first electro session

[rachel89]

I have my first electro appointment this Wednesday, which is really big step for me considering that 2-3 months ago I was dangerously in the depths of the "black hole" of dysphoria and depression. I still have a lot of issues around that but it feels like i am finally making some progress. BTW, long before I understood I was a woman, I remember that growing facial hair was one of the most dreadful parts of puberty for me.

[rachel89]

Any tips for the first session? BTW, just kind of funny, despite not having a female voice, knew I was a transsexual without really having to ask. She is working on another girl I know, so she is trans-friendly.

[Emjay]

Congratulations on starting electrolysis!

As far as any tips:

I got into the habit of taking two aleve about thirty minutes before each session when I first started.  It really helped to take the edge off.  Most of the time now I don't really need it anymore unless I know she's going to be working in a sensitive spot.  I guess I just got used to it!

Also, don't try for too much all at once.  I started out thinking I could handle two hours at a stretch.  Yeah....  bad idea, for me anyway, it's just too long to lay there AND sit through having hairs constantly pulled out!  Currently I do an hour at a time twice a week.  It'll probably take a little while to figure out what works best for you.

Good luck and stick with it, it's a slow process but worth it! 

[ImagineKate]

Hey Rachel!

Drink plenty of water, at least a few days before your session. It will help a lot. (Make sure you pee before you go though!)

An OTC or prescription NSAID may help. I have naproxen (aleve) and ibuprofen in prescription only strength that I keep for emergencies (gout attacks) but I've been using it prior to the session. OTC works as well. However BE VERY CAREFUL as they can cause clotting and liver damage. Don't overdose for any reason. Follow the label and/or your physician's directions.

You can also opt for a skin numbing cream containing lidocaine instead of or in addition to the oral painkiller. I've found that helps immensely. Apply like a half hour to an hour before.

Make sure you give accurate feedback to your electrologist. This is critical. Especially if the hairs are plucking and not easily sliding out. He or she should know if the settings are correct and hairs that are plucking are simply wasting your time, pain and money.

Work near your pain threshold. No pain, no gain and you want an effective kill of the follicles. That means it more or less must hurt, unfortunately.

Some areas hurt more than others. Upper lip and right below the lip are really bad. One side of your face may hurt more than the other.

After treatment:
Your face may be red and swollen. Be prepared if you have to go back to work for example.

No makeup, creams, or other stuff on your face for 2 days minimum after the treatment. Witch Hazel and maybe bacitracin (topical antibiotic) or similar helps.

Don't pick scabs. Don't exfoliate scabs either. Let them flake off on their own. A good electrologist won't leave many anyway but sometimes they are unavoidable. 

Shave using a CLEAN razor. A dirty one can get you infected. Buy a pack of disposables and use a new one after each treatment.

This is all based on my experiences, but your mileage may vary. Also remember it's a marathon, not a sprint. It may take up to 3 years to clear a full beard unless you're going to E3K or similar who do full clearance in marathon sessions. I'm taking a break from electrolysis to do laser to clear most of my hair and I'll resume after laser can't do any more.

Good luck!