| MOST
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS |
The electrology
patient will ask many questions about the anticipated procedure. The electrologist will
show professional confidence and expertise by answering each one. |
| Does Electrology
Always Work? |
This question is
usually asked when patients see hair appearing in the treated area. Hair that appears in
the area is not necessarily hair growing from a treated follicle. Most, in fact, will grow
from untreated follicles. If the hair appears in six weeks or less, you can be sure that
it is from a follicle that was previously dormant. Seven to eight weeks would be required
for a hair to grow from the treated follicle. |
| Can Electrology
Be Harmful or Cause Scarring? |
Under normal
conditions, there are no harmful effects from electrology treatment. Most undesirable
aftereffects are caused by the patient. Scratching, picking, or using heavy makeup, and of
course general uncleanliness, can cause problems. Caution should be taken with diabetics
and patients prone to keloids. To avoid harming the patient, the electrologist should not
treat areas inside the nose or ears, or wherever there are skin irritations, until the
patient has been examined by a physician. |
| Can Hair Be
Removed From a Mole? |
The electrologist
should check insurance coverage and state regulations before treating a mole. A
physician's permission should also be obtained to protect the health of the patient. These
precautions are presently necessary because treating moles is still controversial. There
is no recorded damage due to treatment of a mole, and many insurance companies now cover
this treatment. In fact after treating moles in 90% of the cases the mole color disappears
in 2 to 4 months, leaving the skin in perfect condition. |
| How Long Does
Each Treatment Last? |
The average
treatment ranges from 15 minutes to one hour. The amount of time per treatment depends
upon the reaction of the skin to treatment, and the patient's sensitivity. Timing also
depends on what part of the body is being treated. The first treatment should last no more
than 15 minutes. Use this treatment as a test. If all goes well, a patient may eventually
receive three hours of body treatment at one time. Facial treatments will always vary
greatly depending upon the area; from 15 minutes to one hour. |
| How Much Hair Can
Be Removed in One Treatment? |
The amount of
hair that can be removed in one treatment depends upon the sensitivity of the patient, the
skin, and the proficiency of the electrologist. |
| Can I Get an
Infection From the Treatment? |
Infection can
result from electrology treatment, although it is rare. Infections are most commonly
caused by the patient after treatment, and are usually of a minor cosmetic nature. This
type of infection will clear within 3 to 8 weeks. It is crucial that the electrologist
use sterilization and sanitation procedures to decrease the possibility of infection. |
| Why Does Hair
Regrow? |
There are many
reasons for hair regrowth. Sometimes an insertion is not accurate and misses the dermal
papilla, resulting in regrowth. If the insertion is accurate, but only destroys the dermal
papilla and not the lower two-thirds of the hair follicle where the germinative cells are
located, hair will regrow. A hair treated in the telogen, or resting stage, will probably
not be affected by electrology treatment. Most important: if you feel the hair
coming out after treatment, nothing is being accomplished, only tweezing. Find a new
electrologist. |
| Will
Hyperpigmentation Always Occur After Treatment? |
Not always.
Hyperpigmentation (HEYE per PIG men TAY shun) or freckling of the treated area, is
possible, especially if the hair is dark, deep, terminal hair. Most cases of
hyperpigmentation clear within a few months, but in some cases it can last for as long as
24 months. |
| Will Electrology
Treatment Stimulate New Hair Growth? |
Some experts feel
that the stimulation can cause a few surrounding follicles to grow hair. This has not been
scientifically proven. |
| Is One
Electrology Method Most Effective? |
There are three
acceptable modalities for permanent hair removal at the present time. The efficiency of
the method depends totally on the practitioner, not the equipment. Gior prefers short wave
thermolysis – most cost effective for the patient. See
Standards. |
| What Is the Black
Material that Appears on the Skin After Treatment? |
It can be
identified as the remnants of a club hair. This occurs when a hair is treated in the later
stages of telogen with an early anagen hair already growing beneath it. If both hairs are
successfully treated, the anagen hair will appear at the skin surface days later. There is
also the possibility of hair breakage during removal. This will leave the thick root
portion in the follicle. It will appear on the surface a few days to a week after
treatment. |
| What Is the White
Tissue that Appears Soon After Treatment? |
The white tissue
is the sheath, or the covering around the hair itself. As the hair is removed from
the follicle, the sheath will occasionally peel off. |
| Does Temporary
Hair Removal Affect Hair Growth? |
Stimulation of
the dermal papilla can cause hair to grow wider in diameter, and at times can rarely
distort the hair follicle. Only tweezing or waxing can cause enough trauma to stimulate
the dermal papilla. Cutting, shaving, and depilatories do not reach the dermal papilla and
do not affect growth. A patient under treatment should not tweeze between sessions, but
may cut any visible hairs until their next appointment. Patients who have distorted hairs
due to temporary removal methods should be advised to pace appointments closely so that
you can treat hairs in their early anagen phase. At that point the hair is straight and
the papilla is closer to the surface of the skin, making electrology more effective. |
| Why Does the Skin
Scab After Treatment? |
Electrology
causes microscopic hemorrhaging, so it is normal for scabs to form after treatment,
especially on the lower areas of the body. The patient must be advised not to pick scabs
or they will leave small pits. |
| What Causes
Ingrown Hairs? |
Ingrown hairs
grow through the side of the follicle and lie just beneath the skin's surface. Ingrown
hairs are usually caused by tweezing or waxing, when the hair breaks at the weakest point
just below the surface of the skin. This can distort the hair, especially if it is pulled
against its direction of growth. The hair will then grow under the surface of the skin
rather than up and out of the hair follicle. A pimple like inflammation results that is
uncomfortable to the patient, especially when it occurs on the inner thigh, the neck, or
the underarm. Men with heavy beards can have this problem. When they shave close, the hair
pulls back into the hair follicle, and sometimes its direction of growth is altered,
causing ingrown hairs. Patients who are prone to ingrown hairs should stop tweezing or
waxing and receive electrology treatments immediately. |
| Does Electrology
Treatment Hurt? |
The sensation is
less than in tweezing. Most patients are surprised as they expect to feel much more. Some
patients even relax enough to fall asleep. Today one may apply a topical anesthetic to
eliminate most of the sensation. |
| Can the Breast Be
Treated During Pregnancy? |
Medical
authorities feel there is no problem. It is best to leave this decision to the patient,
however, as some women are more sensitive during pregnancy. We have treated hundreds of
pregnant women with no bad side effects. |
| Can a Local
Anesthesia Be Given? |
Yes, but only by
a qualified dentist or physician. Many patients may want this, particularly for the upper
lip or inner thigh. The electrologist must be extremely careful not to overtreat these
areas. |
| Will the Pore Be
Larger After Treatment? |
The size of the
pore is due to the size of the hair treated. The electrologist must make the patient aware
of this before treatment, as pores are more evident once the hair is removed. |
| Can Children Be
Treated? |
Unless prohibited
by state regulations, children may be treated. It is, of course, wise to have the
permission of the parents of children under legal age. You may occasionally be asked to
treat a child against his or her wishes. If at all possible, avoid the treatment. We have
treated 6 year olds very successfully many times. |
