MANKATO — Virginia Flitter doesn’t get a lot of customers by word-of-mouth.

So, in some ways, it’s not surprising that after being in business for 18 years, a lot of people still haven’t heard of her.

Flitter owns Electrolysis and Laser Center on Belle Avenue and is a certified professional electrologist. “It’s such a

personal thing,” Flitter knows from experience, “that people just don’t talk about it.”

Electrolysis has been in use as a means of hair reduction for 100 years, according to Flitter, and has been available in Mankato since 1964. Electrolysis is a means of removing unwanted hair growth one hair at a time.

A small electrical probe is slid into the hair follicle, which emits a small amount of heat to kill the follicle’s ability to grow hair. The fix is not quick, and for some, it’s not easy. Progress sometimes depends on a person’s pain tolerance, though others fall asleep during the procedure.

Also, the follicle is not killed with just one treatment, though it grows weaker with each one. Flitter advises her clients to expect to spend two years in electrolysis on average. Once started, it’s important to keep up with the treatments to make steady progress.

It’s not a one-time fix. Flitter says she was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian disease 31 years ago. A symptom of the disease is excessive hair growth, especially noticeable on the face.

She went through 12 years of electrolysis to defeat that symptom. At the time of her diagnosis, doctors told her to shave and wear darker makeup, as nothing else could be done.

Finally, one doctor asked her if she would consider electrolysis. She had never heard the word. Though it took time, electrolysis worked for her. That’s when she decided to train to offer the service.

“If I could help one person not go through what I went through, it would be worth it,” she said.

Flitter says many of her clients who seek electrolysis describe it as a life-changing process.

“I’ve touched a lot of lives,” she says.

Electrolysis is not cheap. Over a couple of years, the electrolysis and laser treatments for the average person will amount to at least a couple of thousand dollars. People need to look at it as an investment, she said.

Flitter has some advice for anyone, male or female, with unwanted hair. The first is, “Don’t tweeze.” When hairs are plucked out, there is often scar tissue that forms beneath the surface of the skin. That means more electrolysis treatments will be needed.

The second is, know who you are asking for treatment. Minnesota does not regulate electrolysis, so training and professional certifications are important.

Her third bit of advice: “Don’t wait too long.” Flitter has offered laser treatments for hair removal and reduction for eight years. It’s faster, more efficient and less painful for most people.

Unfortunately for many, it doesn’t work on gray hair. Flitter says the hair needs to be darker for the laser to be effective.

Laser treatments are done with a small instrument that is moved over the skin and emits small pulses of laser light beams when activated. The light penetrates the skin and heats the dark hair follicles beneath it.

The heat weakens the hair follicle much like electrolysis. Sandra Oachs of Mankato is a firm believer in laser treatments. She found out about electrolysis and laser treatments in a conversation with Flitter’s sister.

She decided it was something she wanted to do for both cosmetic and convenience purposes. Oachs opted for laser treatments under her arms.

“It’s wonderful not having to worry about that shadowy appearance anymore,” she said.

Oachs is one of the few who talk about laser and electrolysis to her family and friends. She has convinced another woman to give it a try, she says.

“It’s wonderful. I tell everybody about it,” she said.

Oachs admits she was “terrified” when she first went to learn about the treatments, not knowing what to expect and not having friends to ask about it. She describes the sensation of laser as feeling a little hot, “but not painful.”

Oachs also tells people they should not be embarrassed.

“It’s more prevalent than people think,” she said.