Bebe Kramer
Beatrice B. Kramer
1341 Market Place
Springfield, MA 01103
TTY:(413) 567-1790
Beeper: (413) 732-3035
FAX:(413) 567-4005
E-mail: [email protected]
Beatrice B. Kramer
REGISTERED ELECTROLOGIST
In February 1999, Bebe Kramer celebrated her 25th anniversary as a profoundly deaf registered and licensed electrologist competing in the hearing world.
“I opened the door to my office in downtown Springfield, MA”, Kramer recalls, “but there were no celebrants, no band, no food and drink, just another work day to mark my silver”.
“I’m told I’m the only such electrologist, permanent hair removal, and I have a wall full of thank you letters from my clients, plus I get referrals from dermatologists (physicians) and plastic surgeons. The Good Word gets around. Secondly, I can communicate with almost all patients, nearly all of whom are hearing.
“Sure, I wear a hearing aid, but with only about 5% hearing, its mainly to let me know when a patient lying on my patients treatment table is talking while my back is turned. Then I have to turn around and read my patient’s lips!
Why Electrology?
Kramer became interested in electrolysis after she, herself, had treatment with an electrologist in Philadelphia.
Getting Training. “Getting to this did not come easy”, Kramer explains, “I had to spend a year at the former Roberts Institute of Electrolysis in Boston where I had over 1100 hours of training, including 600 hours in the clinic. This compares to as few as 25 such hours at a similar “institute” in New York City!
“Then came both written and clinical state board exams. I had to pass both before I could obtain my cherished license and therefore become a registered electrologist here in Massachusetts where rules are very strict.
“I am a longtime member of the Massachusetts and American Electrologist Associations, and International Professional Guild of Electrologists.
“Electrolysis is not for everyone, hearing or deaf. Minute detail is absolute necessary, as well as enduring patience as you treat each hair follicle. Too many of my competitors lack this patience and merely pluck the hairs, which then regrow. And then their patients come to me!
“But success has a price, and after twenty five years I have had to cut down my office hours to four days a week.
“And you want to know how I do it all alone? I use an answering service, which takes my calls and gives appointments, and then ~ yes, confusion reigns at times! Then I have to straighten out conflicting appointments, theirs and mine! Later on, a beeper service was very helpful. This is costly, but whoever said life was easy or that success comes when you don’t try?
“I treat both women and men. I have treated a woman and then her daughters’ and granddaughters, their cousins and friends, an oft-repeated situation. Heredity?
“Sure, it is hard work! But then I get an intense sense of satisfaction when I have finished treatments and my pause to look at themselves in the mirror before leaving.
“Then, their faces light up! They are happy with the results, my results and I am happy too!”
Kramer is married to Mort and they have three children – Jordan, Lee and Audrey.
