What comes first?The pills or the knife?

[Siobhan]

Whats the best order to do things?
As in whats best first, HRT, FFS? and then?
Im curious as to what you all think is the optimal transition route, and why?What was best for you?

[stldrmgrl]

Therapy, HRT, Laser/Electrolysis, FFS (if necessary/desired), GCS (if desired).

Vocal therapy may also be needed once you begin trying to find and learn your female voice.

[Bishounen]

Whats the best order to do things?
As in whats best first, HRT, FFS? and then?
Im curious as to what you all think is the optimal transition route, and why?What was best for you?

Depends totally on what you are after and what your physical features are like.
If you feel that you just cannot pass, then FFS without question comes firstly. However, if you think that you can already pass, then you can take things in your own order that you feel is right for you.

There are really no optional transition that fits everyone, as every transitioner have different "starting-material" to begin with, and not any least, different desires transitionwise.

[Siobhan]

Therapy, HRT, Laser/Electrolysis, FFS (if necessary/desired), GCS (if desired).

This doesn't include vocal therapy if needed, as finding your female voice can be difficult.  Even prior to any of the above major steps, learn to properly apply make-up.  As well, once you begin to learn who you are as a woman, begin transitioning clothing to your style.

Therapy? Pfft,im fine its everyone else whos the problem
Nah,im just kidding,i got more issues than National Geographic and I know it.

[stldrmgrl]

Therapy? Pfft,im fine its everyone else whos the problem
Nah,im just kidding,i got more issues than National Geographic and I know it.

Therapy isn't necessarily suggested due to needing therapy; it is more along the lines of being diagnosed with GID, thus getting your letter of recommendation to begin HRT.

[Siobhan]

Depends totally on what you are after and what your physical features are like.
If you feel that you just cannot pass, then FFS without question comes firstly. However, if you think that you can already pass, then you can take things in your own order that you feel is right for you.

There are really no optional transition that fits everyone, as every transitioner have different "starting-material" to begin with, and not any least, different desires transitionwise.

I think i would need FFS for sure.

[stldrmgrl]

If you feel that you just cannot pass, then FFS without question comes firstly.

I highly recommend against getting FFS prior to beginning HRT, as to some extent, HRT has an effect on the face.

[Bishounen]

I think i would need FFS for sure.

Well, if that is the case, then FFS is definitely what would be the wisest to do the first, as it will spare you a lot of potential problems during the Real Life Test.

I highly recommend against getting FFS prior to beginning HRT, as to some extent, HRT has an effect on the face.

That is indeed true. However, for some T-persons, the hormonal effects are just not enough in a stretch, and they still look- In the eyes of the surrounding- like guys in dresses no matter what, which can have a disasterous effect on the T-person herself.

[Siobhan]

Well, if that is the case, then FFS is definitely what would be the wisest to do the first, as it will spare you a lot of potential problems during the Real Life Test.

That is indeed true. However, for some T-persons, the hormonal effects are just not enough in a stretch, and they still look- In the eyes of the surrounding- like guys in dresses no matter what, which can have a disasterous effect on the T-person herself.

I read about that before, sounds like torture tbh, unless you are really lucky with where you live and how you look.. surely they realise how potentially dangerous this is?

[stldrmgrl]

That is indeed true. However, for some T-persons, the hormonal effects are just not enough in a stretch, and they still look- In the eyes of the surrounding- like guys in dresses no matter what, which can have a disasterous effect on the T-person herself.

Yes I agree, if passing is your top priority to begin with in your transition.  For someone such as myself, this was not the case.

[Bishounen]

I read about that before, sounds like torture tbh, unless you are really lucky with where you live and how you look.. surely they realise how potentially dangerous this is?

You mean the Real Life Test?
If so, then well yes, it can sometimes be very uncomfortable for some transitioners. On the other hand, such a test is necessary for the person that wishes to actually live as the sex they want to transition into, as they do need to experience everything it would involve, so in that aspect, it is sort of a necessary evil to see if they can do it or not.

Yes I agree, if passing is your top priority to begin with in your transition.  For someone such as myself, this was not the case.

True. Just as you hinted, not everyone that transitions is interested in passing, as the main thing they really wants is to correct their bodies, and feels that other things like passing and gender-roles are of less importence.

While others, ofcourse, already pass whether they wants to or not.

[stldrmgrl]

True. Just as you hinted, not everyone that transitions is interested in passing, as the main thing they really wants is to correct their bodies, and feels that other things like passing and gender-roles are of less importence.

While others, ofcourse, already pass whether they wants to or not.

Passing is very important to me, but it wasn't my first priority when I began transitioning.  Even now, I'm not full-time simply because I've got other priorities in my transition that I want to accomplish first before passing is a worry (though I do plan on getting FFS in the future).  Anyway, I'll bow out.  To each their own; I am just offering my point of view.

[sysm29]

I already tried transitioning by taking HRT before the FFS and it didn't work so I'm going to need the FFS first, then I'll start taking the estrogen again I think.  I don't want to grow breasts unless I'm ready to live as a woman full-time.

[Sunnynight]

I'd recommend working on your voice ASAP. It's something you can do at home on your own. You can get free sound programs that let you see if your voice is in the female pitch and vibration, although it wouldn't hurt to just sit down with a recording tool and follow youtube video tutorials.

[Mrs. Tina Johnson]

Therapy, HRT, Laser/Electrolysis, FFS (if necessary/desired), GCS (if desired).

Vocal therapy may also be needed once you begin trying to find and learn your female voice.

SAME HERE

[Siobhan]

Thanks for the input everyone,much appreciated

[toxicblue]

Depends totally on what you are after and what your physical features are like.
If you feel that you just cannot pass, then FFS without question comes firstly. However, if you think that you can already pass, then you can take things in your own order that you feel is right for you.

There are really no optional transition that fits everyone, as every transitioner have different "starting-material" to begin with, and not any least, different desires transitionwise.

FFS first? You don't even know if you'll be passable with hormones until you're on them for a while, for one thing. The vast majority of people on this forum who are passable probably have never done FFS. And honestly, I don't see how a surgeon could approve such a major surgery as that without any therapy coming first.

[Bishounen]

FFS first? You don't even know if you'll be passable with hormones until you're on them for a while, for one thing. The vast majority of people on this forum who are passable probably have never done FFS. And honestly, I don't see how a surgeon could approve such a major surgery as that without any therapy coming first.

Well, as I mentioned, hormonal effects are sometimes not enough, and sometimes it is apparent even before hormones that HRT alone will ever be enough.
I mentioned this as I have no idea what the Thread starter looks like. However, as she mentioned FFS at all, I took it as a hint that she considered herself needing it, hence giving the advice to do that firstly before going full time, if passing was of concern for her.

As for surgeons not doing FFS without hormones or therapy? ROTFL.
The surgeons specialised in, for instance, FFS, does such procedures constantly on people that have never even tasted a hormone pill and still lives as guys.
Legally speaking, You can basically do everything you wish with your body if you got the money, apart from removing the reproductive glands. But apart from those, you are free to do what you want without any surgeon batting an eyelash.

[pixiegirl]

I'd never recommend FFS first. Even if you feel you'll need it for sure, hormones will work changes once you're on them. Much better for yourself AND the surgeon to have some idea of what hormones will do with your face to decide what work gets done. It would be kinda sucky to have FFS and then have to get a bunch of revisions done later to rebalance things that hormones changed.

[Beth Andrea]

imho...

Doctors work on the principle "first do no harm." It's a good rule to use in most (if not all) areas of one's life.

Therapy?
HRT?
Surgery (FFS)?
Surgery (GRS)?

Let's consider getting FFS first...what if, after it's done, you realize you were better off with your "old" face? That's a harm; so let's figure out first if your "old" face is the problem. Therapy will help with that, as may HRT.

Let's then consider getting HRT first...what if, after it's done, you miss having erections (not a wistful, low-intensity feeling, but a "damn-I-might-as-well-kill-myself-now" feeling)? That's a harm; so before getting HRT  we should consider therapy first (and not just to get the letter; it's to make sure you're not having other mental health issues or whatever else may be causing an inappropriate urge to "be" trans) .

So now let's consider therapy...if you go to a reputable therapist (i.e., not Uncle Bubba at the local tavern), who specializes in trans issues, at most you'll find out you're not trans, but have other issues. This is not a "harm"; it's a good thing, because then you can work on those other issues without permanently changing your body. (Of course, it could also be that you are trans, in which case you'd get the letter and move on to the next step--HRT)

Take it slow, take it one step at a time. Do the least change first, that way you'll do the least harm...you can always step it up a notch, but it's difficult (if not impossible) to undo some things.