Painless Electrolysis in Chicago With Lidocaine Injections, ProNox, and Sedation
For a lot of people, the hardest part of electrolysis isn’t the treatment. It’s the worry before it: the fear that it will hurt, the tension of sitting through a long session, the dread that builds in the days leading up to an appointment. That anxiety is real, and it’s why people put off permanent hair removal for years. Our pain management options are built to take that off the table, so the appointment feels calm instead of stressful.
Electrolysis is the only permanent hair removal method the FDA recognizes, and the discomfort it’s known for is the part we can do something about. Our Chicago clinic offers electrolysis with anesthesia alongside a full set of comfort options. Prescription numbing cream and lidocaine injections handle the physical sensation. ProNox nitrous oxide and oral sedation settle the nerves. Between them, painless electrolysis in Chicago is a realistic goal here, not a marketing promise.
Most clinics hand you one numbing cream and stop there. We don’t. Depending on the area and your tolerance, we can combine local anesthetic, ProNox, and oral sedation, all managed by board-certified nurse practitioners. Some clients are fine with cream alone. Others want the full setup so a four-hour session feels like minutes. A few relax enough to fall asleep. It’s your call, and it’s one of the few places near you that offers this range.
Compare Our Electrolysis Packages
We offer safe, permanent hair removal for nearly every part of the body — including the face, neck, underarms, abdomen, and bikini area.
← Swipe to compare all packages →
| What's Included | MED+ LightFace $300/hr Genital $325/hr |
MED+ ComfortFace $325/hr Genital $350/hr |
MED+Face $425/hr Genital $450/hr |
MED+ EliteFace $450/hr Genital $475/hr |
MED+ AdvancedFace $550/hr Genital $575/hr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rx Topical Numbing Cream | |||||
| Electrolysis | |||||
| ProNox Gas | |||||
| Lidocaine Injections | |||||
| IV Fluids | +$100/bag | +$100/bag | +$100/bag | +$100/bag | |
| Oral Sedation | |||||
| Treatment Duration (per session) | 1 – 4 hours | 1 – 4 hours | 1 – 4 hours | 1 – 4 hours | 1 – 4 hours |
| Treatment Areas | Face / Body / Pubic | Face / Body / Pubic | Face / Body / Pubic | Face / Body / Pubic | Face / Body / Pubic |
All sessions run 1–4 hours and are tailored to dense hair areas (face, body, and pubic). Pricing is per hour.
For appointments that are one hour or less, we require at least 24 hours notice. For appointments longer than one hour, a minimum of 72 hours notice is necessary. For treatments scheduled for four hours or more, we require at least 14 days notice. If proper notice is not given, a fee of 100% of the scheduled service will be charged. If you need to make changes to your appointment, please call us at (252) 722-5006 or email us at [email protected].
How Our Electrolysis Pain Management Options Work
Topical Numbing Cream
A prescription-strength cream is applied to the treatment area to numb the surface of the skin. It typically takes 10–30 minutes to take effect and helps reduce sensation during electrolysis. While pressure or movement may still be felt, the cream lessens sharp or stinging sensations.
ProNox Nitrous Oxide Gas
Also known as “laughing gas,” ProNox helps you relax and feel more at ease. You control the mask and breathe it in whenever you need it. The calming effect starts within seconds and disappears as soon as you stop breathing it in — so you can go about your day right after.
Lidocaine Injections (local anesthetic)
A weight-based dose of lidocaine is injected directly into the treatment area by a board-certified nurse practitioner. A small pinch and mild burning may be felt as the medication enters, followed by complete numbness within minutes. Sensation gradually returns a few hours after treatment.
Oral Sedation
A prescribed sedative is taken by mouth before treatment to promote calmness and reduce awareness of discomfort. The medication allows the patient to remain awake but in a deeply relaxed state. Some lingering drowsiness may be present for a short period afterward.
For appointments that are one hour or less, we require at least 24 hours notice. For appointments longer than one hour, a minimum of 72 hours notice is necessary. For treatments scheduled for four hours or more, we require at least 14 days notice. If proper notice is not given, a fee of 100% of the scheduled service will be charged. If you need to make changes to your appointment, please call us at (252) 722-5006 or email us at [email protected].
Does electrolysis hurt? What to expect
Honestly? It can. Electrolysis works by sending a small current into each follicle, and everyone feels that differently. Clients describe it anywhere from “no worse than a mosquito bite” to “like a rubber band snapped against the skin.” It also depends a lot on where you’re being treated. Areas like the upper lip are far more sensitive than, say, the eyebrows, and how sensitive an area feels varies a lot from person to person, as medical sources like Cleveland Clinic note in their overview of electrolysis.
Here’s the part that matters: none of that has to be your experience. With the right combination of numbing and sedation, most of our clients find their sessions genuinely comfortable, and a few relax so completely they fall asleep. Sessions can run anywhere from fifteen minutes to four hours, and with lidocaine fully numbing the area, the long ones feel far shorter than the clock says. Any sedative wears off by the next day.
How much hair we clear in a session depends on density and the area, but comfortable clients sit still, and clients who sit still let us work faster and more precisely. So comfort does more than make the appointment pleasant. It makes the results better.
Comfort For Sensitive Areas And Long Sessions
Some areas hurt more than others, and the right comfort plan depends on where you’re being treated and how long you’ll be in the chair. Here’s how we approach the requests we get most.
Facial electrolysis (lip, chin, jaw)
The upper lip and chin are some of the most sensitive spots on the body, which is why numbing injections for facial electrolysis are one of our most common requests. A weight-based dose of lidocaine numbs the area completely within minutes, and most clients pair it with ProNox to stay relaxed. Painless facial electrolysis is realistic here, even on the lip.
Bikini line and genital electrolysis
The bikini line and genital area are sensitive enough that numbing makes the difference between a session you tolerate and one you barely notice. For bikini line electrolysis we typically use numbing cream plus lidocaine injections. For genital electrolysis, including hair clearance for transgender clients preparing for gender-affirming surgery, we add ProNox and oral sedation so longer clearings stay comfortable the whole way through.
Large volume and marathon sessions
If you have a large area or dense hair, sitting still for hours is the real challenge. Our large volume electrolysis with sedation lets you book sessions longer than four hours, with one or two electrologists working at once. With lidocaine fully numbing the area and sedation keeping you calm, a marathon session feels far shorter than the clock says. This is the setup most pre-surgical and transgender clients choose.
People search for electrolysis clinics that offer injections because most places near them don’t. We’re one of the few in the Chicago area that does, whatever area you’re treating.
Frequently Asked Questions About Electrolysis Pain Management
Does electrolysis hurt?
It can. Electrolysis works by sending a small current into each follicle, and everyone feels that differently. People describe it anywhere from no worse than a mosquito bite to a rubber band snapped against the skin, and a lot depends on the area being treated. The upper lip, for example, is far more sensitive than the brows. The good news is that none of that has to be your experience, because we have several ways to take the discomfort out of it.
Will it hurt less with your pain management options?
Yes, and for most clients the difference is dramatic. With prescription numbing cream, lidocaine injections, ProNox, and oral sedation, most people find their sessions genuinely comfortable, and a few relax enough to fall asleep. Pain tolerance varies from person to person, but the whole point of our pain management is to match the right combination to you so the appointment is easy to sit through.
Do you offer lidocaine injections (local anesthetic) for electrolysis?
We do. A board-certified nurse practitioner injects a weight-based dose of lidocaine directly into the area being treated. You will feel a small pinch and a little burning as it goes in, then the area goes completely numb within a few minutes. Sensation comes back gradually a few hours after your session. Lidocaine is the most effective way we have to numb sensitive areas, and it is what makes painless electrolysis realistic even on the lip or bikini line.
What is ProNox, and how does it help?
ProNox is nitrous oxide, the same laughing gas used at the dentist. You hold the mask and breathe it in whenever you want it, so you stay in control the whole time. The calming effect starts within seconds and clears just as fast once you stop, which means you can get on with your day right after. A lot of clients use it alongside numbing to settle the nerves rather than the pain.
Can I have electrolysis under sedation?
Yes. We offer oral sedation, a prescribed sedative you take by mouth before your appointment. It keeps you awake but deeply relaxed and takes the edge off any awareness of discomfort, which helps a lot during long sessions or if you tend to feel anxious. You will be a little drowsy for a short while afterward, so plan to have someone drive you home that day.
Is painless facial electrolysis really possible?
For most people, yes. The face, especially the upper lip and chin, is one of the more sensitive areas, which is exactly why numbing injections for facial electrolysis are one of our most common requests. With lidocaine numbing the area and ProNox to stay relaxed, the majority of our facial clients describe the session as comfortable, even on the lip.
Can you numb sensitive areas like the bikini line or genital area?
Yes, and these are areas where numbing makes the biggest difference. For the bikini line we usually use numbing cream plus lidocaine injections. For genital electrolysis, including hair clearance for clients preparing for gender-affirming surgery, we add ProNox and oral sedation so longer clearings stay comfortable the whole way through.
Do you offer large volume or marathon electrolysis sessions?
We do. If you have a large area or dense hair, you can book large volume electrolysis with sedation that runs longer than four hours, with one or two electrologists working at the same time to clear more in a single visit. With lidocaine numbing the area and oral sedation keeping you calm, a marathon session feels far shorter than the clock says. This is the setup most pre-surgical and transgender clients choose.
Who administers the numbing and sedation, and is it safe?
Our lidocaine injections and sedation are managed by board-certified nurse practitioners, and we review your medical history at your consultation before recommending anything. Everything is dosed to you, and we only suggest the options that are appropriate for your health and the area you are treating. If something is not a good fit for you, we will say so.
How do I choose the right pain management level?
You do not have to figure it out alone. At your consultation we talk through the area you are treating, how sensitive you are to pain, and how long your sessions will run, then recommend a level. As a rough guide, cream alone suits small, less sensitive spots, lidocaine injections suit sensitive areas like the lip or bikini line, and adding ProNox and sedation suits long sessions or anyone who feels nervous. You can always step up or down between appointments.
How long are sessions, and will I need follow-up treatments?
Sessions run anywhere from fifteen minutes to four hours, and longer for large volume bookings, so you can pick what fits your schedule. With lidocaine numbing the area, the long ones feel much shorter than they are. Electrolysis is permanent, but it works one follicle at a time, so clearing an area for good takes a series of sessions. We will map out a realistic schedule with you based on the area and how dense your hair is.
How do I get started and book an appointment?
The first step is a consultation, where we review your goals, medical history, and comfort preferences and settle on the right pain management level for you. If you have never had electrolysis or laser with us before, we ask for that consultation before your first treatment. We are at 1315 N Larrabee St in Chicago, open Monday through Friday from 9am to 6pm, by appointment only. We speak English, Romanian, and Russian. You can book online or call us to set it up.
How much does electrolysis with pain management cost?
Pricing depends on the comfort level you choose and whether you are treating the face or body, and it is all listed on this page in our pricing tables. Numbing cream is included across our levels, and options like lidocaine injections, ProNox, and oral sedation are built into the higher tiers. For the full breakdown, see our electrolysis pricing, and we are happy to walk you through the right option for your area at your consultation.
How to Prepare for Pain-Free Electrolysis
Learn more about Electrolysis Hair Removal
TG-Friendly by
Laura's Playground
American Electrology
Association
Electrologists Association
of Illinois
