Jump to content
  • Welcome to the TransPulse Forums!

    We offer a safe, inclusive community for transgender and gender non-conforming folks, as well as their loved ones, to find support and information.  Join today!

Electrolysis Soon


Robin.C

Recommended Posts

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

Link to comment
  • Replies 79
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • Robin.C

    17

  • Audrey

    12

  • Jani

    8

  • Ann W

    6

Top Posters In This Topic

Posted Images

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.

 

 

Link to comment
  • 2 weeks later...

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

Link to comment

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.

Link to comment
  • Forum Moderator

@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!!

Link to comment

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

Link to comment

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.

Link to comment
  • 3 weeks later...

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

Link to comment

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

Link to comment
  • Forum Moderator

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

Link to comment

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!

 

Link to comment
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.

Link to comment
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!

 

?

Link to comment
  • 2 weeks later...

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

 

Link to comment
  • Forum Moderator

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.

Link to comment
  • Forum Moderator
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

Link to comment

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

Link to comment
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

Link to comment
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.
 

Link to comment
  • 2 weeks later...

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.

Link to comment

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Who's Online   4 Members, 0 Anonymous, 83 Guests (See full list)

    • AllieJ
    • April Marie
    • Petra Jane
    • Breanne_O
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      80.5k
    • Total Posts
      767.2k
  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      11,942
    • Most Online
      8,356

    taxicab
    Newest Member
    taxicab
    Joined
  • Today's Birthdays

    1. Amyjay
      Amyjay
      (58 years old)
    2. bettyjean
      bettyjean
    3. Breanna
      Breanna
      (52 years old)
    4. Emily Ayla
      Emily Ayla
    5. JET182
      JET182
  • Posts

    • April Marie
      Good morning, everyone!!! Two cups of coffee in the books and I am just feeling so wonderful this morning. Not sure why, but I'm happy and smiling.   Enjoy this beautiful day!!!
    • Heather Shay
      A U.S. dollar bill can be folded approximately 4,000 times in the same place before it will tear. -You cannot snore and dream at the same time. -The average person walks the equivalent of three times around the world in a lifetime. -A hippo’s wide open mouth is big enough to fit a 4-foot-tall child in. -Chewing gum while you cut an onion will help keep you from crying.
    • Susan R
      Love it! This is great news. We need more of this to combat the excessive hate-filled rhetoric and misinformation. 👍
    • Susan R
      The experience was the same for me @April Marie. I slept much deeper and I woke up each morning feeling so much more restful sleeping with forms solidly in place. For me, wearing breast forms at night started when before I was a teenager. I had no access up to modern breast forms and certainly no way to buy mastectomy bras back then. I wore a basic bra my mom had put in a donation box and two pairs of soft cotton socks. I have some crazy memories of things I did in my youth to combat my GD but regardless, these makeshift concoctions helped me work through it all.   All My Best, Susan R🌷
    • awkward-yet-sweet
      Colorado isn't exactly a Republican place, and won't become one anytime soon.  I think those folks might be better off not spending their time playing Don Quixote.    We certainly have our share of California "refugees" moving into where I live, so I wouldn't be surprised to start seeing Coloradans too.  I suspect the trend over the next few years will see the blue areas getting more blue and the red areas getting more red as anybody who can relocate tries to find a place where they fit better.   
    • awkward-yet-sweet
      Well, at least it'll be a place some folks could choose.  Options are a good thing.
    • awkward-yet-sweet
      My family would have gobbled that jar up in a minute or two.  When we do have pickled herring, its usually for Christmas.  I didn't grow up with that particular dish, but I grew up in a Greek family so I like just about any kind of fish if I can get it.  However, ocean fish and freshwater fish taste so different.  We usually have more catfish and tilapia to eat than anything else.    What I can't quite get used to is the tons of cabbage my GF insists on eating.  When you live with a Russian, there is always cabbage soup.  Always.  When I first moved in with her, breakfast was "shchi" for soup and either bread or "kasha" which is a bowl of boiled buckwheat with butter and salt.  Those dishes can be made in any number of ways, some are better than others.  In the winter, it can even be salty and sour like kraut.  Not exactly sauerkraut, but packed in tubs with vinegar and salt so it keeps partially for the winter.  But I drew the line when the cabbage soup included pieces of fried snake one day.  😆
    • Ashley0616
      Good evening to you as well @Mmindy   That is awesome that you have support from her side. My dad has communicated with me once and that was because he was forced to. His new wife wanted to spend time with my kids. He hated me so much he was in the process of taking my rights away as a parent to my two boys. He was talking to a lawyer and I called him out on it. I don't love him at all. I'll respect him because I wouldn't be here without him but I wished I had another father. My uncles don't talk to me and unfriended me on Facebook. Almost all cousins except for two are still Facebook friends but they don't give me any support. My mom said she won't support me with that but she has said that she loves me. I have nieces and nephews that are still Facebook friends but they have yet to talk to me. I have one sister that supports me out of three. The other's disrespect me by deadnaming me. They have never called me their sister. I think for them they think it's still a phase. They don't ask questions about me being trans. I have to bring it up and on the look of their faces they don't look comfortable about it. 
    • Mmindy
      Good evening @Ashley0616,   I just got offline with HP tech support trying to get my printer tool box icon locked to my tool bar. This is one of the most important features of my printer that I like because it keeps track of ink, paper, and scanned documents. I'm diffidently not a computer geek.   I'll catch up with the other bookmarks next week. We leave to go home for the Easter Holiday with our families. Saturday with her side, and Sunday with my side. What's odd about that is I'm out to more of her side and they're reluctantly supportive. My side on the other hand are less supportive, and my sister just under me in age will not acknowledge my being there. She will be constantly moving to keep from dealing with me. I'm dead to her.   Hugs,   Mindy🌈🐛🏳️‍⚧️🦋  
    • Ashley0616
      I used to follow baseball and the team I would cheer for is Boston Red Sox. My favorite player was Papi. He was an awesome guy and even held a child during the National Anthem. I haven't watched baseball for a long time. It just died off to me. 
    • Ashley0616
      That stinks that nothing transferred, and no bookmarks were saved! 
    • Ashley0616
      I'm doing patches for now but I think soon I'll go to shots because it's hard to alternate when you are doing two xx patches at once. Unless she gives me Estradiol and progesterone
    • Sally Stone
      Go Cleveland Guardians!  I love baseball and I loved playing it when I was younger.  
    • Sally Stone
      My view is we are "dependent" on government, because as a society, we are too lazy to stay actively involved. So, we let politicians do our bidding for us.  I think we'd be in a better place government wise if we policed the actions of our politicians.  We elected them; they work for us.  Sadly, we are allowing them to run amok.  We are where we are because we have chosen to let politicians make all decisions without us.  Remember "by the people, for the people?" That was the intent of our democracy.  Today, however, it is "by the politicians, for the politicians," the people be damned. 
    • Mmindy
      "Play Ball! Batter Up!" is the closing line of the National Anthem as far as I'm concerned. It's the call of the Home Plate Umpire and signals the start of the game. I grew up in the TV and Radio broadcast of the St. Louis Cardinals. Harry Caray, Jack Buck, Tim McCarver, and Mike Shannon, were the voices on my transistor radio. KMOX 1120 AM pushing 50,000 watts of Class A clear-channel non-directional signal. It could be picked up all across MO, IL, IN to the East. KS, OK, CO to the West. IA, MN to the North, and KY, TN, AR to the South. There has always been a rivalry against the Chicago Cubs, in the National League. As for the American League, I have to pull for the Kansas City Royals. I've also been a Little League Umpire, and fan of everything the Little League stands for. Going to Williamsport, PA and seeing the Little League World Series is in my top 10 things to do on my bucket list.   Mindy🌈🐛🏳️‍⚧️🦋
  • Upcoming Events

Contact TransPulse

TransPulse can be contacted in the following ways:

Email: Click Here.

To report an error on this page.

Legal

Your use of this site is subject to the following rules and policies, whether you have read them or not.

Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
DMCA Policy
Community Rules

Hosting

Upstream hosting for TransPulse provided by QnEZ.

Sponsorship

Special consideration for TransPulse is kindly provided by The Breast Form Store.
×
×
  • Create New...