The hair root may persist, however, if the needle misses the mark or if insufficient electricity is delivered to destroy it. For instance, you can't control hormonal changes that cause new growth. Most people would probably define permanent as 'never comes back,' but from a medical standpoint that may not be practical. Successful electrolysis usually requires considerable time and money. Mona Wexler, an electrologist in Bethesda, Md., says she is careful to explain the process to her clients at their first appointment.
Electrolysis requires a series of treatments over a period of time.
For example, the process for a forearm takes a series of appointments once a week for about a year. You may have a first clearing of both forearms in about eight hours of treatment over two months. After that, you have to catch the hairs that are coming in on a different cycle of growth. For the best results, you want to treat each hair during its active growing stage. More often, she says, men are treated for the area between the eyebrows, around the outside of the ears, and the shoulders.