I had my first session today which was scheduled for an hour but I could not tolerate any longer than 20mintues. The Electrologist said she was using a fairly high current as the hairs were tough. She tried a different current whihc was not any better and turned the current down but had to zap twice  . I had put Emla cream on an hour before but not correctly, from what I understand now and it was pretty much gone apart from a light greasiness by the time I had my appointment. I was expecting a small amount of discomfort somewhere in the region of laser discomfort(only because I had the numbing cream on) and it was far worse than that and actually felt like it had very little effect, she was concentrating along  and under my Jawline.

The big issue with the Emla cream is the cost, I have seen a few other products that are much cheaper but are they any good such as "Supernumb"

Can anyone recommend a numbing cream? I am going to have a real problem if I can't do anything about this discomfort. It means I am not going to be able to do very long sessions maybe only 30 minutes at a time and that will take forever. Although the electrologist says the first appointment is the worst and it does become less painful. I think I am going to come to dread this.

My Electrologist is suggesting codiene based meds help the most does anyone have any experience of this?

I will shave in about another hour but the area she worked on looks a little swollen but pretty good all in all. So it would appear on first look that the Electrologist knows her stuff.

Any help or advice to get through this would be greatly appreciated.

I have booked a 30 minute session next time and will see from there.

Elizabeth K

There was a thread about that a while ago

Electrolysis Pain Management
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php?topic=176665.0

I since found out you can get topical anesthetic compounded, at least in Sydney, that's even stronger than the ones discussed in that thread. You'd need a prescription to get it. These are far stronger than emla.

Hi Elizabeth,

Electrolysis is tough, no doubt about it. I still remember my electrologist (who is transgender-experienced) telling me stories about how some people would actually fall asleep on the table (!), but I am not one of those lucky few. It hurts like hell.  From experience, yes, the first few sessions were the worst.  Numbing creams had only minor effect on me, even after slathering them on all the way to the salon.

After about a dozen sessions, with lots of swelling and redness, my electrologist said, "well, we can try blend" (galvanic and thermolysis).  It did hurt less.  The swelling was less, but ironically I now get more discoloration.  The discoloration does slowly fade over time.

I did try going to Papillon clinic in Pennsylvania (I live in Virginia) to get novocaine injections for my upper lip area, but the injections were the most painful thing I have ever experienced, and afterwords I swelled up like a chipmunk. I now use ice during treatments. I bring a freezer-pack and apply it while other areas are being done.  I can now tolerate even my upper lip (in small doses!) between the lidocaine cream and icing.

Good luck!

~Terri

Thanks AnonMs and Maybebaby

Thank you, I read that thread and from what I can tell there are a number of key points I have for consideration when it comes to pain management and apart from the normal stuff like being relaxed, using the creams properly, Icing, and just plain old sucking it up. I have a very special element I bring. It's technical to try and explain and I still after all these years don't understand everything about it.

I have a chronic pain issue, and because of this my body after a number of years, about 16 in my case, responds to pain differently. Due to the constant barrage of pain signals over the years it has created some kind of feedback loop to my brain creating a state of Hyper sensitivity. Yep...you see where I am going with this...so as a result I can...(not always) get an "over reaction of my pain receptors to stimuli"...this usually means exactly what it sounds like. But it is a bit like Russian roulette because they don't always respond in that way...I don't know why and I don't think the Dr have much of clue either....so what it really means to me is I need to manage it, and that may take the form of only doing one area at a time and using ice in between along with the ointment(applied correctly always helps) relaxation techniques, and maybe some help from my Dr. I know after a period of time I will grow to tolerate it better and the currents used will become less as the hairs become finer.

I have some swelling this morning but overall it looks very good better than I expected, I will probably shave later today and aloe vera for the rest of the morning.

I have heard that story of people falling asleep but I would be surprised if it was at their first treatment, rather than the 100 hour mark LOL, after awhile I guess you get used to it like anything else and eventually the hassle is more of a consideration than the pain. It won't beat me...I may need to be a little innovative with pain relief methods...but if yesterday was the equivalent of "cold turkey" then any improvement on that will be welcome.

Elizabeth K

I had full facial hair removal via electrolysis. I agree, it is painful in its own unique way! My pain management involved the following...

• My doctor gave me a "Lidocaine/Prilocaine (2.5%/2.5%) cream" prescription which could be refilled about once per month for up to a year, so I could get tubes as needed within limitations of my health plan.
• I applied the Lidocaine/Prilocaine no later than one hour prior to my appointment, where my face would be white thick with the cream. I would not skimp. I would cake it on so no or little skin was visible. I would then cover it with 3 pieces of plastic wrap, one for left cheek, right cheek, and upper lip (in a way where my mouth was not covered by the plastic wrap). I would then sit in the waiting room for at least one hour before my appointment.
• I avoided coffee and caffeine at least several hours prior to the appointment, if not completely avoiding it for that day until after my appointment.
• Getting to my appointment ahead of time, relaxed, seemed critical to a good experience.
• I sometimes took an over the counter herbal Gaia Kava Kava about 15 minutes prior to starting.  http://www.gaiaherbs.com/products/detail/269/Kava-Kava-Root
• Drinking wine or whatnot the night before seemed to me to be associated with more pain at the next day's appointment. Generally speaking, if I had a more painful experience on any particular day, I would try to think carefully about what I'd done differently the night before, or that day, and adjust as needed. This helped me learn about myself and how I deal with electrolysis.

I heard about the "dentist Novocaine" option but never tried it. I heard about more powerful meds but I did not want to deal with having to wait for them to wear off after my appointment (before driving).

One thing... I discovered that my pain threshold went noticeably lower (I could feel more pain more easily) after starting HRT. Fortunately I had already been far into my facial hair removal process.

Regardless of my pain management efforts, the process still involved some pain, but I must say... being relaxed and getting that thick layer of cream on at least an hour in advance was critical to avoiding a significantly more painful experience.

It's tough but it's obvious that you will win over the pain. Best of luck!

Kao has some very good advice there. 

I will add that I have fallen asleep a few times, but, yes, this was over the 100 hour mark.  I think it has more to due with the thinner/finer hairs than anything, but that is a guess.  It also seemed to coincide with me not getting enough sleep the night before.

The early sessions hurt like hell.  I would cry with some of the hairs.  And I would squirm so much it drove my electrologist bonkers. Anything along the jaw felt like the skin was being pinched against the jaw.

I am telling you this as an example that it will get better!   Even now it still hurts, but not like it did.  I had a session last night, and I did fall asleep for part of it.  Some hairs were still painful, but no crying and little squirming.  I go to each session excited to be getting rid of the fur! But by the end of the session I am counting the minutes until it is over.

Thankyou so much Kao3 and Kimsails for your advice

I have noted what you have said and in comparison to yesterday let me think

Drank coffee all morning

Went shopping on my way to the appointment

Put cream on in car park of shopping centre and it was no longer visible on my scin by the time I went in

I was extremely wound up from the drive in and the "first" appointment nerves, was a long way from relaxed

It was about 34c in the shade

I did not cover the area properly in cream

I did not apply it thick enough

I did not cover the area with anything

I did get one thing right..no booze...but then I don't drink anyway LOL

So when I look at all the the things you advised, I think I probably did exactly the opposite to most of them...is it any wonder it hurt like hell. I knew after the first 5 minutes that I was "chasing the pain" and that I was so far past relaxed that it became futile trying to control it. I think it is a pain you have to experience to actually understand because it is so unusual. I did have a big grin all over my face when I got home and found a few of the hairs she pulled tangled in my remaining beard. It simply renewed my determination to beat this thing. I would dearly love to get too a couple of hours a week providing I get my payout which is due any day now otherwise it will be 1/2 a week until I am done because that is all I can afford.

I intend to put all the things you suggested into play next week when I go. I asm seeing my Dr so will get something to help me stay relaxed which should help.

Elizabeth K

I have some lidocaine ointment 5% that my doctor gave me to put on some areas when I had shingles.  It is prescription only here but that stuff will numb almost anything.  Numbed my fingertip before I could get it applied. 

Quote from: BeverlyAnn on January 20, 2016, 09:14:38 PM
I have some lidocaine ointment 5% that my doctor gave me to put on some areas when I had shingles.  It is prescription only here but that stuff will numb almost anything.  Numbed my fingertip before I could get it applied.

Do you remember if it was just called Lidocaine Ointment? I am seeing my Dr tomorrow and am going to ask for a stronger and hopefully cheaper ointment, gel,cream I don't care if I can get it on the pbs that would be even better...thanks

Quote from: KimSails on January 20, 2016, 07:44:23 PM
... I will add that I have fallen asleep a few times ...

I too have been lucky enough to fall asleep, but only for brief moments... wish it had been longer.

Quote from: ElizabethK on January 20, 2016, 08:40:30 PM
... I think I probably did exactly the opposite to most of them...is it any wonder it hurt like hell. ...

Same sort of thing happened to me. Just as you're describing, I plumb forgot some of the prep details on certain days. I eventually got the message: The electrolysis appointment really begins the night before.

I forgot to mention... I found the following to be true for myself... My upper lip area was particularly sensitive, even with Lidocaine/Prilocaine cream. But not all days. I couldn't figure out why until one day I realized that the more rushed I was prior to an appointment, the more my upper lip sweats. I'm not 100% certain, but I've come to believe that when my upper lip is covered with cream and plastic wrap and I'm rushing and I sweat, it sort of works against the cream which must make its way into the pores.

As well, my upper lip seems to not hold the cream well, or it doesn't absorb it as well, or both. This may be because of the sweating, and/or the nature of the skin there. I informally confirmed this to myself when observing that my cheeks, which are much smoother and don't really sweat much at all, not only get extremely numb, but stay numb even well after my appointment is over.

As I experienced one session after another, I eventually arrived at the following: I get the cream on no later than an hour before the appointment, preferably when already nearby or even in the waiting room of the place. While waiting, at various times I might peel away the plastic wrap which covers the upper lip, then replenish the cream there, the cover it back up.

As well, with the plastic wrap on, I occasionally lightly press all of the plastic wrap all over my face to move the cream around, ensure it's going into the pores. I do this every so often for my entire face... just give it a little TLC, perhaps replenishing cream if it seems clear in some spots. I don't go overboard but just give it a little TLC.

Even with all that, the upper lip is not 100% easy, but the extra time and care has seemed to make a worthwhile difference.

I'm guessing each person needs to figure out their routine but a general rule might be not to assume it's simply another appointment, like a hair appointment. The client plays a large preparation role for its success.

I don't think the pain ever goes away 100% but it's a matter of mitigation which preparation plays a huge role in achieving. I'm glad you've identified things which can be tweaked... I bet it gets better. Again, best of luck!

Well here is another war story. I don't recall how many sessions I had but 200 is possible. every hair was removed with electro using the blend method. A few of the girls where able to get a prescription for something to numb the skin or would get an injection to numb the area to be worked but I didn't. My only source of pain control was to distract myself by concentrating on something else or letting my mind drift.

As for falling asleep, I never did. I put in two hour appointments a week and am still clear other than a few escapes that I pluck once every few weeks.

Quote from: Dena on January 21, 2016, 12:00:02 AM
... My only source of pain control was to distract myself by concentrating on something else or letting my mind drift.

Now, that!, is truly impressive! 

I must say, despite all the cream I used, I still often needed to go deep somewhere and focus on something else, or talk as if I were reciting the longest monologue in the world... ...yet I'd still whine now and then.

I admit, every once in a while the needle went somewhere it shouldn't go and it blew everything. Then in the distant you hear the word sorry. 

Quote from: ElizabethK on January 20, 2016, 09:32:51 PM
Do you remember if it was just called Lidocaine Ointment? I am seeing my Dr tomorrow and am going to ask for a stronger and hopefully cheaper ointment, gel,cream I don't care if I can get it on the pbs that would be even better...thanks

Elizabeth, sorry I didn't see this until now.  It's just labeled Lidocaine Ointment USP, 5%.  It's available here in the US by prescription only but I don't know what's available there.

OK, you people are scaring me.  I'm starting to think I need to make an appointment at Electrolysis 3000 where they use the novocaine.  LOL

Quote from: BeverlyAnn on January 21, 2016, 10:44:37 PM
... OK, you people are scaring me.  I'm starting to think I need to make an appointment at Electrolysis 3000 where they use the novocaine.  LOL

I believe hindsight experiences should probably be tempered by those who might begin. At least in my case, my hindsight perceptions are based on a certain disbelief I have when I think about the past sessions I went through. As well, I've now started HRT which I believe has lowered my pain threshold somewhat. So, in some respects, I believe I'm more sensitive about the process on hindsight, whereas prior I was raring to go, and put my head under the sand, and nothing was going to stop me, and nothing did. Since my pain threshold was also higher then, there really has been a shift on multiple levels.

My point partly being, please temper what you hear from me on hindsight... I'm a little in disbelief of all I weathered with it, but during the process, there were many times when it was, yes a little painful, but also fun as my electrologist is very good, and there were times of laughter because of the jokes and whining stemming from the pain and that sort of thing. So I look back on the process with great appreciation that will grow further over time.

I share my personal experience because I hope some folks can avoid the pitfalls I hit given, at the time I started, I was not aware of how much my own preparation played a role in successful sessions. There was trial-and-error in me learning about myself more than I had expected. Not a biggie, but unexpected and more involved is all.

Electrolysis is a process to be appreciated and enjoyed despite any pain, or any tedious details required for any person to learn their own system in approaching it.

Very briefly: Viva electrolysis! Viva electrologists! May their talent be appreciated and remembered, may the process be respected, honored, but also enjoyed!

I started off with nothing and cried almost every session. Later I found another location and they gave me Topicaine, which had lidocaine in it. It still hurt quite a bit on the upper lip, but nothing like before.