Anyone who has had electrolysis, please respond

help · 06-19-2002, 08:41 PM

I just had my fifth electrolysis treatment. I mean, there is hair everywhere that we still haven't gotten to! Not all of my facial hair is dark, but the light hair is long and unattractive (imagine that!). (Most of it is blonde). With it going this slow, it's liable to take years! I am losing hope and feeling down in the dumps. How long did it take for anybody that's had it done successfully? She has just worked on the sideburn area, but I've got it around my chin, sides of face, neck, etc.

Any suggestions, comments, prayers, etc.???? Thanks a million!

DanielleS · 06-19-2002, 09:20 PM

I had it done about 6 yrs ago. It took about 7 treatments before I was really happy with the results. For me the results are permanent. I had to stop because I moved out of state but now want to have it done on the areas that were not treated before. How often do you go? I used to go every 2 weeks. I hope this helps you out.

Danielle

brwneyegirl · 06-20-2002, 12:02 PM

I too had electo. for a year and never really saw the results I thought I would. In Feb. I began laser treatments and am THRILLED with what is happening. I will go to my third treatment in a few weeks, and barely have any hair. What I do have is soft and almost invisible.....no small feat since my face often looked like my husbands! I carried tweezers around with me constantly and am pleased to say they haven't been in my purse for two months now! I wish I would have saved my money on elect. and done laser years ago. I go to Alase (www.getalased.com) ~ you should look into it.. I promise it is soooooooooooo worth the money and proven permanent vs. elect. which isnt 100%. Good luck!

cu1298 · 06-20-2002, 03:25 PM

Please don't give up. I had SOO much hair on my face from the time I was 17. I was married at 21 and after 6 months my husband picked up the phone book and made an appointment for me. I can never thank him enough for that. At first I went every week for 45 mins for 2 years. I know this is expensive but I really had A LOT of hair. Now, after 2 1/2 years I go every 4-6 weeks and have started new areas (sideburns, lip, etc, which are not as bad). If you can afford it please don't give up, it does work. I can finally put my hair up in a ponytail and I feel like a woman. Good luck.

touchstone · 06-20-2002, 08:54 PM

Hi,

I saw your message and just wanted to offer an encouraging word on electrolysis. It does work, although it takes quite a long time. In my case, because I'm incredibly hairy, it took almost a full year of weekly (one or two hour) treatments to clear my upper lip, neck, chin and cheeks. But it's such a comfort not to tweeze or thread anymore. I've been clear for almost two years now.

A couple of points to consider -- for me, galvanic electrolysis or the blend method have been very successful (if you're holding an electrode in your hand, it's one of these methods) and these methods are slower than thermolysis. I tried thermolysis initially for about a year and it had almost no effect on my facial hair and did leave a few scars on my cheeks. I've been told that its ineffectiveness may be because of my hair follicles' sensitivity to androgens. Which brings me to my second point, none of the methods will work unless your hormones are under control. It wasn't until I started taking spironolactone regularly that I saw the electrolysis truly taking effect.

My experience with laser hair removal was not encouraging as I had full re-growth after a couple of months. Mind you, I had only one treatment with Epilight (though it was with one of the leading doctors who's written quite a few of the professional articles on the subject). I'd love to hear from folks who have had a long term (one year or longer) good experience with lasers though.

Cheers and good luck.

help · 06-20-2002, 09:50 PM

Thanks for your replies! I am not taking any meds besides ortho tri-cyclen which my doctor thinks regulates my horomones. My symptoms of PCOS aren't bad, but they're definitely noticeable. I weigh 145 and constantly battle my weight. I've asked my doctor about spiro (or any other meds regarding PCOS) and he said that the BCPills were supposed to be regulating my horomones as long as I stay on them. Is that right? I'm just now starting to do research on PCOS and I was diagnosed almost 10 years ago when I was 15! I am counting on the electrolysis though. The lady that I go to has PCOS also, which I just found out the last treatment. That's what caused her to start doing it for a living.

tariana · 06-21-2002, 12:04 AM

I had electrolysis from January-May of this year, two hours a week. It took six weeks' worth of treatments to clear all my hair, and some of it comes back still. I'd say about 60% of the hair is still around, which is a BIG reduction for me. I'm going for test spots on a laser-like machine next Monday, so I'm hoping that will be faster/cheaper/easier/BETTER. All in all, I would still highly recommend electrolysis -- it has helped me a lot.

Lyss · 06-22-2002, 12:56 AM

I'm in the same boat you are Help,

I'm about 165 right now, not a lot of symptoms, but a hairy chin and upper lip and some strays elsewhere. I just went to my eighth electrolysis appointment and I want to go cry. I saw a vast improvement the first five or so treatments. Now it's about the same every month. The electrologist keeps telling me that it's working and that these are all new hair cycles, but I'm pretty sure I'm getting new fresh hairs. They're not growing in all screwy, so it's not that they didn't die the first time. She keeps telling me to "hang in there", but I'm ready to go back to Vaniqa and tweezing. I mean, what's the point?

I'm on Orthocyclen, which my doc insists should control the hormones. She won't even consider Spiro, and I consider her VERY up to date with all the PCOS literature. She's given me a script for Yasmin and a sample and she says that that should make all the difference for hair growth. I sit for the bar exam in July and then am taking a trip for a month and then moving, though, so I don't want to change pills right now, especially as Yasmin has some real side effects for some people. But as soon as I get settled in my new place, I'm going to try Yasmin and hope that's what I need to get all this Wooky fur under control.

Maybe ask your doc about Yasmin?

Asusundevilgirl · 06-22-2002, 01:35 AM

I get laser done. I love the results. I am going on my fourth one. Look for a laserforless near you. They beat any competators. It costs me around 159 dollars for my face neck and bikini line. It's awesome. I can finally go out with my hair up and I am not worried about people looking at my sideburns and my eyes. I have so much more selfesteem now because of it.

tariana · 06-22-2002, 04:15 PM

My electrologist told me it would most likely be three years at two hours a week before I got really premanent results. So you have to hang in there if electrolysis is the route you choose.

Inga · 06-22-2002, 05:43 PM

Dear Cysters,
I did it every week for several years. On my face, neck, chest and happytrail, the only part that hasn't grown back is the happytrail. I was told that because my hormones weren't/aren't in control that's why it didn't work for me. What a waste of money and time!

Hope it works for you!
Take care,
Inga