Electrolysis Soon

[Robin.C]

Omergerd ... I've got an appointment for electrolysis. Happy dance.

I just needed to tell someone ?

She's super busy this time of year here what with Spring and Summer heading our way over here, so I have to wait 2 weeks; it will fly past I'm sure.

Only facial hair to start with and see how I cope.

Yippee

 

Oh and for those following along at home, the home IPL does stuff all for my facial hair but seems to be reducing the foot and hand hair.

Becoming less of a Hobbit every day ... hee hee

 

?

Robin

[Emily michelle]

Congrats Robin! I’m on my 2nd treatment of laser on my face.

[KMTAL]

Pain killers .... Also, something with lidocaine. I have been using Aspercream roll-on and spray, before my treatment. Prepare yourself for when she goes for the hairs right under your nostrils and also for the hair way out in the distance. Sorta in the high cheek area.

 

 

[Robin.C]

Omergerd .. I've been to the Electrologist, is that even the right name ? She is a wonderful lady. No problems at all doing my facial hair.

I went straight from work so i was in boy mode, i got the feeling it wasn't too unusual.

I've now booked 3 of my first hour sessions to start in a couple of weeks. She thinks 15 to 20 hrs over the the next 8 to 10 mths will get nearly it all.

It's feels wondeful to be ticking off another thing on my journey.

 

Hugs

Robin

[Berni]

1Hey @Robin.C, congratulations on starting electrolysis.

 

It really helped  me feel more feminine. Very positive experience for me.

 

I have been on weekly 1 hour sessions for about 18 months now (had one this afternoon). Maybe it's just me but I kinda love my electrolysis technician ... weve been through so much together.

 

I dont take pain killers as I find the pain, for one hour, bearable. I noticed, however, that the pain got worse after starting HRT ... maybe its just me.

 

My upper lip and most of my chin is clear now and we are working on cheeks and neck.  Its incredible not having to shave parts of my face anymore.

 

I was, yet again, plucking eyebrows the other week when I realized .... I could have electrolysis on my brows! So we are also working on brows now.

 

Anyway ... SUPER painful but so so so worth every second.

[Robin.C]

Thank you @Berni

[Jani]

@Berni electrolysis after starting HRT is a little tougher to take.   I don't use anything special for pain.  I've started on my eyebrows and its different type of skin than the face.  I really feel it! Yikes!!

[Robin.C]

thank you @Emily michelle, @KMTAL, @Jani for the information.

It will be baby steps to begin with and then we will see where it takes me ?

 

It's a happy thing because everything else seems to be a struggle at the moment.

I know it will get better, it is just tough when you are in it.

 

Hugs

Robin

[Ann W]

This thread really got me excited somehow.  I want to start electrolysis like...yesterday. Waiting on some insurance stuff.

First words out of my mouth will be "Happy Dance".

Thanks for posting that...its inspiring to us just starting.

[Robin.C]

Well today was first electrolysis. I never thought I would get to today with all the things that have gone on.

Cancellations due to illness and work and family, sigh.

However today was the day.

On 10/8/2020 at 9:21 PM, Ann W said:

First words out of my mouth will be "Happy Dance".

Yes ... absolutely. I managed 40 minutes in my first session, maybe could have gone longer but was better err on the side of caution and see how my skin reacts to it's first dose of current.

Inside I'm so excited and happy, though I know its a long way to go it feels wonderful to have started.

Next week is therapist appointment will be an interesting visit ?

 

Hugs

Robin

[Robin.C]

Omergerd  !!! When Jackie Rabbit said "a bit puffy" i honestly couldn't see what she was talking about. My face, however !! The day after I look like i went a round with Mike Tyson !!! Puffy ... and tender ....

Apparently it's normal for the first time over a section of skin. Its going to take some getting used too.

Yep, iced when i got home, yes Ibuprofen (Aussie stuff) and Savlon (not if the US gets that stuff). Still takes a couple if days to settle.

Done my 2nd round now, chin looks good, onto jowls next I think she said.

Happy dance .. even if a bit tender.

Hugs

Robin

[Jani]

You will get swelling for a while until the hair gets more slender and your face aclimates.  I used to get quite red with swelling but it stopped after a year or so.  Hang in there and it will be gone in due time.

 

Cheers, Jani

[Heather Nicole]

Hee hee, I love "Omergerd"!!

 

8 hours ago, Robin.C said:

Yep, iced when i got home, yes Ibuprofen (Aussie stuff) and Savlon (not if the US gets that stuff).

 

As a US-ican, I can confirm that I have Ibuprofen in my cupboard, but have never heard of "Savlon". (BTW, heading into spring and summer now? Lucky!!)

 

Happy for your happy dance!

 

[Dana Michelle]

On 10/6/2020 at 1:00 AM, Robin.C said:

Omergerd .. I've been to the Electrologist, is that even the right name ? She is a wonderful lady. No problems at all doing my facial hair.

I went straight from work so i was in boy mode, i got the feeling it wasn't too unusual.

I've now booked 3 of my first hour sessions to start in a couple of weeks. She thinks 15 to 20 hrs over the the next 8 to 10 mths will get nearly it all.

It's feels wondeful to be ticking off another thing on my journey.

 

Hugs

Robin

Is that 15 to 20 hours per month, for the next 8 to 10 months? A total of 15 to 20 hours is very low. I've heard the average transwoman takes 200 to 300 hours of electrolysis to completely remove the beard. I've had 215 hours so far. My cheeks are mostly finished but chin and upper lip still need a lot more work.

[Robin.C]

4 hours ago, Dana Michelle said:

A total of 15 to 20 hours is very low.

Yes that was her thought in total, maybe this was for the first pass over all my face and neck. I will have to see what her thoughts are now she has started.

Though in all fairness I was never blessed with a lot of hair, facial or bodywise and it has always been patchy and fine, now a lot of it is white/grey ?.

She does the really good (and ouchy) version that really destroys the follicle, I believe from Jackie Rabbit and others there is several flavours of electrolysis.

It will be interesting to see what starts to grow back over the next months (years !?).

 

4 hours ago, Heather Nicole said:

Happy for your happy dance!

 

?

[Robin.C]

Aaarrrgghhhh ... for those following along at home ... hydrate, rest ... important it is.

To say todays electrolysis session was an eye opener is an understatement.  I could barely make 30 minutes it was so painful,  every hair, every sodden hair was ouch !!!.

Note to self :  So if you dont get enough rest and good sleep and dont hydrate properly over the 3 days beforehand IT WILL BE PAINFUL.

Lesson learnt ?

 

Hugs

Robin

 

[KathyLauren]

As a veteran of 4 years of facial electrolysis, I can certainly relate.  Here are some tips I have learned along the way.

 

1. Use lidocaine cream on whatever area you are going to get done that day.  Apply it an hour before your appointment.

 

2. Cover the lidocaine with plastic wrap, secured with tape.  This keeps it from drying out.

 

3. For extra protection, use a sandwich of a layer of gauze between two layers of plastic wrap.  The gauze makes it look like a bandage over a burn, so people are less weirded out by it: they will feel sorry for you.  The main reason is that warmth makes the lidocaine more effective.

 

4. If you are getting a large area done in one appointment, break it down into smaller areas, each with its own wrap.  That way, the electrologist can leave one area covered while working on another area.  That keeps the lidocaine effective for longer.

 

5. Absolutely no caffeine of any kind for 24 hours before the appointment.  No coffee, tea, chocolate, cola drinks, etc.

 

6. Be sure to stay hydrated.

 

7. Bring headphones and music.  It gives the mind someplace to go besides the pain.

 

8. Check with your doctor about pain meds.  Mine made a suggestion that I wouldn't have thought of.

[Jani]

3 hours ago, KathyLauren said:

5. Absolutely no caffeine of any kind for 24 hours before the appointment.  No coffee, tea, chocolate, cola drinks, etc.

 

6. Be sure to stay hydrated.

This is important!  Also try taking an Acetemenophin (OTC) tablet for pain a half hour before the session.  I've been going for 5 years and no longer shave between appointment as its barely noticeable.  

 

Keep going.  The effort (and pain) is definitely worth the effort.

 

Hugs, Jani

[TommieAnne]

I've been getting laser hair removal for most of the past year.

My first electrolysis was this past Thursday. Oh boy. It is pretty ouchey.

I have, due to my age, large areas of hair that is white, so the laser doesn't have any effect on it. It's going to be a long row to hoe.

My guy doing this is very skilled, very patient and tender with me though. He said as long as it's limited to about 30 minutes per session, it won't be too painful. Except for some areas down in my nether regions. Those are going to hurt like blue blazes!

TA

[Robin.C]

4 hours ago, KathyLauren said:

5. Absolutely no caffeine of any kind for 24 hours before the appointment.  No coffee, tea, chocolate, cola drinks, etc.

WHAT !!!!

That's torture .. LOL.

I am going to get some numbing cream and still use the Ibuprofen tablets.

Just the small part of my chin that she's been able to do has made looking in the mirror so nice, if i look past the puffy redness .. hee hee.

 

Thank you all for the advice and support. It certainly lifts the feeling of sadness from not getting anywhere fast.

 

It has been interesting to say the least, when you have to use boy mode due to work commitments, how it weighs on my mind. Little things like nails and jewellery (work safe type) just seem to mean more and give me a little something to keep trudging ahead.

 

Hugs

Robin

[KayC]

14 hours ago, TommieAnne said:

I have, due to my age, large areas of hair that is white, so the laser doesn't have any effect on it. It's going to be a long row to hoe.

I started doing laser when I saw the first white hairs sprouting on my chest.  Happy I started early (even though there's still some left).  I recently bought a home IPL for the rest of my body and it works good.  Eventually I will have to do electrolysis for the rest.
 

[Guest]

I really appreciate this thread since my first appointment is on the 17th. Luckily my facial hair is on the sparse side. I have never been able to grow a beard.

[Robin.C]

On 11/8/2020 at 5:53 PM, Erica Gabriel said:

I really appreciate this thread

  @Erica Gabriel this is why the forum is so wonderful. it has so much  information and help from everyone here.

Hugs

Robin

[Guest]

I had my first electrolysis session this afternoon. I was in boy mode and nervous since I made my appointment for “Erica” (first time for me to use that name in public) and I was nervous that the clinic could not be trans friendly. Out walks a lovely trans-woman out of her session and my flittery fluttery heart calmed down. The pain wasn’t as bad as I was expecting. I can’t wait for my next session.

[Robin.C]

That's lovely to hear Erica.

Sadly we've entered COVID lock down again so no sessions for me for two weeks ... sigh.

 

Hugs

Robin