OMG ELECTROLYSIS OUCH! O_O

[MadeleineG]

I doubt that this has even crossed their minds.  The occurrence rate would be small, and other matters of greater concern exist in most professional bodies.

Anaesthetic in general is safe, and so long as the injection sites are within a profession's area of expertise, there is no issue.

You're probably correct in any case, but to be clear, I meant a policy governing elective, off label administration of anesthetic in general--not a policy regarding trans women prepping for electrolysis.

[luna nyan]

Perhaps my use of the words off label left things ambiguous.  Thinking more on it, I would say alternate use of an established local anaesthetic deposition site.

To clarify, when a tooth is anaesthetised, usually the surrounding cheek area is inadvertently numbed as well.  It is a valid technique for numbing the face, but not an area that a dentist would be usually be aiming to numb.  Mind you, any dentist worth their salt would be more than familiar with the anatomy involved and is likely to be safer than a general medical practitioner.

[shiney]

So what kind of results do you get then ladies?

Does the hair ever come back in certain areas, only lighter and blonde-like or are they gone completely leaving super silky smooth skin behind?

I'm guessing its a permanent thing? Whereas treatments like laser are temporary?

[EmmaD]

Seems to be permanent.  But since I haven't labelled each follicle, I can't say what has survived the first attack to be done again.

I started electrolysis in Feb 2012 and now go about every 3 to 4 weeks.  I have peach fuzz now and a few stragglers arriving but pretty much done.  My sisters have slightly fuzzy faces too so that part is normal.  I haven't shaved in about 3 months and trim about 6 hairs between visits.  Still want my sidies thinned.

We started at the base of my neck and progressively cleared from the bottom up each week.  It seemed like quick progress UNTIL the mature hair removed first came back in its next growth cycle.  These are the hairs that are too mature for the probe to reach the right spot for a full kill.  Some come back, even if it is just weaker.  Once an area has been cleared, any growth in that area is able to be treated at the right growth stage.

Given the fashion these days for the unshaven look along with "manly" beards, I just don't fit in any more.  Oh....forgot about the boobs! !

[MadeleineG]

Perhaps my use of the words off label left things ambiguous.  Thinking more on it, I would say alternate use of an established local anaesthetic deposition site.

check.

[Violet Bloom]

Thanks, Gwen, for your PM!

  One last thing about my second session I found out after - the setting had been higher than the first time.  That explains all the tiny pin-sized scabs and perhaps why the painkiller didn't help.  My tech is determined to make the most effective progress possible that I can tolerate so I won't be wasting time and money.  For the cost of it I certainly appreciate her attitude towards the speed of the process.  My third session is this afternoon.

[luna nyan]

Violet, it's good your electro is fiddling things to try and get things going faster. =)
I had a touch up (30 min) session today and I paid more attention to how I managed.
I definitely zone out into deep breathing/meditating.  The other thing I noticed was that I'm exhaling as the probes are being inserted.   That seems to help for me.

Thank goodness it's Easter though, my face looks like it's been attacked by a swarm of bees with rabies *lol*

[Violet Bloom]

Thank goodness it's Easter though, my face looks like it's been attacked by a swarm of bees with rabies *lol*

  If my face looks messy after this session I'll just tell people it's because I ate too many chocolate eggs.

[helen2010]

After another 3 hours of galvanic electrolysis and the permanent loss of another 950 odd hairs I feel slightly swollen but nevertheless pleased with the result of yesterday's session and the slow but inexorable progress.  There is now an end in sight to the weekly torture - my electrologist estimates a further 20 to 30 visits and I will be all done apart from some minor touch ups.

There appears little doubt that laser and blend both work - to some degree but ymmv.  With an estimated 1000 hairs per square cm on my upper lip this was always going to take time.  Will miss the regular chats with my electrologist/counsellor but won't miss the discomfort aka pain, the irritated and sometimes infected skin and skin treatment suggestions from cis colleagues unaware of the electro torture.

Aisla

[Violet Bloom]

  Today's session seemed easier for a while but still got quite rough in the third hour.  The hairs down the edges of my neck hold on very hard.  In those areas the plucking actually feels worse than the other effects.  As I mentioned before I had tried an extra-strength Acetaminophen in the last session with little success.  Given that it is next to useless for headaches in my system I shouldn't have been surprised.  This time I went with my preferred headache reliever, extra-strength Ibuprofen, and I think it was more effective.

  Without a magnifying mirror, to the eye at the moment my face is almost entirely clear of any hairs long enough to be plucked.  I noticed that a large number of the little scabbed spots from before were actually trapped dark hairs growing back in.  There is now a significant amount of peach fuzz visible that was likely previously hidden by all the other coarse hairs.  My tech said I should be really pleased that I have such fine hairs that will be left as residual because she's noted over the years that many cis female clients of hers have not been so blessed.