Electrolysis - The other place

[PretzelGirl]

It is time to start electrolysis, but not facial. I am trying to search through the forum, but not having luck since I am hitting all the posts on facial electrolysis, so a post.

I tolerated my face somewhat well (most people can't tolerate my face). I did 2 hour sessions until there wasn't enough hair left for a 2 hours session. Can you compare pain levels between the two areas or is it not comparable? I am trying to gauge what I am in for. I do have pain pills left from a recent procedure, but I despise using them unless I have to.

[Eryn]

I'll qualify what I say by first stating that I haven't had anything done in the genital regions. My electrologist doesn't go there with genetic males and I respect her on that.

She has worked on my chest, back and buttocks and I *thought* that these areas would be a breeze compared to face, ears, and nose. I was wrong. Certain parts of these areas are either very sensitive or so closely associated with motor nerves that I start dancing on the table, and not in a good way.

The lesson is that every part of the body is different and every person is different. The only way to find out how well you will tolerate work in a particular area is to give it a try.

[stefan37]

I had 6ea 3-4 hour sessions of genital electro. I had no anaesthesia injections or pain killers. Some areas are more sensitive than others. The area about an inch to the left of my penis was way more sensitive than the right. It also caused reflex actions that would jerk my leg uncontrollably. I would go to sleep only to wakened by the reflex. Around the base of the penis and scrotal area was actually not uncomfortable at all. The perineum was a sensitive areas.

Be cognizant of the power level. It's more sensitive. I developed an open sore in one area that took 3 weeks to heal and left a small scar.

I toughed it out because it was 30 dollars an hour cheaper without the lidocaine injections. And it gave me more scheduling flexibility. A doctor needed to perform the injections and she wasn't always available on my schedule.

Try it without and see how well you tolerate it. If it becomes too intense don't be ashamed asking for analgesics. I personally know one girl that is my sister that didn't use injections. I know 3 others that would not have done it in any case without them .

Thankfully there were times I nodded off. 3-4 hour marathon sessions are grueling.

Best of luck

[Peggie Lee]

I got my Dr to prescribe some pain killers to use for electrolysis,
I am up to 33 hrs on the Gentiles

[Nigella]

No pain relief for me, I have found that after laser treatment, any electrolysis, no matter where it is, is tolerable

[Angela Campbell]

Wasn't too bad for me, especially considering what they're going to do after the electrolysis is like. She did use lidocaine but not always. Not much difference to me.

[PretzelGirl]

Angela, I do put the pains in different perspectives. The kind from electrolysis/laser are the sharp, instantaneous, make you jump kind. Surgery, I am expecting a steady, intolerable pain.

It sounds like I might have a chance since I tolerated facial reasonably well. I am most concerned on scar tissue. I have one near my lip and that had increased pain, so I suspect I will feel it there. So it sounds like the approach is try it out (I have a weak lidocaine) and drop the pain pill if needed. If I need to see a doctor beforehand, I need a new plan because I will be going straight from work.

[stefan37]

The advantage of not using pain medication is you can get a better handle one the power level. It's a sensitive area and can be easily damaged. You can then better monitor the power level and eliminate or minimize scarring

[Eringirl]

I am tolerating facial electro quite well.....we are still able to have awesome conversations during my treatments, but skin is getting more sensitive due to HRT, so some areas are getting more painful. Another great reason to start electro as soon as you can, even before you start HRT.

Not planning on electro or laser anywhere else for now. My body hair is getting quite fine and thin and slow to grow. I was told to wait a while longer to see what the effect of prolonged HRT is before spending any money on it. I am hoping that HRT will continue to reduce body hair, thus saving money and time should i decide to do Laser and/or electro on my bod.

As for the more "southern" regions....one big benefit of going to Dr. Brassard in Montreal for SRS...he does require any landscape work prior to the surgery as he deals with it at that time. So, that's at least one good thing out of the procedure!!!

[PretzelGirl]

Stephanie, that is true. Even as a backup, it should only be used if I can't tolerate it at the lowest levels.

Erin, I am a big proponent of removing hair early. I started laser in the spring of 2011 and moved to electrolysis a year and a half later. I also (long ago) first epilated the rest of my body (there is some pain), except the nether regions, and later switched to a home laser. After something like 6 months on HRT, the most I have done is pluck a stray hair and they are very rare. Progesterone brought back vellus hair, but nothing else. On the face, although I am still doing electrolysis, I didn't have to worry about any cover by the time I went full time and growing it out for appointments has been a non-issue. Big bonus! Yesterday, I was going to a big event and decided to shave "just to be safe". As I put shaving cream on, I realized I couldn't remember when I last used it. Usually a quick swipe with a wet razor takes care of what little is there. It is nice. The side thought is that with all that effort long ago while growing my hair out, removing body/facial hair, and getting my ears pierced, I sometimes wonder if I knew something without admitting it to myself. A bit of a rabbit hole discussion, but okay for my thread (I hope).

Dr Bowers does scraping too. But I have seen some stories from patients of various surgeons who still have hair internally and I would rather just pay for it to be done now rather than pay for it to be done when I am outside-in.

[Janelle_C]

I have a high tolerance for pain. I did two visits the first week to get a total clearing. The first she did was mostly around the back of the penis and worked her way down. Not so bad, I had gotten some cream that helped numb it a little. Three days later the lower part OMG WHAT THE F*** . It herts less each time but some areas are more sensitive then others. Good luck, get the cream, I forgot it one time let's just say it was the only time.

[VanTG]

They can land a person on the moon but they can't make hair disappear without pain. I had that conversation with my hair girl, and she said the machine is supposed to be pain free but on that setting it would take years to get results.

[PretzelGirl]

OMG! Now I know. It is just instantaneous and then it goes away, but it is strong. The backache will hang around longer. I was tight the whole hour with my back arched in the air. And we haven't gotten to the scar tissue yet, which will be worst. The good part is that unlike 100+ sessions on my face, this will be 5-6 and I can count that down quick.

[PretzelGirl]

Okay, I shouldn't have said the good part. Session #2 was with a pain pill and it felt worse by a long shot. Started to graze into the scar tissue and it was more like an effort to keep the whole salon from hearing me yell out, and they are each individual rooms....down the hall. She started laughing when I went "Susan Ann Robbins, Sergeant First Class, 444-555-1234". Next session finishes the full clearing and is down in the perineum where is it all scars. I am trying to figure this one out. I wonder if I can go drunk. I don't know if I remember how to get drunk...

[Jennifer-GWN]

Sue;

All I can do is cringe. I know what my face is like but there is a whole other story. Thank god laser and likely the 'mines did its trick down there for me.

Can't say I'd happily trade places for you. But I get it and feel for you.

Hey maybe I come and get you drunk. I still remember how,to,do that.

Cheers... Jennifer

[PretzelGirl]

One irony is that I am Intersex, hence the scars, and after I am Post-Op, all evidence that I know of will be gone. And yes, I can use the help with the drinks. Let's see, open end up???

[Megan Thomas]

Pain was mostly manageable in my case, though some spots were super sensitive. I used EMLA cream just prior to each treatment (available via a GP in the UK). It takes the edge off the pain but won't stop those pain "spikes" when they happen. Post-treatment care is essential too. Your electrologist should advise on aftercare.

[Aprilrain]

Narcotics are useless for that sort of pain. Save them for something better (like a glass of wine). Get topical numbing cream, make sure to ask for the strong stuff (4%) put it on a half hour before you go and then wrap your bits in cellophane. I know, it sounds ridiculous but it works.

[PretzelGirl]

I am seeing my HRT doctor and she probably wouldn't mind addressing this, so I will ask her for the cream.

[Tammy V]

I waited until after SRS to begin genital area electrolysis. After one session I can say it's not that bad and my electrologist used mostly the blend method instead of thermolysis.

[Lorileah]

I waited until after SRS to begin genital area electrolysis.

I'm confused. So you just are doing it cosmetically? How did you rid the hair internally? (note there is at least one post somewhere in this site that talks about having hair inside the vagina).

I have a high pain tolerance but using numbing cream before as April has suggested makes it easy-peasy. Wasted a lot of time trying laser with minimal results. I get tag teamed every other week. have had two, one more and back to every 6 weeks for touch up. Can't compare to facial since I haven't (won't") had it.

[Tammy V]

I went to Dr. Brassard and his recommendation is Not to do genital area hair removal. He is ok with you doing it as long as the work is 100% complete And you wait a year after finishing before the surgery. That makes surgery Over a 2 year wait unless you're through with the arduous process of hair removal. I was thrill with my SRS results but my second choice surgeon, Dr. Suporn, also recommends no hair removal. I believe the only surgeon that requires full hair removal is Dr. Metzler although McGinn and Leiss recommend it at least. Marci Bowers may recomend it but doesn't require it.

In my case, there is no hair inside my vagina. The surgeons cauterize (some scrape) the follicles out during surgery. Brassard's thinking is that if you have only partial hair removal some follicles may not be active during surgery and may not be apparent during surgery. I'm getting electrolysis now on hair around my labia majora and close to my clitoris. Basically what any woman might want to do if that's what she wanted. I think I might basically remove all the hair except for a strip on top. It's not as easy to shave there now as it was before surgery and I don't like body hair.

[Lorileah]

That is great info. Thanks.

[karenpayneoregon]

I really thought it was going to be very painful after watching a 20/20 (or was it 60 minutes) segment where the person had genital hair removal was in almost unbearable pain and was thankful that all but say five percent of the procedures tolerable. From start to finish it took eight sessions ranging one to one and a half hours to clear everything.

One of my biggest fears months before needing to start hair removal in the genital area was my electrologist would not want to go there but was surprised when she said she would. She did tell me several men going through this asked to have it done but were not regular customers and simply did not feel right about it while she knows me and said I was different than the others so no problem. I actually consider my electrologist a friend, we have gone out to lunch together, text back and forth about various topics over the years. At my last session she said please text me to let me know how things went.

Knowing all I was going through said I should have my legs and underarms waxed two days before leaving for surgery so I would have no worries about hair on my legs and underarms, having them waxed allowed me some comfort that while recovering I could still look good for myself and friends who came to assist me after surgery.

I still see her for touch-ups which takes about ten minutes then moves on to my underarms. When I returned from recovery from GRS she gave me a huge hug and said welcome to womanhood, I know you will be so happy.

[PretzelGirl]

Karen, my electrologist is about the same. She used to take anyone but because of problem patients, does referrals only.