Facial Electrolysis: Cost, Results, Side Effects, and More

In this busy life where you barely find enough time to eat and rest well, grooming your unwanted body hair every week or two has become a hassle. However, it is also necessary to appear in your best shape. 

Therefore, women are looking for hair removal methods that remove their unwanted hair from the roots in a way that significantly delays or even completely stops its regrowth, especially on the face. 

The most popular choices for long-lasting facial hair removal include IPL hair removal, laser hair removal, and electrolysis. The results of IPL and laser hair removal are semi-permanent while electrolysis has the potential to be permanent. 

So, let us talk about facial electrolysis hair removal, its pros and cons, cost, and after-effects to help you understand if it is worth a try. 

Table of Contents:

• Part 1: Does Electrolysis Work on Facial Hair?
• Part 2: Facial Electrolysis Cost
• Part 3: Laser Vs. Electrolysis for Facial Hair
• Part 4: How Long Does Facial Electrolysis Take?
• Part 5: How Many Electrolysis Sessions Are Needed to Remove Facial Hair?
• Part 6: What Will My Face Look Like After Electrolysis
• Part 7:  How Painful is Electrolysis on the Face?
• Part 8: What are the Downsides to Facial Electrolysis?
• Part 9: Why is My Hair Growing Back After Facial Electrolysis?

Part 1: Does Electrolysis Work on Facial Hair?

In electrolysis, a skillful technician carefully passes a hair-like thin wire into the hair follicle through the skin. Once it reaches the end of the hair strand at the level of the roots, external energy through microcurrent is applied. This energy can be in the form of, 

• Heat energy 
• Chemical energy 
• Galvanic energy 
• Mixture of all forms of energy 

This energy destroys the hair follicles and roots, and hair strands fall out. 

The thicker the hair, the more energy it requires to kill the follicle. This makes electrolysis more effortless on the thin hair. Electrolysis works effectively on facial hair, which is often thin. The success rate of electrolysis for unwanted facial hair is around 80%.

However, note there are also more chances of regrowth of the facial hair after electrolysis because the facial hair follicles are strong and deeply rooted. In conclusion, electrolysis works well for facial hair but there are chances of hair strands regrowing after the completion of the treatment sessions. 

Part 2: Facial Electrolysis Cost

The cost of electrolysis hair removal is determined by the time duration of a single hair removal session. In general, per per-hour cost of electrolysis is $80-$300 in different states of the USA. For example, it is $140 in Los Angeles, $90 in New York, and $70 in Chicago. 

Factors Affecting the Cost of Electrolysis on the Face

In addition to the geographical location, the average cost of electrolysis is affected by the following factors, 

• Surface Area: The greater the surface area of the treatment, the more the cost. For example, electrolysis on sideburns and chin cost more than that of upper lips. 

• The density of the Hair: Thicker hair requires more sessions and hence, a greater cost. 

• Duration of Session: As the cost of electrolysis is $/hour, the duration of the session can increase the price.

• Type of Treatment: The price of electrolysis for thermal, galvanic, and hybrid treatment differs. 

Part 3: Laser Vs. Electrolysis for Facial Hair

Here are the major differences between electrolysis and laser for facial hair.

Working Principle 

In electrolysis, microcurrent induced into the hair follicles through a thin wire kills the hair follicles. However, a probe is used to radiate a high-energy beam of focused light that targets the pigment of the hair strands to destroy the hair follicles in laser hair removal.

Skin Tone and Hair Color Compatibility 

Both laser hair removal and electrolysis work for thick to thin hair. However, the effectiveness is variable. Going into the details, electrolysis works better for thin hair as less energy is required to destroy the hair follicle while laser hair removal is more effective for thick hair as it has more pigment.

Additionally, laser hair removal is a better option for people with dark hair and light skin tone and electrolysis works for all hair colors and skin tones. 

Safety Considerations 

Electrolysis is relatively more painful as compared to laser hair removal and there are chances of skin scarring and infections. In laser hair removal, a person should be concerned about a pricking sensation during the treatment and the risk of burns afterward. 

Also, note that electrolysis is a time-consuming treatment as it treats only one hair follicle at a time. Thus, it is more suitable for small areas in contrast to laser hair removal which kills multiple follicles at one time and works well for large areas. 

Pros and Cons

The pros and cons of both hair removal treatments are provided in the table below. 

Alternative to Laser Hair Removal and Electrolysis 

Both electrolysis and laser hair removal have their pros and cons. But do you know what is the biggest turn-off about these hair removal methods? They are expensive and offer painful or uncomfortable treatment experiences. 

Part 4: How Long Does Facial Electrolysis Take?

Each session of electrolysis on the face takes 15 to 60 minutes depending upon the facial area under treatment. It means that for a single area of the face like eyebrows or upper lips, the treatment is completed within 15 minutes. However, it might take up to an hour to treat the unwanted hair on the full face, including sideburns, chin, upper lips, eyebrows, and forehead. 

Part 5: How Many Electrolysis Sessions Are Needed to Remove Facial Hair?

The number of electrolysis sessions needed to remove the undesired facial hair is variable. In general, anywhere between 8 to 14 sessions are required for the completion of the treatment and it depends upon the following factors, 

• Treatment area and effect of hormones on the treatment area
• The pain threshold of the client as clients with more threshold can take longer sessions 
• The phase of the  hair growth cycle at which electrolysis is performed 
• Hair growth, number, and density 

Each session of electrolysis is spaced at an interval of 3 to 6 weeks. Thus, it takes a year or 2 to complete the treatment. 

Part 6: What Will My Face Look Like After Electrolysis? 

To address your expectations with facial electrolysis, let us discuss how your skin appears after the treatment. 

Immediate Post-Electrolysis Hair Removal Session Appearance 

Immediately after your electrolysis hair removal session, you will experience mild pain or discomfort in the treated area. In addition, the skin appears, 

• Red 
• Irritated 
• Inflamed with small bumps 
• Have little scabs

Your skin will start to become normal within 12 to 48 hours after your hair removal session. Also, some people develop folliculitis or acne breakouts and require up to 1 week until their skin starts to appear normal.

Long-Term Appearance of the Skin

In between the electrolysis sessions, you will notice that the hair from the treated area is shedding and fine hair is regrowing back. Once the treatment is complete, your skin will be almost free of all unwanted hair. 

Thus, skin appears smooth, glowing, and radiant in the long run after electrolysis. 

The Necessary Aftercare Steps

To avoid side effects and get the best of electrolysis, below are some aftercare steps. 

• Do not remove the hair with wax, tweezers, or razors, and let it shed on its own
• Apply the prescription creams advised by your electrolysis expert 
• Do not use any active ingredient for 1 to 2 days 
• Apply cool compresses to deal with the immediate after-effects of electrolysis 
• Moisturize the skin adequately and drink more water to hydrate it from the inside.  

Part 7:  How Painful is Electrolysis on the Face?

The pain of electrolysis on the face mainly depends upon, 

• Your pain threshold 
• Thickness and density of the hair
• Time taken during the treatment session

Although the sensation resembles poking of the skin by a thin needle or rubber band snapping against the skin, the continuous snapping makes it feel painful. 

To reduce the pain, you can apply a topical anesthetic cream with lidocaine, take oral painkillers, or ask your electrolysis expert for a prescription cream. 

Part 8: What are the Downsides to Facial Electrolysis?

Here are the side effects and risks of electrolysis that make the reason why you might want to avoid facial electrolysis.

Pain, Redness, and Irritation 

During the treatment, you feel a snapping or poking sensation on the skin making your experience painful. After the treatment, the skin becomes red and irritated. 

Inflammation, Folliculitis, and Infection

The minor electric current from electrolysis irritates the skin. At, times, this skin irritation develops into skin inflammation of the treated area. Furthermore, the probe can introduce microbes into the hair follicles leading to folliculitis and skin infections. 

This appears in the form of small fluid-filled bumps. 

Skin Discoloration and Scarring 

Skin responds to the trauma by an increase in the production of melanin. Electrolysis needle also puts a little trauma on the skin and can lead to hyperpigmentation. 

In combination with some hypopigmented spots, electrolysis causes skin discoloration. Moreover, scars and scabs can also form at the places where the needle is exerted into the skin. 

Time-Consuming 

In electrolysis, individual hair follicles are treated. The process of inserting the wire into the hair follicle and then applying the current takes a few seconds. Imagine doing it for uncountable hair on your face. It will take some time, right? 

Thus, electrolysis on facial hair can take almost an hour, if not longer. 

Expensive 

1 hour of electrolysis costs around $100 on average and you might require around 10 sessions for the completion of the treatment on the face. 

The overall price of facial electrolysis accumulates to be around $10,000 minus the consultation fee, commute expenses, and post-care ointments. 

Part 9: Why is My Hair Growing Back After Facial Electrolysis?

Although electrolysis is an FDA-approved method of permanent hair removal, some people have reported hair regrowth after the completion of the treatment. The reasons for this include, 

The Effect of Hair Growth Cycle on Regrowth of the Hair

Electrolysis is most effective when hair is attached to the follicle in the active phase of the hair growth cycle. There are chances that the hair follicle in which the needle was inserted did not have actively growing hair. Rather, the hair was in a latent or shedding phase. 

In these cases, some hair follicles remain untreated and regrowth occurs in some spots. 

The Effect of Hormones 

Fluctuation in the levels of hormones can result in the development of new hair follicles. As these hair follicles are not already treated with electrolysis, hair regrows from them normally. The conditions in which hormonal levels keep changing include, 

• Pregnancy
• Menopause 
• PCOS
• Hirsutism 

Incomplete Electrolysis Hair Removal Sessions 

Each session of electrolysis weakens the hair follicles and multiple sessions are required to kill the follicle completely. If you did not go through the required number of sessions, it means that the treatment is incomplete and hair will grow back gradually to its usual density, thickness, and rate. 

Conclusion 

Facial electrolysis is an expensive and time-consuming treatment to get rid of unwanted hair on the face. While it requires effort, it can make your face hairless for good. Therefore, go for electrolysis at a well-known salon if you want permanent hair removal. 

However, make sure that your hormonal level is stable, you get each follicle treated in its active phase, and you complete your treatment sessions to ensure permanent results.