Electrolysis pain vs laser

[Nicky]

I've been having lazer for the last year and a half (about 10 sessions) and while it has removed most of my facial hair I have some stuborn bits, particulalry on the top lip just under the nose, and some stray bits and pieces. I decided I was getting diminishing returns from laser and decided to clean up the rest with electro.

I had a consultation this morning and she trialed various patches on my face. This was using the galvanic method of electrolysis and they get you to hold a metal rod wrapped in a wet sponge (I was thinking green mile haha) She tried DC current, AC and then DC with a hit of AC at the end. The DC was slower but in a lot of places I hardly felt it, the AC was a quicker but felt more like bee sting. They put this needle down the folical, you don't really feel it, and then it feels like they are pouring hot stuff just under the hair. They then pluck out the hair which I did not feel. I did not shave this morning and it was long enough for her to work on them, the hairs don't need to be very long at all.

Totally awsome, totally more comfortable than laser (she did say most people jump a bit with the top lip but I guess I'm hardened after all the laser). I can imagine after a longer session it would get pretty uncomfortable though. Just under the nose is going to hurt but I can handle it. The lady was really lovely and it was almost a pleasure.

I'm going to go every week leading up to christmas and then she said I would need to go much less often as there won't be so much to work on after that.

Excellent.

[Dana_W]

Thanks for posting this!

I've been asking around about this question a lot and mostly I just get the standard "different people have different opinions" kind of answer when it comes to the "which hurts more" question. This puts some detail around it which is much appreciated.

I've had 4 laser treatments so far and the thought that electrolysis might be MORE painful was freaking me out. I have a lot of white hairs laser is never going to budge so I have no choice but to change over to that at some point. This personal insight is mucho helpful!

[Bellaon7]

I'm done with hair removal, everything below the eyes is gone through both laser & thermal electro. I don't need to know for myself, but am curious about anyone's long term experience with galvanic electro. Laser is most effective on dark hair on light skin. I'm a fair skinned dark brunette, so laser worked well & was reasonably painless. Therm electro started out that way, then my pores shrank & the pain became maddness. Laser won't do much for light hair, but is much less damaging, if at all than electro. I actually have lightly pitted skin on my upper lip from thermo electro. 

[Nicky]

I read glavanic vs thermo is much the muchness in terms of long term hair removal - but in terms of scaring I don't know. I'll ask my technician next week when I go for you.

I think a key difference is lazer for me was like a sharp wack, and burning and electrocution all at the same time which curled my toes and made me want to whimper (but was something I had to endure), while electro feels to me like a quick build of heat which can get really intense at a point but it quickly fades when they remove the needle with just an echo of ouchy for the worst bits. There was also a big range of pain from none to some (which means they can move on to easier stuff to give you break), while lazer was bad to really bad wherever there was dense hair. I was surprised each hair took more than a few seconds, I expected a zap.

Another thing to add is electrolysis seems more intimate to me. That made a huge difference. Instead of lying with this machine blowing cold air and another big machine with a gun thing with beeps and whirs going on and getting slathered with cold gel and feeling both hot and cold, for electo they have this tiny little pen shapped thing on a cable, and she sat very close to get a good look at where she was putting the needle, I could feel her breath and she sat very still in concentration. It seemed more hands on than laser which was somehow very reasuring. Much less industrial. I don't know if this is anyone elses experience but it was definitly mine. Will let you know how an extended session goes.

[Krissy_Australia]

After 11 sessions of laser all dark hair was gone (apart from upper lip) and was left with the blond ones. I started electrolysis as I realized it was going to take longer to remove the upper lip using laser.
My technician uses the galvanic method as well. She also uses 16 needles at one time which greatly speeds things up. Im in about 40 hours now and am happy with the progress.
She has also used electrolysis to clean up the capilleries on my face and numerous sunspots
I prefer elctrolysis to laser as it is a lot more intimate. Over the hours we have built a friendship and have discussed hust about all aspects of our lives.

[Bellaon7]

I can only say in my opinion, if it works it's good.The skin on the scrotum is darker than the rest & when that laser hit my "tiger stripe" I jumped & screamed so loud they refused to do any more scrotal work & I had NO prob w/that!

[Dawn D.]

I have much the same experience as you, Nicky. Laser worked on the flater, broader areas. But, around my chin and upper lip it wasn't much good, except that it hurt like hell!

Electro (galvanic), has been much more tolerable on the pain threshold and though it takes longer to get results, I don't leave in tears when I'm through with the session. The intimate aspect is a definite plus as well. My electrologist is now a dear friend.


Dawn

[Robin_p]

Your lucky, you get a sponge. My Electrologist wraps the wand in a wet paper towel and then hands it to me.

I been getting poked and zapped for the last 18 months. The upper lip under the nose hurt like heck. My physician prescribed me numbing cream and my electrologist suggested that after i smear it on to put plastic strips over so it wont evaporate the hour that i'm waiting for my appointment. The numbing cream takes the edge off and a couple of time i fell asleep in the chair when she was being nice.

I been on my upper lip since January and finally last month  could not take her working on it for the whole hour.  Also, it became so short that she ask me not to shave for like two days before. I'm vain i can go one day without shaving but two days is like mental torture. I'm happy with the results so far and presently working on the jawbone.

Last year i had the money to go every week for an hour and was just doing the zap without the rod. I was told that was the best method for me to clear large patches in a short amount of time. Also i have curly follicles which requires like three zaps.  i been warned due to my skin tone to stay away from lazer.