Consultation
A consultation is required prior to treatment beginning. If you are self-paying for your services please schedule a consultation online. If you’re using Kaiser please read the information under the insurance section for the steps necessary to begin your treatment.
Many clients become frustrated with lack of information, resources and instructions when it comes to hair removal guidelines for surgery preparation. If you’re looking into GCS (Vaginoplasty or Phalloplasty) please look into electrolysis as soon as possible to make sure adequate time is given for the hair to be properly removed for surgery.
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Minimum Treatment Time
While preparing for surgery it is critical to stay to your treatment plan outlined by your electrologist. The minimum amount of time to get the hair cleared for surgery is 12 months; but the optimum is 18-24 months; giving adequate time is extremely important in preventing future complications.
During your consultation the timeline will be further discussed; but, we say 12 months is our minimum because this will allow us to remove hair during 3-4 complete hair growth cycles. The appointment time varies on the density of hair, template, hair growth rate, and amount of time for each session you can commit too. Some clients prefer one hour weekly while others choose to come multiple times in one week to achieve a full clearing and then have a 3-4 week break. Typical clearings are around 6-9 hours; this means that all of the hair that has reached the surface of the skin is treated and removed in the designated template area.
We often use the terms “treatment sessions” and “clearings”. For reference:
Each time the client is seen by the electrologist it is a “treatment session”, this may be 30 minutes or it may be 2 hours. Combined “treatment sessions” that result in all of the hair to be removed in the template area is considered a “clearing”.
Your surgeon may ask for a certain number of complete clearings. This often doesn’t take into account stages/cycles of hair growth. Therefore, we want to repeatedly clear the area (ideally in each treatment session) to make sure we have treated every hair growth cycle multiple times.
Please remember: Some hairs will be eliminated with only one treatment, but many will need two or more treatments to achieve permanency.
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Maintenance Between Appointments
Please keep the treatment area trimmed to 1/8” for your appointments. This will make it easier for the electrologist to work, faster & cleaner insertions, and the Lidocaine will absorb faster since it’s making skin contact. We also ask that you come to your appointment freshly exfoliated with the dry brush provided and hydrated.
We are unable to work on chaffed skin, so please make sure the integrity of the skin stays healthy between appointments. Your electrologist can provide you with tips and tricks if needed!
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Surgical Template
While the general template for surgery is rather standard between all surgeons there are some slight differences. If you have a surgeon chosen already please let your electrologist know; if it is a new surgeon we have not worked with you may be asked to bring in the template needed for hair removal that was provided to your during your surgical consultation.
Please verify hair removal needs with the surgeon you have chosen for GCS regardless of a surgical consultation or not. You can begin hair removal treatment before choosing a surgeon. In fact, we recommend starting the process before getting on a surgery date.
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Disclaimer: Hair Removal for GCS Vaginoplasty/Phalloplasty
It has been our experience from treating clients preparing for gender confirming surgeries (GCS), that they do not provide the necessary time to remove hair before surgery. We have taken the opportunity to compile information from Dr. Meltzer Clinic and Dr. Marci Bowers that describes the importance of this procedure.
Each and every doctor requires different areas of hair to be removed for GCS. Per Dr. Meltzer, hair removal prior reduces the chances of needing remote grafts, urethral complications, infections, hygiene issues and more. Many surgeons scrape and cauterize the hair follicles, however, this is not sufficient for the long term as many hairs will be in the dormant stage and unable to be destroyed during the procedure.
In order for the electrologist to perform effectively, it is best that you have been on hormones at least three months. As soon as you decide to have GCS, you should consider starting your genital hair removal, as it is a long tedious process and can take longer than one year. The scrotal sac and penile shaft will most likely be utilized in creation for the new vagina. Most surgeons will have a diagram depicting the areas for treatment and should be shared with your electrologist.
It will be important for you to follow the guidelines regarding the number of treatments at the correct intervals if you want to ensure no hair growth. Repeat sessions are necessary to treat follicles, as the process of removing hair is most effective on hair in the early growth phase. Only follicles that have actively growing hairs which are visible at the surface of the skin can be treated. At any given point in time, a certain percentage of the follicles are in a resting stage and may have shed their hair. When the resting period is completed, the follicle resumes a natural growth phase, and the new hairs appear at the surface of the skin, and can be treated.
If you have not permanently eliminated all of your hair growth, there is a possibility that you will have hair growth in the vagina. Insufficient hair removal by any means can result in hair growth, which can lead to odor, infection, emotional distress and more.
Please plan in advance proper time allocation to make sure that the area is cleared as needed for surgery
