Now as far as searching the forum, I know how to do this and did so before my post. I searched for “Galvanic” and “Thermolysis.” And of course the results were many. 200 for each term.
If it was only 200 per term, there must be something wrong with the server because those words appear in nearly every post! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> You’re going to have to get way more specific in your searching.
But I’d feel a whole lot better, if some one specifically addressed her take on 1.deep-tissue scarring and premature aging, 2. imbedded debris, ingrown hairs, circular scars (pits), 3. “With thermolysis, we find that with each pass, we remove the main hair, but stimulate follicle sites surrounding the original offender. The skin, does what it does best, and that is to protect itself against stimulation and one of those mechanisms for protection is…(good grief)…HAIR. Often the harder you work, the more there is to do!!!”
Here are some tips on how to do research. You just listed specific things you’re worried about. I promise you that if you search for “scarring” you’ll get a ton of posts back. Try “aging” and “pitting” while you’re at it. Probably even “deep tissue scarring” and “premature aging”. You will find many fascinating threads (well, fascinating only to us hairy or ex-hairy, <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> ) The bottom line I remember about scarring/pitting is that electrolysis can cause those problems—and I think it was any kind of electrolysis—but as with all things, it comes down to the skill of the practitioner. Based on what I’ve read here, galvanic is more forgiving of a bad practitioner. Someone competent with thermolysis knows what the limits are. This is why it’s important to try several electrologists before deciding on The One—check out their method and speed and skill and how you react to each one. You will quickly see what is “normal” for you and what isn’t.
re: #2
Imbedded debris and ingrown hairs are not unique to electrolysis nor are they the boogeyman incarnate. I get them from waxing my legs and bikini. Do a search for “tombstone” and “tomb stone” (as 1 and as 2 words) and you’ll learn about the debris issue. It’s just a stump of a hair which your body will push out on its own. Try a search for “ingrown” and you’ll see that many people get this. The main solution here is to purchase Tend Skin or to make it on your own, and if you search for “tend skin” you’ll find posts with the recipe.
As for point #3, that hasn’t been my experience. I’m not sure if it’s been addressed here. Hey, maybe a search for “stimulate” or “stimulation” will bring something.
Now my experience seems consistent with this last point. As I mentioned earlier, the hairs on my chest are growing back more quickly and in greater number than when I use to tweeze. Not more than three days after a treatment, do they come back with a vengeance. I’ve been tweezing for years. And the hairs are few enough in number and spaced far enough apart, that I can tell you my observation is accurate. Back when I would tweeze a hair would be gone for two weeks or more. Not anymore.
If you’ve only been at this for 10 days it’s not physically possible for those hairs to be regrowth of what was just removed. Hair growth takes a few weeks for a new one to come to the surface (but to really find out, check out this hair growth cycle chart ). Remembering that I’m not a pro, I have a few theories to explain what you see:
- You had old, dead, shedding hairs removed and the new growth was lurking right below the surface and now came out.
- You used to tweeze the most visible hairs. Now that they are gone, you are noticing all the mid-level ones that you had never noticed or had never bothered you as much. You’re starting to see your full amount of hair for the first time.
- You have a lot of tombstones/debris that is pushing itself out. It looks like new hair growing in.
My money is on #2, but maybe someone else here can weigh in on this.
Susan Laird’s arguments are presented thoroughly enough that I don’t see them as typical salesperson scare tactics. They come across as legitimate.
I’m not a doctor or a scientist. I am a moron. That’s why I’d like someone smarter than me to thoroughly dispute Laird’s claims.
Since when do salespeople not use thorough arguments? Also, I’m sure that she believes what she says—but there are others who disagree, and this is where the whole unfortunate responsibility of being a hair-removal consumer comes in: It’s up to us, who are not doctors or scientists either btw, to figure this all out. And hey, we do. You can too, even though you’re a moron <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
The state of hair removal technology sucks. There is no one easy method. They are all imperfect in their own ways, and it is no one’s job to thoroughly dispute Laird’s claims to you, except maybe electrologists you go try out. It’s up to you to do your homework and decide which point of view makes the most sense to you personally and which method you’re most comfortable with. It’s not easy because it requires a leap of faith. But ask us when you have questions. Just don’t get pissed if we don’t come running at that very minute.
–susie
p.s. fwiw, i’m getting thermolysis on lip and chin for 15 months now. I started at 60 mins at least once/week. Now I’m down to 15 mins every 2 weeks for clean up in that area and work on some new areas. I chose thermolysis for its speed. It was important for me to get to first clearance asap and be able to look hair-free after every appointment.