Do you think HRT can make much of a difference facially?

[Brooke33]

I'm 33 (hence Brooke33 hehe), and people constantly tell me I have a baby face, and I'm hoping that will help once I start my HRT in the following weeks (T blockers start next Tuesday, informed consent visits after to go on E in the following weeks).

So, here goes, this is me: http://imgur.com/4cJTe0N

I know I'm going to have to do some heavy lazer hair removal for the beard (this pic is literally taken like 1 hour after a close shave and already a shadow :\), but do you think facially the HRT can make me passable in time?

[cindianna_jones]

Yes. It can make a difference. Many of us find that losing some weight and learning to use makeup works too. I think you could look very feminine by doing this. Don't put your life on hold waiting for HRT or whatever. Those things will happen in time.

Cindi

[RobynD]

You have a great face. I predict it will take to HRT really well.

[Autumnleaf]

You'll be totally fine

[Brooke33]

Thanks all, the closer I come to actually starting HRT the more worrisome I feel regarding what happens if after HRT I still don't pass.  I've got a lot to learn re: makeup/hairstyles, but I'm trying to grow out my hair so I have some options.

[iKate]

It depends. It can't really change bones but it can change fat and muscle which can move bones slightly and soften edges. So yes your face may change.

[Jessirules]

No dont do laser on your face, save the laser for everywhere else. Electrolysis on the face!

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[Rachel]

I think you will do well on HRT.

[Brooke33]

No dont do laser on your face, save the laser for everywhere else. Electrolysis on the face!

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Any particular reason for electrolysis?  I was under the impression for dark hair like mine I'd want to go with laser, specifically an 810nm diode.  I'm curious now.

[bmapwv]

Laser will work fine on your face so long as you find a practitioner experienced at transgender work or male facial hair removal. Bristles are much harder to remove than hair.

My tech does lots of trans facial hair and she basically used the maximum my skin could stand. I sometimes got skin peels like sunburn but it was minor and easily controlled with moisturiser. The treatment was very effective and removed better than 75% of my dark hairs (some just will not die).

[Ltl89]

It's limited in what it can do.  Hormones will definitely effect your skin and facial fate which helps create a more feminine quality, but that's about it.  While that helps a great deal, it won't do anything bone related like your nose.  For this reason,  mmany people have facial feminization surgery which im saving up for myself.    However, don't discount what makeup and brow shaping can do.  I know whenever ive had my brows done, I  always felt better.  And makeup really can do a lot as well, so there is much more to it than just hormones and surgery.

Oh, and obviously hair removal is very important.  It's expensive and very painful, but something that we really have to do.

[Brooke33]

Yea, laser hair removal is pretty much my largest priority at present because I get severe razor burn on my face.  It's not pleasant :\  Even using a sensitive skin shaving cream, wet shave, and a sensitive skin balm afterwards, my lip/chin/neck breaks out like crazy

[Mariah]

Brooke, I have no doubt that it can. You have a lot to work with already. Hugs
Mariah

[iKate]

No dont do laser on your face, save the laser for everywhere else. Electrolysis on the face!

I've found laser to be better on my face. It was taking forever to clear my face with electrolysis and laser sped it up very quickly.

[Anna33]

Ipl might work very well for you since you have fair skin and dark hair. Laser might be costly and not as effective. Phone up a few places and they will tell you what will work best


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[KristinaM]

I'd say you're a great candidate for laser on your face.  Then save the expensive electrolysis to clean up the stragglers.

Also, you've got gorgeous lips!  HRT, maybe a little weight loss, and get those eyebrows shaped and you'll look fantastic.  Go ahead and start practicing with makeup.  Just like little girls, we've gotta get through the "hooker" makeup phase before we figure out how to look tasteful, so there's no time to waste, lol.

[shoko]

I'm 38 and Asian.  I've had a rhinoplasty before but it was more masculine than I wanted.  I really want to do FFS as soon as I can after starting HRT but reading about waiting 2+ years is discouraging.  But then I don't want to screw it up by prematurely doing FFS before HRT does its thing.  What do you girls think?

Also, electrolysis or laser for my facial hair?  I don't have much to begin with, usually shave every other day.  Already lasered all body hair (except genital) a few years ago.. And good TG hair removal places to recommend in Southern California?  Thanks!

[Brooke33]

I'd say you're a great candidate for laser on your face.  Then save the expensive electrolysis to clean up the stragglers.

Also, you've got gorgeous lips!  HRT, maybe a little weight loss, and get those eyebrows shaped and you'll look fantastic.  Go ahead and start practicing with makeup.  Just like little girls, we've gotta get through the "hooker" makeup phase before we figure out how to look tasteful, so there's no time to waste, lol.

Thanks Kristina   I'm actually a little concerned I might be losing weight too fast, I'm not even on my T-blockers yet (Tuesday the 24th, YAY!), but from Oct 1st to today I've gone from 182 to 157 now.  I'm making sure I eat healthily, tracking calories with myfitnesspal, exercising, but it still feels like it's dropping almost too quickly. 

As for makeup, I know it's going to look very bad at the start (lol love the term "Hooker makeup"), but I know it's going to be something I'll laugh about later on in years   Finally, yes, my unibrow has to go... That picture was the first time I plucked my own brows... as I said, a lot to learn.  I think I'll let a pro handle that next time

[KayXo]

HRT has greatly feminized my face, made it softer, rounder but I started out pretty androgynous as well. Hair removal helps alot too. Also depends on your HRT regimen.

[Rina]

I went from barely passing with a lot of makeup a year ago into passing even without any makeup at all most of the time, though a little makeup (these days I mostly only use primer, CC cream, some concealer and/or foundation on problem areas) still reduces the chances of being clocked. My face has become a lot rounder, I have fuller cheeks, I think my cheekbones may be a little more pronounced (and they've always been kind of high), and the changes to my skin texture help change how people see me. Obviously there have been no skeletal changes in my face, but fat redistribution (depending on degree) does a lot when it comes to how people perceive you. I have met acquaintances who completely didn't recognize me, though most people do if they're aware that I have transitioned.

As for hair removal, I went with laser in my face, and it has worked well. I'm now only struggling with my upper lip, and while I foresee having to clean up the rest with electrolysis at some point, I'll gladly pay a little extra and stick with laser a while longer, since I don't like the thought of having to grow out stubs for electrolysis. I have no car, and would have to use public transportation to get to the electrologist.

But in general, the effects of HRT depend on genetics (body weight also plays a part - it's important to have enough body fat to redistribute) and laser depends on numerous factors. I've been lucky that my hormone levels were so low before HRT that my first puberty started late, took ages and was probably incomplete - I have broad hips that probably aren't completely closed (they actually rotated a bit after I started HRT - and I've always had a feminine gait naturally), small shoulders, small genitals (not micro, but definitely smaller than most) and my feet are smaller than in any of the males in my family, who tend to have bigger feet, broad shoulders, narrow hips and very masculine faces. My doctor/endo thinks I may have partial androgen insensitivity, but we haven't bothered with a proper diagnosis since it wouldn't really make a difference.

But I digress - my point is simply that YMMV. There are people who get almost no facial or body changes from HRT, but there are also people who change a lot more than I've done. And it's not really possible to know beforehand. But yes, HRT can make a difference facially, to very varying degrees.