I was wondering, if someone just had one treatment of electrolysis on a moderately dense area, could they expect any noticeable effects? Obviously there are so many factors but is there a guideline when it comes to this. Any time you talk to a laser person they usually say something along the lines of 15 - 20% reduction with each treatment.
Just wondering.
Well, you would notice a different immediately - because you would have hairless skin for a few days to a few weeks.
If you were tweezing (waxing or threading) up to the day you had a treatment, then you would have hair within a few days. If you were shaving or cutting (or doing nothing) then it could be up to two weeks before you saw some hair.
Those first hairs that grow will have space between them and will not be coarse, but as time goes by, and other hairs grow in then there will be a point where you will not see a significant different from having one electrology treatment. I think the same would be true with one laser treatment.
Thanks Barbara,
Great explanation.
So if someone wanted to thin area out, which I am planning to do on my chest since I’ve cleared other areas, would it be better to just hit the darker hairs or get that full clearance first and hit the dark hairs as the come in?
I can remembered I asked pretty much the same question 
Here’s the link with all the stuff.
Regards,
Benji
It’s impossible for the laser person to give you a correct estimate. That 15-20% is just a number some throw out to give some sort of an answer. It really depends on how many hairs are in the right phase before the first treatment.
Same with electrolysis. Hair grows in phases, which is very important to remember. Also, skill of the practitioner is key. If the hair is in the right phase and it was zapped correctly, it won’t grow back. However, there is really no way to tell this right away. If you wax before starting your treatments, the results will be more apparent faster as all hair you would be treating in the beginning would be inthe correct anagen phase.
I had a half-dollar coin sized spot removed by a student (who had excellent insertions but was quite slow) using an Apilus Platinum machine. It was done once, about half a year ago.
For the first 6 weeks, I had a bald spot.
The next 3 months I had a few red spots that appeared to be irritation.
The last 6 weeks I noticed that hair popped up in those red spots for the most part.
I’d say there has been an amazing level of clearance for just a once-over. I took a picture with my camera phone for your convenience; apologies for the picture quality.
I wish my pro had a platinum machine; it seems really effective (apparently even for hairs not in anagen). But I am making good progress with the Senior II she has.
Bryce
Wow that is just amazing that you haven’t had much of any regrowth for a single treatment, I wonder what it will look like after a full year. I’m also wondering why more electrologists don’t opt for a better machine. The cost is obviously justifiable, the demand for hair removal will always be there, forcing new technology, yet majority of electrologists use inferior equipment.
Great photo by the way with a camera phone. My camera phone produces too much pixelation.
Thanks for the link Benji.
Actually, some electrologists see upgrading equipment as an issue of possibly paying to earn LESS Money.
If one can work faster, and more effectively with a newer machine, some worry they will have more pressure to find new clients faster and more frequently.
I have always said that anything that gets your clients clear faster brings in more clients as that person’s friends, and family start coming to you, as if one clears them really fast, everyone notices. Whereas the slower the clearance, the less anyone will notice over the long run, as the hair just slowly fades away, and is therefore not commented on.
I have always found that new equipment brings in more dollars because initially current clients schedule longer appointments, so you get more money from existing clients, while one benefits later from the faster turnover of treatment areas, as the friends and family come looking for the person who removed that sweater of hair so quickly.
That’s one heck of a cell phone, bryce!
The Apilus Platinum is powerful. Sooooo, your skin looked red for months after this one treatment? I would think that you should look back to normal within a week or two and that the intensity was pretty high for your skin to remain red for three months. It sure did kill the hair though.
Did it hurt a lot while you were being treated? I just received the Apilus Platinum and I’m using it first on my “test rats”, meaning my four kids, until I get the feel. They like the sensation factor. They have been my test rats for the last four epilators I have purchased, so they know the difference. I think this will be my last epilator as they are losing their patience as test rat status over the years.
I’m just curious about what you felt as far as the sensation factor goes???
I don’t remember that treatment as being particularly painful. The platinum machine is approaching the impulse function in terms of how fast it delivery the energy (a lot of energy over a very short amount of time).
My skin is extremely sensitive. It would be unfair to say that “my skin was red” for months. More like, “my skin had little red bumps on some treated follicles.” I am sure that these red bumps were ingrown hairs and now that they have popped out the irritation has subsided. I could probably go back over it for a second treatment (have thought of asking my current pro) just to see, but probably won’t.
That’s on my left shoulder, by the way. I am not touching my left shoulder / back so that I can take a sweet picture after having 12-18 months of electrolysis on my right shoulder / back. I hope to sell it for marketing purposes to recoup some expenses. As a consumer, I care about what the stable result is (many many months post procedure) and I don’t see many photos stating the time frame (especially in laser–yes, of course we will have a hair-free period, but what’s the long-term result!?).
If my skin continues to heal and the hair reduction is where I want it to be, then I will share some photos sometime in October or November. Then I can thankfully start clearing my other side. It’s been a pain in the butt to do just one side.
B
All things being equal, if I could find a person with an Apilus Platinum, I would use their services. But my current pro is offering me a very fair price and has pretty convenient times. The Senior II is no slouch of a machine, either.
I get irritated as well about practioners not wanting to upgrade equipment (specifically lighting and magnification but also epilators for some). In my area I’ve actually found ladies with good Apilus epilators but crappy lighting and/or magnification. This seems even more ridiculous to me since they obviously have a good machine and are not reeping the benifits to the extent possible. I’m tempted to buy my own halogen lamp and bring it with me to appointments! Don’t think it would go over so well.
I think it is quite selfish for some of these ppl not to upgrade their equipment because they just don’t feel like it or they “dont have time”. Imagine if Doctors had the same mentality. They know ppl will continue to pay so that is their bottom line. Those few beauties like Dee and James and others on this forum are seriously borderline heroes in my book because they actually care about making a difference in people’s lives as well as bettering their business. I mean - why not do both and you can feel good all around?
As far as the word of mouth and the other things James mentioned- he hit it right on. I’ve already convinced a few ppl to get electrolysis but only if they go to the person I recommend or find someone else similar and I have also told them who to stay away from. Word of mouth is POWERFUL to any businessperson, especially anyone in business for themself. Clearing someone faster WILL get noticed by others whereas taking longer to do it will go ignored or worse- will even drive ppl away from getting electrolysis in the first place since it is expensive and a bit painful so why bother. Any practitioners who are reading this PLEASE UPGRADE!! We will all benefit, including yourself.
Btw- James was that you I saw on Judge Alex on Friday??!! If so- what a great laugh you have! You seem very friendly and approachable. I’m sure this helps you in your practice. Rumor has it the same show will be on again on Monday either at 2pm or 3pm Eastern. I forget. I’m hoping to catch it, though, since I only saw 5 minutes of it on Friday.
You people don’t miss a thing!
Yes, Dear Alli, that was me on Judge Alex, in the case of “Get Off My Grass.” Local air times vary wildly, so one probably needs to check locak listings, or call the station that airs the show in your area to know when it is being broadcast.
Would you believe that dork has refiled his suit so we that I can counter sue him for everything he has done? Funny, funny.
I really wish my client had brought his pictures of the damaged van. He would have won big time!
Saw you as well, James. What kind of crazy neighbor is that!?? By the way, I liked your outfit and your unique and pleasant laugh. There was much to laugh at from what I saw.
I agree with Dee. That picture is great for a cell phone 
still have to say that that hair is very coarse and dense. Laser would love to kill it. GentleLASE at 18-20j on 18mm would be great on it in my opinion. Have you gotten a test spot at Dr Hamilton’s office yet, bryce?
bryce, The photo shows your skin looking red and even a bit swollen in the treated spot - has it been this way for 6 months?
The camera on your phone IS amazing! This picture is a great example of showing the hair growth cycles. Notice all the stubbled hairs - maybe close to 50% of the total of visible hairs. How long ago did you shave the area? Those short and stubbly hairs began their catagen stage and are just sitting on the skin, waiting to fall out. Keeping that in mind, electrologists could also explain that there are other hairs, not visible today, that will grow when Mother Nature chooses. (I stole the Mother Nature line from Dee.)
If you were to document shaving dates, and take daily or weekly (date documented) pictures of the growth, plus your treatment photos - perhaps you could sell them. Best of luck doing that!!!
No, no consultation with Dr. Hamilton yet. I went to LaserAway in Santa Monica for a test spot and made an appointment, but wound up canceling because of work and because the salesperson at the front desk was pushing too hard. Their nurse was good though.
I only have so much money. After I get clearance on my right back, I might decide to try laser on the left.
One of the unexpected side effects of the electrolysis has been the destruction of so many sweat glands that when I am running, my left back gets soaked in half an hour but the right back is only moist. It looks very strange, and I’d rather it be equal, so that might lock me into electrolysis.
Barb, yep that’s pretty much what it looks like. It might have been a little red because I was picking at the red bumps trying to make the ingrowns pop out. Who knows. It doesn’t look swollen to me.