Quote from: Tasha Elizabeth on January 25, 2010, 12:38:08 AM
sorry, i have to disagree about electrolysis.  i believe that is permanent.

I have to disagree with you again. My friend has had various extensive electrolosis over the last 18 years and the hair has grown back again. She has more recently had laser which is far more effective and hasn't damaged her skin as much as electolosis had. I understand the theory behind electrolosis but I actually prefer laser.

No hair removal process is permanent and hair will eventually grow back on your face. Obviously not to the same degree but it will gradually come back to some extent.

Quote from: Naturally Blonde on January 24, 2010, 05:57:47 AM
I thought electrolosis was a bit old hat these days. I actually prefer laser.

Believe me, I prefer laser as well, but unless somebody knows something my local laser centers don't, laser does not work on grey or white hair very well if at all.

I had some electro then at the recommendation of my dermatolgist did some laser to thin down the dark hairs, still going back for the white/grays

And dark hairs are still popping up every now and then despite all of that

Mmm, I will disagree with both of you.

Laser is often marketed as being permanant 'reduction' while electrolysis is often said to be permanant removal (still have to get through some cycles of regrowth though as the hair weakens).

I've had a lot of laser on my face. Definitly some areas were just really resistant like my upper and lower lip. But the laser cleared my cheeks and neck really well (10 sessions though). I still have the odd hair growing out. I'm now getting a clean up with electrolysis to get the strays and do my upper and lower lip.

I think the laser is great if you have a lot of hair over a big surface. It is value for money. But I think electro is great for smaller work and is more of a sure thing in the long term + you can get all the hairs laser can't touch like blond hairs. But as with anything you need a good electrologist?, success really depends on the skill of the operator. If you have a one with crappy technique you will have more pain and bad results and possible scaring.

My electrolysis is $40NZ for 30 minutes (about $30 american). That is pretty standard over here. I seem to manage the pain well, I have a good tolerance. I really enjoy the sessions and don't find the upper lip too uncomfortable.  She often uses direct current with a hit of alternate on the end which I find more painful but she said it is quicker. For me it is like "ok, not too bad, then ouchy!" but weirdly right under my nose I can't feel the hit at the end. Only now and then do I get a real toe curler.

I found laser to be much more painful.
 

I'm getting laser for the dark hairs and electrolysis for the light hairs (white, mostly) which the laser won't touch.  The laser is less painful as the number of dark hairs lessens.  Electrolysis is more painful in some places than others.  My electrolygist said to stay as hydrated as possible to make the electro less painful.

My understanding is that electrolysis is permemnant, but I seem to be growing hair where I never did before as I get older.  So of course that will continue.

The laser tech said I should come in once or twice a year for a touchup.  Sounds reasonable to me.

And my electrolysis costs $US 60/hour.  So far I've done about 25 hours.  I would guess I have at least another 30-40 to go.

- Kate

       Stay hydrated... but also I was told to not drink coffee before my electrolysis appt.  Affectsd the sensitivity some what.  I've done it both ways and am still looking for there to be less hair.

do the numbers?  i've read we have between 200 and 300 hairs per square centimetre on the main chin/jaw/upper lip area which means in USA terms that is between 1000-1500 per square inch and about say 8 quare inches of chin area so that is 8000 hairs of which only about a quarter will be actually growing and visible at any time.
So if a person can stand the pain and the elecrologist can zap one per minute for one hour which means 130 hours minimum but if the pain is so bad that only a few get zapped every hour or if the person has more hairs per square inch this 130 may be over or under by 100%. Which is why we hear talk of the 400 hours/2 years and still not done etc  That's just for the front of face.
I have heard that some topline clinics with resident medics can offer painkilling injections so a person can just lie there with two electrologists working at once and they can zap the whole face in a few visits.  Goodness knows that cost of that.   When I win the lottery that is my first priority.

It's quite a bit more than one per minute, but it usually takes more than one zap to kill them, so there's that.

I've done laser and it did absolutely nothing for me. . . so I had to move to electro and it's working but it's def slow with a lot of pesky regrowth at times on some hairs.

I'm new here, a new friend just told me about the site.  I did 6 sessions of light sheer laser and then switched to electrolysis and am super happy with the results.  Both hurt but differently. 

What are peoples opinion on the efficacy with or without hormone therapy.  Sometimes I wonder if the hair will stay away better once I start the hormones or if I am just being impatient.

jenna

Welcome to Susan's, Jenna. 

Don't be impatient - it won't do you any good.   Hormones may make the facial hairs grow a little more slowly and be a little softer, but they don't affect facial hair much unfortunately.

But there's a whole lot of other good information and good people here, too.  Each of our stories is unique but we have a lot in common.  Settle in, pull up a keyboard, and explore.

Be sure to look under the Announcements heading.  There you will find the rules we live by in this little world of ours: "Site Terms of Service and Rules to Live By", "Standard Terms and Definitions", and "Post Ranks".  Look through the other stuff there, too, like "Age and the Forums".

Happy exploring.

- Kate

Quote from: Naturally Blonde on January 25, 2010, 02:20:32 PM
a bunch of cynical stuff

I can see being unhappy with the results of hrt (though I think you're WAY too hard on yourself  ), unhappy with pills and patches and a system that doesn't permit injections, but electrolysis doesn't work there either? Remind me never to visit the united kingdom, it sounds like an aweful place.

I think some people have a problem of assuming their experience is the only possible experience.

That's all I'm going to say.

This is the one area that I have yet to explore.  As I don't have a ton of facial hair, seems I don't handle pain too well... Hopefully one day I will be able to pursue this and be done with it...

I agree ashley. Just like some people find EMLA to work best and others swear by ELA max 5.
Also I abandoned an old account here ages ago because if this very problem (subjective experiences) with someone in a thread about results from hormones.