Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transitioning => Topic started by: R R H on October 01, 2016, 11:46:55 AM

Title: Electrolysis in Surrey / London / Hampshire? And assume it's better than laser?
Post by: R R H on October 01, 2016, 11:46:55 AM
Hi everyone,

I've been approved for NHS funded electrolysis. Can anyone recommend a BIAE approved centre in Surrey, London, Hampshire (UK)? It must be BIAE to get the 8 sessions funded.

I'm also assuming electrolysis is better than laser. I've heard mixed results with the latter e.g. hair regrowth.

I don't have pronounced hair any longer thanks to hormones but definitely would like my face worked on as the priority, possibly followed by a few other places.

Title: Re: Electrolysis in Surrey / London / Hampshire? And assume it's better than laser?
Post by: Dena on October 01, 2016, 12:31:28 PM
Laser is faster and cheaper. It works great on darker hair. Electrolysis is slower, more expensive and possibly more painful but it gets all the hair. A beard could take over 200 hours to remove with  electrolysis but I have only  had about a dozen hair that have issues after over 30  years. They may only  fund one form of treatment so you may  be limited to what the program offers.
Title: Re: Electrolysis in Surrey / London / Hampshire? And assume it's better than laser?
Post by: R R H on October 11, 2016, 12:18:37 PM
Well I've decided to go for electrolysis in the end. I didn't find it painful. There may be a lot of work but at least it's permanent. I start tomorrow and will have 2 hours a week for a while.
Title: Re: Electrolysis in Surrey / London / Hampshire? And assume it's better than laser?
Post by: LizK on October 11, 2016, 03:57:39 PM
Quote from: Rachel Richenda on October 11, 2016, 12:18:37 PM
Well I've decided to go for electrolysis in the end. I didn't find it painful. There may be a lot of work but at least it's permanent. I start tomorrow and will have 2 hours a week for a while.

So long as you remember that the term "permanent" may not be exactly the way you or me think. Due to the number of hair follicles on our faces it can seem like the electrolysis is going over and over the same area. My electrologist said she always goes for the one zap one kill but this doesn't always work.

I have had about 14 laser sessions and each one permanently kills a heap of dark hair follicles, as this is far cheaper "$50 for whole face" I can keep my face almost free of dark hair, I do not have a shadow, What I have left are incredibly tough grey hair, about 1/3 of my face. These are really painful to remove. The new growth hairs are much finer and darker. I had a clearance on my top lip about 8 weeks ago and there is very little to no new growth at all. I have two one hour sessions with dental injections booked for early November. That will be four hours work on the top lip and chin area. My grey facial hair is sparse but tough so kind of half a blessing...I am switching a different Electrologist again soon.

Good luck with the hair removal hope my info helps in some way

Liz
Title: Re: Electrolysis in Surrey / London / Hampshire? And assume it's better than laser?
Post by: AnonyMs on October 11, 2016, 06:16:37 PM
Quote from: Rachel Richenda on October 11, 2016, 12:18:37 PM
Well I've decided to go for electrolysis in the end. I didn't find it painful. There may be a lot of work but at least it's permanent. I start tomorrow and will have 2 hours a week for a while.

Are you doing that in Thailand? I'd like to know more if you are.
Title: Re: Electrolysis in Surrey / London / Hampshire? And assume it's better than laser?
Post by: R R H on October 11, 2016, 11:52:46 PM
No in Surrey for now because the NHS fund 8 of the sessions. If I had it done in Thailand, where I'll be next month, I'd go to PAI for sure.