Laser hair removal / hormones replacement therapy

[RevanDFS]

Tonight I went in for a free consultation of laser hair removal. Thinking on making a appointment to see my  Dr next week to talk about hormone replacement therapy and cost. What is the  best to do first? The hair on face I don't want at all. and like most money $$$. credit card time?

Or should I put off laser until I start on hormones replacement therapy? Plus seeing change in my body?

[Mariah]

Starting hair removal yesterday is best while working on HRT. It takes awhile to get rid of all that hair so hair removal on the face is a must to get on ASAP while doing that you can easily work on jumping through any hoops for HRT. Hugs
Mariah

[Kaydee]

I would say it depends on what you  need to do.  I went for hormones first and the psychological changes helped with everything that followed.   They reduced my anxiety and depression and gave me a new confidence to move forward.

That said, the hormones also led me to transition earlier than I would have otherwise (I think, its hard to know what caused what.)  That was mostly good, but I still have a lot of beard to be removed and on hair removal  day I sometimes feel like the bearded lady.

If you have any insurance help the hormones should be much cheaper than laser.   Maybe get that started while saving up for the laser?

I believe the HRT has slowed my beard growth.   At the least it makes it more difficult for it to grow back.

Just a few things to think about

[RevanDFS]

Thank you so much.

[natashaX]

Hrt for a couple of months first fj starve the roots a little
Of you have black hair try and squeeze 8 diode laser for face in
First year
Than switch to electro. Logic being the laser Significantly weakens the roots
And clearance goes fast

[RevanDFS]

Does the laser hair company need to know THAT i mite going HRT soon.? The cost is hold me back on laser hair removal. Plus there having sale now that only last a few more days.

[Mariah]

No they don't, but if they ask for medication lists for medical reasons then it would be a good idea to keep it updated as things are added or changed. Hugs
Mariah

[mmmmm]

Hrt for a couple of months first fj starve the roots a little

Laser works best on thick dark hairs. What HRT does is make hairs thinner and brighter, which means laser won't work as well as it would if one would start laser hair removal year or two prior HRT. How much worse it works, varies from one person to another..

[Jessica_W]

Ball park, how much is it to do your face? I know its several appointments, but just wondering how much to save up (no insurance)

?

[Mariah]

It depends on the places that perform it in your area and how many sessions you need. Secondly some, like myself, have been able to get specials. It's best to look around and see what options and specials are available in your area. Hugs
Mariah

[mmmmm]

Ball park, how much is it to do your face? I know its several appointments, but just wondering how much to save up (no insurance)

?

Depends on how much you practitioner charges for one session, if they offer packet discounts and such,... but mostly is about what color your facial hair is. For black hairs, it might take 6-7 sessions and complete removal during less than one year. For dark brown hairs, add a few more sessions.. for medium brown color add a few more (12-15 sessions)... if you have some bronze color hairs, that will take even longer... but any reddish hairs, and light brown hairs (and white) will need electrolysis to be removed.

[Missy D]

I'm paying £125 per session for treatment with an Alexandrite laser locally. I've got the famed coarse, dark hair on my face so it's working like a dream! I've had one session so far and have experienced consistent shedding and, like, zero re-growth. They've advised it'll take six sessions to completely remove it; however I admit that it's different for those with lighter hair.

The price is a little lower than the standard for beard removal, as I don't exactly have one (?!?) I'm slightly unusual in that, I think, I've always suffered with a testosterone deficiency so went through a sort of half-and-half puberty! I grew small breasts with sensitive nipples and have ended up with wide hips, a female hairline and something that couldn't really be termed a beard on my face. I don't have any hair on my cheeks, for instance. Instead it's along my jawline, upper lip and a bit on my chin.

I digress. Only to say that you can always negotiate on price if you haven't got much hair. The laser clinic were fine with it. However cosmetic services are quite widely available in the UK, and we have a competitive market - so prices get driven down.

I'd say start laser first. It works on anagen hairs the best - new growth - so it'll be a bad idea to impede that. If you can go with Alexandrite or Nd:YAG or a similar six session setup then it's a good idea to start as soon as possible. Or on Monday  By the time you get into the hormone consultations you'll be fairly far in.

Hugs

[KristinaM]

I found a place that'll do 9 sessions of laser on my entire body, face to hands to toes and everything in between for $1100.  They let me break it up into 4 payments of $275 each.

Alot of these places will run deals, let them tell you about them, THEN explain your situation, talk with them, let them get to know you a little bit.  You can probably get them to shave another 10% or so off at that point.  THEN, talk to them about payment plans, b/c it's alot of money upfront.  They'll ask you to make a payment when you schedule your first appointment, but then you should be able to just pay the rest at subsequent appointments, 4-6 weeks apart.

Good luck!

[amber roskamp]

There is a lot to think about with this question. It really depends on how you want to go about your transition. If you want to go full time right after hrt, I recommend doing lasers first. But on the other hand if you feel like living life full-time as a women is a really long ways away I definitely feel like it's better to start hrt first.

Your results form the lasers will be better with female hormones in your system. So if you have the patience to wait till hrt do it. If you are really worried about passing and what not, hrt without lasers makes it hard to pass, lasers without hrt is easier if you have decent presentation skills.

[QuestioningEverything]

I paid $700 8 sessions then another $100 per session after that. I had a total of 12 sessions and about $1000 total for my face. Took me a bit over a year so start as soon as you can.

[TheQuestion]

I started HRT and hair removal at the same time.  I have really dark hair and near glow-in the dark white skin, so I've responded really well.  I've had four sessions on my face/neck and it'll probably only take one more... and then maybe another after that to get any sparse ones left over.  I've been doing laser once a month and then an hour f electo a week in the between time.  I've been getting charged $125 for the laser and $65/hr for electro.  Hopefully by the end of my summer my face will be in good shape and I can move on down.  I'm going to have everything done, apart from my head and brows.  I know I could just shave my legs and arms, but I don't want to.  It hurts and then I get red marks for weeks after.  I just want the hair gone so I can moisturize and let them not be constantly getting scratched with a blade.

It hasn't seemed too expensive, but it's been weekly installments with me.  Adding it all up I've spent a pretty fair amount already, at least more so than I realized.  I'm probably going to cut down on the electro in the near future since the laser is what's removing the hair and I feel like I'm paying way more than I should be.  I keep getting conflicting opinions on whether laser is enough thought.  I read here that it will be back and there that it won't, and as far as my technician is telling me it won't ever grow back after the laser hits it.  That's why I've been doing both, but when the laser hits it the hairs aren't there to keep working on with electo, so I'm not sure what I should do.  I'm using the diode laser which is apparently one of the best, especially for very dark hair, so who knows?

Anyway, yeah, I guess it gets expensive over time.  HRT is near free for my.  I think I pay about $4 between my estrogen and spiro every month and then about $13 for finasteride.  I'm thinking of switching to estrogen injections in the fall, so I'm not sure if that will bring it up at all, probably will, but hopefully not much.  It's sort of a bummer that insurance companies don't see how essential hair removal is, or maybe they do and they just want to save money...

[MugwortPsychonaut]

As our friend mmmmm said, laser works best on thick, dark hair. It should also be mentioned that laser works best on thick, dark hair with pale skin.

I was on hormones for a year before I had my first laser session. Boy, what an awkward year! I had been presenting-as-female™ the entire time, as well. If I could have started laser earlier, I would.

Having said that, laser session one helped a good bit. It reduced the overall amount of hair on my face, made razors last longer, and reduced razor burn. Some time after that, my doctor upped my dose of spiro*, which suddenly made my mustache go away.

Since laser sesh number two, I hardly have any hair on my face at all. Your mileage may vary. I'm fortunate to have very pale skin and dark hair. Having said THAT, I will have to get some electrolysis on the few white hairs on my chin and lower lip.

*Always listen to your doctor about your dosage, and never self-medicate!