Electrolysis FAQ

Complete destruction of all hair cycles from any one treatment is unlikely, and you will require several CONSECUTIVE treatments to obtain a significant, long-term removal of hair growth. The total number of sessions needed to remove hair permanently from a particular area will vary from person to person; however, on average, most require the following treatment plan:

Scheduling an initial consultation and working closely with me will streamline and make the process more effective and efficient for your specific situation.

Each treatment lasts between 15 minutes to a one hour -this is determined after a FREE consultation and assessment. You can book several hours in one day.

Committing to our suggested treatment plan means achieving the best results in the shortest time possible and if you do not come at the suggested times treatment timeline could be extended.

No one can predict how much time a total treatment will take. Under the skin lies the papilla which makes the hair grow. This is the target we need to treat. Because we cannot see beneath the skin we are aiming for a target we cannot see. We aim to the best of our skill and ability but we are not always perfect. In every treatment we miss some but eventually we will get them all.

You will never have hair growing out of the follicles that have been destroyed, but remember we have not changed your glandular system, which is what made these hairs appear.

When we are going through electrolysis we are weakening the hairs until they are finally destroyed and gone forever.

Hormonal disorders are common and if not treated, electrolysis may not be effective (this depends on the severity of the imbalance).

There is a small percentage of the population that sees little to no results with electrolysis, or that it may require several additional treatments more than the average individual. Electrolysis FAQ Taranaki.

Some discomfort may be experienced during electrolysis treatment, this varies from person to person. It also depends on the technology used, modern electrolysis hair removal methods have reduced the discomfort to a mere tingling. In most cases, electrolysis actually does not cause much discomfort at all. At Skin Envy, we use the latest and fastest technology, where the setting are the most comfortable making the sessions shorter. Electrolysis FAQ Taranaki.

Chemical depilatories (liquids or creams) are often used to remove body hair. These products contain irritating chemicals and can be time-consuming and messy.

Likewise, bleaches contain harsh chemicals and do little to disguise dark hair. They may also discolor skin.

Waxing is another temporary method of hair removal and is usually done in salons. A hot wax is applied to the skin and removed once it has dried over the hair. The hair is stripped off when the wax is removed.

Waxing can be painful and much more expensive in the long run – not just financially, but also in terms of time if you count all the hours you have spent at a salon for waxes over just a few years. Home waxing kits are available but they can be messy and difficult to use, and again, they take time. There are electrolysis devices available for home use, but they are often unsafe, painful and ineffective for use by anyone who is not trained in electrolysis application, growth cycle of the hair, etc. Electrolysis FAQ Taranaki.

These are some of the possible side effects of the electrolysis procedure:

DISCOMFORT– Some discomfort may be experienced during electrolysis treatment. This varies from person to person.
WOUND HEALING– Electrolysis procedures can result in swelling, itching, crusting, or temporary acne in the treated areas, which may require some time to heal. Once the surface has healed, it may be pink or sensitive to the sun, or may take longer in some people.
BRUISING/SWELLING/INFECTION– With electrolysis, bruising of the treated area may occur. Additionally, there may be some swelling noted. Finally, skin infections such as ingrown hairs are a possibility whenever a skin procedure is performed, although these are rare.
PIGMENT CHANGES (Skin Colour)- During the healing process, there is a slight possibility that the treated area can become either lighter or darker in color compared to the surrounding skin. This is usually temporary, but, on a rare occasion, it may be permanent.
SCARRING– Scarring is a rare occurrence if the skin is prepared for treatment and there is no overtreatment of the skin, but it is a possibility when the skin’s surface is disrupted.
To minimise the chances of unwanted side effects, it is IMPORTANT that you follow all pre and post-treatment instructions carefully. Electrolysis FAQ Taranaki.

Did you know that the average person spends from $AUD 11,000 – 35,000+ and 8 weeks of on temporary hair removal methods in their lifetime, without ever addressing the issue? Permanent hair removal is an investment on your time and budget as unwanted hair will be removed forever after the eighteen plus months of consistent treatment and it is a fraction of the time and money wasted on other solutions.

Skin Envy is not priced per body part or per session, but according to the amount of hair to treat and how long it takes to treat and remove it all -also call “cleanings”. As every person has a vast different amount of hairs and needs a different amount of time to treat and remove all hairs present, an assessment in person is needed to anticipate approximate individual costs and payment plans -also known as “promotions” or simply put, bundles of hours. When one person has 15-minutes’ worth of hairs on the chin, another has 60-minutes. Similarly, one may need 30-minutes for one underarm, and another 3 hours.

At Skin Envy, there is one price:

AUD $40 for every 15-minutes of booking.
The more time you buy upfront, the cheaper it becomes per hour! Promotional bundles are seasonal and they can be purchased. Electrolysis FAQ Taranaki.

Pretreatment Care

Electrolysis treatments are intense heat-based. Some peoples skin won’t be affected much, and temporary side effects will go within a few hours of the treatment. This is mainly due to favorable pre-existing skin characteristics and proper regular skin care.

Pre-Treatment Do’s – To get your skin ready for electrolysis

• Avoid sun exposure, it will add heat and dryness to your skin. Make sure your skin is fully recovered from sun exposure before coming for a treatment.
• No tanning for 48 hours before or after your treatment.
• Drink plenty of water (at least 2 liters) daily and apply a good quality moisturising lotion twice a day the week prior to the treatment. Hydrated follicles are less likely to produce temporary side effects which means that your skin will heal and regenerate more quickly, and the treatment will be shorter and more comfortable.
• No chemical peels or any abrasive facials, or retinol products for at least 2 weeks before treatment

Post Treatment Do’s–during the first 48 hours after any treatment;

longer if skin is not healed yet.

• Keep your skin well hydrated. Drink at least 2L of water every day.
• Use a good quality moisturiser daily.
• Apply a non-alcohol-based sunscreen, especially during the day when you are outdoors, at least SPF 30.
• Apply regenerating/recovery creams such as Melfol 3-4 times a day and before going to bed for at least 3 days after the treatment. This is to calm the temporary side effects and help the skin heal quickly. Never apply these in the daytime when you are going outdoors or you could have discoloration as they are photosensitive.

Don’ts – your skin just received intense heat, look after it well. Electrolysis should not create any permanent side effects, but if you don’t take good care of it after treatment this may cause unpleasant effects which last for longer than normal (micro scabs, bumps, redness, white heads, etc). Be kind to your skin by following these tips during the first 48 hours after any treatment; longer if skin is not healed yet:

• Do not touch, scratch, or exfoliate the treated area, especially if white heads or scabs are present or they may leave marks.
• Avoid any friction in the treated area (i.e.: avoid wearing tight jeans, harsh fabrics, etc).
• Avoid sun exposure for at least 24 hours. Do not use sunbeds for at least 72 hours.
• Avoid contact with oily, soapy, perfumed or alcohol-based products until your skin is fully healed and back to normal.
• Avoid very hot baths, saunas or any activity that make you sweat more than usual, as this could create infections.
• Avoid using make-up products on the treated area after the treatment.
  Underarms: do not use deodorant.
• Bikini line: it is preferable to wear cotton underwear 48 hours after the treatment.
• Do not use other hair removal methods in between Furless sessions, instead come right away for treatment.
• Avoid going to the pool or beach.

Electrolysis FAQ Taranaki

Electrolysis is the breaking down of hair using three modalities. It is a gradual starvation process starving the blood supply. When thermolysis is introduced into the follicle it produces heat from the inserted probe. It heats up the moisture and coagulates it like boiling and egg. Using heat the hair can not grow by cauterising the bottom ⅔ of the hair follicle.

There are three modalities used in electrolysis.

Thermolysis – Heat Current
When thermolysis is introduced into the follicle it produces heat from the inserted probe. It heats up the moisture and coagulates it like boiling and egg. Using heat the hair can not grow by cauterising the bottom ⅔ of the hair follicle.

Galvanic – Chemical Current
In the case of the electro-chemical reaction in Galvanic, a negative current is applied to the hair follicle. Moisture present in the hair known as sodium hydroxide is converted to Lye with the Galvanic current. Lye is highly reactive in the presence of organic compounds (in this case, skin). It suffocates the hair so the hair can’t grow. Fortunately, the amount of lye produced is miniscule and highly targeted to the area it is intended to work on beneath the skin.

During galvanic you will be asked to hold an electrode, a probe is inserted into the follicle and a direct current of electricity is emitted from the probe, passing through the body to the electrode. Inside the follicle, the current causes the water and salt to undergo a chemical reaction, forming a chemical base called sodium hydroxide, better known as lye. Through chemical decomposition, the sodium hydroxide attempts to dissolve the papilla, hopefully resulting in total destruction.

Blend – Combining both heat and chemical
Blend is using the thermal coagulation of thermolysis and the chemical reaction of galvanic blending the two together to increase the effectiveness of both currents.

Thermolysis heats up the hair follicle and galvanic works like a turbulence to a much higher result. The two currents break down the hair and kill it permanently.

In a nutshell that’s electrolysis, all hairs all skin types can effectively have electrolysis. Electrolysis FAQ Taranaki.

We are all born with dormant hair follicles.

During life changes these follicles become stimulated with hormones and come to life.

• Puberty
• Pregnancy
• Menopause
• 65+ years
• PCOS and other hormonal conditions

Electrolysis FAQ Taranaki

A small probe is inserted beside the hair into the hair follicle. There is no pain since there is already an opening in the skin.

At this stage to heat is applied by the machine.

The hair is then removed effectively with the bulb and coagulated stem cells.