DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY: ADVANCED ELECTROLYSIS COURSE / ADVANCED REFRESHER COURSE 7 TH /8 TH NOVEMBER 2016 BASINGSTOKE COLLEGE, HAMPSHIRE ******************************************* BIAE ASSESSMENTS 19 TH /20 TH NOVEMBER 2016 DARTFORD/GLASGOW ******************************************** 2017 BIAE AGM SUNDAY 9 TH APRIL IMPERIAL HOTEL, RUSSELL SQUARE, LONDON 65 (MEMBERS) 75 (NON-MEMBERS) BOOK YOUR TICKET NOW TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT Tel: 0844 5441373 sec@electrolysis.co.uk www.electrolysis.co.uk 1 ISSUE 48 SEPT 2016

VIEW FROM THE CHAIR by Frances Martin, BIAE Chair Hello all It was wonderful to see everyone recently who attended our 5 th Seminar at The Imperial Hotel in Russell Square, London. We welcomed back Dr Robert Rutland who spoke about up to date antiageing machines and aesthetic treatments. We also listened to Dr Martin Lowe, Clinical Director and Cardiac Specialist, who gave an in depth presentation on Pacemakers, Defibrillators and other implanted devices for the heart. I m sure I speak for all who attended in saying we learned invaluable information and broadened our knowledge in these areas. It really was a fantastic event that was enjoyed by all. A wonderful opportunity, not only to educate and expand our minds, but to gain CPD in such an interesting and insightful way. We hope to see Dr Lowe in the future, to keep us updated with the ever fast moving technology in his specialised field, the heart. For any of you who did not attend, Janet has requested feedback as a guide or thoughts for our future planned Seminars. Annual membership forms will soon be sent out to all members. Janet has simplified the forms this year to hopefully prevent any difficulties that were encountered last year. Regardless of how we pay our subscription, Janet will not be able issue any renewal documents unless the insurance declaration has been completed and signed. Please make sure that the forms are completed, signed and returned on time. Can I also remind you that CPD forms will need to be completed by end February 2017 and submitted to update the website and of course for our records. The longer you have been doing electrolysis the more people expect of you. It is vital that we refresh and develop our knowledge as professionals. You may have been contacted by BUPA to invite you to be a BUPA recognised electrolysis provider. We were approached by them in May, and they were keen to put together a process to allow their clients to access transgender services, namely electrolysis. They want to guarantee the best possible provision for their clients. Some of you will have gained certificates from specialised TG courses. Some of you will already be NHS electrolysis providers. They are insistent on practical CPD certificates. Please watch the website for details of upcoming practical CPD which maybe necessary. Our Advanced course is to take place on 7 th /8 th November at Basingstoke, Hampshire. If you would like to have an update on technique, please book your place also. We have booked our next assessments dates for November 19 th in Dartford and 20 th in Glasgow. We already have high numbers of candidates booking, which is great news. We have already started planning next year s AGM so please put this date in your diary and join us for an interesting day and gain your CPD points, Sunday 9 th April 2017. Frances Martin BIAE Board 2015/2016 Helen Graham Mandy Painting Angela Wheat June Norman Sharon Reid Alison Byrne Tel: 0844 5441373 sec@electrolysis.co.uk www.electrolysis.co.uk 2 ISSUE 48 SEPT 2016

RETIREMENT PRESENTATION TO NONA GIRLING by Susan Paradise, BIAE Member Sunday 27th July 2016 - It was with great pleasure to present Nona with a retirement gift (a blender) from the B.I.A.E. The gift was for her work in presenting us with Nona s Poser s and preparation of examination papers in the past. She also has a wealth of knowledge on the subject of Electrolysis, and was always willing to share it with the members. One thing that was missing as a result of her move to Stockbridge in Hampshire from Ipswich, was her blender. I had again prepared a lunch with fizz and the sun shone beautifully. Nona was thrilled with her gift so now she can get on with her soup making. Nona also gave me some educational advice about hearing aids, that she says should be in the written examination and that members should be made aware of: if your client is wearing a hearing aid during treatment you could fry the microchip in it. Therefore, they must remove it before treatment commences. Food for thought. Tel: 0844 5441373 sec@electrolysis.co.uk www.electrolysis.co.uk 3 ISSUE 48 SEPT 2016

HAIR WE GO AGAIN by Margaret Winniak, BIAE Member The following is an article which appeared in the Health Section of the Evening Standard, dated 13 th August 1996: Hair may be a woman s crowning glory, but too much of it in the wrong place can cause all kinds of embarrassment and anguish. Men and women have removed superfluous hair from the face and body since Roman times, but today we spend more than 20 million a year in Britain on home depilatory products alone. Razors, creams and waxing all work.. up to a point, but electrolysis, devised in the last century, had been the only means of permanently eradicating unwanted hair. Now a new system has been developed in this country which could revolutionise the business of permanent hair removal. It uses sound waves and is the brainchild of Indian scientists Parmod and Sujata Jolly. Sujata suffered from childhood with heavy facial and body hair and after years of electrolysis on her face, still had hairs plus sustained scarring. We were determined to find a solution, she says. Years ago I saw an advertisement for Memorex tapes which showed sound at a certain pitch shattering glass and it gave me an idea. We hired an electronics engineer who thought we were daft, but I was sure it would work. Now I believe the system we have developed is safer, faster, relatively painless and ultimately cheaper than electrolysis. Electrolysis works with either a galvanic or diathermy current. The galvanic current causes a chemical reaction, turning salt water at the base of the hair to caustic sodium hydroxide, which destroys the follicle. With diathermy, heat cauterises the blood supply at the base of the hair. Blend machines now combine the two currents. Although newer transdermal electrolysis, using galvanic current, allows hair removal with tweezers, this is widely considered ineffective and extremely slow. Electrolysis involves the needle being inserted precisely into each hair follicle and held there for anything from two to 40 seconds. Both galvanic and diathermy methods can result in trauma to the surrounding skin tissues, so the procedure must be done gradually without initially clearing all hairs from any one place in one go. Rosemary Maciejewska, from the British Association of Electrolysis says: Hair must be cleared in a chequerboard pattern do one, miss one. You never, under any circumstances, remove each adjoining hair because the skin couldn t tolerate it and would break down and lead to scarring. The normal electrolysis treatment is for a maximum of 15 minutes in which time hairs on an upper lip, for example, would initially just be thinned out. /contd.. Tel: 0844 5441373 sec@electrolysis.co.uk www.electrolysis.co.uk 4 ISSUE 48 SEPT 2016

The Jolly s system, called Epil Pro, is non-invasive and hairs are quickly removed with tweezers. Sujata Jolly says: As each hair is grabbed the static component numbs nerve endings, minimising pain, while thousands of sound waves pass through the hair in a fraction of a second. Sound takes the path of least resistance, travelling precisely down the porous hair shaft to strike and disintegrate the papillary cells, without damaging the surrounding skin tissues. This means far greater areas can be covered in one treatment and, as there is no danger of trauma to the skin, all hairs can be removed leaving the skin completely clear. But Epil Pro, like electrolysis, is a progressive treatment and, while all hairs can be removed in each season, there will be regrowth, though it is claimed this will gradually diminish. Robina Mohamed had electrolysis on her face for 10 years before Sujata treated her with Epil Pro. I have sensitive skin, she says, and with electrolysis it came up in little red bumps. Now Sujata clears my whole facial area chin and upper lip in about two minutes. Although hairiness is one of the few beauty problems I don t suffer from, I tried Epil Pro myself. In the interests of journalistic integrity, I bared an armpit and subjected first of all to the three varieties of electrolysis: galvanic, diathermy and blend. All three were uncomfortable and painful and I d had enough after just a few hairs. Red marks were left where hairs had been removed which took some days to fade. Sujata then cleared my entire armpit with Epil Pro in 20 minutes, leaving not a mark, nor any irritation. While not exactly painless, it was easily bearable. If Epil Pro is all that it appears to be, it promises welcome relief to thousands of people who suffer from unwanted hair. And although there will continue to be a role for electrolysis in the treatment of thread veins and skin tags, in terms of hair removal its days could be numbered. Tel: 0844 5441373 sec@electrolysis.co.uk www.electrolysis.co.uk 5 ISSUE 48 SEPT 2016

THREE CLEARING STRATEGY by Sharon Reid, BIAE Board You may have heard of this strategy also known by the name of Clear and Wait. It s an exciting and immensely satisfying way to work. Primarily used for body areas because it involves taking the chosen area and literally clearing it! All of it! Of hairs. The aim is NOT to space the work out but treat every follicle that presents itself with a hair. This is fundamentally important in this strategy as is the aim to do each clearing in, if not the single sitting but sessions close together. It is evident why body areas are best for this; hairs are not as dense as some areas of the face and it s easy to hide tell-tale signs of treatment. The aims of this strategy for the practitioner and client are to be able to predict treatment time frames, treatment planning and the cost (or at the very least a ball-park figure). This is especially attractive to the client who can then budget for treatment and work sessions around their lives. Here are the basics: Women s underarms (example) No epilating for at least 3-4 months prior to treatment not including laser. Clearance 1: first session to clear each underarm taking 2 hours per underarm Wait: 3 months before next session Clearance 2: second session to clear each underarm taking 1 hour per underarm Wait: 3 months before next session Clearance 3: third session to clear each underarm approximately 30mins per underarm. Total time: 7 hours (approximately: may need a short session for a tidy up) Total cost: Total time frame: 9 months (approximately: may need 12 months to cover a tidy up) The above is an example, people have different densities etc...on their underarms though you can see by working out how long you take to clear the area in the first session, that you can give total treatment time frames, treatment costs and treatment session times to the client. Often a little tidy up a few months later or before the next holiday of hairs that may have been missed in the cycles or the few that regrow - is required. Do allow for a small amount of re-growth and those that get missed. Each subsequent treatment takes 50% less time than the previous because at each clearing, different follicles are being permanently treated. The aim for Clear and Wait is to treat follicles once and leaving 3 months between clearings ensures all follicles have made themselves apparent and the three month interval ensures full skin recovery before embarking on the next clearing. Our job as Electrologists is a hugely satisfying one and this type of strategy provides even more satisfying and rewarding work! Watch this space for more information and a CPD practical course involving this and more put together by the BIAE board. Tel: 0844 5441373 sec@electrolysis.co.uk www.electrolysis.co.uk 6 ISSUE 48 SEPT 2016

BEAUTY THERAPY AWARDS RECOGNITION FOR DOING YOUR JOB by Angela Wheat Cert Ed., MBIAE, DRE, MFHT, BIAE Board In April, I received a surprising email from a lady called Sue working for a company called Business Legacy, informing me that I had been nominated twice for two different Health and Beauty Awards. Imagine my surprise and delight to hear that both a client and ex student had taken the trouble to nominate me. Then, in May, I received another email telling me I was a finalist in the Awards for both categories, which were Beauty Therapist of the Year and Overall Contribution to the Health and Beauty Industry, I was obviously thrilled to be a finalist. Sue informed me that the winners would be announced at a Gala Dinner in a Kent Hotel on Friday, 10 th of June. I dusted off my glad rags and went to the Gala Dinner with my husband. The event turned out to be a lovely evening, with a champagne reception and nice meal followed by the announcement of the winner. I was overjoyed to be chosen as the Kent Beauty Therapist of the Year Silver Winner, it is so nice to have your work recognised by others. In the category for Overall Contribution to the Health and Beauty Industry, I was delighted to receive the Bronze Award after being pushed into third place by two doctors who work in the industry carrying out Botox and dermal fillers. What became evident during the evening was that the majority of the other winners worked for larger companies with multiple employees, whereas I work for myself. I have to say I really enjoyed this experience, and my clients were thrilled to read in the local paper and various magazines that I was a winner of the above awards. I now have the winner s logos for both awards on my website. You would think my year could not get any better, however, in July I received a letter from the FHT, Federation of Holistic Therapists, congratulating me on being a Finalist in the 2016 National Excellence Awards for Beauty Therapist of the year. I was truly amazed as this is a National Award, I cannot believe I am a finalist when you consider how many people are nominated and I have made it through to the finals, even better the nomination was for my work is in electrolysis. If I am fortunate enough to be honoured with the FHT 2016 National Excellence Award for Beauty Therapist of the Year, it would definitely raise the profile of electrolysis in the industry and be a real accolade for my years in the industry. The winner of this award will be announced at the end of October in Whitehall, London. I will keep you posted on how I get on. Tel: 0844 5441373 sec@electrolysis.co.uk www.electrolysis.co.uk 7 ISSUE 48 SEPT 2016

ELAINE STODDART MBIAE DISCUSSES THE NEED FOR EXPERT ELECTROLYSISTS TO SUPPORT TRANSGENDER CLIENTS Gender dysphoria is a condition where a person feels trapped within a body of the wrong gender. Many live unhappily with this for years and feel they have no option other than to eventually change gender. It is not a lifestyle choice and has nothing to do with sexual orientation (indeed many become lesbian, gay or heterosexual following the transition, as their sexual preferences may remain the same). One of my very dear trans friends, who has been married for 40 years, officially transitioned 10 years ago and remains happily with her wife who is her best friend. Unfortunately, loved ones are not always so supportive and the journey for a trans person can be a lonely one. The average age of transitioning is 42 years old. Hair growth at this age often produces a high percentage of grey or white hairs, thus leaving electrolysis as the only option for hair removal as laser/ipl cannot successfully treat white or grey hair. Hormone therapy often assists with the lessening of bodily hair but for facial hair, which tends to be dense and strong, electrolysis is recognised as the most effective treatment. According to a 2016 trends report by Professional Beauty, hair removal has seen the biggest increase in revenue share of any sector in the beauty industry, growing by six per cent to 250m in 2015. Electrolysis/laser treatments increased from 20.9 per cent in 2014 to 22.6 per cent in 2015. Part of this market is the trans community. It is estimated that one in 4,000 people in the UK is receiving medical help for gender dysphoria and the numbers are growing. This is partly due to greater consumer awareness resulting in trans people becoming more socially acceptable and therefore a larger number of gender dysphoric clients are being identified or are actively seeking help. Sadly, while public awareness is growing, true public acceptance can still lag pitifully behind. This is why competent Electrolysists happy to treat trans clients with dignity and sensitivity are in great demand. The business benefits are huge. Due to the extensive areas to be treated, a trans client will usually require many hours of treatment over a long period. Hundreds of hours spread over a two to threeyear period is not unusual. Re-growth may be strong and fast and this necessitates a relatively large amount of treatment per week to make any progress. Two hours per week initially is not uncommon. A trans client may require hair removal on all areas: face, body and genital area. Not all trans elect to have SRS (sexual reassignment surgery) but many do and depending on the surgeon and exact nature of the operation, hair removal on the scrotum may be required. It is necessary to liaise with the surgeon to ensure that the exact, specific area targeted for surgery is treated and not additional areas of skin which can then leave tell-tale scars visible. Furthermore, trans clients are the most reliable, due to their motivation, and usually the most knowledgeable, having carried out extensive research prior to treatment. It is key that the Electrolysist is not only highly experienced but also knows how to treat clients with dignity and sensitivity. Upholding their privacy as paramount at all times, to create a better understanding, reduce inequalities and make life better for the trans client. Retaining a professional, detached but supportive manner while offering understanding and sympathy is hard to achieve but is key to a good working relationship. Across one or two years, a trans client may well spend more time with you than a dear friend and boundaries have to be created to avoid an intense, needy, destructive or unhealthy relationship. /contd. Tel: 0844 5441373 sec@electrolysis.co.uk www.electrolysis.co.uk 8 ISSUE 48 SEPT 2016

Gender transition is neither easy nor cheap with potential costs of over 60,000. Hormone therapy, psychiatric assessments, facial feminization surgery, hair transplants and of course gender reassignment surgery all carry significant costs with electrolysis probably the most expensive, uncomfortable and time-consuming treatment of all. Finding the right Electrolysist is therefore something taken very seriously. Tips for in the treatment room The following statements, presented in italics, have been written by a trans client of mine to help Electrolysists understand the unique needs of transgender clients and provide them the best possible service. Jenny is a highly intelligent professional woman at the pinnacle of her career. She fully transitioned over 2 years ago and has been taking hormone replacement therapy medication for 4 years. The one regret she has is that she did not start electrolysis for facial hair removal much earlier in her journey a not uncommon regret. Gender transition is neither easy nor cheap. Hormone therapy, psychiatric assessments, facial feminization surgery, hair transplants and of course gender reassignment surgery all carry significant costs. However, probably the most expensive, painful and time-consuming treatment of all is electrolysis for facial hair removal. Finding the right Electrolysist is something taken very seriously. The trans community is incredibly close-knit with a prolific and effective communication network. Charitable and support groups such as GIRES and The Beaumont Society network throughout the country and may put clients in touch with Electrolysists. Choosing a practitioner Before even making the first appointment, the potential client will have undertaken considerable research about you. This is likely to include word of mouth recommendations from other trans women, Google searches and reviewing online discussions, as well as checking your website for evidence that you are transgender friendly and have the relevant training and experience. Therefore, you might find it useful to make sure you specifically state on your website that you are more than happy to see transgendered clients. Certainly the trans client is often extremely knowledgeable and informed about the treatment. As a consequence, a good sympathetic Electrolysist is considered gold dust and the news spreads like wildfire. Training and CPD is key. An awarding body qualification in electrolysis at NVQ Level 3 is the starting place and then good thorough grounding and experience in electrolysis is the first step. The British Institute and Association of Electrolysists (BIAE) offer a transgendered training course, as does Sterex Electrolysis. These are not a mandatory requirement but will definitely help you understand the trans person s life journey and equip you with skills so that you are able to help and support them. Making clients feel at ease Because individuals start their electrolysis very early on in their transition, they tend to be very sensitive and unsure of themselves when you first meet, so here are some suggestions to help make them feel comfortable and safe. /contd. Tel: 0844 5441373 sec@electrolysis.co.uk www.electrolysis.co.uk 9 ISSUE 48 SEPT 2016

Making the appointment Their voice on the phone is unlikely to match their name. Try to avoid using gender specific titles and pronouns. If you are unsure ask how they would like to be addressed. Attending the appointment When they arrive for their appointment they are likely to be feeling extremely sensitive about their appearance and will want to avoid interacting with anyone other than you. Remember that in order to have a sufficient length of hair for you to work with they will not have shaved for a few days so they will be even more self-conscious. A good idea is to have a discreet waiting area away from the view of other customers and to minimise the number of staff, other than yourself, that they will deal with. The consultation must cover how to cope with the hair growth. There is no point telling a trans person not to shave, as this will only alienate them and show a lack of empathy. Discussing the treatment plan is essential so that you are both in agreement. Sectioning the face off into four quadrants works well, (so that the original quadrant is reached again four weeks later, thus allowing generous healing time) as does spacing out treatment by treating just black hairs in a salt and pepper hair growth at one treatment and then the white or grey the next. Find a way that works for that individual. In the treatment room Given that many transgendered clients also wear hairpieces or wigs whilst their own hair grows out one useful tip that will be noticed and appreciated is to provide a simple wig stand. These easily fold away and are inexpensive. Treatment Electrolysis is uncomfortable. To meet the specific needs of transgendered clients significantly higher power settings may be required. Therefore, helping them to develop an effective pain relief strategy will be essential. Here is the approach that Elaine and I developed over the last few years, which other transgendered clients may find useful: De-stress - turning up stressed is a sure fire way to ensure a painful session. Make sure you arrive early, are wearing something comfortable and then take a moment to relax with a magazine or book. Alcohol/coffee/chocolate - avoid alcohol the night before an appointment. A couple of glasses of wine may not seem much but the next morning they reduce your pain threshold. Equally, try to avoid coffee and chocolate, as stimulants also increase your sensitivity. Moisturise - a couple of hours before the appointment, slather on a water rich moisturiser and let it soak in. Thoroughly moisturised follicles make needle insertion easier and also conduct electricity more effectively thus enabling a lower setting to be used. Generalised pain relief a couple of painkillers half an hour before the appointment also helps ease discomfort. However, for people with a low pain threshold topical pain relief is also likely to be needed. /contd.. Tel: 0844 5441373 sec@electrolysis.co.uk www.electrolysis.co.uk 10 ISSUE 48 SEPT 2016

Topical pain relief - creams like EMLA and LMX4 are a godsend for electrolysis. EMLA can be purchased over the counter and contains five per cent lidocaine (active ingredient). Trans clients may be able to get their GP to prescribe this, or an alternative, but the client must source and apply the product, as Electrolysists are not insured to do this. The cream needs to be liberally applied a good hour prior to the appointment but then they swiftly lose their effectiveness unless they are properly occluded (covered with an air tight covering). A medical occlusion product like Opsite Flexifix can be cut to size. Both the creams and occlusion tape are expensive but more than pay for themselves by improving the speed of hair removal. Mind tips and tricks - mental attitude is a big part of pain management. Music can provide a focus on something other than the treatment. Another useful little trick is to encourage the client to slowly exhale while you are treating each follicle. In my experience the trans client always chooses thermolysis rather than blend method. This is because thermolysis takes one to 1.5 seconds per hair and blend takes five to six seconds, therefore a greater number of hairs can be treated in the session. Thermolysis is renowned for being slightly more uncomfortable than blend and high settings are required for an effective treatment. Using insulated needles reduces the erythema and oedema caused by treatment, as it prevents heat rising up the needle to the surface of the skin and assist with comfort levels. Embarking on the journey for just a small part of the way with a trans person is probably the most challenging but rewarding and inspiring wonderful experiences you could ask for. I have had the pleasure of meeting some of the most intelligent, funny, courageous, sad, happy, inspirational people on their amazing life s journey and have been privileged and blessed to share, in a small way, their transformation. Elaine Stoddart MBIAE has busy and successful practices in Harley Street, Burnham, Southampton and Reading and is a renowned Electrolysist expert. She has trained surgeons, doctors, nurses and Electrolysists in advanced electrolysis and pioneered and launched the first ever transgendered electrolysis course in the UK. Elaine has also appeared on BBC work place skills educational programmes. www.elainestoddart.com elaine@elainestoddart.com Tel: 0844 5441373 sec@electrolysis.co.uk www.electrolysis.co.uk 11 ISSUE 48 SEPT 2016

ADVANCED ELECTROLYSIS COURSE 2 DAY COURSE 7 TH & 8 TH NOVEMBER 2016 Basingstoke College of Technology, Worting Road, Basingstoke, Hants RG21 8TN MODELS PROVIDED BIAE MEMBERS 675 NON BIAE MEMBERS 725 REMOVAL OF: Telangiectasia (dilated capillaries) By both diathermy and blend Seborrheic Warts, Skin Tags, Viral Warts, Milia (whiteheads) Campbell de Morgan Blood Spots, Dot Telangiectasia Pigmentation Marks Offering these services to clients greatly enhances your business they are lucrative treatments (ranging from 30 to 85 for a 15 minute appointment depending on location) and are of a clinical nature that fits well with BIAE status and membership. Tel: 0844 5441373 sec@electrolysis.co.uk www.electrolysis.co.uk 12 ISSUE 48 SEPT 2016

ADVANCED REFRESHER COURSE 2 DAY COURSE 7 TH & 8 TH NOVEMBER 2016 Basingstoke College of Technology, Worting Road, Basingstoke, Hants RG21 8TN MODELS PROVIDED BIAE MEMBERS - 337.50 NON-BIAE MEMBERS 387.50 Delegates will be required to hold an advanced qualification On our 2-day Refresher you can learn any or all of: REMOVAL OF TELANGIECTASIA BY BLEND AND SHORTWAVE REMOVAL OF: Seborrheic Keratosis, Skin Tags, Milia (Whiteheads), Blood Spots, Warts/Verrucae, Plane Warts, Pigmentation, Syringoma, Sebaceous Hyperplasia Dermatosis Papulosa Nigra What you learn will depend to some extent upon the constrictions of time and available models, but you can expect to cover most of the above during the course. Tel: 0844 5441373 sec@electrolysis.co.uk www.electrolysis.co.uk 13 ISSUE 48 SEPT 2016

BIAE PRINTING / STATIONERY PRICE LIST PERSONALISED PULL-UP BANNER 150.00 + p&p AFTERCARE PADS (50 PER PAD) 15.00 + p&p 50 CASE HISTORY CARDS 9.50 + p&p 50 TREATMENT CARDS 8.50 + p&p 50 ELECTROLYSIS LEAFLETS 14.00 + p&p 50 ACP LEAFLETS ***NEW*** 7.00 + p&p ACP POSTER ***NEW*** 15.00 + P&P BIAE BADGE 5.00 + p&p Please note, stationery packs are now available: order any four of the above (excluding badge) and receive a 10% discount. Can I please ask that when ordering your BIAE stationery you use the terminology above, ie Treatment Cards, Case History Cards, etc.. Recently there have been two occasions where Treatment Cards have been requested but actually the BIAE Member wanted Case History Cards. Thank you for your co-operation. Janet Stansfield SECRETARY ADVERTISEMENT Tel: 0844 5441373 sec@electrolysis.co.uk www.electrolysis.co.uk 14 ISSUE 48 SEPT 2016

ELECTROLYSIS VS LASER FOR MTF TRANSGENDER by Julie-Anne Hawkes ITEC BIAE Recent statistics show that 1 in 12 000 natal males will choose to have mtf gender re-assignment surgery before their 40th birthday. The reduction of facial hair is seen as an essential part of gender reassignment for a trans-woman. Removal of facial hair relates directly to confidence and safety whilst transitioning. In addition to this, hair may need to be removed on the genital area (donor site) prior to vaginoplasty. Electrolysis, laser and Intense Pulse Light (IPL) treatment are all acceptable forms of long-term hair removal but which treatment is best on which area? In order to make an informed and accurate decision when choosing which treatment is best, we need to understand how the 2 modalities work: Electrolysis is the oldest and most permanent method of permanent hair removal. It works by inserting a very fine needle, the same diameter as a human hair, into an existing follicle. In straighter shallower follicles we tend to use SHORT WAVE DIATHERMY to cauterise the hair follicle and in curved, deeper follicles we tend to use GALVANIC current to denature it, or a combination of the 2 namely the BLEND method. The needle is inserted for 1-5 seconds on average and then the hair is gently removed with minimal tension. It will be re-treated about 6-10 times at 4-6week intervals. As each hair is treated individually, progress can be slow. /contd. Tel: 0844 5441373 sec@electrolysis.co.uk www.electrolysis.co.uk 15 ISSUE 48 SEPT 2016

The skin can be slightly pink after treatment but using aftercare such as aloe vera gel should render it back to normal within 24 hours. All areas, skin colours and hair colours can be treated safely with minimal risk of hypo and hyper pigmentation. A good Electrolysist will treat in the region of 8-12 hairs per minute depending on the method used and the clients pain threshold. Electrolysis is regarded as permanent by the FDA. HOWEVER, results vary between practitioners and I would only ever recommend choosing an Electrolysist registered with the BIAE - British Institute and Association of Electrolysis. Under current guidelines, it is recommended that only electrolysis be used on the genital area prior to surgery. If hair is not adequately removed from areas directly involved in reconstructive genital surgery prior to surgery, it can become a post-operative complication causing risk to the client and necessitating further surgery to rectify the complication. It will take an average of 20 x1 hour sessions over a 9-month period to perform this treatment course. This treatment is very uncomfortable without the use of topical anaesthetic creams such as Emla or LMX4. Treatments tend to cost about 25-40 per 15-minute treatment with approximately 120 hairs removed in this time. And this is where lasers/ipl s have a huge advantage: They can treat large areas in a relatively small amount of time. A full face treatment will cost about 150 and take 30 min. So how do lasers work? Each wave length in the light spectrum is attracted to a chromophore in the skin eg water, oxyhaemoglobin or in the case of hair removal, usually melanin. This chromophore in the hair will absorb the laser light and cause the hair to heat up to about 72 degrees and carbonise. The hair will then take about 2 weeks to denature and fall out. Due to cool tips on the laser heads and cool air blowers, treatments are relatively comfortable. The treatment is best performed on pale skin and coarse dark hair. Companies such as Lumenis and Energist produce powerful and dependable lasers which render excellent results. I always recommend that clients attend a clinic which is registered with the CQC for their own protection and peace of mind. These clinics meet stringent medical standards which ensure good patient care and satisfaction. Sun exposure must definitely be avoided between treatments unless a reliable SPF 50 from a range like Heliocare is used constantly. /contd.. Tel: 0844 5441373 sec@electrolysis.co.uk www.electrolysis.co.uk 16 ISSUE 48 SEPT 2016

Lasers are not considered to give permanent hair removal and hair may return after a period of times has lapsed. However, the results have proved the hair is reduced long term. Funding can be applied for directly from NHS England or via a clients GP. Usually a fixed number of sessions (up to 8) will be funded on the face for trans-women. However, approval of funding is not guaranteed and this should be communicated explicitly to patients. In my experience when treating transgender clients it is very important to offer both forms of treatments as we can use laser hair removal on the large areas very successfully and then electrolysis on the hair that will not respond to laser. **************************************************************** BIAE 2016 TRANSGENDER COURSE by Angela Wheat, BIAE Board In July I again had the honour of running the BIAE Transgender course. It was hosted once again by East Kent College in Broadstairs, who have fabulous facilities and really looked after us. The day involved both theory and practical sessions. This year more information on becoming an NHS service provider - the process, contact names, telephone numbers and email addresses was given to help members through the process. We also covered problems that can arise within the system, guidelines for funding of facial and surgical site hair removal, as well as how to produce invoices and access payment via Trade Shift electronic system, plus all the relevant theory for treating transgender clients. Following the theory session a fabulous lunch was served and allowed everyone to network and share their knowledge and experiences. The afternoon session involved each candidate treating a variety of different transgender clients to enable candidates to appreciate how treatment will need to vary and be adapted for each client due to anatomical differences, in size, length and width of male genitals, along with density of hair growth, type of tissue, skin sensitivity and client pain threshold. Candidates were very surprised by the variation in male genitalia. Each transgender client remained within their cubicle and the Electrolysists moved from one client to another, which offered them the experience using a variety of different electrolysis which included working with two computerised machines: the Elite Spectrum and the Apilus, along with non-computerised Sterex SXB and Carlton epilation units. Everyone commented on how fortunate we were to have a group of transgender clients who were extremely friendly, kind and very willing ladies at various stages of their transition. I was very touched when the clients asked if they could come and model for our members again. Candidates not only extended their knowledge and practical experience but also gained 12 CPD points. For those of you who believe they have the right personality and empathy, along with the wish to expand your business by becoming an NHS approved service provider, the next BIAE course will be held July 2017. Tel: 0844 5441373 sec@electrolysis.co.uk www.electrolysis.co.uk 17 ISSUE 48 SEPT 2016

The class of 2016 Practitioners (from left to right bottom row): Yvette Guthrie, Margaret Winniak, Angela Wheat (Course Tutor), Julie Milroy, Glynis Edwards Back Row: Transgender Clients ******************************************************************************** OBITUARY - LINDA EVANS, BIAE by Kay Treby (Retired BIAE Member) Linda Evans BIAE, passed away in July from cancer after a very brave fight throughout the illness. One year earlier she had been reluctant to give up her work as an electrologist but was forced to do so when she was no longer able to move her arm. Although in total remission for years from a previous cancer, in the past few years Linda had undergone successful heart bypass surgery (returning to her clinic work as soon as possible) and the family were devastated by the tragic death from cancer of their son Mark, a married father of two. Again she returned to her electrolysis practice as soon as she was able. Linda treasured her family, her husband David, daughter Julie and the grandchildren. Linda qualified with the Institute of Electrolysis in the days before amalgamation with the Association and became a Member of BIAE when our two professional bodies became one. She was a total professional and always worked with a caring empathy for her many, many clients. It was a testimony to Linda that so many were at her funeral to pay their respects and to donate to Sue Ryder Hospice in her memory. Everyone who knew Linda held her in the highest regard and I am proud to have worked with her and know her as a friend. RIP. Tel: 0844 5441373 sec@electrolysis.co.uk www.electrolysis.co.uk 18 ISSUE 48 SEPT 2016

PICTURES FROM THE SEPTEMBER SEMINAR Morning Session with Dr Martin Lowe BSc MB BS PhD FRCP Clinical Director, Cardiac Electrophysiology Tel: 0844 5441373 sec@electrolysis.co.uk www.electrolysis.co.uk 19 ISSUE 48 SEPT 2016

Afternoon Session with Dr Robert Rutland MB BDS BchD FDSRCSEd DipClinDerm MBCAM FDSRCPSGlas Technology in Dermatology and Anti-Ageing BIAE Members networking at the September Seminar Tel: 0844 5441373 sec@electrolysis.co.uk www.electrolysis.co.uk 20 ISSUE 48 SEPT 2016