Maybe her electrologist is a diabetic and uses her insulin syringe needles for electrolysis, too. Is it possible that you misunderstood what she is using on you? With that gauge of needle, I would think you would be bleeding and bruised after a treatment, if that is what she is really using.
OP, I am in a similar situation as you. I have long vellus hairs all over and I am having my face treated currently. If I look into a mirror at a certain angle I can see long darker hairs. I am a brunette so I my hairs are darker but not thick like terminal hairs. My arm hair is about 1 inch in length but thin, not peach fuzzy thin though. It’s difficult to explain and pics would not do it any justice.
My electrolysis needs to turn her light in all sorts of ways to get the shadow just right and when she does she goes to town on the hairs. She has also used some kind of dye stuff that she spreads all over my face to find the finer hairs.
I no longer work with vellus hair cases and question electrologists that do. Unless the hair has accelerated to the point of becoming terminal hair, vellus hair “problems” have more to do with obsessive compulsive disorder fueled by high magnification mirrors than hair per se. Michael Bono brought up an interesting point. Clients will often say “just get the long ones” and do not comprehend (even when told) that eventually all of them grow long at different times. It becomes an uphill battle since there will always be “long ones.” Additional difficulties arise when hormonal changes and the natural aging process stimulate more vellus hair to grow. It is simply not cost effective. Repeated treatments with follicles so close together in the same area over a period of many years even with the best electrologist and equipment has the potential to inflict skin damage. Electrologists and clients are free to make their own decisions, but it is my personal opinion that electrology is not the route of choice to alleviate vellus hair distress.
I absolutely disagree with you. I have worked on hundreds of cases and once the healing process is complete, the skin always looks better than before. Nobody can guarantee that some peach fuzz does not become terminal hairs, but at least these people can live with a certain level of confidence, if for them the vellus was a real problem. I am working very hard on people from South Asia due to emigration must adapt to the demands of the West. This must not be easy growing among children who tell you that you are the missing link between man and ape, or you look like a werewolf only because the hair is more evident in you than in humans around you. While I have strength, and they want to get rid of these hairs covering most of their bodies, I will contribute to make their lives easier in society.
Oh I forgot the most important: For better or worse, Electrology is the ONLY answer!
I most whole-heartedly agree with Josefa! Everything you said should be magnified and repeated, Josefa, because you are totally correct. We both have lived it with our clients and we know what is possible, even though it is not easy. i say, let the consumer decide what they want and then serve them well accordingly.
There is no skin damage with such a strategy. Apilus Platinum technology, Laurier probes and…SKILL see’s to that. This is old, stale white bread thinking in regard to what a modern electrologist can do in 2012 and beyond. It is not easy and it is not cheap, but peach fuzz can be refined to a point where a woman feels better about her appearance. Many cases I treat, I don’t agree with them that they need treatment, but if they understand the high hurdles involved with the process, they should decide what is best for them, not me.
The potential for skin damage will always exist anytime the skin is disrupted (by any means) and can NEVER be 100% negated by any machine, instrument or individual. Machine sales jargon and enthusiasm over probes will not change this fact. Even hair salon clients risk skin damage from hair products, but it seldom occurs. As electrologists we work to minimize permanent side effects and today problems are rare, but this does not mean the potential for it to happen has been eliminated.
ein? I thought our goal was “to disrupt” the follicle, and once removed, is closed forever, giving an appearance of homogeneity absolutely perfect to their host, ie the skin.
I don’t know how you dealt with this type of follicles (before deciding that it is not worthwhile), but in my case, and those of many of the colleagues who have been able to cross impressions, the lesion is very precise, just one or two millimeters deep. Basically almost the same depth that has the epidermis. As you no doubt know, most of these hairs is in telogen phase, so the goal is reduced by more than half to any terminal follicle which has most of the hairs in the anagen phase. You, me, or one has to be very beast to scar these mini-follicles.
On the other hand, I do not know if you are aware of the new procedures to minimize dilated pores or holes in old acne scars. It consists of coagulate the objective follicle edges, so that the new wound edges and close the hole forever. I’ve tried to do this, and I have seen positive results.
I am not seeing or hearing complaints about skin damage with my vellus hair cases, and i do a lot of vellus hair, so I guess the "potential part " of your statement has not been realized. Another keyword: RARE
And very good magnification I dare to add.
Oh, you are absolutely right ! Magnification is probably the most overlooked in vellus hair strategy.
I have a lot to write but it will have to wait until I return home.
I would say lighting is the key and magnification depends on the electrologist’s needs. I hope Josefa will not mind me mentioning that she uses basic magnification for these hairs.
With over 7,600 posts, I sometimes get lazy and don’t repeat all the details that need constant emphasis. I responded to the three points that hairadicator made, leaving out magnification and lighting. Of course, those are as important as skill, equipment and knowledge and I have reiterated that magnification and lighting play a part in the successful outcome of permanent hair removal, via electrolysis. Perhaps I need to write a statement and have it available for copying and pasting, so I don’t die of boredom repeating this topic over and over again.
A big part of the reason professional electrologists use surgical magnification is to adequately see all hair structures so we can serve all needs, but there are other reasons. Proper visual aids help with good body mechanics/ ergonomics so we can stay healthy and happy in our pursuit of serving the hairy for many years. Our distance vision improves so we can not only see the hair, but we can sit up straight with our back and neck in good alignment with our feet flat on the floor, while we work away. We can work longer on difficult cases, something many consumers want, but cannot get… Many electrologists will only work an hour at a time because they need to be in a hunched position 7" away from the client.
So, I will add another important supplement to the electrologists’ work station. I recently purchased a 24 hour task chair that has aided in my comfortable pursuit of removing hair and protects my physical well being, where my back is supported well. When my work day has ended, I’m ready for other pursuits. Those who do fine with their particular set ups, I revere them!
Oh my God!!! I am mortified. I have been away from work with a couple of bouts of flu and just returned and logged in to find the post about surgical needles!!! I must have left myself logged in on a work computer and someone (I have a good idea who) has decided to make a mockery of me. I apologise to anyone who took that seriously. I do, however, appreciate the other posts re vellus hair treatment. I consider most of the regular posters professionals and so like to hear your opinions re treatment.
Just to put minds at ease, my electrologist uses F2 sized probes. I don’t know if that means anything to anyone in the US (I am in Australia), but another practitioner here said that is what she would use for vellus hair.
I would like some feedback re my work done so far but will have to write more after work.
Once again, apologies 
Like Dee and Josefa i love working on vellus hairs they are my favourite . Vellus hairs are superficial hairs therefore a probe with the shortest exposed tip must be used.F2 is perfect i also use laurier 003 with no problem.
Oh yes Sahar, working on this type of hair “vellus” is really satisfying. Whatever the strategy, the selection of the longest hair, or to clean anything that the eye can catch, the customer be always happy.
Indeed. As long as pain is not an issue. My preferred modality is multiplex, and usually a short flash pulse of just 1/1000 s with an intensity of 75-90% is needed to release those hairs reliably (in the 100 EL range).
It should, however, be informed consent with the client, that the density of the hairs may reach or even exceed the density of a fully developed male beard - with the obvious consequences on the time needed for a really full treatment.
BTW: many of my vellus/fine hair clients have at least two different kinds of hairs: some “accelerated” vellus or maybe better very fine terminal hairs on a background of real vellus hairs. Clearly distinguishable since both are present predominantly in telogen stage (initially…).
beate_r, that is the type of problem I have… I see all the tiny, blonde “normal” vellus all over my face, but then I have accelerated vellus (1cm or longer) down the sides of my face and across my cheeks/jaw and under the chin area, that have more pigment in the end of them. This is what I am aiming to remove. I have days when I am extremely happy with the result, and then, when i get the re-growth, it is a bit depressing, as I think it looks just as bad, as the shorter growth is still darker hair. I have now had 13 hrs of work done at a cost exceeding $1200 (electrolysis is not cheap here) and there are many of the dark, long hairs that haven’t even been touched once yet. The lady I go to says she prefers to undertreat to prevent skin damage, but I had hoped it would be moving along a little faster. I also hate that I can see the re-growth and she always misses most of what I see, and that is when she should be treating it. Finally, I want to ask if the hairs around the mouth and chin are tougher to treat generally, as I get fast re-growth in these areas. The hairs are still fine, not terminal.
Thanks.
Indeed a case like yours seems “easy” but could be called the “Olympics of hair removal." Such a case like yours is perfect for the insulated needle and the automated thermolysis units. It’s a challenge because these hairs are shallow and, consequently, the potential for skin damage must be considered. (Your 13 hours so far is not a-typical.)
I’ve just come to the end of a massive “beard case” on a very wonderful woman (she was plucking … then shaving … and now nothing). Now that the shaving has ceased, the “undergrowth” has appeared.
Explanation: since tiny (vellus-type) hairs grow slower than large terminal hairs, the on-going (daily) shaving “hides” the tiny hairs: the patient does not realize these hairs even exist! Once the large terminal hairs are removed, and shaving stops, these “vellus” hairs appear. They were always there; the electrolysis did not convert the terminal hairs into vellus hairs.
I know this is not your case, but thought it might be helpful to point this out to other patients that are experiencing this very common phenomenon. To be honest … I’m PRAYING that is terrific client does not notice these nearly microscopic hairs. So far, she is not focusing on them. (I did point them out and explained what happened.) My forte is not “vellus hair” so I will recommend my favorite colleague in the area that loves this work and is better at it that I. (This little town is great: all of us in the field work together and are not competitive. It’s ONLY what the client needs!)
Hello
I would like you to clarify to me what they refer to with vellus (peach fuzz??). Because for example I have fine hair but clearly visible without glasses in my stomach. I have been dealing with electrolysis and I have found an improvement although in some hairs I have seen that they have become a little thicker and more visible. Do you consider that the treatment for these hairs is effective with electrolysis?
Thanks for your help
Sure, if you can see the hairs, electrolysis can eliminate them, whatever their size, color, and phase.