Many different hair removal methods are in use today but over the time two procedures have managed to capture the imagination of the consumers in terms of permanent hair removal; electrolysis and laser hair removal. Many consumers want to get knowledge of electrolysis vs laser hair removal for easy decision making.

Procedure

There is a hell of difference between the procedures of the two techniques. Electrolysis is an invasive technique in which a needle penetrates deep through the skin in the hair follicle. At the other hand laser hair removal procedure is non-invasive technique needing no needle to be inserted in the body the only thing penetrating into the skin is the laser light energy. In electrolysis the current flowing through the needle can result into electric shock but laser hair removal is obviously cannot cause such hazards.

Cost effectiveness

The cost structure is a multi-factor feature of both procedures depending upon

• Area to be treated
• Session length
• Number of sessions
• Cost of each session

Cost of each session may be somewhat less for electrolysis compared to laser hair removal but electrolysis is comparatively lengthy process having longer session lengths and more number of sessions adding to overall cost of area under treatment and hence inflicting heavy burden of costs on customer compared to laser hair removal. In the long run the laser hair removal is a better choice in the terms of cost effectiveness having low costs and flexible price structure.

Associated pain

As laser hair removal is non-invasive method so there is no directly painful stimulus. Electrolysis being a skin penetrating method initiates a painful stimulus with every removing hair because of presence of sensory nerve endings in the skin. Laser hair removal can be painful either in the case of sensitive skin or untrained practitioner. Moreover it can be effectively controlled by effective laser hair removal pain management but pain is an established feature of normal electrolysis procedure.

Affectivity

One major area of comparison is the question of affectivity. Electrolysis being an old technique had a lot of time to prove itself in terms of affectivity. Electrolysis, despite of 120 years of background history, cannot guarantee permanent hair freedom. Laser hair removal on other hand has shown at least 30-40% permanent hair reduction of hairs after completion of treatment. Other advantage of laser hair removal is that it can be used effectively for the treatment of large areas like back, chest and legs etc.

Treatment duration

The time required to complete the process of epilation in electrolysis is much greater to have satisfactory results as already discussed. The major problem is in fact the number of sessions required to have complete treatment. As an electrologist says "Electrolysis requires a series of treatments over a period of time. It's not just a one-, two- or three-time thing," Laser hair removal needs mostly 3 to 4 sessions for the complete treatment. So electrolysis is comparatively lengthy and tedious process.

Side effects

After having electrolysis one has to take care of skin in a specific way. Studies have shown that long lasting skin damage can ensue if specific protection is not given to the skin. The other problem of being an invasive technique is the skin infections which can become worse if they are transmitted infections and they become systemic infections. There is low incidence of laser hair removal side effects which need much less after treatment care. Redness, darkening of skin or scarring are temporary effects which fade out in a given time.

Conclusion

The above given comparative data gives an overview of electrolysis vs laser hair removal but more extensive study and research is required to confirm the affectivity of one procedure over the other .There are other facts and factors that time will answer to prove superiority of one procedure over other.