For many people excessive facial hair around the mouth and chin can be a cause of embarrassment and frustration which can cause issues in personal and professional lives. To rid themselves of this problem, electrolysis can offer a safe and permanent solution.
The most common method of electrolysis is called heat thermolysis or high frequency. These treatments work to remove hair by destroying the hair root and blood supply with an electric current. The hair is then removed with a tweezer.
Excessive facial hair, also known as hirsutism, often begins during puberty. The condition affects 5 to 10 percent of American women. In most instances, the condition is associated with a higher than usual presence of androgens or testosterone.
Cathy DeMattia, 55, of Bonita Springs says she has been receiving electrolysis treatments to clear the area on her chin and lip.
DeMattia said when she was a girl she was highly aware of the issue when she used to look at the hair on her grandmother’s face.
“I began seeing excessive hair on my face in my 20s. For many years dealing with this issue has made me self-conscious because I work with the public in the restaurant industry,” DeMattia said. “As I don’t wear makeup the excess hair was more obvious. All the time spent shaving or plucking the area to get ready for work was really inconvenient.
“Since undergoing electrolysis treatments, the hair on my chin has been eliminated and I’m on my way to clearing up my lip. It is very freeing not to have to deal with all the extra hair and I feel much better about my appearance.”
Aaron Coddington, 32, of Fort Myers, a makeup artist and vice president of the GET Network Foundation, an education resource for the transgender community, said superfluous hair is a huge concern for transgender women who have been born male but have always been female inside. Removing hair around the lip area, a focal point of the face, is important in the transformation process and vital to self-esteem.
Coddington said having the upper and lower lip area hair free is necessary to having the best result with makeup application. Hair in this area makes it difficult to apply foundation and lipstick to create the correct look. Shaving this area causes irritation and the re-growth can create an undesirable, shadowy appearance.
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“Having lip and chin hair permanently removed with electrolysis is key to giving a better cosmetic result,” Coddington said.
Heather Wachter, 69, a transgender woman from Port Charlotte, has been undergoing electrolysis for about six months on the upper and lower lip.
“I decided to get electrolysis done because it is a permanent solution. With the hair gone it will give my lips a smoother, fuller look and will create a more defined lip line when I apply lipstick,” Wachter said.
The electrolysis has been going well.
“A good amount of hair on my upper and lower lip area has been removed. I look forward to the end of my treatments and seeing a more feminine look,” Wachter said.
Theresa George is a certified medical electrologist, esthetician, LMT and freelance beauty writer. She has worked in the beauty industry for 16 years and owns Theresa’s Face and Body in Cape Coral. For more information call (586) 344- 9345 or visit theresasfaceandbody.com
