Does Electrolysis Hurt?
The internet is full of information on how painful electrolysis hair removal can be, and it seems like everyone is trying to come up with so much unrelated info around the question Does Electrolysis Hair Removal Hurt? So, does it hurt? YES! It can be very painful, BUT! It depends on the Electrolysis Clinic you choose. For example, at Electrolysis 100% Permanent Hair Removal & Skin Care in Chicago, we offer pain management options to our patients depending on the electrolysis session length. Our clinic is one of the few clinics in the USA offering Pain Management Options for Large Volume Electrolysis Treatments including:
- Topical Lidocaine
- Lidocaine Injections
- Oral Sedation, IV Hydration
- Intravenous IV Deep Sedation
We have clients from all over US who fly all the way to Chicago just to get Electrolysis Hair Removal at our clinic because we can substantially reduce the pain. Our services allow our patients to get electrolysis sessions of 7 hours straight. Great option for transgender individuals who want to get rid of their facial and genital hair removal permanently and as soon as possible. Areas that can be treated with Large Volume Electrolysis include face, body, breast, and genital areas for MTF pre-op and post-op Facial Feminization, GRS, SRS surgeries.
What is pain and why does electrolysis hurt?
When it comes to Electrolysis, pain is far more than just sensation. It’s also an unpleasant emotional experience. No two electrolysis patients feel pain the same way, even if they are getting the same type of treatment. Pain is a personal experience and a patient’s report of their own pain is the best measure.
In general, pain should be viewed as a “signal” that something is wrong somewhere in the body. When you’re getting electrolysis, the needle used by your electrologist produces enough heat or chemical action to destroy tissue. Nerves translate this sensation to the brain as pain. Hair follicle is the most innervated part of the skin and that’s why pain is a necessary reality of electrolysis.
Factors that affect pain threshold:
- Your skin type and sensitivity
- Skin hydration
- Hair thickness
- Quantity of hair
- Your electrologist’s experience
- Your cooperation
How painful is electrolysis versus laser hair removal?
Compared to laser hair removal, electrolysis is very painful. It’s painful because when you get electrolysis hair removal your electrologist removes the individual hairs from the body one by one. A very fine needle (usually thinner than the hair being treated) is inserted into the natural opening of the hair follicle alongside the hair shaft. A tiny amount of electrical current is then applied to destroy the hair growth cells. It’s a more complex than laser hair removal and that’s why it’s more painful.
Laser hair removal doesn’t cause much pain compared to electrolysis hair removal. It’s a quicker process but it’s not a permanent solution to unwanted hair. So, if you want a quicker hair removal method, laser is the way to go, but keep in mind that fact that laser is does not remove hair permanently, it doesn’t work on all skin types, and it doesn’t work on tattoos.
Conclusion
We probably gave you a lot more information than you searched for, but we care about our clients, and we want them to learn as much as possible about this great hair removal method. When it just came to the market, it was known for permanent results, but very painful. Now it’s known for permanent results with multiple pain management options. We hope that this blog post answered your questions: Does Electrolysis Hurt? If you would like to learn more about electrolysis, feel free to contact us anytime or book a free consultation at one of our electrolysis locations to talk to a professional electrologist. We accept out of state patients.
