Some Comments On Electrolysis

The following comments are based upon my own experiences with electrolysis and upon my discussions with professional electrologists.

We have found the following practice to be the optimum procedure when permanently clearing an area of unwanted hair.

Perform the initial clearing of the area with any quick form of electrolysis. This includes LASER electrolysis or thermolysis.
When each treated hair re-appears and while it is still in the anagen stage, treat it with blend electrolysis or galvanic electrolysis.
When preparing to treat the scrotal skin, use Zostrix HP cream sparingly on the skin, four times per day for at least three weeks. This reduces the sensitivity of the scrotal skin, by depleting the nerves of Substance P. Substance P is a chemical that the nerves require to transmit nerve impulses from one neuron to the next neuron. Warning: Use Zostrix HP SPARINGLY!! The use of Zostrix HP generates considerable sensation of the scrotum being on fire!! Over time, the sensation diminishes and the scrotum is more "receptive" to needle electrolysis.
(18 August 2001) After about four months of using Zostrix HP cream, I grew tired of having to put the cream on and of contending with the fire sensation that the cream causes. I stopped using the cream but continued to receive two one-hour sessions per week on the scrotum. I found that by keeping at least one hour of electrolysis on the scrotum every three or four days kept the pain level down to an easily tolerated level. I have not used Zostrix HP cream for a few months and I can take a lot of scrotal electrolysis without any pain killers.

Initially, we (several electrologists and I) were using only the thermolysis modality. However, after treatment each hair follicle repeatedly, it would persistently return. In an attempt to improve the rate of permanent hair loss, we tried the above procedure. Following the change to the outlined procedure, our success rate improved considerably.

Some Comments On Laser Electrolysis

Until recently, I had not been satisfied with laser electrolysis due to the lack of permanent hair reduction. However, I have recently started treatment with the LightSheer SC laser electrolysis unit, since it has FDA approval to claim 85 per cent permanent hair reduction. It would be premature at the present time for me to make any statement on the effectiveness of the LightSheer SC, but my electrologist and I have discovered one bit of advice that we can give:

When performing laser electrolysis on the genital region, it is important that the electrologist maintains the compression of the tissues being treated. This applies especially to scrotal skin and the areas around the base of the genitals. Compression is achieved by pressing the tip of the laser head into the tissue, with sufficient pressure to force the blood out of the skin.

My experience to date is that, with sufficient compression, I can take a high fluence with so little pain that I do not need to use any form of painkiller. This includes not using EMLA and not using Tylenol.

(26 December 2001) It has been a few months since I have stopped using LASER electrolysis on the face. We stopped doing this area since there was inadequate regrowth to warrant continued use of the LASER. We have used thermolysis to treat the white and light-coloured hair, and I now no longer need to shave each day. I still shave about each third day as there is still some hair that have not been permanently destroyed. (We are presently concentrating on pubic hair and, thus, the facial hair is not being treated.) It has been a few months since the last LASER electrolysis on the face and there is no sign of the dark hair. It appears that the LASER has achieved permanent hair removal of the dark hairs.

Genital Electrolysis

(18 April 2005) Several people have asked me, over the years, about genital electrolysis. My response has been that one should consult one's surgeon and obtain that surgeon's recommendations for completing genital electrolysis. Different surgeons have different requirements.

One point to keep in mind is that the lining of the neo-vaginal vault will undergo a transformation after the initial SRS healing. It has been reported that the lining becomes mucosal tissue, not unlike the cheek lining that one finds inside one's mouth. Along with the structural and textural changes, it appears that hair follicles within the neo-vaginal lining shutdown or disappear. There is no guarantee that this will happen, but it does to appear to happen in a lot of cases.

In my case, I was specially concerned with the issue of permanent genital hair removal. In the end, I could not guarantee that I had achieved permanence prior to SRS. However, I went ahead with the surgery and have had no problems with vaginal hair. Your mileage may vary.

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