I have decided to post under electrolysis - previously under laser as I had done IPL on face which to cut a long story short did not work and even induced growth (although mildly - still no thank you - reduction I asked for not induction…hmm)!!
I am trying to find a good electroylsis and am open to opinion and also thought it might help other people if I write about my experiences:
Today - consultation with local beauty therapist who has 10 years experience in electroylsis
In a nutshell she was nice enough - happy to put me at ease and to talk to me about the process. However, she did not seem to know what modality she used - she has a blend machine and she seems to use the thermolysis part of the machine as she has said she sees better results and her clients have also said the same to her.
She did a very small sample treatment - two hairs - unfortunately she plucked one and - tugged qute a bit and she admitted this (so that was good) however, if she knew she was tugging why not retreat??
The other hair was okay - did not slide out but no tugging - more of a pull??? not sure really?
I could feel the needle go in on one of my hairs?? Teh other no -I could not.
She set the machine on 2 - and said she would play around wiht the setting until it was right for me
I have a couple of dotty marks on my skin? She did use isopropyl (prior) and then tea tree oil after.
Treatment plan - once a week till clearance - workign at 10 to 20 mins each time - I oam only getting her to focus on upper lip at corners only - I estimate approx 50 hairs - may be less. then I will go less and less untiill going 6-8 weekly at around 2 years time? I thought this seemed awfully long as the area is not large? She said that each hair needs to be treated at least 10 times to get permanent removal?
Thoughts anyone?
I have another appointment with a differenct electrologist on Friday - will get back to you with how that goes too
Feeling happier though that at least I am now doing something:-) thanks everyone for your advice you guys are awesome!!
I’m having electrolysis to remove a male beard on my lips and chin. Obviously, this is more coarse hair, but the location is similar so I will comment. My electrologist uses an Apilus Senior II machine, and was able to achieve first clearance on both my upper and lower lip lines in thirty minutes, and both corners of my mouth in another hour. Follow-up sessions are necessary to remove any regrowth, but initial clearance should not require an excessive amount of time.
As far as requiring ten treatments per hair follicle, I think that is somewhat of an over-estimate. If the electrologist is skilled and depending on the growth stage (anagen, catagen, telogen) of the hair, I don’t believe any individual hairs should require more than four or five treatments to completely remove them.
That few hairs on the upper lip shouldn’t take that long. She doesn’t sound very confident.
Upper lip is sensitive, so most ppl can’t handle more than 20 mins of treatment at a time. Even though, that should be enough to clear the area in one or two sittings in a total of 2 weeks.
Then you can come in every 3 weeks to clear any new growth. You shouldn’t be waiting 8 weeks. That’s too long to catch hair in the growth phase.
If you do it every 3 weeks, it’ll slow down to every month or so. And you should be done in a year.
Thanks that is what I was thinking. Will keep looking. I think she was/is going to remove every single hair eek I really don’t want that would look weird. I don’t have many hairs at all just want the slightly coarser( not right word) thicker blonde ones removed. Maybe 10 or 20 each side. During the maintenance stage how often, weekly or fortnightly do you have to go?
Have you seen improvement? Thanks fir your answers
Dear Kiwi chic,
Lots of great electrologists in NZL and a nice association. (Been there 4 times.) Contact Steve for a ‘good zapper.’ Do you know what happened to Neil Blok after he moved to that “other island,” you know “Ozland?” Anyway, talk to Steve or his wife (They’re in Wellington) Steve’s email: [email protected]
I just don’t like light-based treatments on the face. though I have seen decent results with no stimulation, it’s just not worth gambling unless there are no well-trained professional electrologists in your area or beyond.
BOTH METHODS WILL GIVE ONE THE BESTS RESULTS. An electrologists should know how to do both with utmost expertize .
There should be No tugging. The hair should slide out easily.
Maybe her insertion was off. We are only human and that happens. It shouldn’t happen for more than a few hairs and if there ever happens to be bleeding associated with it, then that’s not too good.
Every machine’s levels mean something different, but it sounds like she started off conservatively, which is good. A few dotty marks are nothing to worry about. You can use aloe vera gel over the tea tree oil. Only use the tea tree in very small amounts (dabs).
I have never had to go 2 years for what you describe. That is her padded answer that she gives for everyone I would think. I bet you will see much less time is need if she can get you cleared asap.
Very good! Get as many consults as you can and compare.
This is good feeling to have for anything that needs to be accomplished.
Thanks for the contact details of Steve and his wife. I spoke with a woman on phone re her electrolysis and have consult with her on Sat. She really sounded knowledgable. She uses an apilus which she had to get in from Canada. Should I ask her about her training with this machine? She sounded awesome though. Can’t wait to meet her. She also said she uses 3x and 5x magnificent and not just the round lumilamp thing ( round lamp). Thanks again for contact details and see who Steve can recommend. Love this site.
Second appointment with different electrologist. Not impressed
Told me not permanent. Tugged several times during sample treatment and then said some hairs are tougher than others and just had to be plucked out!?!
Was rude about me asking questions. Well will not be going back to her!!
Tomorrow anoter consultation so we shall asee. Wish me luck. I have a good feeling about this one tomorrow!
To answer your questions, you don’t need to go every week for maintenance. The goal is to kill hair while it’s still in first phase of growth. It lasts for longer than that, so going in every 3 weeks is fine. You can clip or shave any hairs that pop up in between treatments. As long as you clear all the offending hairs at each one of those treatments, you are good.
I got done with my upper lip in about 9-10 months.
I don’t understand how any electrologist could ever say that it is not permanent. Makes me wonder if she has the confidence to do this. Did you press her about the “not permanent” statement? Thankfully, you have other electrologists in your area. Keep us posted!
Yippee I think I have found someone!! Really knew her stuff. Did not pluck. Solely does electrolysis and is passionate about it. She does do the odd facial but primarily electrolysis. She uses an apilus. Gentle. Wow!!! I almost fell asleep lol
Only concern is question for what you guys think. She said I don’t need to hurry to next appointment just so long as am back before 12 weeks to catch hair in anagen phase. I have not reached clearance yet and she was honest she said that I do have a bit too much due to ipl. She said it is visible but I am lucky to have stopped now.
I amcurious though re 12 week time period before 12 weeks anyway let me know what you think thankd
Even though she advised every 12 weeks, I would go sooner to get all the bothersome hairs removed asap.
Is her schedule too jammed to see you on a schedule of every one or two weeks? Not being able to see you, I don’t know how much hair you have or the structure of the hair that bothers you. All I can say is, I want to see clients for whatever is necessary to get the hair off asap and then we space the appointments out to usually every three to four weeks. Even going to six weeks is okay. If you have hundreds of thousands of hairs from IPL stimulation, going every twelve will get you nowhere soon. Did you ever submit a picture, kiwichick?
Schedule not too jammed but I have to travel about 41/2 hours to make it to an appointment so think she was just thinking about me.
It is now 4 hours later and my skin looks great no redness etc.very happy with this lady. Will try and post pics but my hair growth is vellus blondes. Might be hard for camera to pick up
Well, she is worth the effort to drive 4.5 hours to see her if you are happy. How long will your treatment sessions be for a 4.5 hour effort to get there?
I think she is worth the effort. Would rather get it right and be happy in a years time than hiding in my room because someone either undertreated me and plucked me or over treated me and scarred me.
Now my skin was good - redness settled after an hour but 24 hours later I have pinpoint scabs at corner of mouth? I have never had these before. Should I be worried. Will hBe to buy some aloe.
After care involved putting pn moisterersure with SPF on it. No other after care was done.
Only hD around 30
INS concentrating on upper lip and chin
Pinpoint scabbing is okay. I like witch hazel, a very small dab of tea tree oil with aloe over that. Wipe with an antiseptic for at least 24 hours, especially after eating since this area gets its share of saliva.
Thanks Dee. Will head out tomorrow and buy some aloe Vera and witch hazel. Might give electrologist a call and talk to her tomorrow too. First time I have had a reaction. I seem to have a lot.
Now have them on chin and cheek too. Aside from after care is there anything else that might be causing them, anything can be done to prevent them?
