Ok, I've posted this question in a few different threads, but nobody has responded. What is the difference between laser hair removal & electrolysis? Which one is better for thick, dark facial hairs?
__________________ Carrie (Pa) 31 y.o., married, 1 stepdaughter (10 yrs old). Diagnosed with PCOS in Aug '05. No current treatment.
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Laser is less expensive and much faster - Electroloyis takes a lot longer; since they stick a needle in each hair follicle and kill the root. (I don't think laser does that)
Best thing to do is to have a consultation with a clinic that does both; and I'm sure they will tell you that Electoloysis is more effective. (That's what i was told) and I am much happier since I had it done; I haven't had any dark hair come back on my face and it's been about five years now; now I am working on the rest of me... ) good luck!
__________________ Erin
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I am a licensed Electrologist and I can answer some of your questions. I became a electrologist because of my PCOS.
Electrolysis is the only method of hair removal that the FDA allows to be advertised as permanent. Laser can only be advertised as a reduction of hair. Most hair that is removed with laser comes back in a few years. I myself had laser done about a 1 yr just to see what it was like. It is very painful and my face took over a month to heal. You have to go back several times. I never did return, I did not want to have scars on my face.
With electrolysis, look for someone who does the blend method. Thermolysis only will take you many more times to get to where the hair will not come back. Thermolysis will clear more hairs per treatment, but you will need more treatments. You will know you are getting the blend method if they ask you to hold on to something wet while being treated. If they do not, you are getting thermolysis (heat only) and not true electrolysis. If you are paying more them $1 a min, you are being overcharged and should shop around. I feel I am getting a better treatment if someone is not in to the business for the money.
Here is a link to my web site. It explains electrolysis very easily.
Ok, I've posted this question in a few different threads, but nobody has responded. What is the difference between laser hair removal & electrolysis? Which one is better for thick, dark facial hairs?
There's not a simple answer to this.
For either to work long-term you've got to get your hormones back to somewhere in the female range -- if they stay in the male range, the hair is likely to come back.
If you can get your hormones right, electrolysis is likely to be more permanent but very slow to get big areas covered.
Laser is quicker and cheaper but not so permanent.
If you can't get your hormones back into the female range, then you're better shaving.
So electrolysis would be the better option of the two then? In your professional opinion, would electrolysis work permanently even if the hormones are not where they should be? I would think it would work regardless if hormones are where they should be, if they are actually destroying the folicle. What's your thoughts on it?
Quote:
Originally Posted by mariann782
Hi
I am a licensed Electrologist and I can answer some of your questions. I became a electrologist because of my PCOS.
Electrolysis is the only method of hair removal that the FDA allows to be advertised as permanent. Laser can only be advertised as a reduction of hair. Most hair that is removed with laser comes back in a few years. I myself had laser done about a 1 yr just to see what it was like. It is very painful and my face took over a month to heal. You have to go back several times. I never did return, I did not want to have scars on my face.
With electrolysis, look for someone who does the blend method. Thermolysis only will take you many more times to get to where the hair will not come back. Thermolysis will clear more hairs per treatment, but you will need more treatments. You will know you are getting the blend method if they ask you to hold on to something wet while being treated. If they do not, you are getting thermolysis (heat only) and not true electrolysis. If you are paying more them $1 a min, you are being overcharged and should shop around. I feel I am getting a better treatment if someone is not in to the business for the money.
Here is a link to my web site. It explains electrolysis very easily.
This is how I see it. Your hair may lessen with the use of meds, but will always be there and when you go off the meds it will come back. Electrolysis will work no matter where you hormones are. The only thing I can see is that it may seem after awhile that some hair come back. Which is impossible with the damage done by electrolysis. This will be new hair. With PCOS you will probably need treatments here and there over the rest of your life time. New hair will come and go. If you find the right electrologist, you may need weekly 30 min appointments for about a month, then after that every 2 weeks, then monthly or more. If you find the right person to treat you, on average it is 6 months of treatment like this to clear the chin and sideburns. So no matter where you are in your treatment, electrolysis is probably the answer for you. The hair can me light or dark, thick or thin, it does not matter. Electrolysis has been around since 1875, it has more than proven its self. I love my face today, it was worth every visit.
I became a electrologist to help other people like me in need of good quality treatments. This is the way I see it and why I see it this way. People should not be charging more than a dollar a min, if they are they are just in it for the money. It does take a lot of money to start a practice up, but once you have all your equipment it costs you less than a dollar to treat a client. I charge $15 or 15 min....$28 for 30 min.....$40 for 45 min and $50 for a hour. Shop around, you should rarely "feel" a hair being removed(tugging), if you do the hair is not being fully treated. If you do not like a persons way of treatment, try someone else, everyone works differently, it pays to shop around.
Laser Hair Removal vs. Electrolysis 
good luck! 
