What comes first?The pills or the knife?

[Nurse With Wound]

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.

I disagree with the system in needing therapy (or RLE as they still do this in places like where I live if you go NHS) to get HRT, most people know very well what they'll get from going on HRT and only very, very few have "regret". If I had my way HRT would always be given on informed consent, none of this stupidly long rings you have to jump through now. Because if someone goes to their GP and is like "Yo gimme HRT" the chances are they've been having trans thoughts for a long time and looked into stuff a lot, and don't need like 300 other opinions telling them that they were right and all those months waiting were pointless.

To rebuttal the poster above; generally a person will know if HRT is right for them within the first few months before anything permanent is done. For example; I love the fact that my spontaneous erections are gone, the softening of my skin and breast (albeit slow) growth. If I wasn't enjoying these I'd easily be able to stop and everything would pretty much go back to how it was before since I've not been on for too long. And how often do you go on a trans community and hear someone complaining about not being able to do things that a typical male can do (like get erections), plus HRT doesn't really make you unable to get erections unless your T level is too low, if you have the right levels you'll still be able to do stuff if you got in the mood, you just wouldn't get random pop ups.

[JenJen2011]

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.

I like this method. Probably because it's the method I'm using. But the only thing HRT will do to your face is move the fat around. It will have no effect on your prominent brow bone or square jaw with cleft chin. So, I understand those that want to get FFS in the early stages or right before going full time.

[stldrmgrl]

I disagree with the system in needing therapy (or RLE as they still do this in places like where I live if you go NHS) to get HRT, most people know very well what they'll get from going on HRT and only very, very few have "regret". If I had my way HRT would always be given on informed consent, none of this stupidly long rings you have to jump through now. Because if someone goes to their GP and is like "Yo gimme HRT" the chances are they've been having trans thoughts for a long time and looked into stuff a lot, and don't need like 300 other opinions telling them that they were right and all those months waiting were pointless.

I don't make the rules.  It is what it is.

[SandraJane]

I agree with Jenny and stldrmgrl;

Therapy, HRT, Hair Removal (whichever method), FFS, RLE, GCS. FFS first is not a good idea in my opinion, when the FFS is done you'll basically be forced into transition, ready or not. I started Hair removal first, then Therapy, next is HRT, and the rest will follow for me.

[Siobhan]

well thanks for the valuable input everyone, atm im thinking:

• Electro for beard removal started this(got a home unit im doing this with,galvanic type)
• Grow hair out.. started this
• Trim back hedgerows..err eyebrows.. started this, and now have one higher than the other..lol
• Get my own flat-so im not homeless if it all goes wrong
• Get therapy
• Get HRT
• Get FFS
• Who knows?

[Bishounen]

I agree with Jenny and stldrmgrl;

Therapy, HRT, Hair Removal (whichever method), FFS, RLE, GCS. FFS first is not a good idea in my opinion, when the FFS is done you'll basically be forced into transition, ready or not. I started Hair removal first, then Therapy, next is HRT, and the rest will follow for me.

Not really, depending on what you looked like from the start.
In cases where the patient starts out with a very masculine face with a maculine bonebuild, a FFS will not make the person look like an actual female but like a very androgyne male with soft features.


Oh, and I ofcourse meant FFS only if it is absolutely certain that the transitioner actually wants to transition.
I forgot to mention that.

[toxicblue]

Oh, and I ofcourse meant FFS only if it is absolutely certain that the transitioner actually wants to transition.
I forgot to mention that.

The best way to know if you're absolutely certain is through therapy.

[Jaime]

I know that after being on hormones a few years, my views of what I needed to change on my face changed a bit from when I started. I'd definitely give hrt time to make some changes before I put myself in some surgeons hands on something as important as my face.

[AbraCadabra]

I know that after being on hormones a few years, my views of what I needed to change on my face changed a bit from when I started. I'd definitely give hrt time to make some changes before I put myself in some surgeons hands on something as important as my face.

I agree 100%

Axelle

[Emi]

I am very curious about the real  result of hormones, because i meet trans girls  non ops , but none of they take hormones, i dont know  how much they change the body.
I  am not sure really if they will help enough to worsth the expensive charge..that can be used in surgery.
IF i must chose between  hormones or surgery...what can be more important...
Maybe is a hard question to answer..because maybe that  is different from  one to other people and  her own needs :/

Note: when i see before and after pics..i dont really know what is a result of hormones and what is surgery :s

[Tristan]

for me its working on voice and FFS. and then HRT and GRS