One of the things I never really thought about is that when you start having regular Electrolysis sessions which in my case is a couple of times a week for 30 minutes at a time. In order to have the treatment, I need at least 2-3 days growth so by the time I leave enough time for my beard to grow I seem to very rarely shave...leaving me rough and stubbly which brings my Dysphoria screaming to the fore and makes it hard to do even the small things to feel more feminine. I will just have to grin and bare it because I want this crap on my face gone!!!....ARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGHHHH!!!
Do you get completely cleared in just thirty minutes? If not, you have a while to go. I remember spending more than an hour under the needle for at least two years. But I did get cleared every single time. At first, it took more than an hour. It was more like two hours twice a week after I first had my face cleared a couple of times.
This was the most agonizing part of my transition in a financial way.. time too. It is surprising that we tend to gloss over this aspect of transition. I'm surprised it isn't a much bigger topic of conversation since it was for me the most important part of my getting along in public.
I had hour sessions twice a week though sometime I think the sessions ran a few minutes over. I wasn't getting cleared or even putting much of a dent in it for a long time but then the day came when she started working on my eyebrows at the end of the session to use up the remainder of the time. For me the real limiting factor was money. I had the savings but I didn't want to dip into it so everything was paid out of pocket and that was about all my pockets had left.
I am just starting to get to the stage where I can get cleared in 4 hours. I've had over 130 hours of electrolysis over the last 15 months. I've been doing multi-hour session most of the time and can't wait for this to get over.
Oh, you folks are starting to mak the Electrolysis 3000 path look better and better. Megasessions, gorilla face, and all. I just hate having a beard, and am amazed that nothing better has been developed (A bottle of Anti-Minoxidil, please...)
A girls gotta do what a girls gotta do, I suppose...
I am off to the dentist in a week to get injections...straight up to Electrolysis and see how much we can get done...aiming at a two hour session...if that works we will be aiming to do that once a month with the half hour sessions as I go along...I am lucky in that the laser is taking care of much of my dark stuff which is now growing back finer, and much much sparser.
The two hours to go will complete only the first clearance which will have taken about 7 hours in total. After only this short of period I have distinct bald patches on my cheeks and jaw line...it is the only thing that keeps me going is slowly seeing a difference. I have this stupid Hypersensitivity on my skin due to my meds which makes the Electrolysis very very painful for me....if this dentist thing works then I may have it once a week or as much as my face will tolerate.
We don't have the option of anything like Electrolysis 3000 here in Aus that I know of but if there was I would be having done that way for sure
Liz K
I went thru that stage and had my electrolysis 2x a week. But it was for clearance each time. Fortunately for me I was still in the closet. Today, I still have my electrolysis done but in Bangkok with the Galvanic method every month and they give me novacane. I pluck the hairs for 2 weeks before then in the 2 weeks before I shave and stop that 4 days before...I still get upset with the hair growth but it's very minor now. I thought that after 3 years of thermal electrolysis that my light facial hairs would have gone.
Just a point that I noticed.. I had thermal electrolysis for 3 years and I feel after a couple of galvanic sessions that it's much more effective.
I got in the habit of placing a large band-aid over the portion of my face being worked on. That kept me from accidentally shaving over it with my electric, as well as hiding my stubble from the public.
The galvanic blend method is the one that my Electrolysis lady Amber uses, my understanding is it is a little more painful than the Thermopolis(?) method, but the results speak for themselves...I have not had one complete clearance yet but even so I can see there a certain patches that are clear...been over 3 months for a number of them with no regrowth or signs of it. Until the machine current comes down to a more manageable level I won't be able to tolerate and hour...I am hoping though once we are through this first clearance things will get a little easier...with less stubble time...I can section off area's for her to work on but even now these are becoming difficult to see because of the great results I have had with laser....I wonder if having naturally low testosterone for the last 4-5 years has played an effect on the slow to non-existent regrowth in some areas. I know Amber is more than a little surprised at the results. Anyway time will tell but I can see another 12-18 months of this yet...
Liz K
Galvanic is generally the superior form of electrolysis. Kills the follicle dead first time, no need to revisit it ever. But it seems to be slower since it is one hair at a time not "clear and wait to see what grows back" which is the thermolysis approach. It's more painful - not just on your skin but your wallet. But for my money, much more effective. I've had about 130 hours and probably only need another 20 (10x2 hour sessions) until it is gone baby gone.
Quote from: Ms Grace on May 13, 2016, 06:46:55 PM
Galvanic is generally the superior form of electrolysis. Kills the follicle dead first time, no need to revisit it ever. But it seems to be slower since it is one hair at a time not "clear and wait to see what grows back" which is the thermolysis approach. It's more painful - not just on your skin but your wallet. But for my money, much more effective. I've had about 130 hours and probably only need another 20 (10x2 hour sessions) until it is gone baby gone.
I am no expert in this but I understood that it would take longer but like you I also knew One zap one dead follicle and the heat also radiates to the other follicles helping to loosen them...but it hurts like a .......It will be a long time before she will able to clear my face in an hour especially one hair at a time...but I do know that when she zaps one its gone forever...
Liz K
I'm presuming she is using multi probe.i have up to 32 probes inserted at once (not into the same follicle of course!)
It takes what it takes. I get an hour of thermolysis twice a month which is about all I can afford (and all I can stand from the pain perspective) and I'm starting to see some progress now after about 15 hours. I want the crap gone off my face and I'll eventually get there, slowly.
I started with laser due to obvious reasons. I am now at 1hr all four weeks for a full clearing. I would never do it in a shorter period because of 5 days of no shaving. I started with 2hr for the full clearing.
I am now at an optimal point of my hrt regarding level, how to take it.....and my beard growth slowed down a lot. So if I sgave in the morning I still have no beard in the evening. So I shave in the evening and my boyfriend can be pretty near to me in the morning :)
AS I sit here two days away from my next session, I feel as if I have a forest on my face! My facial hair does not grow as quickly any more and is much lighter. I have to grow it for at least four to five days to get enough length. I want to hide away from everyone! My partner says that it is not that visible and that it is just the 'cost of doing business'. I am seeing results, be it slow going. I am just over 30 hours in. I seem to experience a great deal of pain, especially when the upper lip is being worked on, even though I us Elma cream. Oh well, one step at a time!
I did a few sessions of electrolysis on my face then switched to laser for 6 more. It hurt every bit as much, but it only took them 10 minutes for a full clear vs something like 4 hours for the electrolysis. I know it will come back eventually, and some already has, but it's faint enough that I can shave it off and not be noticeable. I get occasional electrolysis in other areas and I have them just touch up the face when I go there at the end of the session.
Quote from: Emileeeee on May 14, 2016, 01:59:29 PM
I did a few sessions of electrolysis on my face then switched to laser for 6 more. It hurt every bit as much, but it only took them 10 minutes for a full clear vs something like 4 hours for the electrolysis. I know it will come back eventually, and some already has, but it's faint enough that I can shave it off and not be noticeable. I get occasional electrolysis in other areas and I have them just touch up the face when I go there at the end of the session.
If you are using the right Laser it shouldn't come back unless it was never killed properly in the first place. I certainly have more back this time but its finer and not in necessarily the same places so it would seem they are dormant follicles activating and on one particular side of my face I haven't had any black for weeks until just recently and I have another appointment number 8 in a week or so. I am told it takes from about session 10 to really see the results but as I said I am seeing permanent results already. The place I go boast about a 98% permanent hair reduction.
Liz K
Hi, has anyone tried the DIY hair removal instead of electrolysis? I have the Bella Flash device by Silkn (but I think there are several similar brands) I have used it on other parts of the body with relatively good results...but not on the face yet.
I spoke to a rep from the company and they have recently been cleared by FDA for use on male facial hair.
I am not ready for the facial hair removal just yet but I keep hearing the horror stories of electrolysis and was hoping for an alternative :-)
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Quote from: Amber42 on May 16, 2016, 11:58:50 AM
Hi, has anyone tried the DIY hair removal instead of electrolysis? I have the Bella Flash device by Silkn (but I think there are several similar brands) I have used it on other parts of the body with relatively good results...but not on the face yet.
I spoke to a rep from the company and they have recently been cleared by FDA for use on male facial hair.
I am not ready for the facial hair removal just yet but I keep hearing the horror stories of electrolysis and was hoping for an alternative :-)
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Amber,
I am going to leave the question up to others. I have not experience.
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Once again, welcome to Susan's. Look around, continue to ask questions and join in.
With warmth,
Joanna
Thank you for the warm welcome. I've been a long time reader/visitor. I've been afraid of posting, but it's time to pull up my socks (or pantyhose) and contribute...:-)
On the topic of electrolysis, I see you say "getting cleared". Excuse the ignorance in the process, but what does that mean?
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Quote from: Amber42 on May 17, 2016, 08:06:29 AM
Thank you for the warm welcome. I've been a long time reader/visitor. I've been afraid of posting, but it's time to pull up my socks (or pantyhose) and contribute...:-)
On the topic of electrolysis, I see you say "getting cleared". Excuse the ignorance in the process, but what does that mean?
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Here is my understanding...At any one point there are three stages that your facial hair will be
Active = Growing
New Growth = new hair
Dormant = lying in stealth to pop up and annoy you unexpectedly
One clearance would be removing every single hair from your face that is showing in one/multiple sessions, then the follicles in the new cycle come through and the dormant ones tend to start to get active. So each time you remove every hair from the area you have completed a clearance.
For me I am still clearing the toughest hairs which are the ones I have had growing for years (the first hairs)...once you have cleared an area you will get the regrowth (lighter and sparser) and when that is removed, it is the second clearance and so on and so on. I think in theory its three full clearances, one for each type of hair and you should be finished with the occasional renegade popping up.
Liz K
PS If I have this wrong I hope someone will correct me
I understand that each time you pull a hair in electrolysis there is a percentage success rate of destroying the follicles. I just learnt that Thermal has a significantly lower success rate than galvanic. Thus, whatever method there is a percentage that will reappear.
I also had the same impression as Elizabeth but I now understand it's not so....especially the reappearance of some dormant hairs. I guess you just keep attacking those pesky last few hairs. Eventually they just give up and disappear.
Quote from: warlockmaker on May 17, 2016, 11:03:05 PM
I understand that each time you pull a hair in electrolysis there is a percentage success rate of destroying the follicles. I just learnt that Thermal has a significantly lower success rate than galvanic. Thus, whatever method there is a percentage that will reappear.
I also had the same impression as Elizabeth but I now understand it's not so....especially the reappearance of some dormant hairs. I guess you just keep attacking those pesky last few hairs. Eventually they just give up and disappear.
So I guess the skill of the operator will also make a difference to ensure correct current is applied to correct hair type. The guy who did my Hair implants told me that each hair follicle has a number of stem cells attached and this is what creates the continual replacement of hair. If you don't zap these cells, then I would guess, regrowth is going to happen? So I wonder if the beard hair has these stem cells attached or whether its a standard feature for all hair which would explain why they are so darn hard to kill off.
Liz
Quote from: ElizabethK on May 17, 2016, 05:21:12 PM
Here is my understanding...At any one point there are three stages that your facial hair will be
Active = Growing
New Growth = new hair
Dormant = lying in stealth to pop up and annoy you unexpectedly
One clearance would be removing every single hair from your face that is showing in one/multiple sessions, then the follicles in the new cycle come through and the dormant ones tend to start to get active. So each time you remove every hair from the area you have completed a clearance.
For me I am still clearing the toughest hairs which are the ones I have had growing for years (the first hairs)...once you have cleared an area you will get the regrowth (lighter and sparser) and when that is removed, it is the second clearance and so on and so on. I think in theory its three full clearances, one for each type of hair and you should be finished with the occasional renegade popping up.
Liz K
PS If I have this wrong I hope someone will correct me
Ok, that's similar to what I've heard before. My understanding is that the hair follicles that are active and have hair growing out are the ones you can 'zap' or kill. But at any one time, only a small portion of the hair follicles will be active. So repeated treatments will slowly knock off the follicles as they become active.
I heard that this can be over 18 months(?)
I cannot transition now, due to my situation, but not sure when it will be possible, so I'd like to take small steps that may not be as apparent.
I thought if I use my HPL home hair removal system to zap my facial hair over time potentially thinning it. Since it may not work as well as electrolysis or laser, there will still be some hair for a while....I guess I can be patient and it will suit me, considering I can't afford to be outed at this time.
As another chicken trying to screw together enough courage to get plucked, has anyone heard of an Electrolysis 3000 sort of service on the West Coast (USA)? I'd think someplace like San Francisco could support such a business.
That is, I'm looking for someone who does the whole numb you up and clear everything in one big multi-day session, that gets repeated (with shorter sessions, I hope) every 6-8 weeks until beard-free. I can deal with one week in eight being a hairy ape, but constantly going unshaven for weekly sessions might drive me bonkers. (The beard/stubble seems to be a big trigger for my dysphoria.). I'd rather not have to fly to Texas (Texas!) every couple months, though.
Just thought I'd ask.
Quote from: Michelle_P on May 19, 2016, 04:36:14 PM
As another chicken trying to screw together enough courage to get plucked, has anyone heard of an Electrolysis 3000 sort of service on the West Coast (USA)? I'd think someplace like San Francisco could support such a business.
That is, I'm looking for someone who does the whole numb you up and clear everything in one big multi-day session, that gets repeated (with shorter sessions, I hope) every 6-8 weeks until beard-free. I can deal with one week in eight being a hairy ape, but constantly going unshaven for weekly sessions might drive me bonkers. (The beard/stubble seems to be a big trigger for my dysphoria.). I'd rather not have to fly to Texas (Texas!) every couple months, though.
Just thought I'd ask.
I had a half hour session yesterday and it took 4 days to get enough growth to do it. She has asked me not to shave between now and next Tuesdays 2-hour session which I am having injections for as its my top lip, which has a big scar in the middle...I would love to be able to do a Studio 300 deal. Not shaving plays havoc with me after a day or two and really feed my Dysphoria.
I have the money for the Electrolysis I just can't stand the pain after awhile and am still al lonmg way from an hour at a time. My Electrologist thinks we should be able to clear my top lip and a good percentage of my chin. Even though it hurts I can see results after only doing this since January. She really aims to make it one zap one dead hair follicle.
Liz K
Weirdly electrolysis hurts less than IPL for me ??? My lady uses xylocaine spray beforehand, and I don't get any swelling or any real irritation afterwards. She's very good.
The patchy growth makes it very difficult to go to work while waiting for it to grow long enough to zap, in fact I take Mondays off so I can leave it over the weekend when it doesn't matter. Chin is being difficult via IPL, but everything else is white hair, which she's chipping away at. Going for five hours on Tuesday :icon_2gun: :icon_geekdance: :icon_chainsaw: