Softouch

Does it hurt? 

It depends!

It is impossible to destroy hair growth tissue without sensation because each hair follicle is surrounded by its own network of nerve endings.

The sensation you might experience is assurance that destructive activity is taking place. The degree depends on many reasons including where one is having treatment since some parts of the body are more sensitive than others.  If you have ever waxed or plucked, you'll find electrolysis to be surprisingly comfortable. 

Some clients have described the sensation as a  pinch, a mosquito bite, a quick snap, or building warmth. 

Some clients choose to take an OTC analgesic such as Tylenol, Aspirin, or Advil 30 - 45 minutes before treatment and report that it makes the treatment more comfortable.  I will work within your personal comfort level and do have topical anesthetics available, free of charge, as well.

Where can I have treatment--who will you treat?  

Just about anywhere!  Unwanted hair can be safely removed from most body areas.  Common areas include the hairline, bridge of nose, eyebrows, upper and lower lip, cheeks, sideburns, ears, chin, neck, shoulders, arms and underarms, fingers, hands, breasts, abdomen, bikini line, legs, back, and chest. 

We are happy to offer services to men, women and teens.  

G/L/B/T/TS/TG clients are welcome.  

Why should I choose electrology over other hair removal methods?

If you want permanent hair removal, electrology is the only way to achieve this goal.

Why do you need to see my drivers liscense?

The most important reason is I care enough to establish your real identity.

As I am taking your personal and health information, the HIPPA regulations also require I verify your identity.  A positive identification of you with your picture and name (like a valid photo ID shows) protects you and I both from liability. 

I also need to be sure you are over 18 and can legally agree to treatment. 

Is it really permenant? How long does it last?

Electrolysis is not an overnight sensation, it requires a series of treatments to achieve permanency.  The number of treatments necessary is dependent on the area being treated.

It also varies depending on the client. Factors such as hair growth cycles, the quantity and structure of hair presented, previous use of temporary hair removal methods, heredity, hormone function, normal physiologic changes, certain medications, and stress all influence the treatment program for each individual. 

In most cases it takes between 12 and 18 months to have absolute permanence. 

For best results in the shortest time frame, it is important to adhere to the treatment schedule. Remember, I want to eliminate your hair problem, not manage it.

Though it sounds long, your amount of treatment time or frequency with which you visit tapers off.  It is impossible to generalize when it comes to treatment time. It is necessary to examine the individual's hair pattern, and knowing what removal methods you have tried, as well as the potential cause of the hair growth.

If you would like to know more precisely what your treatment schedule would look like, we encourage you to call for a free consultation and find out exactly what you will need to do to get great results.

Why do I have to come in so often? Does it make a difference if I let it all "grow in" and then come in?

Yes it makes a difference!  It is important to follow your individual treatment schedule to get the fastest results. 

Hairs are most effectively treated in their earliest growth stages. In these stages hairs are smaller and finer, which makes it easier to eliminate all the germinative cells in one treatment.

A smaller hair also means I can utilize less current making it a more comfortable treatment for you. 

If you can make the time commitment you can be assured the best results in the shortest time frame.

What will my skin look like afterwards? Will everyone know I've "been in"?

Immediately following treatment, there may be a slight redness and/or swelling which usually disappears within a few minutes to a few hours.

Though not desirable on face work, small white dots or tiny red dots may occur. On body work a pinpoint film or crust may develop.  Ideally, by the next day no one should be able to tell you have had treatment. 

It is important to remember that scabs are a part of the normal healing process in some people. If this does occur, the client is advised to not pick them off. 

Be sure and tell your Electrologist about any skin reactions so they can work with you to minimize their occurrence.  

What do you mean my hair is "resting" under my skin?

All hairs start as an empty hair follicle and then grow in to a fully mature hair.  At some point, it separates from its blood supply, ascends toward the surface of the skin and falls out. 

Following active growing periods, most hair follicles go into a dormant or resting stage. The period of dormancy may last for an indefinite period of time, however, replacement hairs usually appear within 8 to 16 months. 

If you have ever brushed your hair and looked at the hairs in the brush you may have noticed the white tuft on the end of them.  These are hairs that were naturally shed.  As opposed to when you pluck, say an eyebrow hair, it might have a moist shinny ball at the end.  This is a growing hair.  

Not all hairs are visible on the surface of the skin at any one time.  Depending on the area of the body, you may wait for 12 weeks or 12 months to see all of the dormant hairs come to the surface as your hair pattern fills in.  The appearance of these coarse replacement hairs from dormant hair follicles should not be mistaken as regrowth from previously treated follicles.

So ladies that one hair on your chin that you pluck every day...I may have some bad news.  You might want to sit down.   

From the day you pluck a single chin hair, it takes about 16 months for that hair to be back in action again.  Really.  You have about 600 follicles per square centimeter on the face that could be producing hairs so though it seems to be in the same exact place every day, it is just a friendly neighbor hair.  Which you probably stimulated into growth by plucking this hormonally controlled area. 

If you do the math that's one hair a day times seven days a week = 7 hairs.  7 hairs times 4 weeks in a month = 28 hairs a month.  Now let's multiply that times the 16 month total growth cycle and we find you really have about 448 hairs there...but rest assured we can tackle them all!  Don't believe me?  Think it is the same hair?  Don't tweeze at all for a couple weeks and let's see if it is just one lone hair...

Is Electrolysis safe?

Absolutely.  My office follows the American Electrology Association (AEA) Standards for Infection control which ensure electrolysis is performed under the hightest standards of cleanliness and safety and supersede the Wisconsin State standards.

Unlike other practices, we utilize only sealed pre-sterlized disposable probes for all treatments, we NEVER re-process and re-use probes!  We always utilize fresh, latex-free medical grade disposable gloves for each treatment.

What do you mean I should stop tweezing my chin?? How am I making it worse?

On women, the facial hair (except the eyebrows which is more like scalp hair)  the centerline of the chest, abdomen and breasts are under hormonal control. 
Unlike the rest of your body hair, hair controlled by hormones will come back thicker and stronger  when waxed or tweezed or really any method that violently removes it by the root.

Obviously I am in the business of helping you eliminate your hair problem, not make it worse.  Though I offer waxing here, I do NOT routinely wax on the face.  Period.  I will happily wax or tweeze your eyebrows for you and professionally sculpt them but no other areas on women without your informed consent that the service may increase your hair growth.

Gentlemen, however, are free to wax or tweeze their beards and necks it doesn't appear to make the pattern any denser or thicker.

Can you remove hairs from moles?

Yes we can.  Your electrologist may require a note (on a prescription pad is fine) from your healthcare provider stating it is a typical hairy nevus (mole with a hair) and safe to treat. 

The potential side effect of treating a benign nevus with electrolysis is a flattening of the mole to the skin surface and a lightening of the color. 

If you love your beauty mark to be prominent and dark this may not be the method for you.

Can you work on my tattoo?

Yes.  Electrology has never been a problem for tattoos.  In fact, it is one of the few hair removal methods that doesn't affect the design.