Commonly Asked Questions

1.  What causes excess hair growth?

All hair growth, whether normal or abnormal is regulated by hormones.  Both men and women secrete the same hormones; it is only in quantity and source that they differ.  The over secretion of male hormones, which can be an inherited characteristic, is what causes excess hair growth.  Drugs (including birth control pills, cortisone, some seizure drugs, and high blood pressure medications), glandular conditions (Cushings Disease, polycystic ovaries, and thyroid irregularities), stress, pregnancy, and menopause can all cause hormonal imbalances which indirectly affect hair growth.  After menopause, nearly all women attain a certain amount of visible hair, particularly on the upper lip and chin.  This happens because the ovarian production of estrogen decreases drastically while the ovaries continue to produce small amounts of androgen.

2.  Why is electrolysis better than other hair removal methods?

To date, electrolysis is the only PERMANENT method of hair removal.  Other TEMPORARY methods (shaving, waxing, tweezing, bleaching, depilatories, electronic tweezing, etc.) can cause irritation and sometimes make the situation worse; even laser treatments are now to be marketed as "long-term" hair removal, not "permanent."  The end result with TEMPORARY methods is that you have to deal with the hair again and again, and PERMANENT hair removal is not achieved.

3.  Can hair be removed from anywhere on the body?

Hair should not be removed from the inside of the nose, or inside the ears, but can be removed from anywhere else on the body.

4.  Does electrolysis scar the skin?

In most cases, the skin will be left smoother upon completion of treatments because the hair and all the matter surrounding the hair is removed from the follicle.  The electrologists at New Image, as well as the establishment itself, are licensed by the State of Wisconsin to insure the highest quality in treatment care.

5.  Is electrolysis painful?

An extremely fine filament is gently inserted into the hair follicle (a natural pocket in the skin from which the hair grows.)  A brief sensation of heat will be felt.  Some describe the sensation as a slight, tingling sensation; whether this is experienced as pain or not, and if so, to what degree, is difficult to gauge since everyone has a different pain tolerance.

6.  Will all my hairs be treated during my first visit?

No, we can treat only visible hairs.  At any given time, up to 30% of our hair follicles can be dormant and not producing a hair (our hair grows in three different phases - the last phase being one in which the hair follicle is dormant and a new hair will soon be produced.)  Since these new hairs are still within the tissue and cannot be seen, they will need to be treated at a later date when they have grown enough to become visible.

7.  I've been tweezing, will this have any bearing on my treatments?

Yes.  Tweezing and waxing are both harmful to the hair follicle.  After repeated tweezing, scar tissue can form in the follicle, causing darker, coarser, and more firmly rooted hairs.  Tweezed hairs usually require more treatments than untampered hairs.  It is also important to understand that tweezed hairs take 4-6 weeks to regrow.  Many women tweeze on a daily basis and assume that their hair grows back in only a couple of days - not so!  If you have been tweezing often, your initial treatments should be scheduled close together so that there is no urge to tweeze in-between appointments.

8.  What if I have been shaving the area?

First, it is necessary to understand the hair growth cycles.  All our hairs go through phases:  anagen (growth phase), catagen (regressive phase), and telogen (resting or shedding phase).  The anagen hairs grow fastest, so they are noticeable first.  Sometimes only the hairs in the anagen phase are visible if the hair was shaved recently.  Shortly after the first treatment, the slower growing hairs (those in the catagen phase) will emerge from the follicles and will need to be treated as they appear.

9.  How often do I need to come for treatments?

This depends on how much hair you have and what you have been doing with the hair in the past.  In most cases, appointments will be once a week in the beginning.  As we progress, appointments will be made further apart and will be shorter in duration.

10.  How long will I be in treatment?

This also depends on what area is being treated, how much hair you have, what you have been doing with the hair in the past, and whether or not you keep up with regular appointments.  A normal range for most people is six months to two years (keep in mind that your appointments will be spaced further apart and shorter in duration as you progress in your treatment).

11.  What will the area look like after treatment?

Most people exhibit some redness in the treated area which usually disappears within 1/2 hour.  Once the hairs are removed from the area, the skin normally looks smoother and healthier.

12.  What precautions do I need to take after a treatment?

Recommendations are as follows:

    Keep the area clean.

    Do not rub, scratch, or squeeze the treated area.

    Cleanse the area with alcohol, witch hazel, or Sea Breeze on a cotton ball.

    If desired, you may apply a topical antibiotic or clear aloe vera gel.

    Do not apply make-up to the treated area for 24 hours.

    Avoid sun exposure on treated area for two days.

    Depending on what area was treated, clean bedding isrecommended (if facial area was  treated, use a

    clean pillow case, etc.)

13.  Is there a danger of transmitting disease by having electrolysis?

Disposable filaments are available, or clients have the option of purchasing their own filament.  The filament is then kept in a sterile packet and is used only for that client.  Sterilized (autoclaved) tweezers are used, and eye shields are disinfected between clients.  Electrologists at New Image also wear gloves for your protection.

14.  How does electrolysis differ from electronic tweezing?

Electrolysis is the only method of hair removal that can destroy the mechanism in the hair follicle that nourishes hair.  All other methods are considered "temporary", including electronic tweezing.  As a matter of fact, the Federal Trade Commission has ruled that electronic tweezing is no better than tweezing at home with a non electrified pair of household tweezers.  Therefore, the difference is that electrolysis is PERMANENT -electronic tweezing is not.