Physical changes: not what I expected..

[imogen]

I'm just curious to hear how other people's physical changes are going.

HRT seems to have had little affect on my face, compared to my now burgeoning breasts and shape of my hips. But then sometimes it's not that easy to tell... Anyway, if it is true, then I'm sure it's quite normal, that this is just what happens to some people (YMMV). For other people the face seems to change quicker, the breasts less so. Perhaps the reason is because of my age, 48, considerably late I guess for HRT to "wash" years of testosterone away, but then other people, I think rightly, have always said I've looked about 30. The other reason for the seemingly slow change to my face is the fact that my jaw is fairly widish, square, not that susceptible to looking that feminine!

The other thing is I'm just not that into "largish" breasts, at least not their weighty roundness. I've always imagined having fairly pert ones (my personality I guess..). Also, I've hard so many stories of late onset transsexuals wanting to enlarge their small breasts. Don't get me wrong, I love the shape of my breasts, and I guess proportionally they just look right in reference to the rest of my upper body. It's just that I'm scared that they're just going to go on getting wider, fuller, while my face looks to be lagging behind..

[Alainaluvsu]

How long have you been on HRT?

I know there are some days where I'm thinking "Wow I look different" .. and other days I'm saying "God I'll never look remotely close to female".

[Kelly J. P.]

 It's amazing that you've had as much as you're describing. With hormones being as variable as they are, it's possible a face won't change at all; very little is certain with HRT.

My changes affected my face and mind more than anything else. I have a very hard time not being happy, and my face has to have changed... I didn't have guys hitting on me before HRT, after all. I can see it a bit, especially when I look at older pictures. I have a hard time recognizing myself. However, that's about all. My breasts have seen close to no development (or sensitivity, i.e. painful or pleasurable), my hips haven't changed... I might have slightly more of a waist than I used to, and my bum might have a bit more weight on it, but none of it is terribly noticeable. Perhaps it's due to my low weight, or maybe I got handed strange genes. I was predicting I'd end up at D breasts, with how my sister and mom are.

I could not have predicted what happened... and spending time wishing things were different seems pointless. It would be nice to have sensation in my nipples, or to have breasts, but there are bigger things. The biggest things are under our control - voice, makeup, surgery. That's encouraging.

[imogen]

I've been about 14 months on HRT, but the first 7 of those taking it very slowly on the lowest dosage.

I guess I was trying to hint if it is known if certain features (face, breasts, or hips etc) contain more female receptors than others? I know, it does sound like a silly science question, so I'll just assume this is often the case.

As I said, I know my face is not rounded or gently angular like the lines and contours of most female faces, so I'm thinking that this is partly the reason why, plus it's an age thing. I know that many people just learn to deal with it, go full-time despite looking it. But it doesn't make it better. So I'm left hiding my breasts, biding my time being an androgyne and people wondering if I've got some strange illness or if I'm just a guy who likes to indulge his feminine side. 

I guess I often feel slightly deceived by the promise of HRT. But you're right, wishing that things were different seems pointless. Also I don't have any regrets about not starting any earlier since the dysphoria only really hit me about four years ago. Still, I'm often left wondering why I didn't realise sooner...what all that depression years earlier was about..

The psychological mind changes - yes, the most important for me anyway

[starbright]

^Thanks for sharing your story. )

If you don't mind me asking, what age were you when you actually started on HRT?

[imogen]

My age was 47 - not that I think age greatly matters, as I've seen many a late trans photo where the block-like jaw feature was not apparent. Genetics I'm afraid. Anyway, I know I've got to look for more compensatory hairstyles.

[starbright]

^Yeah, a good hairstyle will take you a long way for sure depending on your face shape. Also, I also think age has some effect with HRT, but also as you said, genetics also plays a major role in the process. Also, lifestyle plays a big parts in all that stuff too. I have seen some who start HRT at 23 and don't pass as women and I have seen some women who start HRT at 40 and look awesome and very passable, some even are gorgeous. It's all dependent on many things, I just pray that it all evens out and works over time and also giving me the confidence and love for myself no matter what.

I believe that if you are confident and rock what you have to offer, it goes along way, versus trying to hid and blend in the most you can, people can pick up on when you are trying to hide something, so it's best to just put on a brave face and live life.

[Diane Elizabeth]

        I am 59 and have been on HRT for 16 months now.  I have less hair on my legs , almost a "B" cup size breasts and my facial skin is supersensitive to electrolysis.  I also cry watching movies more than ever.  That's all I 've gotten so far.  Age is a factor in what changes one experiences.  Younger people that transition will have more effect from HRT than older ones.   

        I wish it soften my ffacial hair so it would be easier to remove.  I would love to get hips from HRT.  I also would like it to lighten the hair on my arms.  Move my fat from the front to my buttocks would be nice, too.  But, I am not a young one anymore.  It is what it is.

Good luck with your results.

Deidre

[Christine Eryn]

I've been on E since autumn of 2007 and added Spiro in mid 2009 (on and off). Some breast growth, butt getting rounder. Just recently, I noticed my hands are really scrawny. My cheeks are WAY defined. In fact I put on makeup the other day for the first time in almost 2 years and my cheeks are phenomenal if I do say so myself.   That change did not happen the first few years. My high cheekbones are pretty much the only redeeming quality of my blocky face. I have also noticed my skin, especially my face, is really soft. I'm continuing to eat well and cut out fried stuff, and overall I am loosing a good amount of weight. I've gotten weaker but my shoulders could use some "debulking". I think as long as I continue to eat better and cut weight it will finally happen. I've been cursed with too much hair all around, something that HRT has really not helped.

[Suziack]

imogen, some of the changes you've noticed must be exciting. May I ask what kind of changes have you seen with your hips?

  Suziack

[Keaira]

I'm 32, I'll be 33 on Saturday. I've been on HRT [Estrodial & Spiro]  for a little over 10 months now.  I'm an A-cup but I was also on lowest dosage for 3 months then 3 months later went a little higher and I am almost at the maximum safe dosage, which I will probably be on after my next doctors appointment.

   Changes I have noticed include:-

* Hair growing back on my head where it had receded.
* Finer hair on my arms and legs, not that they were thick to begin with.
* My face has become more feminine, lips are a little fuller.
* My skin is softer and teenage acne eternally plagued me up until HRT. Now my face has cleared up.
* Facial hair seems to grow slower and less dark.
* I noticed last night that I've lost most of my upper body strength.
* My butt is bigger. But my waist seems smaller.
* My hair has straightened out and seems softer.

whats funny is the hair that's growing back in is a lighter color brown, the color my hair used to be when I was little. So I'll have light brown streaks in otherwise black hair on either side of my head. Which I think will be kind of neat! highlights without the hassle. ^_^