Oy, Bob. That razor-sharp wit always presents itself in the nick of time. ;-)
In the US, at least, the word "epilation" is not commonly used when referring to hair removal. Although there is a product on the market called "Epilady" which uses some sort of coiled spring to rip bodily hair out by the roots. I've never tried one, but the Epilady name has always been associated with extreme pain.