Transitioning at 24.

[Avianna]

So I found out I was transgender early 2011 when I was 20. And while I told my family my grandma has not really done anything to help (She is fine with it but always uses male names and that stuff Granted she is close to 90 so it may her memory slipping more than her not trying to accept.) Anyway I have a job now and think this is the best time to start since I can pay for things myself. I am thinking of starting the electrolysis this Autumn in Newton MA. My question is is electrolysis the best place to begin and what is the best next place? I know I am pretty old to start since most I have heard of online began in pre/teens.

[mrs izzy]

I did laser for fast clearing then did maintenance with electrolysis.

[Blue Senpai]

That's actually not that old, I'm starting transition at 22 years old and there are much older members on here who transitioned much later than you and still look great. After electrolysis, I recommend seeking out a gender therapist to get started on getting the letter required for HRT if there is no informed consent clinic in your state or if you're not 100% sure. The informed consent clinic in MA is Fenway Health if you want to bypass therapy.

[Jessica Merriman]

Electrolysis is fine and all, but I think you should start with a good therapist who preferably has some gender experience. There is far more to transition than just looking the part and more than likely you will have to have a letter to start HRT anyway. 24 is not too old at all. I started at 47 and have had simply amazing results both mentally and physically. If you are going to go all the way to SRS you will have to have two letters so you might as well find a therapist and develop a good relationship with them. Good luck!! 

[bluebirdx88]

Honestly... I felt the same way at first... I mean I started full-time when I was 23 but... I never got prescribed HRT until 4 days before my 26th birthday.. I would suggest you try to get them prescribed and see an endo first of all as it's what (in my experience) takes longest to achieve... You've and (I suppose I did too..) have had an earlier start than many.. Maybe not optimal but still sorta early-er-ish? My point you'll be fine

As for electro.... I'm doing IPL as I've know of people who've been scarred by electro, so I rather keep far away from it... Though I'm no expert in the subject.

[Cindy]

I shall just cough loudly. 24? Holy Dolly. 24?


Darling welcome to life.


24, was I ever that young?

[Avianna]

Glad to see 24 is not too old. Was worried but glad to see now is actually a good time to begin.

[Blue Senpai]

Glad to see 24 is not too old. Was worried but glad to see now is actually a good time to begin.

I wish I started a little earlier but what can you do?

[warmbody28]

thats a great place to start. i would also say getting started with hormones asap (a must first move in my book . but to each their own). and working on your voice.

[FrancisAnn]

Removal of all facial hair is the best thing you can do!!! Nothing will make you feel nicer & feel like more of a complete young woman that a smooth nice face. Yes HRT........, talk..... but get rid of all the hair!

[saramarie]

This just points out that older individuals still transition post on into the 21st century!

yep.... don't fret none just take in all the wisdom you can from the more experienced of the community.

my age 26
my stage.... Questioning CD/TG
my assumed transition age if any.... unknown-75

[JoanneB]

Everyone in my TG group says LASER, actually IPL, is the way to go if you have the right coloring. It's far far less painful, and it takes far less time. Cost does vary. Might also vary by what state you live in depending on who is legally able to wield a flashlamp. Expect to need a couple of treatments. Some final touch up work via electrolysis may also be needed

[Brenda E]

Electrolysis is fine and all, but I think you should start with a good therapist who preferably has some gender experience. There is far more to transition than just looking the part and more than likely you will have to have a letter to start HRT anyway.

I'm 100% with Jessica on this one. Before doing anything to alter your appearance, find a therapist and get a few sessions under your belt. It's not a huge burden, but it could save you from finding out you're not trans (unlikely, I know, but it happens) after you've removed half your beard. There's no rush to transition, and a delay of a month while you speak to a good therapist a few times is nothing in the grand scheme of things.

Once you've ascertained that you're definitely interested in taking steps towards transition, I'd then suggest having the therapist point you in the direction of a good trans-friendly endocrinologist who can prescribe HRT. If HRT agrees with you (and there'll be no irreversible changes in the first couple of months), then start to move forward with permanent alterations - beard, for example.

I know beard removal sounds like a good place to start, but to me it's an intermediate step, not an initial step. It's relatively cheap if you are a good candidate for laser (which should be done before electrolysis if that's the case), but it's irreversible. Imagine the consequences if you found out in a month that you didn't want to transition full-time? If you've had a couple of sessions of laser, your beard will be forever a splotchy mess with patches of baldness and patches of growth; you don't want to have to explain that for the rest of your life.

Please, take it slow! Therapy is always a good place to start if it's available. I'm all for the informed consent route, but as an exception to the rule rather than as a place to begin. We all start off wishing we could just wake up tomorrow morning and be female, and it's easy to jump straight into the deep end and start spending money on beard removal and god knows what else, but a little caution at the beginning - and the guidance of a trusted therapist during those early months - is absolutely the most important foundation for a successful, healthy transition. These are some massive changes, the biggest changes you'll ever experience in your entire life. It's well worth being over-cautious until you know for sure where you're going.

[sam79]

+1 for working on your voice.

You cannot start that soon enough. It can take a long time to get right and become strong. And as it's often one of the strongest cues ( if not the only, over the phone ), it's confidence boosting when you have a working voice that will get you gendered correctly.

[eringurrl]

This is the same age I was when I started transition (maybe I was technically 23ish but definitely between 23-24) and the first thing I did was HRT, then I did laser hair removal. 

It depends on when you plan to transition and live as yourself but if you plan on that being a couple years out, I'd start on HRT now and if finances afford, do hair removal.

A word of advice about laser (if you so choose): I did laser first and many, many years later had enough dark hair regrowth that I did more laser till finally I am doing electrolysis to get rid of it once and for all.  If I had to do with over again, I'd go with electrolysis instead of laser but that's my on opinion about my experience.

I too started when I finished college, and got a job that could afford me the finances to transition.

[Dee]

If you're in Newton, you should go to A&A, they're great! I go there for laser, the girls really know their trade- particularly when treating trans clientele, and I believe they offer a sliding scale for their services.

Like others have said, 24 is not old at all. I started just after my 27th birthday...I think my hips are the only area I haven't seen much change.

Good on you with the job. I remember the early days of number crunching, to see how the hell I could possibly afford it all, while keeping myself fed and sheltered.

[michelle82]

For me even if i decided to halt my transition i can live without my facial hair either way.

Im a little older (32) but i started both therapy and hair removal together.

But if you still like your facial hair i would definately wait like others have said.