Electrolysis has long been used as an effective and permanent hair removal technique; not just among TikTok stars. Electrolysis provides permanent removal that outshines cosmetic methods like shaving and waxing.
Yet it can take patience to achieve desired results; each individual may require multiple sessions before seeing results.
What is Electrolysis?
Electrolysis, an FDA-approved permanent hair removal method, uses heat energy to destroy each individual hair follicle that feeds unwanted hair growth. Although more expensive and time consuming than alternatives like chemical depilatories or waxing, electrolysis offers the only lasting solution for unwanted hair removal.
Electrolysis should only ever be provided by licensed electrologists who have undergone specialized training, and should never be used to remove hair from moles or birthmarks as this could result in scarring and change in skin color. Electrolysis should never be performed on inner ears or noses and is not advised for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Electrolysis requires multiple sessions to achieve full, permanent hair removal results; on average it usually takes over a year for full results to emerge from electrolysis treatments. Although electrolysis is more costly in terms of fees up front, its long term costs tend to be much more cost effective than laser therapies.
Electrolysis usually does not cause much discomfort, although this will depend on your pain threshold and area being treated. Your success also depends on finding an electrologist with extensive experience – make sure they can treat you effectively!
Before heading in for treatment, it’s a good idea to trim any hairs longer than quarter-inch from the treatment area that are longer than an inch – this will speed up and ease the pain during your appointment. Also, caffeine should be avoided two hours prior to getting an appointment as this can increase stress levels and make the procedure more uncomfortable.
How Does Electrolysis Work?
Electrolysis is a manual process requiring the expertise of an electrologist who must pinpoint each hair follicle and administer an electrical current at just the right intensity to heat and destroy them without harming surrounding skin. Due to this factor, treating larger areas with electrolysis often takes significantly longer than laser hair removal – according to Dana Elise of Dana Elise Solutions in Beverly Hills, CA for instance, an hour or more may be required per session initially (though later reduced to 30-40 minutes).
When selecting an electrologist, it is important to select one with extensive experience and who has been certified by an industry association. Furthermore, it’s advisable that you visit their website and look for client testimonials, before-and-after pictures, or other evidence of their expertise.
Your electrologist will use a small needle inserted into each hair follicle’s opening, followed by an impulse from their epilator equipment to permanently destroy them. She will repeat this procedure until all unwanted hair has been eliminated from your area being treated.
Electrolysis treatments often leave patients experiencing redness or tenderness in the treatment area as the electric current destroys small amounts of blood released during each hair root to be destroyed by its roots. You can reduce discomfort by applying an ice pack before and after appointments as well as applying soothing moisturizing cream afterward; additionally if you shave regularly it’s wise not to do so until after finishing all sessions of electrolysis treatments have taken place.
How Long Does Electrolysis Take?
Electrolysis, as the FDA-approved permanent hair removal solution, requires multiple sessions to fully deactivate and stop hair growth. While electrolysis takes more time than temporary methods such as shaving and waxing due to having to treat each individual follicle individually by an experienced technician, electrolysis remains safe and permanent solution if you have the patience for it.
As hair grows at different rates, multiple appointments may be necessary in order to achieve your desired results. To find a good electrologist, ask friends and family or your physician for recommendations, or make use of free consultation offers available through many practices – this way you can try their services before making a commitment! When visiting their offices make sure cleanliness is observed as well as inquire into sterilization and safety procedures in place.
Typically, electrolysis treatments are relatively painless and tolerable. More sensitive areas like the upper lip or groin may experience more discomfort; that depends on your own pain tolerance. You may feel some burning or stinging from needles used for electrolysis probes; as the treatment progresses these sensations will diminish and become more bearable.
Staying on schedule with your electrologist and attending appointments regularly is vitally important. Some areas, like legs, may require several hours for each treatment session and additional ones will likely be necessary if treating larger areas according to PA-C and cosmetic injection specialist Sadyk Fayz of Beso Aesthetics in New York City. Furthermore, direct sun exposure after treatments will reduce hyperpigmentation risk in skin.
What Are the Side Effects of Electrolysis?
Electrolysis works on all skin types and hair colors, yet can still cause unpleasant side effects. Redness and swelling at the treatment site is the most frequent complication and usually resolves within days; other potential effects include welts, blisters, scabs or dryness in treated areas; these should resolve over time but it’s essential that electrologists advise post-treatment care to protect themselves against permanent damage or infections.
Pain: Electrolysis sessions vary in terms of pain threshold; your individual experience depends on several factors, including sensitive skin, area being treated and individual tolerance levels for discomfort. Most modern electrolysis methods are relatively painless; you might feel some slight warmth sensation while some experience plucking or tweezing sensations during treatment.
Destroying all unwanted hair follicles may require multiple sessions. Each follicle undergoes its own growth cycle: anagen (growing phase), catagen (transitional phase) and telogen (resting phase). As hair may reappear at later times, multiple sessions will likely be needed in order to completely eradicate unwanted hair from an area.
Hiring an electrologist who possesses both skill and experience is the best way to minimize potential side effects from electrolysis procedures. Get recommendations from clients who have undergone electrolysis and ensure your electrologist offers free consultation and test treatments before committing to full series treatments. During this appointment, be completely honest about any health history issues or physical ailments you are facing so your technician can tailor treatment specifically to you and reduce potential discomfort side effects.
How Can Electrolysis Help Me?
Electrolysis may be your ideal permanent hair removal option. It works on nearly all areas of the body and is especially great for stubborn eyebrow hair removal. Plus, electrolysis is great for people with sensitive skin who fear laser scarring – just be sure to locate an experienced practitioner and pose plenty of questions prior to scheduling your first appointment – such as whether numbing is available, how many treatments they expect you’ll require etc.
Your technician will use a clean needle to insert into each hair follicle individually, which could take minutes or hours depending on your area of concern. Once in, an electrical current will heat it to destroy its root and stop hair growth.
Electrolysis may be more painful than laser hair removal, yet still relatively tolerable. Elise describes electrolysis as having “a sharp stinging sensation,” with more intense discomfort in certain spots depending on your tolerance of pain.
Electrolysis sessions vary depending on the individual, but in general a few visits should be enough to destroy all hair follicles in an area and stop future hair growth. More than one session may be needed in order to catch all hairs at their appropriate phase in their production cycle explains Dana Elise Solutions electrologist and founder of Dana Elise Salon in Beverly Hills, CA.
First time electrolysis treatments may leave your skin reddened and irritated from the heat; this is normal and should subside within an hour or two.
