Electrolysis Permanent Hair Removal Procedure – The Best Hair Removal Method

One of the best methods for hair removal is electrolysis. There are many reasons for that – it is permanent removal (and not just permanent reduction like laser), it can be used to remove any hair type – thick/thin, grey/black/brown. These make it far superior compared to laser. Of course like anything, this has its downside too. Firstly, because each strand is removed individually, to treat a large area of your body, it may take up to 5 hours per session. Secondly, it is painful because probes are inserted into each hair follicle. Even with these cons, if I have an option to choose between electrolysis on one side and all the other hair removal options on the other, I would only go for electrolysis. So much so, that every time I move to a new city, the first thing I Google is if it has electrolysis centers!

Electrolysis Permanent Hair Removal Procedure

How electrolysis works:
A needle is inserted deep into an individual hair follicle that holds one hair. Then, a low-level electrical energy pulse is sent into the follicle to destroy it. This acts upon the molecules in your hair follicle which heat up and destroy the hair follicle. The existing hair falls out, and the process is repeated hair by hair.  Thanks to its destructive success, electrolysis is the only hair removal system considered permanent by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the American Medical Association.  You would need multiple sessions spaced 2 weeks apart because electrolysis treats only active hair which is about 80-85% of the total hair.

My Experience with Electrolysis Permanent Hair Removal Procedure:

I first started electrolysis when I was in Cochin. I treated my upper lip and part of my sideburns. I did this for about an year. Then, I had to move to Mangalore. There were no electrolysis centres there. After 3 years, I moved to Mysore and found one here.  Currently, I am treating my full face and neck.

This is how much it costs:

1. 900 INR per hour.

2. Initial payment of 1000 INR per needle (it is not shared for hygiene reasons) – 1 to 2 probes of different sizes maybe required depending on the varying thickness of your hair.

The electrologist inserts a probe into the hair follicle which is connected to an electrolysis machine. She then presses a paddle which sends a tiny amount of current through the probe into the follicle. The amount of current depends on the thickness of the hair. The hair falls off which she removes with a pair of tweezers. This is then continued for the entire area.

Electrolysis Permanent Hair Removal Procedure

I usually watch a movie during the process, but once out of boredom, I even calculated the rate of removal 😛 it is almost 15 hair follicles/minute. The pain is quite strong and more so on sensitive areas of the body. If it is totally unbearable, you could take a painkiller 30 minutes prior to your appointment. It takes about 3 hours to do the whole face and neck.

Immediately afterwards, the whole area is red due to the pricking. You have to apply Neosporin powder. After getting back home, wash the face with a mild cleanser and apply Neosporin ointment (any antibiotic ointment will do). If you don’t, you will easily infect the open follicles and boils will appear. Apply for at least 3 nights.

Electrolysis Permanent Hair Removal Procedure

The upper lip that I did about 4 years back is still 100% hair free. I am hoping to do it all over my body if time permits 😀  This is the best hair removal technique that I have ever tried (and let me tell you that I have tried them all!).

Image Sources: 1, 2, 3.

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15 thoughts on “Electrolysis Permanent Hair Removal Procedure – The Best Hair Removal Method

    1. Rene, thermolysis is just a way of doing electrolysis. The three methods used in electrolysis are Galvanic, Thermolysis, and Blend.

      And if the electrologist is experienced, you will not face risks of scarring. My electrologist has been working in this field for about 20+ years.

    1. That totally depends on how many hours are needed. On an average, it comes to around 50K INR. I haven’t experienced any side effects other than pimples during the 1st few days.

  1. hi anjana.. thanks for the information. i’ve always wanted to do this but i thought it wud b very costly n some peoples said it has side effects too..
    in which center in cochin you underwent treatment?

  2. Is one sitting enough for the treatment (ex:one sitting for upperlip)?
    If not how far apart should the sessions be spaced?
    Do you have any recommendations in Bangalore?
    Thank you for your answers in advance!

    1. No one sitting is not enough. You need to get it done for atleast 8-12 months once every 14 days. I do not know much about Bangalore though. Google it?

  3. Hi I am in Mysore for next 4 months and I recently read your article so kind of thinking to go for electrolysis… Did you get any scars after that and how much it hurts on the underarms??

  4. I am thinking of getting laser done on my arms . After two session when they get thinned out can I get electrolysis done ?
    Or electrolysis done is better on thicker hair ?

  5. Plz tell me any IMBB here in Delhi… I want to go in for electrolysis… though i have gone through laser tharepy but i have a few white hairs around my neck say 10 or 15 i want to get them removed.. plz help me find one IMBB in delhi and plz also mention the fee per session.
    Thanks
    Fiza

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