electrolysis is a good option for permanent hair removal, but the procedure itself can be very painful. like getting a hot tattoo.
here are some ways that i have tried to manage the pain, and some notes on their effectiveness.
two types:
- 2.5% lidocaine + 2.5% prilocaine (prescription only)
- 10% lidocaine cream (available over the counter)
NB: i once tried a A/B test with the 10% lidocaine cream on the right side of my face and the 2.5% lidocaine/2.5% prilocaine on the left side, and i couldn't tell a difference between them.
how to use:
- apply 3 hours ahead of procedure on the area to be treated
- (i wear gloves to not numb my hands)
- cover in "press-n-seal" wrap, stick it to the skin around the edges
- for bikini / brazilian area - wear compression shorts / clothing on the area after plastic wrap is applied, to keep it tight against the skin
- as soon as it is exposed to oxygen the pain relieving effect starts to wear off so ask electrologist to only peel it back as you go, and not peel it off all at once
pros:
- strong numbing when applied effectively
cons:
- wears off quickly when exposed to air (on the order of 15-30 minutes)
- doesn't work great around upper lip / lower lip area (since i need to breathe)
- application requires planning a few hours ahead of the procedure.
TODO: for face - add drawing of how to get optimal coverage
i went to my dentist for novocaine injections. they did nine (units?) of novocaine and/or septocaine, through the mouth only. (she said based on my weight she could probably go up to 12, but i'm kinda glad we didn't.)
results:
- i was super jittery afterwards. i looked it up and might be bc septocaine contains epinephrine.
- they decided not to do "a block." (idk what that means, or whether it would have worked better)
- these parts of my face were 100% numb:
- front of my chin (from lower lip to a bit below the chin leading down the neck) and
- lower part of my upper lip
- middle part of my upper lip
- these parts of my face were perhaps partly numb compared to normal, but i could still feel sensations when touching it (and hurt more when doing electrolysis there)
- cheeks
- neck
- upper lip very close to outer edges of nostrils
pros:
- total numbness of some areas. partial numbness of some other areas
- like, i was nervous to bite my lip because i would not have known if i bit it or not.
- i felt like i could have almost fallen asleep on the electrolysis bed, that's how painless it was for most of it cons:
- drooling on the MUNI (i had a half hour trip between dentist and electrologist)
- i couldn't really talk
- my face got super swollen to the point that i jumpscared the receptionist when i was leaving the dentist. (wearing a mask helped me not scare more people)
- i felt jittery and somewhat anxious from the epinephrine
- the numbness was very localized, and did not extend to the cheeks or neck
- it was hard to find someone to perform the service - i called like 10 different dentists and plastic surgeons to ask for this and they mostly were like ???
codeine 10mg + guaifen 100mg per 5ml solution
several times, i've taken a spoonful (~1.5-2ml? TODO - check this math) or so about 20-30 minutes before an electrolysis appointment, in addition to following the lidocaine method above. it seems to help a bit, but this would not be very much pain relief on its own. i haven't tried with higher doses, which presumably would have a stronger effect. NB: only the codeine is itself a pain reliever, guaifenesin is a cough suppressant.
oxycodone 5mg
one time, in addition to following the lidocaine method above, i took three of these - two a half hour before the appointment, and one right as the appointment started. it was super effective... i could have fallen asleep on the table during the procedure. however i was pretty loopy during and after the appointment. do not drive if you do this. if i do this again i'll probably only take two.
i hear that this is a popular technique for people to manage pain when getting tattoos. i have not had a chance to try it myself.