Electrolysis results

Butterflygirl · 07-15-2003, 06:34 PM

I have noticed that not much is being said about electrolysis for the face. Is it because it is so expensive or does it not work? I am seriously considering it. I make pretty good money and because of the PCOS I have no children, so I am pretty much willing to spend whatever it takes to get rid of this hair on my face. It's mostly peachfuzz with some dark and coarse hairs intermixed that I have to pluck twice a day. Has anyone else tried electrolysis?

Plavka · 07-15-2003, 07:14 PM

I went through 2 years of treatment on my upper lip and then stopped for 2 years. Basically there's no difference in the hair growth so I'm getting laser done soon. I'm not sure if it was the esthetician's fault for using a high frequency or the electrolysis but it left scars on my skin that took a long time to heal.

chris'_jen · 07-15-2003, 07:33 PM

I skipped Electorlysis and went straight to laser treatment. The first Endo. I went to recommended the treatment. It made a big difference. I highly recommend anyone who wants to get rid of unwanted hair to make an appointment for a consultation. It'll be worth your time.

Jen

Rachell4ever · 07-15-2003, 08:24 PM

I had a great experience with electrolysis for the face. I was lucky - I had a very talented electrolycist who had also been an aesthetician, so she was very concerned with giving me the exact right shape for my eyebrows and also trimming my sideburns perfectly.

I found it to be 100% effective - I had it done 5 years ago. Less painful than laser (which is better for large areas like my lower legs). And I had a lot of hair - I got my chin done, my upper lip, my 'burns, and even my eyebrows. I feel and look more feminine - having the sideburns removed made my face look more open somehow. (Also had my chest, stomach, and even some bikini.) I used emla cream to desensitize the skin.

Before electrolysis I used to spend 1 hour every Saturday morning plucking away, and now I am free of this gruesome chore. I even got my mother to go and she has also had great results. No more awful waxing, and no more anxiety.

My electrolycist was expensive - $90 / hour, however so very worth it - she changed my life. She was a sole practicioner and ran her own practice.

I'd recommend looking for referrals for a really good electrolycist for your face if you're going to take that option. I'd say that electrolysis is more precise for areas like the eyebrows and sideburns, and there's been more time to evaluate it than laser treatment, so we know it is permanent. I've heard some people say that it's not, but believe me it is permanent. When hair grows back, it means that the hair was dormant when it was electrocuted or it means that testosterone levels are flaring up causing new hair follicles to get activated for some reason.

Good luck, whichever option you choose. It is a blessing to have all that hair removed.

bandanna · 07-15-2003, 08:46 PM

i also currently am undergoing some electrolysis treatments for my upper and side lip. i've taken about a dozen treatments so far. i am wondering if you could let me know how i can tell if the treatments are actually working and how many treatments can i expect to get in order for the hairs to be permanently gone.

thanks.

i am in the toronto area - if there are any electrologist in the area that you may have found effective, please let me know.

Rachell4ever · 07-15-2003, 09:05 PM

Hi Bandanna,

It's going to be different for every person, depending on how much hair there is. But after 12 treatments for the upper lip, you should definitely be seeing less hair growing in. Are you?

I assume the treatments were spread out over about a year. If they were more often, that's probably not necessary. I used to go in about every 4-6 weeks. You need some growth for electrolysis so it can be a little embarrassing to walk around with hair for the 2-3 weeks or so, but it's shortlived embarrassment. If there's a particularly long one, just clip it so it's not too noticeable.

Also, my electrologist used to have me shave a new area before she would work on it. That way only the active hairs would get treated, and she wouldn't be wasting her time "electrocuting" dormant hairs that would grow back in the next cycle anyway. That can be demoralizing.

Are you not seeing results? What does your electrologist say? Apologies but I'm not familiar with the Toronto area.

Violet3 · 07-17-2003, 12:34 PM

Hi, Butterflygirl,
Electrolysis worked for me. I had massive hair growth on my chin - a wide goatee, really. I'd have to let the hair grow as, Rachell4ever mentioned. The woman I saw charged $1 per minute with a 15-minute minimum (her rates have since gone up to $1.50 per minute). So though it adds up if you go every two weeks for a year, it seemed affordable week to week.
After a while I think that the lady I saw started getting lazy. I could feel the hairs tug as they were being pulled out after being zapped sometimes, and you're not supposed to feel the tug. You're just supposed to feel the zap. She hired an associate because she had lots of business, and I think that the associate did a better job - zapping the hair more carefully. In any case, the hairs done properly may have come back once and then they were zapped again and now though I have a couple dozen hairs that never got done I no longer have a goatee.
It does hurt a tiny bit, but it didn't bother me. After the treatments my chin was red and bumpy for a few hours. My skin isn't very sensitive, so your mileage may vary.
I agree (again) with Rachell4ever - if you find someone who does quality work then it can really get the job done. Don't be afraid to switch to someone else (as with Doctors!) until you find the right person.
Violet

bandanna · 07-20-2003, 05:19 PM

Thanks Rachel!