Facial Electrolysis TX Progress Pics & Questions

nahgem · April 5, 2012, 4:02am

Hello all, I’ve been a a HairTell reader for more than a year now and it seemed as if I’ve got it all figured out when it comes to electrolysis, however I couldn’t be more wrong.

I started electrolysis for my chin 11 months ago and have seen a drastic change. Here are some “before” pictures of my chin that I found in one of my first posts:
Before 1st treatment-http://imageshack.us/f/692/beforetreatment1a.jpg/

After 1st treatment- http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/812/20110519160725.jpg/

I don’t even remember how I hid that now that I think about it.

I read in some post that one of the great electrologists wrote how after the thick, coarse, problem hairs are gone, the thin hairs become an issue for the client. That is exactly how I feel right now.

Just to give you guys a quick update, I started treatment on my chin in May 2011, and sometime at the end of summer, started working on my sides as well. I was shaving them and preparing them for electrolysis. Sometime in November, I started electrolysis on my upper lip as well due to lots of ingrown hairs and dark patches because of all the plucking I did. My electrologist used the blend method and was extremely nice and patient with me. She also was able to charge me what electrolysis school students charge people to practice on them due to financial issues (I’m a broke college student!). In fact, I really started to think of my electrologist as a therapist with all the help and support she offered me financially and emotionally because my parents did not want me to continue with my treatments and things were just not good in life.

Here is the progress I have made, and I feel almost guilty making this post because I couldn’t have reached this point without the help of my electrologist:

After past two appointment (last appt 8 hours ago):

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/849/camerazoom2012032209353.jpg/

2)http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/826/camerazoom2012032209370.jpg/

3)http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/687/camerazoom2012040422332.jpg/

4)http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/521/camerazoom2012040422314.jpg/

As you can see, there is a vast improvement on my chin. I wish I had taken pictures of my sides and upperlip when I started however, I can assure you that they were almost as bad as my chin. I’m sure you can also see the little pin pricks of hairs about to pop through my skin on my sides. They LOOK as if I have shaved recently, however I haven’t shaved my sides since after christmas(It’s been 3 months), and haven’t plucked anything since I started electrolysis.

The problem that I’ve run into at this point, is that my face has looked like that for the past month. My upper lip, which I wish I could take pictures of, has thin dark hair that she just doesn’t seem to treat. Instead, she works on the ends of my sides at the somewhat coarser hair that are visible. I have been seeing her mostly every single week the past 11 months and I have noticed that she cannot seem to see the thin hairs. She has even asked me to try to avoid bleaching my face if possible however, it’s impossible not to bleach my upper lip! I know that she can’t clear the upperlip in one sitting, but she has been working on it for 4-5 months! I actually have been discussing it with some other patients of hers and they actually feel the same way. My electrologist is great and has wonderful technique and I have NEVER had bad side affects, but her lighting and lack of loupes is definitely holding her back. Even with the discounted price I am paying currently, I feel I am going to end up paying more on the long run, if I stick around.

I really think that flash would be the best option for me at this point. I know it is important to find a good electrologist who has good technique rather than someone with an aplius platinum (As I learned from the case of Ihatebodyhair, since I was planning on going to the same electrologist) however, it can’t be completely impossible to find someone with both qualities?? I live in central New Jersey and would really appreciate if anyone can give me a referral for an electrologist in NJ or (CLOSE TO NJ-side) in NYC? Finances are a huge issue for me, as well as travel. Believe it or not, I’ve never been on a train but I think I’ll go for it if it means I can get rid of this hair trouble. The pictures won’t show it because I took them with a crappy phone camera, but anyone within 5 ft of me can see the thin, long, dark hairs and even the long peach fuzz(Which I think I can live with for now. I know I should be grateful for the point that my electrologist has helped me reach but this facial hair is affecting everything from school presentations, going to church, to breaking up with boyfriends because I can’t have them see me like this. Am I being irrational? My parents, who don’t want me having electrolysis, but instead want me to continue waxing, are part of the problem. Sigh.

So what’s my solution here? I know there are some great electrologists in NYC, including some that post on this forum. Do you guys think it would be logical to think I can get my upperlip cleared(I counted 79 hairs on it today) and a possible clearance on the top part of my chin (34 long thin hairs on top counted today, LOTS of blonde thin hairs due to bleaching at the bottom of my chin) and as much from my sides as possible? Also, would it be unwise to just go to an electrologist who has great reviews and just start a treatment without ever having a trial? How do you do it Josefa? I’m sure you get plenty of clients that fly over to get treated, how do you know which adjustments are best for their skin, that will yield the least possible side affects possible?

I’m just very confused at the moment. Should I just forget about this and continue on with my current electrologist? I already feel guilty for considering changing them since she has helped me so much. How does one even approach the subject of discontinuing treatment? Any help will be much appreciated!

Arlene · April 5, 2012, 11:15am

You started 11 months ago and you indicate that you see drastic change - for the better - you also indicate that you are getting a discount - you also indicate that you are looking to change electrologists because you are still not happy as the work is not being completed fast enough.

The thing is - those people who complete electrolysis fastest get FULL CLEARANCES right away - have long treatments each and every time until they are in maintenance and then their appointments are shorter. You can’t afford paying her full price for your shorter treatments. Are you suggesting that you may now be able to pay full price to another electrologist?

How much are you communicating with the kind electrologist who is giving you the good discounts? If she can do blend, she has the option to administer thermolysis too. Ask her about it. Communicate with the person who is really helping you. She felt for your financial predicament so how about helping her and communicating.

You can trim those long hairs short or you can shave them until the electrologist gets to them.

electrologyworks · April 5, 2012, 1:00pm

Agreeing with Arlene. Please consider all that she wrote.

nahgem · April 5, 2012, 1:08pm

I don’t think I made the detail about discounts clear enough. She actually started the discount a month and half ago, after I told her I would have to discontinue due to personal and financial reasons. She is letting me pay a lower price at the moment, however this is a temporary situation. Her true aim was to make sure I don’t get off schedule. Also, I have been going to her for the same time as I always did. So it is not the case of her treating less hairs because of the shorter appointment times.

I know she has trouble viewing the thin hairs based on reviews from people from this forum and others, as well as her telling a friend who has thin, dark, vellous hairs (not unlike stop&tidyitupp’s sister) that she cannot treat herbecause her hairs are too unnoticible.

As far as pricing going, I would be able to pay full price regardless of if I stay with my electrologist or move on to someone else thanks to an upcoming birthday and jobs.

Also you mentioned communicating with my electrologist, which believe me, I’ve done countless times. I’ve pointed out my upper lip many times for it bothers me the most currently, but I still return home with little change in that area.

I just wanted to know what my options would be if I wanted to speed up the process? Can I go to someone who does flash on an aplius for a couple sessions to clear most of the problem area and then have my current electrologist do the upkeep? Or would I be able to get a complete clearance
in3-4 hours?

I WILL, however, ask her about thermolysis as you mentioned.

justsomegirl · April 5, 2012, 5:06pm

When I go in for my appointments I always tell my electrologist what areas are bothering me the most, so she knows where to start… just in case we don’t get fully done (which is rare, but sometimes my appointments are spread out longer). Usually it’s my lip bothering me. I normally have about 5-10 hairs that need gone. When she’s done getting all that she can see, she will ask me to feel around to see if there are any she might have missed. She does not move on to another area until I give the all clear. I love that.
There are a couple places that I have really thin hairs. In those areas, I bleach them and then trim them as short as possible. I can’t see them after that and they don’t stand out, especially if I wear makeup. Before I did that they were problematic, now they don’t bother me.

nahgem · April 6, 2012, 12:23am

Justsomegirl, I also mention to my electrologist before she starts the treatment what area is bothering me and she always says she’ll take care of it, however I still leave with most of that area untouched. I wish she asked me to feel around to see if there are any she might have missed. I also bleached my hair but she asked me to not do that so she can get to them.

I actually booked a consultation with a electrologist next week who has an Apilus Junior. Her rates don’t include the 6% cosmetic tax in NJ and are quite high but I think I can manage to go to her for 2-3 hour long treatments, or at least until I get a clearance.

As for my current electrologist, I think Arlene and possibly others might think I come off as ungrateful but that can’t be more wrong. I am more than grateful for her giving me a student discount the past month but I don’t think being a great person necessarily means one is a great electrologist. I also feel as if I wasn’t able to communicate with her comfortably or get times I wanted due to the discount when that kind of stuff is very important to me, as a working college student. She is very kind and is amazing when it comes to tackling coarse hair, however the lighting and lack of magnification hinder her treatment when it comes to thin, dark or bleached hair.

Over all, I just hope I’m able to find another skilled electrologist who has an Apilus and can treat with the least possible reaction.

BTW, are there any major differences between the Apilus Junior and Apilus Platinum? Or should I not worry about that as long as the electrologist knows what she’s doing?

gi99les · April 6, 2012, 2:27am

I feel your pain nahgem and would be curious as well as far as how much longer you would need to be seeing her for the finer hairs to go away. I think what she has done for you so far looks great though. I wonder if I’ll have the same problem as well with my electrologist. She’s a great person and we get along really well but I would hate it if a year from now she is still working on the same problem areas. Maintenance is one thing in dealing with few hairs but the same amount of hairs just finer is to me, just another problem.

Arlene · April 7, 2012, 9:59am

Hi nahgem,

The professional electrologists’ party line, in your situation, is:

“First, talk to your electrologist about your concerns. Then, if you feel that your issues are not being addressed properly for whatever reason, move on and visit as many free consultations as you can. Discuss your concerns with them and hopefully you will find a good match.”

Many of us already do this when we seek services from dentists and lawyers and hairdressers and on and on. Its annoying - its work - its worth it when you finally find the service provider to match your needs.