What is Electrology?

Electrology is the science of permanent hair removal. There are three methods or modalities: Electrolysis (Galvanic method), Thermolysis (Short Wave or Flash method) & the Blend, a combination of the two.

Although many publications refer to Electrology as "Electrolysis", Electrolysis is actually the original form of permanent hair removal. It was developed in 1875 by St. Louis ophthalmologist, Dr. Charles Michel, who was seeking to rid a patient of recurring ingrown eyelashes. With Electrolysis, hair growth is halted by means of inserting a wire filament (often called a needle) into the offending hair's follicle and applying a direct current that causes a chemical reaction resulting in cellular decomposition at the base of the follicle. This process takes several seconds per hair to complete and often involves the use of multiple needles in multiple follicles.

Thermolysis also involves the insertion of a stainless steel probe (or needle) into the follicle. A sudden spurt of high frequency current is emitted at the tip of the probe which cauterizes the capillaries that supply its nourishment, thereby eliminating the hair's ability to grow.

As mentioned above, the Blend is a combination of Electrolysis and Thermolysis. With each of these modalities, a series of treatments is required in order to affect permanency. For most patients, the treatment series lasts somewhere between 6 and 18 months.

At our office, we have always used Thermolysis because patients seem to prefer the cleaner look brought about by treating a greater number of hairs in a session. (In the long run, however, it is the expertise of the electrologist which brings you your permanent results, not the modality employed.)