I just had my first electrolysis session.

[hippywife]

Unfortunately, due to my hormones and heritage, also my age, I finally had to break down and take this step. I've been in the process of growing dark stiff hair below my chin that I can no longer keep up with using tweezers. I found it to be not painful and very reasonable pricewise.

I'm so relieved that I've finally made the decision to do this. Anyone else have experience with this? :hi:

[hippywife]

1. Well, since no one else has responded...

I'll just say that it's going pretty well. We are able now to go two weeks between appts. The appts. at 30 minutes and cost $40 each. It only hurts me along my jaw and my actual chin, anywhere there is bone. She said that's unusual. Most people don't have problems with that area. It's not terribly painful, tho. Just a little burning sensation. I imagine that it's probably the same sensation as getting a tattoo.

At this rate, we should be able to finish up sooner than either of us expected.

Also, she says that the myth that shaving or tweezing makes the hair come in faster and thicker is just that...a total myth. I can't tweeze between appointments because that hair would not come back for 5-6 weeks and really prolong this process. So I just shave it and then leave it alone for a few days before my appointment. This allows it to grow out just long enough for the procedure.

When we're done with my chin and neck (area just between the chin and neck actually, not sure what it's called) then we will do the upper lip and I'm done.

I would highly recommend this without reservation if you are someone like me who really grows facial hair. :hi:

[Delphinus]

2. This kills it completely, right?

I'm lucky in that regard - I only have one and I can feel it (and find it) to pluck it. Now that I seem to be transitioning, I've not had to pluck it for a bit of time.

[hippywife]

3. It does kill it completely.

Even laser hair removal supposedly is not permanent. If you find that one hair that you tweeze coming back in less that five to six weeks, it's because it's not the same hair. We have so many hair follicles that at any given time only about a third of the hairs in any given area of our body is in evidence. And, unfortunately, as we age facial hair is one of the types that doesn't become less, as it does on your head and legs.

It's all about hormones and their balance in your body, estrogen to testosterone, that controls the growth. My electrologist, among many others, is also convinced that excess hair growth in women, or what's known as hirsutism, is also tied to polycystic ovary syndrome. And I did have to have my left ovary and uterus removed because of cysts and have every one of the symptoms of the syndrome. This is why she decided to be an electrologist; she had this same problem.

http://www.pcosupport.org/

So, it's more than just a cosmetic issue. My electrologist uses different methods for different hair. Currently she uses what's known as a blend method for the hair she is currently removing under my chin.

http://tulsaelectrology.samsbiz.com/page/18skr/HISTORY_OF_ELECTROLYSIS.html

She will use a different method for the hair on my upper lip because with that hair, the blend method won't be necessary for the permanent removal.

It's all been very enlightening along the way and it was a relief to know that shaving these hairs and tweezing them was not the cause for the spread and increase in the hair.

:hi:

[sandnsea]

7. What is the total price?

When you're all done. I imagine it's similar for anyone who needs chin and upper lip?

[redqueen]

4. That's a lot more reasonable than I would have expected.

I'm definitely going to look into this. Thanks for posting about this. :hi:

[hippywife]

5. You're welcome.

We've now been able to extend the visits from one per week to one every two weeks. When I went yesterday, she was able to clear that growth in less than half an hour so she was only going to charge me $37 but I'd already written my check before I went. I had just assumed that she would charge the same because she has a price for 15 min., 30 min., and an hour. Most business charge for any portion of that time and don't make deductions for just a few minutes.

I really am feeling better about my appearance and my skin is beginning to heal well in spots where ingrown hairs were causing scarring.

I hope you have as good an experience as I am. :hi:

[Qanisqineq]

6. I've had laser removal

And I can say it is not permanent. The hair seemed to disappear for a long time, then once my hormones got out of whack again, they came back. Yes, they could be different hairs but with some I don't think so -- the hairs are now very fragile and break when trying to pluck, like the follicle was damaged.

[hippywife]

8. There may have been some damage.

I'm now on a once every 4 week schedule so it's getting even cheaper, and I just shave my problem spots in between. :hi:

[hippywife]

9. Progress update.

My appointment today was only 14 minutes long. They only take as long as she needs to clear out any new hair. And we've been going a month between appointments now instead of just a week. We're shooting for six weeks until I go back. I do still get some growth but it is considerably less and I shave occasionally in between to keep the fewer new ones from getting too long.

My skin where the majority of the hair was growing seems to be healing, too. It has been this scarred area that I always saw first thing when I looked in the mirror. She does use aloe on it right after she's done, which is nice and cold and feels so good.

This has definitely been worth doing.