Electrolysis

Are you bothered by unwanted hair on your face or body? Is unsightly hair spoiling your natural beauty? Would you love to permanently get rid of the problem? Electrolysis hair removal could be the solution you've been looking for. Keep reading to learn more about this treatment and how it compares to laser hair removal.

What is electrolysis?

Unwanted hair can grow on your face or body due to various reasons, such as hereditary factors, metabolic causes, and hormonal imbalances. Whatever the cause, electrolysis is a permanent hair removal method to get rid of this unwanted hair forever. The treatment requires a series of appointments with a dermatologist or aesthetic provider to get the desired results. However, once the treatment is completed, the results are permanent. What's more, there are minimal side effects associated with this hair removal procedure.

How does it work?

Hair follicles are tunnel-shaped structures in the skin. Each shaft of hair starts growing from the bottom of a hair follicle. Electrolysis destroys the hair follicles with heat energy from a radiofrequency probe. A small needle or thin metal probe is inserted into the hair follicles and low current electricity is passed to destroy it. Some methods rely on a chemical reaction to dissolve the hair follicles. In either case, the treatment produces sodium hydroxide ions in the skin that destroy the hair follicles. This effect is similar to an electrolyzer that splits water into oxygen and hydrogen ions. Once the hair follicles are destroyed, the hairs are pulled out with tweezers.

By destroying the hair follicles, electrolysis prevents any future hair growth. This means that after you undergo the procedure, you no longer need regular hair removal with techniques like waxing, threading, tweezing, etc.

Where can electrolysis be performed?

Most parts of the body can be treated safely with electrolysis. The most common area people get electrolysis is the face, including the eyebrows, upper lip, chin, bridge of the nose, sideburns, cheeks, and hairline. It can also be done on the breasts, underarms, abdomen, bikini line, thighs, legs, arms, back, and chest.

There are some parts of the body where electrolysis cannot be performed, for example, inside the nose or ears. It is also never done to remove hair from a birthmark or mole. People who have a cardiac pacemaker may not be candidates for electrolysis on any part of the body because the procedure can interfere with the implanted device.

Does electrolysis hair removal really work?

Electrolysis is considered a permanent hair removal method because it destroys the hair follicle, the structure in the skin from which hair growth occurs. Studies have shown it has a success rate of more than 90%, meaning there is a good chance you will never again have hair growth in treated areas. This is one of the highest success rates of all the different hair removal methods.

Does electrolysis remove hair permanently?

As noted, electrolysis is a permanent hair removal method. However, some patients do not respond to the treatment, and there is a small chance of hair regrowth. Patients should be aware that electrolysis hair removal is not 100% successful in everyone. Nonetheless, as noted, the success rate is high in the hands of experienced aesthetic providers.

Can you have hair growth after electrolysis?

As noted before, you need a series of electrolysis treatments over a period of time to permanently get rid of unwanted hair. In the interval between electrolysis sessions, you will have some hair growth. This is because the hairs are in various stages of the growth cycle when the treatment is performed. Only the hairs in the growing phase are visible on the skin surface. The provider is only able to treat the hairs that are visible at the time of the electrolysis session. With each subsequent session, more and more hair follicles are identified and destroyed. Over time, the provider will get all the hair follicles and you will have no more hair growth in the treated area.

How many sessions will I need?

The number of electrolysis sessions you will need depends on your rate of hair growth. Most patients require 15-30 sessions spaced 1-2 weeks apart. This means electrolysis can sometimes be a tedious process, lasting for months or even years. Once the series of treatments is complete, however, your unwanted hair will be gone forever.

Does electrolysis ruin your skin?

In general, the electrolysis procedure is safe and effective for most skin and hair types. However, it may not be appropriate for everyone. In some people, electrolysis can lead to the formation of thick scars called keloids or cause changes in skin color. Your aesthetic provider will obtain health information and perform a careful examination to determine if this is an appropriate procedure for you. If not, they will be able to recommend other hair removal procedures that may be good options.

Is electrolysis painful? What are the side effects?

It is common to have temporary side effects like redness, tenderness, and swelling in the treated area after electrolysis. This reaction usually resolves in a few days on its own without any specific treatment. If the symptoms persist, application of a steroid cream for a few days may help.

In terms of pain and discomfort, some patients report that the electrolysis process feels like mild tingling or rubber bands snapping on the skin. Others experience more discomfort. If you have low pain tolerance in general, your dermatologist or aesthetic provider may use topical anesthetic (numbing medicine) to keep you comfortable during the procedure. In general, laser therapy tends to be less painful than electrolysis.

Advantages and disadvantages of electrolysis

Advantages

A key advantage of electrolysis is its good safety and efficacy record. In terms of results, it has some of the best success rates in getting rid of unwanted hair permanently. Also, electrolysis can benefit many types of skin and hair. It can be performed on various parts of the body. Some people who are not good candidates for other hair removal methods like laser hair removal may get good results with electrolysis. For example, laser therapy works best in those with fair skin and dark hair since it targets the pigment in the hair. Laser hair removal may, therefore, not be effective in people with dark skin or blonde, red, or gray hair.

Disadvantages

One of the disadvantages of electrolysis is that it can sometimes be difficult to get to the root of the hair follicle when waxing or tweezing has made the hair follicles misshapen. The other disadvantage is that it requires multiple sessions for permanent hair removal. The process itself can be slow because the destruction of each hair follicle takes up to 20 seconds.

Laser hair removal vs electrolysis

Laser hair removal and electrolysis are both long-lasting methods of hair removal. However, electrolysis has better success rates and fewer side effects and risks compared to laser hair removal. It is also a more permanent method of hair removal without the need for maintenance treatments. Laser hair removal, on the other hand, requires regular maintenance. Electrolysis is also more versatile than laser therapy. It can stop hair growth in all skin and hair types and be used on most parts of the body.

Laser hair removal does have some advantages, however. Laser treatment does not require as many sessions as electrolysis to get results. Also, laser treatment can be used on larger areas of skin compared to electrolysis.

Do home electrolysis products work?

Some laser therapy and electrolysis products have been developed for use at home. However, while many of these products claim to provide similar results as professional treatments, they are usually not as effective or permanent, even with excellent skin care.

How much does face electrolysis including the eyebrows cost?

Each electrolysis session costs anywhere from $30 to $200 depending on your geographical location, the skill of your aesthetic provider, and the area of the body being treated. The total cost of face electrolysis will depend on how many sessions you need. Some providers charge by the hour, so the cost of the treatment can vary from session to session, depending on the amount of time each treatment takes to complete.

Finding an electrolysis provider

Want to find out more about electrolysis hair removal? Not sure whether to go for laser hair removal or electrolysis? The MeTime app makes it easy to find aesthetic providers in your area. You can click and upload pictures and have suggestions sent directly to you. Get in touch with a dermatologist or expert aesthetic provider in your area today. Try the MeTime app now!