Taking too long, or am I impatient?

Hair Removal Methods Professional Electrolysis
#1

I’ve had 6 or 7 treatments on the glabella in about the past 10 weeks. Each treatment between 45 minutes to an hour and almost every week. There is still a LOT (I’d say there’s still about 50% or more remaining) of hair and a lot of it is still very dark and very coarse. Am I being impatient in thinking it should be clear by now? I’ve asked her a few times how much longer she thinks it will take and all she can tell me is that “my skin is very sensitive, my roots are very deep,” but this seems like a lot of working hours. I’ve never had total clearance, just very small sections at a time.

It’s just such a small area… I thought it would be clear by now. 4.5+ hours and nearly $500 seems like an awful lot to me when it doesn’t look like much has been accomplished. :frowning:

#2

Slow or “Godzilla?’

Well yes, what you are describing does not “add up” at all!

Hummm … “[going on] 5-hours and the area still has 50% of the hairs ‘remaining’?” You say, 45 minutes to and hour on the glabella at each appointment? ***

Okay, we need to dissect what’s going on here. First off, what specific area are YOU referring to when you say “glabella?” The area between your eyes, or something else?

*** As a reference point for you, I’m able to clear-off (first clearance) a woman’s entire underarm (one of them) in 60 to 90 minutes. So, “not even clearing off your ‘glabella’,” in the time you’ve stated, is not reasonable by any measure.

An electrologist spending an entire HOUR on the area between your eyes, and not yet getting “clearance, [but] only small sections at a time” is not at all reasonable … it’s not even believable! What the … ?

You need to “S’PLAIN” … or maybe show a photo. I gotta see this glabella!

Either your electrologist is presenting a new definition of “slow,” or you have one heck of a glabella. A “Godzilla Glabella?”

I’m “all ears!” (Literally)

#3

Yes… it’s the area between my brows. There is NOWHERE near the number of hairs there as there is on an an underarm.

Honest to god, that’s how much time is spent. And even hairs that are gone after she does them come back as coarse (because they are VERY thick and dark) as they were so I think she may be just plucking some and I’m so dead in that area from daily tweezing for over a decade, that I just don’t notice.

I don’t make much and really can’t throw money away like this. I went and bought one of those handheld home electrolysis to try to finish it but that was a terrible idea and I now have a burn mark. So now I feel like I’m just stuck. or defeated. And a little taken advantage of.

I can take a picture in a little but, but I will include a picture from my post a while ago asking about scarring (seems insignificant now as I’m pretty sure I scarred myself) that shows after the first 45 minute treatment. And that’s about how much hair is left still, but it seems like different places.

#4

I’m going to defer to my wonderful colleagues that do a lot of eyebrow work (I will not do eyebrows at all … EVER!).

Still, I don’t know what to say about your case: I’m baffled. I can only say, I’m “with you” in not understanding your situation.

I’m hoping “our own” Dee or Jossie can shed some light on this. Madonna Mia … pizzeria! (I’m heading to the beach to jump in the ocean … maybe this will calm my nerves over your case? No “party hats” please!)

#5

Before pictures are always appreciated so our imaginations don’t run wild with what you might look like.

For such a small area like the glabella, it is not difficult to fully clear he area in 30-45 minutes. Now, if you were tweezing the area prior to your first electrolysis appointment, that may give you the impression that the hair is never cleared because new hair keeps coming to the surface, perhaps on a daily basis?

Is your Electrologist doing single probe galvanic? How slow is this going?

I think it is true for most of electrologists, but this area can be cleared nicely in one session. After that, you have to maintain that clearance with bi- monthly sessions at the minimum.

Can you offer pictures and more details of your treatments? No detail is too small.

#6

This is what it looks like after all the treatments (yes… there is a hole in my face from trying to do it myself. Yes, I know that’s bad. But my desperation is palpable.)

I also want to make note, the 4 marks that are almost in a downwards triangle are from me with the home one. But the two red marks on the top right (and a few others hidden under neosporin) are marks from the in-office electrolysis. It’s like this every time I go and I’m left with more or more marks. If it’s taking this long, is it she doing it really low? And are all these marks every time more damaging than a few bigger marks less often if it would be turned up?

I took left, right and center to make sure everything could be seen.

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#7

I’m trying to figure out how to make the images pop out images.

I did not tweeze for over a year and a half beforehand. I tried another electrologist in the area and wasn’t fond of her and once I had more time and money, I looked for someone else. The popular one I couldn’t get in with recommended the woman I’m seeing and I figured if someone in their field recommends her, it should work out.

Unfortunately, I don’t have a before picture (oh hindsight) but it really didn’t look much different than this.

Yes, she’s using galvanic (she only refers to it as direct current) and it’s a single probe.

#8

Imagine the marks all gone. What I see is normal hair distribution for this area and it can be cleared, along with any smaller hairs, within 45 minutes. You go home and come back in two weeks to get the next group (if you have been tweezing), otherwise, you can wait a month for the next session.

The marks are not a necessary side effect. Hair can be permanently treated without skin marks like these. It does happen sometimes,but it can be prevented.

For now, I would not use Neosporin. It could be making it worse? Just use soap and water and a thin coat of Aquaphor , being careful not to get in your eyes. Please stop picking at this yourself. Make a big effort to not pick by distracting yourself. Go suck on a Gormet lollipop or do something else with your hands.

This is an easy area treat - very easy. That’s all I can say for my part. I treat a lot of eyebrow cases. It is one of my favorite areas to do as long as I have something to work with. So many women come to me for eyebrow work and there is nothing there. They have tweezed away most of the hair and old age and thyroid problems have made it worse. You have lovely eyebrows, so you got that going for you.

Your sores will heal perfectly fine. Leave them alone for now.

#9

Here is an example of an eyebrow case where I am asked to remove hair. What am I suppose to remove!? She needs all the hair she can get!

#10

Okay … I’m going along with Dee on all her suggestions. I only have to mention my horror of seeing this extensive post-op damage on a beautiful young girl. Add to my consternation: “single-needle galvanic?” I mean … ???

I’d better shut the hell up on this, or Seana’s going to “get me GOOD!” Okay, another long BREAK! (Yep, I’m now breathing in my every-handy paper bag! In-out, in-out … )

#11

So is it time I find a new electrologist again? After close to 5 hours of work, I should be much farther along than this, right?

Thank you, I would never thin them out. I tweeze just the strays along the shape of my brow, and I’ve been so good about not doing the middle. But this damn unibrow… it’s a terrible trade-off for full, dark brows. I’m desperate to get it gone which is why that stupid One Touch sucked me in.

I’m only an hour and a half from Columbus, but I don’t get vacation days or “sick” time to go up there for you to do it. I lurked around on the boards for awhile before doing anything and you seem so knowledgeable and well-respected. Down in Dayton, there are no references for where people have gone or how well one works.

#12

There in lies the problem. Too slow. It works though! But, unnecessarily, too slow.

People want the hair off as fast and carefully as possible, without looking like a pepperoni pizza. We do not need to use galvanic anymore to achieve both of those goals. People panic and fret just like you are doing now when they realize how slow this is going. They search for answers on the Internet and usually land here on Hairtell. My honesty may get me in trouble with my colleagues from time to time, but I will remain free to honestly state my opinion here.

Can she do blend or thermolysis instead? Each hair can be treated in 4 seconds at the most to less than a second at the least.

She can do what she is comfortable with and should do what she is comfortable with, but it’s on your dime. This can be accomplished with the same outcome using a faster modality. There, I said it!

#13

That post-op damage crater is my work. :frowning: The frustration, desperation, and disgusting amount of money spent when I feel like it’s going nowhere was just too much. After I did that last night, I literally started to cry. :frowning:

#14

Thank you, Dee.

Are either one of those more damaging then? She said I have a lot of moisture in my skin (? I think?) and that, coupled with my already sensitive skin, is why I would always get oozing marks. Sometimes they weren’t even completely gone by the next week when I’d go back.

#15

Lily,

Heal completely before attempting another treatment.

Private message me later and maybe I can help you find someone who will get you cleared or at least perhaps I can see you a couple times so you can understand what I’m talking about. You can work this out with your Electrologist. Maybe she will do blend for you?

Many of the electrologists in the state of Ohio are doing laser mainly, so that makes the rest who are dedicated to doing only electrolysis quite busy. The law of supply and demand is severely out of whack in this regard.

You can clip the hairs you have now for relief while you heal.

We all know that galvanic works. That’s why you bought the One Touch, but you can’t insert accurately with that flimsy piece of … Fill in the blank. So, you damage your skin. What your Electrologist is doing is reputable and it is where electrolysis started. Galvanic was there before thermolysis and blend. It works! In this age of fast computers, phones, transportation, communication, we need to deliver fast hair removal and we can do this! It gets very expensive and people lose hope if one hair every one to three minutes is removed. Not so great for the consumer side to deal with that kind of pokiness.

#16

No, no, no, no.

You will heal. No more treatments until you do. Maybe you have sensitive skin, but that is what everybody falls back on. I don’t think it is sensitive skin at all. It is about energy and the recipe chosen for intensity and timing, good visual aids, probe choice, observing the top of the skin as you are working and most of all ACCURATE INSERTIONS. This is not a normal expected outcome. It is not the end of the world either. You will be okay. Just get ready to start over again with a different game plan. Disguise the hair you have until you can start again so you feel beautiful. You have great eyebrows. It will all fall in line for you.

#17

I’m not a professional but as an user who has received some electrolysis sessions I’d like to give you my opinion anyways.

I agree with everything that has been told here, but I’d like to add something: Protect that mark from the sun. Use sunscreen, and even so, try to avoid the sun in that area as much as you can to don’t get a pigmented spot. Maybe you already knew that, but just in case.

Don’t worry and relax. I’m sure everything will heal and you will get rid off your hair. In my oppinion is time to look for a new electrologyst, 5 hours for that area and still non seeing a big difference is not a good progress. If I were in your situation I wouldnt wait a second more to look for a new practitioner.

You can see a huge diference from one electrologyst to another, not just the skills, even the tools and the way they proceed. So take it easy, find the right one and live with the hair till the day it is gone (because it will be gone) but never EVER do it by yourself!!! I’ve been desesperated many times aswell and thats the last thing I would do because as you can see you the consecuences are even worse.

Just patience! Breath and keep the faith that it will be healed and you will get rid off your hair

#18

I know I’ve spent at least 1,000 dollars on electrolysis. 100 dollars for 2 hours (I think this rate is considered low actually, so it’s better than most other electrologist’s asking price).

That being said, I’ve had poor results and hyperpigmentation that is still present 5.5 months later.

#19

You rang Michael? That’s right I’m gonna put on a nuns outfit and get a yardstick if you dont be a nice boy :slight_smile: I was too busy repairing my new ebike :slight_smile:
Actually, I cant argue with ANY of the advise given here. And a visit to Dee’s studio, would be a fantastic outcome, you should make that happen.

I have much worse brows. I wont say what I do to them :slight_smile: But the points Dee and others say make sense. Also, dont put anything on the area, just wash it with mild soap and water at best and keep it out of sunlight.

Go with blend or thermolysis, I’ve found unheated lye is not that nice to the skin . I’ve had worse marks on my face from galvanic, which healed nicely. So mostly let it heal and see to fixing the problem.Go see Dee.

Seana

#20

Oooouu, a “spanking?” Could be fun … well probably not! Seana, you naughty girl! But the “nun thing,” now THAT’S interesting.

Although I have never used straight DC (without HF), I do remember what Art Hinkel told me about the “old days” when only DC was being used. He mentioned that WAY more follicle oozing took place (blood plasma leaking out). So, the reaction our OP is mentioning is in keeping with the modality itself.

This is unlike thermolysis that is somewhat of a drying current … and, therefore, thermolysis engenders less possibility of leaking plasma (oozing). (The tiny blood vessels are sealed shut by the HF.)

Honey-colored crusts were also common with straight DC (said Art), and upon stretching the fully-treated and completely healed skin, you could see down into the follicle and notice the miniscule scar tissue that formed. (Don’t fret this “scar tissue!”) I have tried this observation over the years (with HF-treated skin). No such scar is visible.

Funny the stuff you remember?