IS ELECTROLYSIS REALLY PERMANENT?

YES!! Electrolysis has been shown to be permanent in over a century of use. It is recognized by physicians, and the American Medical Association as the only method of permanent hair removal. In addition, there are hundreds of thousands of individuals who have solved a very personal problem with the help of electrolysis. However, permanent hair removal can only be achieved with a series of visits, over a period of time. Factors such as hormonal imbalance, medications, stress, and heredity may cause fine hairs to become longer, darker, and coarse. This may mean that future visits will be needed to treat these "newly developed" hairs if they should form. This is primarily true in areas influenced by hormones, such as the lip, chin, cheeks, and neck, and sometimes on the chest and abdomen as well. In areas such as the legs, arms, underarms, etc. where all the hairs present in that area are already as coarse as they will become, the area will stay "hair free" once all the hairs is that area have been permanently eliminated.

WHAT AREAS OF THE BODY CAN BE TREATED?

Hair can be removed from almost any part of the body, except inside the nose. Hairs can be removed from a mole while it is still present on your skin or from the scar left after the mole has been removed by your physician. Surgical removal of a mole almost never goes deep enough to remove the hair follicles, and hairs will continue to grow out of the scar. It is best to have your physician check your moles prior to having electrolysis on them.

FOR WOMEN
Many women want hair removed from facial areas of the lip, chin, neck, sideburns, eyebrows and hairline. Also, when women have short hair, they often want the hairline on the back of the neck raised so that they no longer have to shave the area after their haircuts. Hair can also be removed on other areas, i.e. breasts, abdomen, bikini line, underarms, arms, legs, hands and fingers, feet and toes, and buttocks.

FOR MEN
Common areas for men include: hairline/beard line, back, shoulders, chest, ears, and center of eyebrows. Electrologists do not treat deep inside the ear canal or inside the nose.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS?

Like many minor procedures in medicine, electrolysis does have a short healing phase. During this time, there may be some redness and/or swelling for a very short time. Tiny bruises and occasional pinpoint scabbing may also occur but seldom on the face. Since electrolysis does cause tiny "wounds" under the skin; it does break the skin's barrier to bacteria and increases your chance of infection. Infection, just like pimples (acne) can cause scarring. It is important to follow after care instructions to prevent any infection. Other side effects may occur in persons with special health conditions. Filling out your health history form completely should enable me to provide you with electrolysis that is safe, with minimal side effects.

IS ELECTROLYSIS PAINFUL?

Whether there is any discomfort during electrolysis is quite variable depending on a patient's tolerance, machine settings, method used, as well as other factors. A definite sensation will be noticed, but most patients tolerate it well. If you have been under stress, or if a woman is in the week just prior to her menstrual period, it is helpful to take an over-the-counter pain medication of your preference about one-half hour before your appointment. I also have a topical anesthetic gel that must be put on an area at least one-half hour before your appointment. Some people find it helpful, especially on the upper lip, however, most do not find it necessary. See Post Treatment Care information.

IS ELECTROLYSIS EXPENSIVE?

Electrolysis is charged according to the length of the appointment time. The amount of time needed depends on a number of factors, most importantly the number of hairs to be removed. Since achieving permanent hair removal takes time, this allows the cost to be spread out over time also. My current fees are: $70 for 60 minutes, $55 for 45 minutes, $40 for 30 minutes, $25 for 15 minutes and $15 for 5 minutes or less. I will be happy to work with you in scheduling your appointments to stay within your budget.

Electrologists offer their training and expertise as a service. All we sell is our time. When you reserve an appointment with me you "contract" to buy a time segment from me. Time "used", unlike a product, cannot be "resold". Once it has passed, it cannot be retrieved. Selling time is how a service business earns revenue. Please give 24 hours notice when changing an appointment so that someone else may use your time. There will be a charge made for appointments missed without adequate notification.

HOW LONG DO HAIRS HAVE TO BE IN ORDER TO REMOVE THEM WITH ELECTROLYSIS?

Each hair must be lifted out of the follicle after it is permanently "killed". Therefore, hairs needto be long enough to grasp with a tweezer. Usually, it requires at least 24 hours after shaving and is best to have hairs just slightly longer if possible to lessen any irritation. It is not a problem for the hairs to be their full length when we remove them.

SHOULD I DO ANYTHING IN PREPARATION FOR HAVING ELECTROLYSIS?

If you have been tweezing, waxing, or in any way pulling the hairs out of the area in which you want treatment, you will need to discontinue removing the hairs. You may cut the hairs short with scissors, or even shave the area, as long as the hairs are long enough to reach with a tweezer when you come for your appointment. It is an "old wives' tale" that shaving will make the hairs worse. If you want hair removed from a mole, it is advisable to have your physician examine the mole first to determine if the mole needs to be removed or just the hair removed.

CAN ELECTROYSIS WORK WITH ANY COLOR HAIR OR SKIN?

YES! Electrolysis is completely effective on light or dark hair as well as light or dark skin.

Case History Form*	Post Treatment Care Information*
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