When you want to remove unwanted facial and body hair, you have several options. Shaving, tweezing, waxing, and bleaching will temporarily eliminate or hide hair, but for longer-lasting results, you need laser hair removal or electrolysis. While the first option is more common, electrolysis is becoming more popular for its ability to permanently remove hair. Keep reading to learn more about electrolysis, including how it works and what you can expect. 

What is Electrolysis?

Electrolysis is a method of removing individual hairs using a device that destroys hair follicles using energy from a chemical or heat. During the procedure, a super fine probe is inserted into the hair follicle to destroy it, and then the hair is removed with tweezers. When the course of treatment is complete, which can take several months, the hair will never grow back. 

This is different from laser hair removal, which uses high-heat lasers to damage hair follicles. The hair becomes finer and lighter in the treated areas, but it is not permanently removed. After the initial series of treatments, follow-up sessions every six months are needed to remove any new hair.  

What Are the Advantages of Electrolysis?

Beyond offering more permanent results than laser hair removal, electrolysis is more versatile in terms of where it can be used and who can benefit most from it. Electrolysis can be used anywhere on the body, including the eyebrows. In fact, because it is so effective at permanently removing hair, it's an ideal choice for removing hair from the brows, lip, and chin. Laser hair removal can be done anywhere but the eyebrows. 

Laser hair removal is also best suited for individuals with light skin and dark hair, while electrolysis can be done on any skin type. Because laser hair removal can affect pigmentation, providers recommend avoiding sun exposure for six weeks before treatment, as well as afterward. Electrolysis has no effect on skin pigmentation and may only cause some minor redness or irritation after treatment. However, electrolysis does have the disadvantage of taking longer to treat larger areas, like the bikini line or legs. You'll likely need more sessions to completely eliminate all of the hair from those areas. 

If you’re  considering permanent hair removal, make an appointment with  Advanced Laser & Cosmetic Center in West Chester, OH, to discuss your options. In addition to laser hair removal, this medical esthetics center offers treatments for wrinkle and age spot reduction, spider veins, and body sculpting. To schedule a consultation, call (513) 769-8346. You can also visit the website to learn more about the providers and their services to help you feel and look your best.