Electrolysis of Chin Area - My Story

Hi everyone,
I thought I would provide a quick update of my situation and highlight the importance of finding a good electrologist! I am about a year into treatment with my therapist in Berkshire. I have noticed a gradual reduction in the hair growth, but for the most part, it returns within a couple of days and I have to trim the hairs often. It’s very frustrating.
I returned to Scotland for the Christmas holidays. After about 2 weeks of no treatment, I found that I needed a session to clear the hairs. My chin is a lot better but there are still some noticeable hairs and I had hoped they would be a lot less by now. I found a therapist in Glasgow and went for a session. She was shocked that I had been having treatment for a year and was still experiencing the same problem, albeit to a lesser extent. She said I should be looking into BIAE certified therapists, as anyone could get a Sterex certificate whereas those certified with the BIAE have been through more intensive training and know what they’re doing! In addition, she said that a blend Sterex machine may not be suitable to my skin. She performed a 30 minute treatment on me and told me my skin would swell slightly but shouldn’t pucker the same extent as previously. She told me that, if done well, I should have no hair growth for 2-3 weeks. It has been over a week now and I’m pleased to report that I have had no hairs return so far. The area was red and tender for a couple of days but, with a bit of Savlon, calmed right down. Unfortunately, I can’t pursue treatment so far away, but I will be trying to find another BIAE in the Berkshire area and encourage others to do the same. If you go with a Sterex professional, they may not have the full BIAE training. BIAE certified therapists in the UK can be found here:
https://electrolysis.co.uk/member-directory/
I have found, through previously having visited 5 other Sterex therapists, that the majority do not really know what they’re doing, at least not to the extent that it will lead to a permanent hair eradication. I'll need to rethink my course of treatment and perhaps spend a bit more on a therapist who is BIAE trained. Good luck everyone!

Hi guys,
I am so, so sorry for my lack of response to your messages and lack of updates, but am heartened to read that my journey is helping some people! So, here is my update (spoiler alert, it ends well).
As you know, I started electrolysis back in October. I thought I'd found a great therapist BUT the machine was WAYYY too high, as evidenced by the pictures above where my skin was so swollen after treatment and I had to remain indoors for several days at a time. In addition, because of the fact my skin was peeling and white heads appeared for up to 5 days following treatment, I could only have treatment once a month at the most (I'm not the most extroverted of people but don't really want to spend 5 days in the house without human contact). I was also being told to shave in between sessions, as obviously a month is a long time to go without any treatment to the hairs. Anyway, for whatever reason, I was told that the beauty therapist no longer worked at the salon when I tried to book an appointment in December. I felt really frigging disheartened. Not only was the hair EXACTLY the same as when I started but I was now in a position where I couldn't find a therapist in the area. I resigned myself to having a hairy chin for the rest of my days and having to shave every day or so, while keeping at arms length from people so they wouldn't see it.
Then, in January I decided to give it ONE LAST SHOT. I was contacted by the beauty salon and told that they had an electrologist come in on a part time basis and could offer me a regular appointment. I signed up to a course of 10 thirty minute sessions and decided that if I didn't see improvement after this time, I would give up and save the money. The therapist was an absolute DREAM. She is so lovely, and particularly concerned that I hadn't seen results in all the time I'd sought out treatment. In addition, she tol me that the skin reactions I'd been having were quite extreme and while a bit of redness is normal, I should be completely fine 24 hours later, not a week later! The main thing however was her shock that I had been shaving in between sessions. She said that I should never have been advised to do this, and that would just be like going back to the start every time I shaved. She advised me to buy a pair of scissors and cut the hairs, but not as close to the skin as shaving. I was hesitant. After all, scissors don't make the hair invisible. But I thought if I was going to commit to this, I would have to bite the bullet and follow her advice. So I bought the tiniest, sharpest scissors I could find on Amazon which are actually amazing, and started going to sessions once a week. My new therapist turns the machine down lower so my skin doesn't react as violently as before. I was concerned that turning down the machine would mean it would take forever to see the results, but it turns out that as long as the hair slides out in a specific way without the need to pull or yank it, the machine could be fairly low and still see results.
It has been about 5 weeks since I started in this way. I haven't shaved once in that time and have had weekly 30 min sessions. Yesterday, I had booked a 30 minute session but after 10 minutes, she said 'we're all done, there are literally no more hairs to remove!' This was so great to hear. I had actually had to cancel one session and make it a few days later as there were no hairs visible after 7 days. I leave my skin bare overnight then it looks totally fine by the morning, as if I never had anything done. Now, instead of a full chin of hair, I have about three or four errant hairs but that's all! It is so good to see results so quickly after all this time. The therapist suggested I just book 10 minute slots to tidy up any random hairs if and when required, rather than having a 30 minute slot without any need. I feel immense relief that this actually works and would recommend electrolysis. However, I have learned that hard way that a good therapist is hard to find, and your skin should absolutely not react as badly as mine did!! Most importantly though, DON'T SHAVE, PLUCK OR WAX between treatments. I would recommend getting a tiny pair of cuticle scissors and a magnifying mirror. I will post pictures in a week or so, to show you the growth between sessions now as compared to back in October. Good luck to all who decide to pursue electrolysis!! [RS bleep]

Hi everyone,
I thought I'd send an update of my progression with electrolysis so far. I have now had a total of three treatments. I know some people have them on a weekly basis but I am aiming for one per month for a couple of reasons: it is financially quite a big commitment and it involves some down-time as I have found the area to be quite red and swollen afterwards for at least a couple of days, and I am quite self-conscious about this!
After my first session, the hair definitely started growing back slower, lighter and thinner. I went to my second session and it took only 20 minutes for the full chin area. However, my optimism was short-lived as hair grows in cycles, and it started to grow back faster, thicker and darker again shortly afterwards (I am assured this is nothing to be concerned about). I was back to shaving every second day for the past month. Any less than this, and I felt the hair was noticeable if you looked really close and the area was bristly.
I had my third appointment yesterday. My partner is away over the weekend so I thought this would be a good opportunity to get it done. We see each other every day (give or take) so it is difficult to have an appointment and then have to explain why my chin is suddenly so swollen! I think there is only so many times I can use the 'I had an allergic reaction' answer, and I would rather not admit that I actually have a beard that rivals my boyfriend!! Anyway, the electrologist put the machine a little higher than previously. It hurt but I got used to it quickly, and was actually glad it was a little higher. The session took about 40 minutes and my skin was red afterwards, as you can see from the photo. I was pleased I'd parked so nearby and it's getting darker earlier, so I could head to the car and not get any weird looks!
I put aloe on my skin a couple of times last night and am spending today resting and drinking lots of water. Today the skin is more swollen and pus has risen to the surface (pic 2). I'm not concerned as this has happened before, but I think I'll put some coconut oil on it tonight and hope it looks more socially acceptable tomorrow! I will update on how the hair is progressing soon...