair cycle like with lasers or hair stage doesn’t matter with electrolysis? Is it right that you do not shave for electrolysis.” [color:#993399]Every 8 weeks for electrolysis is too long between visits as we want to catch hairs in the early stage of growth but some electrolysis is better than none so do what you need to do based on time and budget constraints. If your visits are few and far between when you first begin electrolysis, (a month or longer between treatments), shaving a few days before electrolysis treatment is a good idea.[/color]

“What is the difference between chemical and non chemical energy methods?”
[color:#993399]Using DC current produces sodium hydroxide and using AC current causes electrocoagulation. They are all effective however I prefer clearing as quickly and painlessly as possible and therefore resort to AC current using the pico flash technique and then, use whatever other modality and technique I see necessary as I progress.[/color]

“What is micro-flash pico-flash and why do they differ?”
[color:#993399]These are techniques within the thermolysis modality (AC) that enables the practitioner to work with timing at fractions of a second, pico being faster. [/color]

“Do energy amounts vary like in lasers and what is the optimal energy that’s needed to kill the root?” [color:#993399]We don’t kill roots, we destroy the areas within the follicle that nourish and produce hair germ cells; areas above and below the roots. Regarding energy, yes, energy varies with timing and intensity and needle choices and the electrologist needs to determine what is appropriate. [/color]

“Do the techs use real needles to insert the probe and does the needle poke feel like an actual vaccine shot every time they poke a new follicle? Do these needles need to be disposable for hygiene?” [color:#993399]Electrologists use actual needles that are approximately the same diameter as the hair. We have needles in various sizes. (There are some who refer to themselves as electrologists who use non-needle devices so be aware.) Most often, the needle insertion is not felt at all since we enter an already existing opening as we are not injecting anything. The needle we use is merely a vehicle for conductivity. I hope that the electrologist uses sterile disposible needles as handling thousands of used needles and storing them seems like a potential problem however so far, I have never heard of any cases of hepatitis or any other frightening contagious disease, being traced back to electrolysis. [/color]

“How painful is the experience and what’s allowed for pain management during procedures?” [color:#993399]The experience of pain is contingent on many factors but if the electrologist has better equipment and tools and uses pico flash, you have an edge there. If you get a good night’s sleep and drink plenty of water and not use diuretics, you have an edge there too. Topical anesthetics are available but see what the experience is like first without them. Lidocaine is usually one of the major ingredients in the anesthetics. [/color]

“How much money should I expect to invest for both shoulder treatments. Are there any reputable clinics in NYC that you can recommend?” [color:#993399]Call and ask for prices. Just remember that a high price per hour fee does not mean better tools or skill; it may reflect overhead, greed, perhaps even a false sense of grandeur. After seeing several specialists for various reasons, I have discovered that when it comes to the service industry, you DO NOT always get what you pay for. Just keep in mind that the electrologist only has a certain amount of hours a day they can actually administer treatment so call in advance.

I strongly suggest that you go for as many free consultations as you can and book very short appointments, and then make a determination. [/color]

“Thanks”

[color:#993399] You are welcome.[/color]

7

As usual all fantastic answers. Just add that the degree of effectiveness depends not so much the technical equipment used, but the skill of the practitioner.

NOTE: I apologize for this change of name, for reminding me, I’m DED10. Greetings to all

8

Just to clarify, I only meant literally that electrologists in NY are not state licensed, not that they were better or worse than those who practice in licensed states. In fact, a NY electrologist did work on me recently and he seemed to do a pretty good job :wink:

9

I just want to update on my electrolysis journey. I visited 3 places in NYC and started treatment here in Brooklyn with Audrey Koppel who has been in the business for over 30 years and is licensed in New Jersey. The other places were very professional and knowledgeable as well, but my decision was based on price and location.

I’m treating my shoulder areas only and today was the first treatment for 30 minutes. She used thermolysis and cleared most of my right shoulder. Next week I will go for the second treatment to finish off my right should and clear my left shoulder. She told me that once the first clearance is complete, she will decide whether to stay with thermolysis or switch to blend to better target the hairs. I was worried about pain management, but to my surprise it was very tolerable and felt like faint bee stings. The laser experience was significantly more painful.

I’m still confused on how to optimize treatment time with hair cycles. She told me that the more treatments you do the more hairs there are to target thus speeding up the process. Since hair grows in 8-12 weeks, should I go 1 time a month after my initial clearance or more than that? I want to space out the appointments in a way so that there are more hairs to target from a growth cycle to save time on frequency of treatments because I will be back to school soon and might not have time to do treatments every week.

10

With good treatment and up to date equipment used well, electrolysis usually feels more comfortable than L.A.S.E.R.

You need to make sure that you always get full clearances at least once every 8-12 weeks. If you can reclear the whole area in one appointment, then you could go just once every 8 weeks. If you need multiple appointments, then you need to make sure that you get them all in and finished before the 8 weeks passes.

11

i would like to take others opinions in my electrolysis experience.
i first was doing electrolysis with stephanie donelly in nyc( i believe she was using the blend method), i probably spent more than a yesr with her .first going every week then every two weeks . i never noticed any side effects except for little redness that goes away in no time.

but now i switched to another electrologist audrey koppel and in my first visit (she used thermolysis) i noticed scabs,(like the little white acne like head, red blood dots, swolen bumps, and redness. she was working really fast… so i am just wondering why that happened and how can this be prevented. is it normal? should i go back to stephanie even though i spent more than a yesr without clearance(by the way my sessions were around 15min and i have only few stray hairs in the neck and couple in the side of my face, not that thick

12

Two different modalities and two different electrologists, with two different sets of skills, equal two different outcomes. It has nothing to do with blend verses thermolysis. Why do I know this? I know this because I do both modalities, but most of my work is done in thermolysis using one of the three thermolysis modes, PicoFlash, MultiPlex or Synchro. I work fast, too, using thermolysis and I hardly ever get feedback about scabbing or pustule formation. I ask, even beg, my clients to shoot me an e-mail four to five days after their appointment to let me know about their healing outcome, when they are in the beginning stages of their hair removal because this is the time when they may have the “worse” skin reaction possible if it is to be. I do not receive complaints of scabbing and such. Reactions are short and consist of redness/pinkness and small bumps that disappear in a day or three.

So, it is not the mode, blend or thermolysis, that determined your skin outcome, it is the skill factor and perhaps, very close to the skill factor is epilator, vision aid and probe choice.

People want the hair off fast. They want cleared ASAP. They don’t want it to hurt too much and they don’t want a horrific skin reaction. For many cases it is possible to do this. If one is going fast and not watching the skin, then what good is that? Maybe slow is better in your case? You can talk to the thermolysis practitioner about your concerns and maybe she will have some answers for you.