Electrolysis
Electrolysis is a truly permanent hair removal technique, often required on the genitals as a prerequisite for bottom surgery. It is also a popular choice for removal of facial or other body hair. Electrolysis works by inserting a needle, referred to as a probe, into a hair follicle (ideally, you don’t actually feel this part), then charging the needle with electricity to kill the hair (this is the part that is supposed to hurt). There are a variety of different ways this can work, depending on the kind of electrolysis being used (the modality) but the end result is the same. The root of the hair is killed, and the hair is removed. This process works most reliably when the hair is actively growing, as once the hair is dead, it may not conduct electricity all the way down to the root. As such, a program of electrolysis will often begin by doing an initial clear of the hairs, many of which will come back, to make sure that they are all in the same stage of growth and can then be removed more reliably.
Electrolysis can work on anyone, regardless of hair or skin color, and once a hair has been killed, it will never come back. The two largest drawbacks are the time investment, and the pain. Since every hair has to be removed individually, electrolysis takes an extended period of time, ranging from months to years. Electrolysis can be quite painful. This can vary from person to person, but having a needle superheated while inside your hair follicle is not generally considered a pleasant experience. The skill of the technician, the kind and quantity of hair, and your own pain tolerance will all have an impact on the duration of the process.As of the time of writing, electrolysis is covered by some insurance companies for gender-affirming care. Painkillers and numbing cream can also be prescribed to aid in the process, although the highest-potency numbing cream is not generally covered by insurance, and must be paid for out of pocket.
Modalities
- Electrolysis (Galvanic Current)
- Thermolysis (Alternating Current)
- Blend (Both currents combined)
Galvanic current electrolysis is the original form of electrolysis, and is no longer commonly used, due to taking a very long time to remove a single hair. Thermolysis is the most popular and commonly-used modality, as it is extremely fast, treating a hair in only a fraction of a second. Blend combines a galvanic current with an alternating current, meaning it takes longer than thermolysis, but is faster than pure galvanic, taking around 10 seconds at most to treat a hair. Blend can be useful for extremely distorted hair that galvanic isn’t working on, or if your skin has a strong reaction to thermolysis.