My insurance does not cover electrolysis. Luckily the electrologist I found (CJ) only charges $35 per hour (I pay her $40 because I want to). Jan 31 will mark our two year anniversary. Until early August 2018 I had been having one hour sessions twice a week, in August I upped it to three hours each week. When CJ moved her office to be closer to home, which was further from my work, we changed to two 1.5 hour sessions, usually Monday and Tuesday. When I started seeing her she mentioned a plan to retire in about two years, but I told her she could not retire until she was done with me! She has developed some health issues and has stopped taking new clients, but she told me that she will get me to my GCS date. She has become one of my best friends. How can you possibly have secrets from someone who is doing electrolysis at the south pole?!!! Although she has many transgender clients, I will be the first one she has ever taken from pre-HRT through GCS. I honestly don't know how I could have done this without her.
South pole electrolysis is not that bad, except for a few places. The seam down the middle of the scrotum is roughly equivalent to upper lip, but the sensitive area is only about a half inch wide. The shaft is also uncomfortable, but a little less than the seam. Most of the remaining area is not much different from your cheeks from the standpoint of discomfort. The absolute worst pain I have felt with hair removal is laser. There are some areas on the back and sides of my thighs that take my breath away. One of these days I expect to destroy the 'stress balls' they give me during the treatment. Ever get shot with a 'red ryder' BB gun? Most of the laser pulses feel like that, but the sensitive areas are indescribable. Once I counted the laser pulses for one leg, then doubled the number to estimate the count for both -- 2800! Face it, it take a tough man to become a woman.
When put in context, the discomfort of electrolysis is insignificant when compared to the pain we have struggled with all of our lives. I am the first client CJ has ever had 1.5 hour session with. She said she does not understand how I can put up with the pain -- I put up with it because I must. I have a goal, and this is the only way I can reach it. You can do it too.