BOSTON ELECTROLYSIS PRIVATE PRACTICE
BOSTON SCHOOL OF ELECTROLYSIS
FOR SAFE PERMANENT HAIR REMOVAL
ARTICLE BY KIMBERLY WILLIAMS, R.E., DEAN
MASSACHUSETTS LICENSED-REGISTERED ELECTROLOGIST
ALWAYS TRIPLE STERILIZE YOUR INSTRUMENTS
For the record when you enter an electrologist's office you should be aware that the end result of a successful electrolysis treatment is achieved using proven medical procedures. An electrologist office is nothing like a visit to the hairdresser or the Laser Parlor operator.
BOSTON ELECTROLYSIS PRIVATE PRACTICE
FOR SAFE PERMANENT HAIR REMOVAL
KIMBERLY WILLIAMS, R.E.,DEAN
MASSACHUSETTS LICENSED-REGISTERED ELECTROLOGIST
BOSTON ELECTROLYSIS PRIVATE PRACTICE
7330 EAST EARLL DRIVE SUITE J
SCOTTSDALE ARIZONA 85251
480-607-8121
ARTICLE BY KIMBERLY WILLIAMS, R.E., DEAN
Massachusetts Licensed & Registered Electrologist, Licensed 1979
ALWAYS TRIPLE STERILIZE YOUR INSTRUMENTS
For the record when you enter an electrologist's office you should be aware that the end result of a successful electrolysis treatment is achieved using proven medical procedures. An electrologist office is nothing like a visit to the hairdresser or the Laser Parlor operator.
Fact after having visited other electrologists offices through out the valley I have discovered that certified non-licensed electrologists never started or completed a medical grade course in sterilization. For your information 98% of electrologists in the Phoenix area are not licensed and registered as an electrologist. Additionally the only course they have taken is the 120-hour Certified Professional Electrologist course, which does not have practical examination.
Hygiene, Sanitation and Sterilization
Like all people I like to get good nights sleep however to sleep soundly my conscience has to be clear and the fact that I use dated pre-sterilized disposable probes helps. However that is just one of the steps used at Boston Electrolysis for safe permanent hair removal. After 29 years as a practicing electrologist I thought I had seen it all however the pre-sterilized disposable probes are of a major importance. Nonetheless there are far to many electrologists that think or having a total of five, ten and fifteen pairs of forceps AKA tweezers on their premise is sufficient. No doubt, if you have entered an electrologists office you might have glanced at the electrologists work station and seen those five or ten forceps that are immersed in large test tube point down in an aqueous solution of alcohols or some other disinfectant with cotton on the bottom which prevents the tips of the forceps from being damaged. Fact most electrologists think that that the disposable probe alone provides all the protection needed for a safe electrolysis treatment that will prevent infection.
Wrong and far to many electrologists particularly the uneducated non-licensed certified electrologists think that by itself that pre-sterilized disposable makes them and their patients safe. Wrong again and for the record forceps during an electrolysis treatment routinely get contaminated with blood, skin cells, drainage from follicles, sebaceous glands and perspiration on them. After a treatment these uneducated non-licensed certified electrologists routinely wipe their forceps with tissue or cotton and than drop it back in a in a communal test tube with an aqueous solution of alcohol or some other disinfectant. Fact these non-licensed electrologists think that is all it take to sterilize their forceps, wrong for the record an active licensed electrologists practice needs a minimum of 50 to 75 pairs of forceps, I personally have 250 or more.
WHY DO I TRIPLE STERILIZE MY INSTRUMENTS?
The reason that I developed this triple sterilization process used at my practice is for your safety and during a new patients consultation I do a walk through with a physical demonstration to show you how my instruments are triple sterilized. Fact my instruments on daily basis are constantly going through my triple sterilization process so every time I start your treatment I use a fresh triple sterilized forceps in addition to a pre-sterilized disposable probe.
Most consumers and the uneducated non-licensed certified electrologists assume that the disposable probe alone protects them and their patients from contagion. Nevertheless this licensed and registered electrologist has learned to perform a safe treatment that you must practice hygiene, sanitation and sterilization from the beginning to the end of the patient's treatment to prevent cross contamination and infection.
HOW TO TRIPLE STERILIZE YOUR INSTRUMENTS
Maintaining an active private practice as electrologists for twenty-seven years with out one infection is not from luck it is the result of my diligence, hard work and a safety first mind set at all time. My sterilization system it starts with taking my forceps at the end every of treatment and placing it in a wet tank sterilizer with a chemical bath using a germicide not disinfectant. For you consumers and electrologists out the difference between a germicide and disinfectant is that a germicide completely destroys pathogenic bacteria (disease producing) where a disinfectant only retards dangerous bacteria at best.
ONLY A GERMICIDE WILL KILL PATHOGENIC BACTERIA
Most modern germicides will kill pathogenic bacteria on contact however manufacturers still recommend a minimum of two hours soaking to completely sterilize them. However I let mine soak overnight and the next morning when I come in I remove the forceps from the chemical-germicide bath and than rinse the chemical-germicide off the instruments with hot water. From there the next step is I place the forceps in the ultrasonic cleaner with fresh tap water with a heaping tablespoon of Tergizide, which is an enzyme detergent. For the record an enzyme detergent destroys and consumes microscopic bacteria and dead cells from left over blood or tissue particles while consuming dead microscopic bacteria. Turning on the ultra-sonic cleaner for a minimum one hour completely removes all dead skin cells, dried blood and any microscopic foreign matter in addition to providing a highly polished luster for your instruments.
BRUSHING AND CLEANING THE TIPS OF YOUR FORCEPS
The third step starts with a wire brush to clean the tips of the forceps and with hot water you rinse the remaining enzyme detergent from the instruments and than wrap and leave them in paper towel for ten minutes. Another important reason for rinsing instruments is to remove chemical and soap residue, which could irritate your patient's skin. After making sure the instruments are dry with no water spots I place them in my dry heat sterilizer for 60 minutes at 360 degrees for one hour. After they have cooled off they are placed in closed sterile stainless steel container until I am ready to uses them and as long as that container stay closed at all times they will remain sterile. Fact every time every I finish a patients treatment the probe is disposed of and the forcep is placed in wet tank chemical bath again starting the whole process all over again. This is why it necessary for an electrologist to least have 50 to 75 pairs of forceps.
However sterilizing instruments will not help you if your electrologist did not complete a thorough case history on your current health status. Furthermore if a patient has a communicable disease a letter from a physician stating that your condition is no longer contagious is required before treatment can begin.
Fact if you read like to read my booklet and article on how to do a thorough case history please clicks this link below.
http://www.bostonschoolofelectrolysis.com/electrologists-case-history-1.php
SAFTEY FIRST WITH EVERY STEP
Some people might call me over cautious however I like to sleep well at night knowing that I have taken every safe guard to provide you the best treatment possible. Fact and for the record I sleep soundly because I do not deter from my triple sterilization process. Fact my 29 years as a practicing electrologist has taught me that to leave no stone unturned when it comes to sterilizing my instruments.
For the record every new patient that arrives at Boston Electrolysis is provided a physical demonstration of how my instruments are sterilized.
http://www.bostonschoolofelectrolysis.com/boston-electrolysis-34.html
Thank you Kimberly Williams, R.E., Dean
Copyright Boston School of Electrolysis 2007
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