FAQs
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Yes! Electrolysis is the only hair removal method that is recognized as permanent by the FDA and backed by 150 years in practice.
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Yes! Unlike laser, electrolysis works for all types of skin and hair. Electrolysis is safe for melanated skin (certain modalities of electrolysis are safer for melanated skin).
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Shaving does NOT increase hair growth or make hair grow thicker, but waxing and tweezing DOES.
Hair that grows in after shaving feels coarse because the soft ends have been cut off, however any treatment that only effects the hair shaft (the hair you can see above the skin) has no affect on hair growth.
Any hair removal method that pulls the hair out by the roots (tweezing, waxing, sugaring, threading) will increase hair growth in hormonal areas, making it more coarse, deeply rooted, and spreading it over time.
Hormonal areas are those where you would typically see more hair on cis males than on cis females (chin, upper lip, etc).
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Electrolysis uses direct current passed through a probe (inserted into the hair follicle) to cause a chemical reaction in order to destroy the structure (hair bulb and papilla) and the germ cells that allow the hair to grow.
There are different modalities of Electrology: Electrolysis (Galvanic: Direct Current), Thermolysis (Alternating Current), and Blend (a combination of the two). The electrologist will choose the best modality based upon your skin and hair type during your consultation and subsequent treatments.
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Immediately after treatment, some mild redness or irritation is typical and temporary (usually lasting only a couple of hours). To reduce redness and irritation, treatment is finished with cataphoresis, a process that helps to rebalance PH and calm the area.
After treatment, icing the area immediately is helpful. It’s important to let the skin breathe; for the first 24 hours, no makeup or fragranced lotions, no touching the area (avoid introducing bacteria), and avoid heat (such as working out or saunas).
Electrolysis should leave you looking better than you did before, not worse!
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YES! Though we have no control over how long it takes for all hairs to have cycled through (be visible above the skin, and treatable), there are things that you can do to reduce the total treatment hours needed.
Two things to help you achieve optimal results are: consistency and hydration.
Follow the treatment plan developed for you by the electrologist, come to sessions regularly. Waiting too long between sessions can slow progress, as treating hair that is in anagen phase (new growth) is the most effective. NOTE: a week skipped here and there is ok.
Hydrate! We can’t stress this enough. Consistent hydration (drink 72 oz of water every day, especially the 3 days before treatment!) helps the process, making the hairs slide out easier (and quicker), meaning more hairs treated per session.
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Discomfort is minimal for most people (heat or a little sting), but individual tolerances vary greatly and a person’s sensitivity can vary from day to day. Some areas are less sensitive than others.
The electrologist can adjust the settings of the epilator, working with you to achieve a balance of comfort and results.
There are some things that you can do to increase your comfort:
Hydrate! Drink water daily; consistent hydration helps with the process of electrolysis, and good hydration levels support the healing response after treatment.
Avoid caffeine a few hours before treatment.
Limit sun exposure the day before treatment (sunburns are no fun).
Over the counter topical desensitizing creams are available, as well as greater strength prescription creams from compounding pharmacies (with a doctor’s prescription).
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The hair must be long enough to easily grab with tweezers; 3-5 days (1/8” - 1/4”) of growth is usually the perfect length for treatment.
In between treatments, shaving is the best way to control the hair. Many clients mask on days that they are growing out their hair.
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Treatment of hair from moles or treatment of eyelashes requires written permission from a physician, per state licensing laws and some general liability insurance policies.
The inside of the ears and nose can not be treated.
Doctor permission is required if you have certain implanted devices (pacemaker, etc).
If you have metal implants in your jaw, galvanic and blend electrolysis on your face is not advisable (seek a practitioner that specializes in thermolysis).
Although electrolysis has never been proven harmful to pregnant women, advice of your physician should be sought before treatment.
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There is very little risk of complication or lasting skin irritation when electrolysis is performed by a skilled, licensed practitioner.
To ensure your safety (and for the best results possible), only receive electrolysis treatment by a licensed electrologist. You can check licensing status by visiting the Oregon Health Licensing Office website: Oregon HLO
Note: Washington is an unlicensed state.
We adhere to the highest protocols of safety, health, sanitation, and sterilization. Each probe used in treatment is single use and comes individually wrapped and fully sterile. After use, probes are immediately disposed of (in a biohazardous sharps container).
All tools used in treatment are properly sterilized. All other instruments are disinfected and sanitized according to State Regulations.
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Yes!
Wait 1 month after laser, fillers, or botox to receive electrolysis in the same area
Retin A and hyaluronic acid should not be used within 1 week before or after electrolysis
Wait 6-12 months after discontinuing Accutane before beginning electrolysis.
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Even if you don’t find the perfect fit here at TEC, our priority is that you get the care you need to be free of unwanted hair. We encourage you to explore other qualified providers who may be the right match for you.
A great resource is the Oregon Association of Licensed Electrologists. You can search their member directory to find an electrologist who best meets your needs:
Find an Electrologist – Oregon Association of Licensed Electrologists
FAQs: Insurance
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We are currently in the process of becoming in-network with a select number of insurance companies. Join our waiting list to be notified as soon as coverage expands.
There are also some workarounds to start treatment now—read below.
In Oregon, House Bill 2002 (passed May 2023) requires insurers to cover medically necessary, doctor-prescribed gender-affirming care, including electrolysis.
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Kaiser Permanente Coverage
TEC providers regularly work with Kaiser Permanente members. While our providers are not currently contracted to bill Kaiser directly, you can still receive treatment with prior authorization.
Here’s how it works:
Obtain prior authorization through Kaiser before starting treatment
Pay your provider directly at the time of service
Receive a superbill (detailed receipt) to submit to Kaiser for reimbursement
Most Kaiser members report receiving reimbursement in about 2 weeks.
After your consultation, contact Kaiser’s Gender Pathways program to request prior authorization for treatment.
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Coming Soon: PacificSource (Commercial Plans) Several providers at The Electrolysis Collective are currently getting set up to accept Pacific Source commercial insurance plans.
If you’d like to be notified as soon as we’re accepting insurance patients (e.t.a. July), please fill out our contact form to join the waitlist.
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Oregon Health Plan (OHP) / Medicaid
Providers at The Electrolysis Collective are not contracted with OHP / Medicaid, and OHP / Medicaid does not allow members to pay out of pocket and seek reimbursement for services.If you have OHP and are seeking electrolysis, BeWell (Morgan Lynn) is currently in-network and accepting new clients.
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While most Electrolysis Collective providers are not yet in-network, you may still be able to receive treatment using out-of-network benefits:
Out-of-network option: With prior authorization from your PCP or insurance company, TEC providers can treat you. You’ll pay the provider directly, and they will give you a superbill (detailed receipt) to submit for reimbursement.
Reimbursement: Many commercial insurance plans will reimburse for treatment when prior authorization is approved (this is common for clients).
The Electrolysis Collective does not assist with prior authorizations.
FAQS: How Long Does It Take?
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The most commonly asked question about Electrolysis is, “How long does it take?”
The amount and type of unwanted hair varies so much from person to person (one person may have 10 hairs in an area, while another may have 10,000), the answer is not simple.
Heredity, hormones, medication, and prior hair removal techniques all play a role in how much unwanted hair is present and how long it will take to eliminate.
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To treat the hair it must be visible above the skin.
Only about a third of hair is visible at any given time.
Hair grows in unsynchronized cycles, taking 12-24 months for all of your hairs to have cycled through and made their way to the skin’s surface.
So, it takes an average of 18 months for us to even get access to all of the hairs.
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Treatment sessions start out longer for the initial clearing and are typically scheduled 1 to 3 weeks apart (depending upon your specific treatment plan). Appointments then become shorter and less often, as progress is made and there is less hair to treat.
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The initial clearing of all actively growing hair in the area. Most people start with a first treatment of 1 hour, then have regularly recurring appointments, every 1-3 weeks depending upon your treatment plan.
Electrolysis is most effective on new growth, so keeping to consistent appointments is the most effective way to ensure optimum results; this is especially important during Phase 1.
If your skin tolerance and budget allow for longer sessions, some clients may wish to move through the initial clearing as quickly as possible, with multiple hour sessions.
Here’s an example of one client’s progress during Phase 1 (actual client, results are not typical and will vary person to person):
Cis gender woman, treating facial hair (chin, jaw, cheeks) brought on by hormonal changes during menopause and increased by daily plucking
Treatment #1 = 80 minutes for the initial clearing of all unwanted hair
Treatments #2 - 6 = 60 minutes weekly
Treatments #7 - 10 = 45 minutes weekly
Treatments #11 - 12 = 30 minutes weekly
Treatments #13 - 15 = 60 minutes every 2 weeks
You can see how treatments start out longer, then get shorter and less often.
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New hairs become visible (and treatable!). These hairs are usually much finer, in far fewer numbers, and slower growing than hairs in the clearing phase. During Phase 2, appointments usually become shorter and less frequent.
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The client schedules visits only when enough hairs have surfaced to warrant a treatment. These appointments are usually much less frequent than earlier sessions, and will continue as needed until treatment is complete. Many clients eventually only require a “clean up” session every few weeks to months, or an annual touch-up visit.
FAQs: PCOS & Hirsutism
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The simple answer is YES. However, the accelerated hair growth (a common side effect of PCOS) is only a symptom. It’s important to address the underlying cause of hormonal imbalance under the care of a physician.
Electrolysis is effective in treating the hair that is already dark and growing coarser, but “peach fuzz” will continue to convert into coarse hairs over time if the hormonal imbalance remains.
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Hirsutism is excessive hair growth on unexpected areas of the body, such as on the face, chest, and back.
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Hirsutism can result from excess androgenic hormones. This may occur due to heredity, or specific medical conditions, such as PCOS, Cushing’s, etc.
Accelerated hair growth often occurs during menopause, due to hormonal changes.
However, the majority of individuals see a great reduction in unwanted hair within 3-4 months of regular visits on a treatment plan.
For more detailed information, please check out the How long does it take? page.
FAQs: Surgical Prep
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YES, some of the providers at The Electrolysis Collective offer electrolysis for surgical prep!
NOTE: Surgical prep services are not offered by all electrologists and availability is limited.
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The short answer is NO.
Hair can sometimes return to an area a couple of years after it was laser treated, which can cause unpleasant complications in a post surgical location.
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The amount of surface area needs to be cleared varies depending upon the specific surgery & surgeon. Your surgeon will provide the electrologist with the specifications for clearing prior to your Vaginoplasty, Labioplasty, Phalloplasty, or other gender related surgery.
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The process takes approximately 18 months, depending on the treatment area, the length of sessions you can tolerate, and how consistently you’re able to maintain a treatment schedule.
In Portland, there is a shortage of electrologists that offer treatments for surgical preparation. The demand is high, and many providers have waiting lists ranging from several months to over a year.
If you are preparing for gender affirming surgery - whether in the near or distant future - it’s wise to begin reaching out to electrologists now and getting on wait lists as soon as possible.
FAQs: Electrolysis, Laser, or a combination of both?
The tWO KEY FACTORS in decided between electrolysis & laser:
Are you a candidate for laser?
What is the reward vs. the risk?
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LASER HAIR REMOVAL
Best candidates: Pale skin with dark hair.
Limitations: Ineffective on gray, blonde, white, and red hair.
Technology advances: New interchangeable-wavelength lasers can be effective for people with darker skin tones.
Advantages: Treats large areas at once; for those who are good candidates, can deliver 20–80% hair reduction.
Disadvantages:
Some people may notice regrowth a couple years after treatment.
Paradoxical hypertrichosis: In rare cases, laser treatment may actually stimulate increased hair growth in or near the treated area, particularly on the face and neck.
ELECTROLYSIS
Best candidates: Electrolysis works on ALL hair and skin types.
Advantages: The only hair removal method recognized by the FDA as permanent.
Disadvantages: Each individual hair must be treated, making it more meticulous and time-consuming than laser.
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FACE: If you do not have a full beard, electrolysis is usually the better option.
If you have significant unwanted facial hair (such as for some trans folks), starting with laser may be the best strategy, to reduce quantity, density and coarseness before finishing clearance with electrolysis— a combination approach could potentially save significant time and money.
BODY: If your treatment area is on the body (other than for surgical prep) you might benefit from starting with laser to achieve significant hair reduction, then follow up with electrolysis to permanently remove remaining hairs—especially for large areas such as the torso, legs, arms, back, or bikini.
SURGICAL PREP: Laser results are not always permanent, and some hair may regrow within a few years. For surgical prep, this can cause unpleasant complications if hair returns in a post-surgical site. If your surgery is within the next 3 years: Choose electrolysis
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Our favorite laser spot is just a few blocks from The Electrolysis Collective. We’ve seen our clients get great results from Laser Babes!
