Upper lip - Is this swelling and redness normal after 3 days?

Hair Removal Methods Professional Electrolysis
#1

Hi

I had my first Electrolysis session 3 days ago and was shocked by how bad the after effects were. I’ve seen mixed reports online about what to expect but get the impression that things should have mostly cleared up by now.

Immediately following the 1 hour session the area was very swollen and tender, and was weeping a yellow fluid that dried to make a crust. Now, in my third day of recovery the area is still discoloured and swollen.

The clinic I went to looked very professional, but I admit knowing nothing about the equipment or methods they use. It was very painful, which at the time I supposed to be normal. From this experience I’m reluctant to go back really hope things look something approaching normal very soon.

Thanks in advance

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#2

I do not mean to be disrespectful, but is this (male) beard work? If female there could be some serious underlying conditions that should be addressed.

#3

Hi

Sorry, that would have been useful to mention.

Yes, I’m MtF Transgender and pre-HRT - so this is male beard hair.

The Electrolysist did both sides during the session and both are in the same condition. Tge swelling’s gone down quite a bit no but there are quite a lot of red splodges.

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#4

Here’s another better image

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#5

Thanks for the pictures! This is over treatment and does not have to happen, even if you get scattered work for an hour. Using an insulated probe, that matches the hair diameter/ follicle size, adjusting the energy level (the intensity and timing) and making sure to do full depth perfect insertions can leave one a little swollen and pink for a day or two, but you won’t have visible, temporary skin manifestations like your pictures. I like refrigerated cold pressed aloe vera gel applied IMMEDIATELY after a session. I advise the client to continue with the cold gel at home for three days, applying as liberally as they want. The first, full clearance is the toughest. Once the hair density decreases, outcome gets better and better.

Do not treat this area again for 6-8 weeks. Let it heal and then hopefully your practitioner can refine things for a better, less dramatic healing outcome. It can be done.

#6

Thank you. That’s what I feared. I certainly won’t be going back there and to be honest, it’s made me apprehensive about Electrolysis as a whole.

Are you able to advise on any potential issues that may come from this - scarring/permanent damage? I’m terrified that I’ve permanently disfigured myself.

#7

I am pretty sure this will heal just fine. Don’t lose one minute of sleep!

#8

Oh Yikes! Your electrologist should go over the basics she learned in school and this sort of over-treatment is not acceptable.

#9

Phew. Thank you. I was scared that this might scar.

I feel obliged to complain about this, if for no other reason than to prevent anyone else going through this. Do either of you have any advice on what to say to them?

Thanks again

#10

Be polite and have a calm manner of approach is rule number one. State your concerns, with picture in hand. There is not an electrologist on this earth that has not been over zealous. We are only human.

The correct response from the electrologist would be to thank you for your feedback and reassure you that they will change something - find a new recipe, use a different probe, try another modality, work 15 minutes and evaluate their new approach, try some refrigerated cold pressed quality aloe vera gel immediately after treatment, not work on the area every week.

This is why many new electrologists quit. This scares them to death because they don’t want to hurt anyone and they don’t know how to get tough hair like that to glide out, without the skin looking angry. If it is an established, credentialed electrologist with all those fancy alphabet letters behind their name, they may be defensive and dismissive. In this case, look onward. You want someone that will be honest with you when your precious lip presents as a normal skin healing reaction or whether it is over treatment. It’s okay to admit it was over treatment, but what matters after that is an attitude on the electrologists part not to repeat it over and over again. Change the plan, observe and have compassion for what the client is feeling about this. This means a lot to the person lying on the table. If you don’t feel the electrologist is trying to work with you well enough, then move on.

Now, back to your lip. PLEASE do not have anymore treatments until it is all healed. Don’t pick off any scabs. I get sick of hearing myself say this, but I would use refrigerated aloe vera cold pressed gel. Put gob on the area and let it marinate. When it gets dry and flakey, rinse gently with cold water and reapply. Try for three days and nights and see if it helps. I really think it will heal well, but I’m not 100%. Just get it back to normal. Eat nutritious whole foods, too. Vitamin C type foods are good for wound healing.

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#11

Uncle Mikey says … DITTO to Dee Dee! Although I would be tempted to give the electrologist a “Will Smith!”

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#12

Aunt Dee Dee would never give a Will Smith slappy - poo to anyone, but I would try to help an electrologist who asks for help and is receptive to suggestions, hehe!