I just finished clearing my face (cheeks and sideburns). For the past few weeks I went for 60 minutes a week, but before Christmas sessions were a bit spread out. So, it took about 4 months for the first full clearing -I’m extremely hairy and must have the fullest vellus ever.
Nothing has grown back so far, not even the hairs that were zapped in October. I had never touched my vellus before, which apparently helps (says my electrologist).
I was wondering what to expect for the next few months. She told me that now that we’re done with that first clearing I should wait a bit for some hairs to grow back before going back. What’s typical, in your opinion? What should I expect? Will everything most likely grow back?
Another question:
I was planning on getting pregnant this year, and my electrologist won’t treat pregnant women. I will have to put my treatments on hold, but I was wondering if I should expect everything to grow back like crazy because of the pregnancy hormones. I have no hormonal problem, and none of the hairs that were zapped were terminal, it was all vellus, so do you think that a pregnancy could still bring me back to square one?
You will have a mixture of NEW growth and REgrowth after a first clearance. You think all is well now, but don’t be bummed if you have a couple to several periods where you have large waves of hairs cycling in. This is typical. Just keep punching away. Regrowth, is hair that was treated but was not treated when the hair was in the growth phase (so it regrows) or regrowth can be from not enough energy and timing being used when the hair was in the most opportune time of growth.
I treat pregnant women using thermolysis. If they discuass this with their doctor and they are comfortable and the doctor gives permission, it is okay. If you take a hiatus from electrolysis, the hair won’t grow back if it was treated properly the first time when it was in the growth phase. Grow back statements imply that electrolysis is temporary. Electrolysis is permanent hair removal. It takes 9-18 months of regular treatments to understand this. If you interrupt this 9-18 month plan, then it would be more accurate to say, “Gosh, I can’t go in for treatment to get the new hairs coming forth.” You are not finished even if you feel like you are looking pretty good after month four.
Concept #1:
HAIR GROWS IN CYCLES. ALL THE HAIR YOU HAVE IN ONE AREA DOES NOT GROW AT THE SAME TIME. YOU HAVE MORE HAIR THAN YOU THINK AND IT TAKES A MINIMUM OF 9-12 MONTHS FOR EVERY SINGLE BOTHERSOME HAIR TO COME TO THE SURFACE OF THE SKIN JUST ONE TIME. That’s why we say to fasten your seat belt and be patient because even though this ride will get you somewhere, but you must wait for at least 9-12 months. Some cases require 13?, 14?, 15?, 18? months???
Thank you, Dee. I understand it better now.
I will be patient. I’m determined to loose the “beard”!
I know that thermolysis can be used on pregnant women. One of my good friend is a doctor and thinks it’s perfectly safe, so if things were getting out of hand, I think I wouldn’t mind looking for a new electrologist during that period.
