POSTED UNDER Electrolysis Reviews
The long walk of laser and electrolysis
ORIGINAL POST
The Long Walk of Laser & Electrolysis
WORTH IT
(Unfortunately, I do not have photos at this time to share.)
-- Laser --
In 2002, while still a student, I interviewed a number of dermatologists and laser centers regarding my facial hair. At the time, the field was predominantly made up of dermatologists. I settled on one center that first started with electrolysis and then also introduced laser into their practice. No one knew at this time that laser may make it worse for facial hair. I purchased a 8-session package, and then followed-up for approximately another 10 sessions over the course of 3-4 years and saw the same, and even worse, hair growth on my face. After moving out of the area, I continued with laser for another 4-6 sessions, scattered when I would be in my former area, with the last one in June 2010. I had complete regrowth in just under a month and decided that I was going to stop.
Since this experience, more and more reputable laser places are informing women with facial hair growth that laser may in fact make it worse. (An aside: I did get laser on a portion of my legs with great success.)
-- Electrolysis --
Stars aligned when an electrolysis came into my immediate area and my schedule opened up in a way that allowed for frequent appointments. I knew based on research and speaking with the electrolysis at my previous laser location, as well as this new location, that I would need to be seen as soon as hairs appeared for at least a year, and probably longer than that.
I'm being treated with thermolysis. I started without using a topical numbing agent, and it was fine for me. However, I found that it was more pleasant to use a topical numbing agent.
My hair growth was such that I could have gone in each week, and in some cases, I did go in each week as my/their schedule would allow.
-- Snapshot of Electrolysis Effort --
I started this journey of June 2017 in an East Coast USA city. During 2017 I completed 25 sessions over 7 months and paid $1875. I averaged $268 a month in cost.
Currently, as of mid-November 2018, I have completed 19 sessions over 11 months and paid $1530. The average per month cost has been $139.
The total overall cost has been: $3405
Average cost per month (18 months): $189.16
DETAILED BREAKDOWN:
To get a good understanding of pacing, these are the dates and time spent on my face.
* = After feeling confident, I added in chest and abdomen, which did attribute to the time spent. I have marked those with a * that included one or both of these other areas. The hairs there come back in slower and finer at a much quicker pace than the face.
I also created a chart and overtime added notes. I wish I had taken more detailed notes from the beginning. Relevant notes are added below.
June 09 2017 -- 30 min
June 16 2017 -- 30 min
June 23 2017 -- 30 min
June 29 2017 -- 45 min
July 05 2017 -- 30 min
July 14 2017 -- 30 min
July 26 2017 -- 30 min
August 04 2017 -- 45 min*
August 09 2017 -- 20 min
August 17 2017 -- 45 min*
August 31 2017 -- 45 min
September 08 2017 -- 45 min
September 14 2017 -- 30 min
September 21 2017 -- 45 min
September 27 2017 -- 45 min
October 04 2017 -- 30 min
October 20 2017 -- 45 min
October 27 2017 -- 45 min* -- (I feel like I'm turning a corner)
November 03 2017 -- 30 min
November 09 2017 -- 30 min
November 17 2017 -- 40 min*
November 22 2017 -- 30 min
November 30 2017 -- 30 min
December 06 2017 -- 30 min
December 20 2017 -- 45 min
January 05 2018 -- 45 min*
January 18 2018 -- 45 min* -- (Really looking good after 1 week; nearing 2 weeks can start to see fuzz on mustache and some longer hairs. Need to trim, but not to shave daily. Didn't book 1wk appointment b/c not needed)
January 25 2018 -- 30 min*
February 07 2018 -- 45 min*
February 15 2018 -- 30 min
March 10 2018 -- 60 min*
March 23 2018 -- 45 min
(No sessions in April)
May 10 2018 -- 45 min
June 07 2018 -- 60 min* (Face approx. 47 min)
June 20 2018 -- 45 min
July 07 2018 -- 40 min
July 26 2018 -- 45 min*
August 09 2018 -- 25 min (face looking great)
September 14 2018 -- 50 min* (30 min face)
September 28 2018 -- 45 min
October 17 2018 -- 45 min*
October 26 2018 -- 45 min
November 01 2018 -- 30 min*
November 16 2018 -- 30 min*
-- Current Status --
I have seen a vast improvement, and so have those closest around me who know and have seen the condition of my face. I did have to be very diligent to keep going when I saw hair growth. I do not wait for complete hair growth because of hair growth cycles. Look that up if you do not know what that is all about. Electrolysis only works when the hair is in the growth phase. I have not seen pitting or discoloration.
I think there may be a good portion of women on realself who do not think electrolysis is working, or that it's not worth the cost, may not realize how important it is to keep going and being diligent about keeping up on hair removal. I do wish that this process is quicker, and there have been two times where I have been very discouraged. But I've read elsewhere that there is usually a discouraging time and it's best to push through it if you can. I'm glad that I have kept pushing forward. I'm glad that I budget for electrolysis each month (get yourself a budget app to help!).
-- Future --
I can foresee needing to continue with steady electrolysis appointments through the summer of 2019 and possibly into the fall of 2019 when I hope it can be once a month or once every other month. I am aware that I will probably need electrolysis from time-to-time to get any new growth (consider men as they age, they can have hair pop-up on their ears or other places -- more hair can appear for women too!) or the occasional stubborn hair.
I've had amazing improvement. I no longer need to go every week for an appointment. However, there are stubborn sections on my face, and my operator is great at getting all hairs visible but she is also safe (when she first started my mustache she wouldn't fully clear it because of not wanting to cause issues of inflammation on the entire lip).
-- In Summary --
I wish we all would have known what laser would do to our faces. I am glad that we know now. I wish I had had put the cost, time, and effort of the laser towards electrolysis. If you are waiting to start electrolysis, whatever you do, do not pluck, thread, or wax your face (or areas that you want to electrolyze) as it can hinder the process. Cut or shave.
-- Laser --
In 2002, while still a student, I interviewed a number of dermatologists and laser centers regarding my facial hair. At the time, the field was predominantly made up of dermatologists. I settled on one center that first started with electrolysis and then also introduced laser into their practice. No one knew at this time that laser may make it worse for facial hair. I purchased a 8-session package, and then followed-up for approximately another 10 sessions over the course of 3-4 years and saw the same, and even worse, hair growth on my face. After moving out of the area, I continued with laser for another 4-6 sessions, scattered when I would be in my former area, with the last one in June 2010. I had complete regrowth in just under a month and decided that I was going to stop.
Since this experience, more and more reputable laser places are informing women with facial hair growth that laser may in fact make it worse. (An aside: I did get laser on a portion of my legs with great success.)
-- Electrolysis --
Stars aligned when an electrolysis came into my immediate area and my schedule opened up in a way that allowed for frequent appointments. I knew based on research and speaking with the electrolysis at my previous laser location, as well as this new location, that I would need to be seen as soon as hairs appeared for at least a year, and probably longer than that.
I'm being treated with thermolysis. I started without using a topical numbing agent, and it was fine for me. However, I found that it was more pleasant to use a topical numbing agent.
My hair growth was such that I could have gone in each week, and in some cases, I did go in each week as my/their schedule would allow.
-- Snapshot of Electrolysis Effort --
I started this journey of June 2017 in an East Coast USA city. During 2017 I completed 25 sessions over 7 months and paid $1875. I averaged $268 a month in cost.
Currently, as of mid-November 2018, I have completed 19 sessions over 11 months and paid $1530. The average per month cost has been $139.
The total overall cost has been: $3405
Average cost per month (18 months): $189.16
DETAILED BREAKDOWN:
To get a good understanding of pacing, these are the dates and time spent on my face.
* = After feeling confident, I added in chest and abdomen, which did attribute to the time spent. I have marked those with a * that included one or both of these other areas. The hairs there come back in slower and finer at a much quicker pace than the face.
I also created a chart and overtime added notes. I wish I had taken more detailed notes from the beginning. Relevant notes are added below.
June 09 2017 -- 30 min
June 16 2017 -- 30 min
June 23 2017 -- 30 min
June 29 2017 -- 45 min
July 05 2017 -- 30 min
July 14 2017 -- 30 min
July 26 2017 -- 30 min
August 04 2017 -- 45 min*
August 09 2017 -- 20 min
August 17 2017 -- 45 min*
August 31 2017 -- 45 min
September 08 2017 -- 45 min
September 14 2017 -- 30 min
September 21 2017 -- 45 min
September 27 2017 -- 45 min
October 04 2017 -- 30 min
October 20 2017 -- 45 min
October 27 2017 -- 45 min* -- (I feel like I'm turning a corner)
November 03 2017 -- 30 min
November 09 2017 -- 30 min
November 17 2017 -- 40 min*
November 22 2017 -- 30 min
November 30 2017 -- 30 min
December 06 2017 -- 30 min
December 20 2017 -- 45 min
January 05 2018 -- 45 min*
January 18 2018 -- 45 min* -- (Really looking good after 1 week; nearing 2 weeks can start to see fuzz on mustache and some longer hairs. Need to trim, but not to shave daily. Didn't book 1wk appointment b/c not needed)
January 25 2018 -- 30 min*
February 07 2018 -- 45 min*
February 15 2018 -- 30 min
March 10 2018 -- 60 min*
March 23 2018 -- 45 min
(No sessions in April)
May 10 2018 -- 45 min
June 07 2018 -- 60 min* (Face approx. 47 min)
June 20 2018 -- 45 min
July 07 2018 -- 40 min
July 26 2018 -- 45 min*
August 09 2018 -- 25 min (face looking great)
September 14 2018 -- 50 min* (30 min face)
September 28 2018 -- 45 min
October 17 2018 -- 45 min*
October 26 2018 -- 45 min
November 01 2018 -- 30 min*
November 16 2018 -- 30 min*
-- Current Status --
I have seen a vast improvement, and so have those closest around me who know and have seen the condition of my face. I did have to be very diligent to keep going when I saw hair growth. I do not wait for complete hair growth because of hair growth cycles. Look that up if you do not know what that is all about. Electrolysis only works when the hair is in the growth phase. I have not seen pitting or discoloration.
I think there may be a good portion of women on realself who do not think electrolysis is working, or that it's not worth the cost, may not realize how important it is to keep going and being diligent about keeping up on hair removal. I do wish that this process is quicker, and there have been two times where I have been very discouraged. But I've read elsewhere that there is usually a discouraging time and it's best to push through it if you can. I'm glad that I have kept pushing forward. I'm glad that I budget for electrolysis each month (get yourself a budget app to help!).
-- Future --
I can foresee needing to continue with steady electrolysis appointments through the summer of 2019 and possibly into the fall of 2019 when I hope it can be once a month or once every other month. I am aware that I will probably need electrolysis from time-to-time to get any new growth (consider men as they age, they can have hair pop-up on their ears or other places -- more hair can appear for women too!) or the occasional stubborn hair.
I've had amazing improvement. I no longer need to go every week for an appointment. However, there are stubborn sections on my face, and my operator is great at getting all hairs visible but she is also safe (when she first started my mustache she wouldn't fully clear it because of not wanting to cause issues of inflammation on the entire lip).
-- In Summary --
I wish we all would have known what laser would do to our faces. I am glad that we know now. I wish I had had put the cost, time, and effort of the laser towards electrolysis. If you are waiting to start electrolysis, whatever you do, do not pluck, thread, or wax your face (or areas that you want to electrolyze) as it can hinder the process. Cut or shave.
Thanks so much for your detailed review! It really helps our members make informed decisions :)