Electrolysis Timing

[pamelatransuk]

I wish to remove facial hair and as my whiskers are light, I understand Electrolysis instead of Laser necessary.

I know Electrolysis takes many sessions and can be painful but at present I am just enquiring about time please.

1. When is the best time to start process? Asap of course and I note some of us did it before HRT. I am starting HRT within days. So should I start Electrolysis now or wait 1 or 2 or 3 months to allow Estradiol to get into my system?

2. Would I be right to assume that it would be advisable to book short session first and then as I become more accustomed to the procedure and to the pain, book longer sessions?

3. I have very few whiskers above my lip fortunately but the area will need action I know. For an overall below average density of facial hairs, approximately how many hours Electrolysis should be needed to complete the job.

Thanking you for any help you can provide.

Pamela

[Michelle_P]

Electrolysis is a long process, following the slow cycle of hair follicle activity. Don't be dismayed at these numbers.

Electrolysis works with a thin probe that is slid along the hair shaft into a hair follicle, where an electric current destroys the stem cells at the base of the follicle and the follicle growth tissue. The current mst be direct (electrolysis), radio frequency to heat the tissue (thermolysis) or a blend.

The follicle can only be treated when in an active growth phase, not when asleep or dormant. Even when all active folliclesxin an area are destroyed, dormant ones will wake over the course of months and require treatment.

HRT has very little effect on facial hair, but does make skin more sensitive. Electrolysis was more uncomfortable after I started HRT.  HRT will thin body hair to some extent, visibly after 6 months or so.

I started off with a 30 minute test session, and moved to one hour, then two hour sessions. After several months I started doing two 2 hour sessions a week to make some real progress, and did that the past year.

After some 160 hours with a moderately light beard I could be cleared in a single weekly 2 hour session, and started what's called maintenance, where I come in regularly to get whatever hairs have appeared recently removed.

I'm now at 187 hours of electrolysis and am largely beard-free, just fuzz and an occasional thicker hair. after 21 months of work




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[Kendra]

My experience matches everything Michelle said.  And this in particular:

> HRT has very little effect on facial hair, but does make skin more sensitive. Electrolysis was more uncomfortable after I started HRT.  HRT will thin body hair to some extent, visibly after 6 months or so.

I tried several types of laser, found that quite good (although not perfect) for body hair but worthless for face as my beard was dark red (half Welsh, half Japanese).  I started electrolysis more than two years before HRT, initially three 2-hour sessions per week. At the time I tackled hair I wasn't certain about transition.  Once I started HRT I was shocked (not all pun there) at how the pain sensitivity amped up.  I don't want to scare anyone off, I did continue electrolysis including genital areas while on HRT - always found a way to get through it.  But every session I did prior to HRT involved noticeably less pain. 

If I had to do this all over again I would do it the same way - begin facial electrolysis immediately (if laser isn't an initial option) and get as much facial clearing as possible before HRT.  I can't claim any insight at the time - mine was a fortunate coincidence. 

[BrandiYYC]

I started electrolysis in October, going for an hour twice per week. It hurt, but using emla cream and Advil it was bearable, although the upper lip was really bad. I started HRT in December, and started going 3 times per week the beginning of January.

About 5-6 weeks into HRT I really noticed the pain was super amplified, I mean so bad I had to leave an appointment early and was in tears every session. I went to my Dr last weekend and he prescribed me percocet which I take an hour before,  and a prescription lidocaine cream. My appointments this week were virtually pain free. I am 36 sessions in now and have some significant progress. All of this will be worth it in the long run!

[VeronicaLynn]

I really wish I had started much sooner.

Almost 6 months in and doing 2 hours per week, I still have quite a ways to go. The growing it out long enough has been really rough on me. Before I finally started electrolysis, I had been starting going out dressed more and more femme, but I don't really like doing that with a stubble beard. So for the last 6 months, I've only had a few days a week to go out as me, and even then I often have red marks and don't really want to be seen.

These posts about it hurting more on HRT are making me want to wait on that, but at the same time I don't really want to. Sort of the opposite of the OP's question but is it common to delay HRT until electrolysis is finished?

[pamelatransuk]

Thank you ladies for all your help.

I shall bear it all in mind and of course I shall also have to bear a lot of pain!

Pamela