Apilus electrolysis

[spring]

Hi,

does anyone know or can recommend an electrologist who uses an Apilus machine, preferably in London?
I've browsed through the forums and did a search as well - to all of you who use Sterex machines - believe me when I say that there are A LOT of people who are looking for Apilus machines as it's a much quicker and less painful method that is particularly suitable for working on larger areas.

I'm looking desperately for such practitioners and am not having much success.

Thanks!
A.

 

[Ruth Mills]

When I was living down in the London area, I used to go to a lady called Erica Poole for electrolysis - and she switched from a bog standard diathermy machine to an Apilus machine - which made a *huge* difference. *So* much more comfortable and a lot less redness afterwards too. She specialises in electrolysis too and I would rate her very highly.

She used to be in the Cobham area of Surrey when I used to go and see her (maybe she still is?) - anyway I have done a quick Google for her, and Google is reporting her phone number as 01932 867502 if you were thinking in getting in touch with her to book an appointment...

 

[Lynne Baker]

I think Essentia on here uses an Apilus - she's in Basingstoke.
essentia beauty studio, chineham, basingstoke - electrolysis,specialist non-strip waxing,nimue skin technology online shop,facial & body treatments,manicures, pedicures, eye treatments,threading, fake bake tanning

 

[essentia]

Hi Yes I offer Apilus electrolysis (thanks Lynne:hug - I have one of the top end machines and would be happy to help you. Please pm me or look at my website for further contact and treatment info.

 

[spring]

Thank you - I shall put forward these names (including yours Essentia) to others I know who are interested. Sadly, Surrey and Basingstoke are too far away for me as I'm in north London.

It's such a pity that there aren't skilled electrologists in the flash method with Apilus machines in London! I and others I know would pick that electrologist over any other (although a brilliant Blend electrologist is better than an unskilled flash electrologist).

Ruth - how skilled was she with the Apilus machine? What was her insertions like? Did you have any scabbing? I only ask as flash requires a much greater accuracy and skill of the electrologist than blend and galvanic.

Really, there's no one within zone 3 of London? ):

 

[Ruth Mills]

Ruth - how skilled was she with the Apilus machine? What was her insertions like? Did you have any scabbing? I only ask as flash requires a much greater accuracy and skill of the electrologist than blend and galvanic.

There was no scabbing when she did my electrolysis with the Apilus machine, whereas there was sometimes scabbing with the old diathermy machine. With the Apilus, pulling the hairs out afterwards was actually more uncomfortable than the electrolysis itself! And bearing in mind that this was just under 10 years ago too, so she will have had a lot more experience of using the Apilus machine since then (I was one of the first clients she tried it out on after switching to it).

Alas I don't know of anyone in North London who uses the Apilus though.

 

[spring]

AH, it doesn't have to be in North London - that's where I'm based, but traveling to anywhere within zone 3 on the tube is reasonable to me. It's incredibly frustrating trying to find an Apilus machine in London. If only people realised the number of potential clients, which include men, women and transgender clients who want fast hair removal on large areas, which even blend isn't as quick at. If only I lived in Surrey!

 

[Martin Duffy]

I use the Sterex blend machine & have had great success with electrolysis, but then I cut my teeth doing a couple of pre-op transexuals, which did wonders for my speed & accuracy! I tend to use a combination of diathermy & blend techniques, normally using flash etc to clear the larger areas & blend for the last few stubborn hairs.

Nowdays I have an excellent client base for electrolysis, but I'm very often shocked at some people's experiences & the damage I've seen from poorly carried out electrolysis, including scabbing, scars, pigmentation, lumps & bumps.

 

[essentia]

I use the Sterex blend machine & have had great success with electrolysis, but then I cut my teeth doing a couple of pre-op transexuals, which did wonders for my speed & accuracy! I tend to use a combination of diathermy & blend techniques, normally using flash etc to clear the larger areas & blend for the last few stubborn hairs.

Nowdays I have an excellent client base for electrolysis, but I'm very often shocked at some people's experiences & the damage I've seen from poorly carried out electrolysis, including scabbing, scars, pigmentation, lumps & bumps.

I do not understand your post as no machine available in the UK apart from Apilus has the flash mode. Sterex does not offer flash.:hug:

 

[Martin Duffy]

I do not understand your post as no machine available in the UK apart from Apilus has the flash mode. Sterex does not offer flash.:hug:

Then our respective definitions of "flash" must be different! When I trained "flash" was a technique whereby a high intensity of high frequency was applied to the follicle for a fraction of a second (this being achievable on any machine with adjustable controls). We were taught this method as typically less pain is experienced due to the nerves not having time to respond to the current, yet the tissue is still destroyed, abeit due to dessication rather than coagulation.

 

[essentia]

Then our respective definitions of "flash" must be different! When I trained "flash" was a technique whereby a high intensity of high frequency was applied to the follicle for a fraction of a second (this being achievable on any machine with adjustable controls). We were taught this method as typically less pain is experienced due to the nerves not having time to respond to the current, yet the tissue is still destroyed, abeit due to dessication rather than coagulation.

I asked a electrolysis manufacturer about flash machines (and it was not Dectro who make Apilus btw!) and the RF is calibrated differently and is distinct from thermolysis. Electrolysis machines that offer flash are advertised as doing so and Sterex does not offer this function. Aplius offers the mode flash at 1/1000th of a second - this does not in the least compare to Sterex thermolysis (which I have tried as well).

To add under the RF options on my machine I have traditional thermolysis, flash and multiplex (another RF function). It is not the same thing.:hug:

 

[Martin Duffy]

As I say, it must be a difference of definition! Flash when I trained, and as defined in my 1992 edition of Sheila Godfrey's book on epilation, is literally "the application of a very high frequency to the follicle for a fraction of a second", high frequency of course being thermolysis. Thus "flash" was always a practical technique achievable on any machine with HF & alterable settings, it was never a pre-set function or button on a machine.:hug:

 

[gillian w]

As I say, it must be a difference of definition! Flash when I trained, and as defined in my 1992 edition of Sheila Godfrey's book on epilation, is literally "the application of a very high frequency to the follicle for a fraction of a second", high frequency of course being thermolysis. Thus "flash" was always a practical technique achievable on any machine with HF & alterable settings, it was never a pre-set function or button on a machine.:hug:

I was taught to flash as well it was a term for a way to treat a hair,the way you described it.High current but a quick almost tap on the button or foot pedal.You could flash large areas and then go over and flash again as long as the hairs were not very close together.It was also effective for those really strong deep hairs especially corners of the upper lips that some people would have.

 

[essentia]

I agree that the basic definitions of flash that have been posted are readily mentioned in college textbooks, but there is a difference. In thermolysis tissue destruction results from electrocoagulation which occurs in human tissue at 52.8 degrees C. Flash produces electrodessication - body fluids evaporate at 100 degrees C thus it drys out the tissue and flash machines are calibrated at a much different level. Further reading Cosmetic and Medical Electrolysis by Richards and Meharg if you are interested. They produced a lengthy tome during lots of study and is a massive book but worth it if you are into your electrolysis.:hug:

 

[Martin Duffy]

In thermolysis tissue destruction results from electrocoagulation which occurs in human tissue at 52.8 degrees C. Flash produces electrodessication - body fluids evaporate at 100 degrees C thus it drys out the tissue.

I agree entirely with that, but as I said in my earlier post the reason for this is due to the heating pattern:

Normal thermolysis wherein a lower HF intensity is applied for a longer period of time produces a pear shaped heating pattern that expands from the needle tip. This method breaks down cellular protein & results in tissue destruction by coagulation.

Flash technique applies a higher intensity of HF for a shorter period of time, which produces a narrow heating pattern that rises up the follicle quickly & results in a heat that quickly dries out the moisture & burns the tissues (known as dessication).

Both use HF, it's only the intensity & time applied for that differs. I agree certain machines might be configured to improve the technique or make it less painful, but the "flash technique" itself is not alien to any machine that offers HF & adjustable controls.:hug:

 

[essentia]

There is a level of calibration as mentioned to me by the electrolysis manufacturer where it changes from thermocoagulation to thermodessication. Apilus has distinct modes where they are easily defined and in fact combined with Multiplex. I asked many outlets if they offered flash and they said no. If it was offered it would be advertised as such. I believe the standard machines to offer only varying degrees of thermocoagulation otherwise they would state they offer flash! The timing on a Sterex and others like them are not calibrated small enough to stop the teardrop pattern forming or have the power available to produce the heat.:hug:

 

[Martin Duffy]

I trained on Sterex machines in the mid-90's (along with other machines) & as I say flash was taught as a technique, not a function or distinct mode, thus no machine ever advertised "flash" as a function. In the same way blend machines don't advertise themselves as having "treat & leave" functions - these are techniques of using the current, not different functions themselves. Many machines don't have a pre-set flash function, but that doesn't mean you can't use the flash technique if the timing & intensity is adjustable. Before all these machines were produced with pre-set modes & functions this is how electrologists achieved the various techniques!

The set timing on the Sterex machines doesn't really matter as set timers are able to be over-rided; flash was always taught as a quick tap on the button or quick pulse on the foot. The machine is simply set to a high intensity of HF & the pen button tapped.:hug:

 

[tog]

Really interesting to read all about the different techniques you guys use when carrying out your electrolysis treatments. I have been doing diathermy for years and also have a blend machine. I remember Flash technique being mentioned way back at college (in the mid 1980) but I didn't realise that it had a different effect on the hair follicle (dessication) compared with standard diathermy (coagulation). It was never gone into in much detail by my teacher at the time.
I love carrying out electrolysis treatments and this discussion has whetted my appetite for the subject. I think I shall look out for the book Essentia mentioned in one of her posts.
Thanks Martin and Essentia for some useful information.

 

[essentia]

I trained on Sterex machines in the mid-90's (along with other machines) & as I say flash was taught as a technique, not a function or distinct mode, thus no machine ever advertised "flash" as a function.

Computerised machines with flash have been available since the 1980's. Apilus has been the only one (to my knowledge) in the UK. It is much more prevalent abroad but has still been available and I remember them having trained in the 80's.

In the same way blend machines don't advertise themselves as having "treat & leave" functions - these are techniques of using the current, not different functions themselves. Many machines don't have a pre-set flash function, but that doesn't mean you can't use the flash technique if the timing & intensity is adjustable.

But when do you know you are actually performing flash? - if you agree with Richards and Megards 1991 def. that flash is dessication performed above the levels of thermocoagulation (also Hinckel and Lind 1968)how can you be sure you are not performing thermocoagulation?

Before all these machines were produced with pre-set modes & functions this is how electrologists achieved the various techniques!

In the UK maybe but Hinkel and Lind (1968 Electrolysis, Thermolysis and the Blend) mention the timings on machines in their book at 1/10 second so the technology has been around when performing flash.

The set timing on the Sterex machines doesn't really matter as set timers are able to be over-rided; flash was always taught as a quick tap on the button or quick pulse on the foot. The machine is simply set to a high intensity of HF & the pen button tapped.:hug:

The timing does matter - no teardrop forms with flash. Computerised machines such as Apilus not only tell you what mode you are working in but how quickly you perform it. A quick tap tells you little in comparison - it is guess work.

Unfortunatley we have not been blessed with a large array of sophisticated equipment as the Americans but the technology has been available for a very long time. Most of our texts have been based on their findings and information, so I believe what we have been given is based on the machine limitations of what has been widely available here. Apilus is still (as far as I know) the only unit to be able to accurately tell the therapist that they are performing flash in the UK.:hug:

 

[Martin Duffy]

The timing does matter - no teardrop forms with flash. Computerised machines such as Apilus not only tell you what mode you are working in but how quickly you perform it. A quick tap tells you little in comparison - it is guess work.:hug:

As I say, I agree that there are machines that may make the technique easier to apply, but flash as a technique is achievable on any machine with adjustable HF intensity & timing. If you tap the button on the pen for a fraction of a second (which is probably even less than a tenth of a second) then you are not forming a teardrop, and if the hair comes out then the technique has been successful. Ultimately then you are removing the hair due to dessication, which is therefore using flash technique.

I personally wouldn't call it guesswork, anymore than it's guesswork selecting time/intensity of diathermy/intensity of galvanic etc to meet what's required to effectively remove the hair. All this is part of applying one's theoretical knowledge to their practice!:hug: