The Advantages and Disadvantages of Electrolysis for Removing Unwanted Hair

Electrolysis is a cosmetic procedure that is used to remove body hair. It is possible to use electrolysis to remove hair on any area of the skin, with the exception of the hair in the nostrils and the ears. Women usually turn to electrolysis to get rid of hair in their underarms, abdomen, breasts, bikini area, brows, upper lip and chin. Sometimes, they also opt to go through electrolysis to remove hair on the arms, legs, toes, buttocks and forehead. There are also men who choose electrolysis to get rid of the unsightly hair on their eyebrows, neck and cheekbones, but for them electrolysis is more popularly used on the back and shoulders.

Basically, electrolysis requires having hair-thin needles inserted under the skin. Electric pulses are then sent through these needles, and these pulses then destroy the hair follicles. Electrolysis can be a long, painful and drawn-out process, given that it removes hair strand by individual strand.

According to researchers, epilation with the use of electricity has been experimented on since the Civil War period. The first successfully conducted permanent removal of unwanted hair with the use of electrolysis was reported by an ophthalmologist named Dr. Charles E. Michel. The report was made in the St. Louis Clinical Record in 1875. Since then, electrolysis has been considered to be a highly effective method of hair removal, and its popularity rose afterwards.

The Advantage of Electrolysis

Before you commit to any hair removal treatment involving electrolysis, you should weigh first the treatment's advantages and disadvantages. The biggest benefit that you can get from electrolysis is that results are almost guaranteed. It is the most effective method to date for removing body and facial hair. As mentioned above, it has been in practice for more than a hundred years. Moreover, it is the only permanent hair removal method that has received the Food and Drug Administration's stamp of approval.

Of course, electrolysis is not perfect and it is not 100% effective. Sometimes, hair grows back even though much lighter and thinner, and multiple sessions may be required. Still, research has shown that 90% of the patients who have gone through electrolysis reported that they are satisfied with the results they got from the treatment.

The Disadvantages of Electrolysis

Inasmuch as electrolysis has a very huge advantage, it also has a few disadvantages that you need to be aware of. Effective as it is, electrolysis is a very expensive treatment. A single one-hour session can set you back anywhere from $50 to $60. As mentioned above, it takes multiple sessions to get rid of unwanted hair completely using electrolysis because hair strands need to be dealt with one by one. The number of sessions you will need depends on your body's hormone functions, hair growth cycles, heredity, daily exposure to stress, and a whole host of other factors.

You can save some money on your electrolysis sessions by breaking these one-hour sessions into smaller ones, such as 15 or 30 minutes. Some clinics give discounts for longer sessions lasting for two hours or more. Still, you need to bear in mind that your hair will all fall off in a single session. On the average, completing your electrolysis treatment will set you back about $1000 to $3000.

Aside from the costs of electrolysis, you also have to face the fact that the sessions can be very painful and they can damage your skin with scarring. The pain you will feel entirely depends on how well you tolerate pain. For some, it is just like being pricked by a needle while for others it is like an hour of plucking hair with dull tweezers.

As for the scarring, this often happens when the method used is flash thermolysis and the hair being treated is thick and deeply rooted. As long as the professional practicing electrolysis has years of experience to back them up, you do not really have to worry about scarring that much.

Tips for Deciding Whether to Go for Electrolysis

Before you commit to a hair removal treatment involving electrolysis, you should do your homework carefully and consider a few factors. Here are a few tips to help you along in making your decision.

1. Find out if the clinic uses needle electrolysis rather than other methods. Needle electrolysis is more effective and much safer than photoepilators or electric tweezers.

2. Find out how many years the clinic has been in business. The longer the track record is and the more satisfied clients that they had, the better.

3. Interview the practitioner who is going to treat you about their training, qualifications and certifications. In some states in the United States, one does not have to have a certification to practice electrolysis. You should find out if the state in which you live in requires these certifications. If so, then the practitioner you are considering should have their certificate displayed prominently in the clinic.

4. Learn whether or not you are a good candidate for going through electrolysis. Electrolysis is not for everyone. If you have a pacemaker, you absolutely cannot go through it. The same applies if you have diabetes or any other serious problems with your health. You can go through electrolysis if you are pregnant as long as the method is not thermolysis. Whatever you do, consult your doctor first before signing up for an electrolysis treatment.

It is entirely up to you whether or not to go through electrolysis. As long as you are aware of its advantages and disadvantages, and as long as you have considered the factors that you need to weigh in making your decision, you can safely go through this procedure. Electrolysis may help you change your life for the better.