Laser body hair removal (chest and abdomen) Waste of money?

[Angela Drakken]

I've read pretty inconsistent accounts of body hair lessening/almost disappearing on its own for some, others not so lucky. I was never particularly hairy before, but like all of my hair, its super dark, and laser will have an effect, so I figured I'd have a few sessions on chest and abdomen to get things kind've under control before HrT has an effect (if any) My laser girl is great and gives me reduced rates, so that's a HUGE plus. We gave it a shot today along with my 5th face appointment. I likely wont need nearly as many sessions for the chest/abdomen due to how sparse it is in comparison to my face. (Face was always pretty sparse too.)

TL;DR

Good idea? Bad Idea?

Do it a few times til HrT does its magic?

What do you recommend?

[Deborah]

It depends.  If money is not an issue then it won't cause any harm.  If money is an issue then waiting would be smart since for many of us it disappears on its own.


It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.
André Gide, Autumn Leaves

[Angela Drakken]

It depends.  If money is not an issue then it won't cause any harm.  If money is an issue then waiting would be smart since for many of us it disappears on its own.


It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.
André Gide, Autumn Leaves

Money isn't an issue, right now anyway. Even the blackest of black hairs disappear on their own body wise?

[Deborah]

I'm not sure that color matters.  All I can tell you is that my body hair that is lighter brown in color and not particularly dense to begin with has practically disappeared.  That includes my legs that used to have a reasonable amount of hair and my torso where it was generally sparse before.

But if money isn't a problem, laser will speed the process.


It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.
André Gide, Autumn Leaves

[Angela Drakken]

I'm not sure that color matters.  All I can tell you is that my body hair that is lighter brown in color and not particularly dense to begin with has practically disappeared.  That includes my legs that used to have a reasonable amount of hair and my torso where it was generally sparse before.

But if money isn't a problem, laser will speed the process.


It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.
André Gide, Autumn Leaves

Yeah that's more or less my logic. If It needs to be handled, get it over with before something starts growing there. >.< I have issues enough as it is, being flat chested, taking my shirt of for any reason.

[Brooke]

I found that when I started finestiride (months after full E and spiroenlactone body hair stopped growing on chest and abdomen after the current growth cycle ended.

What I'm doing is when I get electrolysis I use the extra time for any hairs that are remaining (face clearing not taking the full hour anymore).

I would almost recommend getting surgical site ready, if that is in your future and the surgeon you choose requires it. That area won't change much with HRT or AAs, where chest and abs may.


Hugs,
~Brooke~

[Angela Drakken]

I found that when I started finestiride (months after full E and spiroenlactone body hair stopped growing on chest and abdomen after the current growth cycle ended.

What I'm doing is when I get electrolysis I use the extra time for any hairs that are remaining (face clearing not taking the full hour anymore).

I would almost recommend getting surgical site ready, if that is in your future and the surgeon you choose requires it. That area won't change much with HRT or AAs, where chest and abs may.


Hugs,
~Brooke~

I've been meaning to have that conversation with the lady who does my electrolysis, since I've been told I can have my SRS in 1 years time. Pretty nervous about that though >.<

[Brooke]

I've been meaning to have that conversation with the lady who does my electrolysis, since I've been told I can have my SRS in 1 years time. Pretty nervous about that though >.<

If she is trans friendly I would guess she has heard of this need before, and might have experience.

The electrolysist I use doesn't understand why it matters. Skin is skin and when you're that close to the hair it all looks the same.

I get that nervous though. We all have seen  the genitalia of both sexes, but that doesn't make it any less vulnerable.

I would suggest that if you have a date for surgery to get started asap. I was told that it can take a full year to be hair free where the surgeon requires.

One tip I'll pass along is when you start working in the area, make sure you have a numbing agent available, either topical or injection. For me at least the entire surgical site feels like the upper lip electrolysis, which I can tolerate for 10-15 minutes but not an hour or more. Also try to get a shower right before the appointment. Minimize the odor, my electrolysist asked politely stating "it makes for a more pleasant experience for me".

I was also offered that if I didn't want any numbing agents that we start the session on surgical site, go for as long as I can tolerate and switch to the face.

If you are doing laser for dark hairs that is also an option. My laser tech got a big overzealous with clearing the bikini line while working down there... I'm kinda left with just the landing strip. At least it's easy to see what's still there!

In the end I think it will be worth the embarrassment (and pain). And if you're still waiting for the body hair to decrease, it's a good way to keep moving forward.

PS. I would make sure your electrolysist is very experienced for surgical site, as you don't want scarring that might interfere with the future surgery.


Hugs,
~Brooke~

[Angela Drakken]

Yeah modesty on top of being extremely uncomfortable having to acknowledge anything that's down there..
I'm pretty OCD, I don't think I'll have any hygiene issues. Though yeah I think I'll be going overboard when I start this.. lol

[warlockmaker]

Great that you are doing Laser now. The more you do the better. I started laser hair removal 10 years before HRT. Work hard on certain areas that HRT wont affect. Face, do it before any start to turn white, as electrolusis is slow and painful. Also, the area from your anus to the base of your scrotum, that will not disappear.  You dont need to do the scrotum as in top surgeons its better that they scrape the hair follicles, if you do sr one day.

[warlockmaker]

Oops, forgot to add that top surgeons today do NOT want you to laser or electrolysis on the scrotum and penis as scraping in surgery is the only way to prevent hair regrowth. So actually there is no need to do hair removal befote surgery. And hair removal fully from the face takes years as anyone who has transitioned can confirm.

[Brooke]

Oops, forgot to add that top surgeons today do NOT want you to laser or electrolysis on the scrotum and penis as scraping in surgery is the only way to prevent hair regrowth.

While this is true in Thailand, many of the top surgeons in North America still require laser or electrolysis.

If someone is attempting to get insurance coverage, it's almost a guarantee that you will need to use a surgeon in the same county. In the US that means it's probable that the surgeon will require electrolysis.


I've also seen some top Thai surgeons that prefer laser and/or electrolysis before you see them in case scraping of the hair follicles misses some hairs. That is the reason why I'm getting it done now.


Hugs,
~Brooke~

[warlockmaker]

That's incorrect. I have asked other girls to challenge any surgeon about electrolysis of penile and scrotal hairs. In Thailand they suggest hair removal in the area between the anus and the base of the scrotum only. But this can be done after surgery.

In addition, laser and/or electrolysis on the scrotum and penis makes the follicles smaller resulting in bad results on the scraping during surgery. Scrapping is the only full proof removal. Its labor intensive and Western doctors run higher costs so they suggest strongly, but will back off when confronted. This is the reason why so many western surgeons srs  results in hair inside the vagina. Its been a pet peeve of mine. I have had my friends and patients confront their surgeons in USA, Australia etc. Every surgeon has backed down.

Sorry, I have never heard this absurd requirement for insurance in the USA.

I run a foundation that funds TGs who desperately need srs, and I have assisted many to date. No requirement for laser or electrolysis on the scrotum or penis skin.

[Brooke]

That's incorrect. I have asked other girls to challenge any surgeon about electrolysis of penile and scrotal hairs. In Thailand they suggest hair removal in the area between the anus and the base of the scrotum only. But this can be done after surgery.

In addition, laser and/or electrolysis on the scrotum and penis makes the follicles smaller resulting in bad results on the scraping during surgery. Scrapping is the only full proof removal. Its labor intensive and Western doctors run higher costs so they suggest strongly, but will back off when confronted. This is the reason why so many western surgeons srs  results in hair inside the vagina. Its been a pet peeve of mine. I have had my friends and patients confront their surgeons in USA, Australia etc. Every surgeon has backed down.

Sorry, I have never heard this absurd requirement for insurance in the USA.

I run a foundation that funds TGs who desperately need srs, and I have assisted many to date. No requirement for laser or electrolysis on the scrotum or penis skin.

Thanks for the information! It is by no means my intent to spread false information. I was getting my info from http://www.tssurgeryguide.com/ On this site for many surgeons in the states and Thailand it is stated the surgeons suggest hair removal, even if they do not require it, or scrape the hair. Supporn was the exception who (on this site) stated he does not prefer electrolysis and if you are going to remove hair before to only use laser.

In regards to insurance and hair removal I think you misunderstood me. I was stating that many stateside surgeons require hair removal around surgical site. As there is little to no chance that a medical insurance company would reimburse/pay for a surgeon outside the united states there is a good chance that the surgeon you end up with will require hair removal before surgery.It is not an insurance requirement, but a result of the surgeon options that insurance will work with.

I had not heard that hair removal before surgery affects the efficacy of hair scraping due to follicle size. Good to know.

If I may ask, for surgeons who back down from hair removal, how do they end up dealing with/prevent the hair inside the vagina? Do they end up scraping?

I'll take your word for all of this and again I really appreciate they information. Will always trust first hand experience more than an anonymous source

[Angela Drakken]

So now I'm all super paranoid because I read somewhere Spiro effects body hair growth and cyproterone (androcur) doesnt..! (Obviously I'm taking the latter and stressing out a bunch now.)

[Brooke]

So now I'm all super paranoid because I read somewhere Spiro effects body hair growth and cyproterone (androcur) doesnt..! (Obviously I'm taking the latter and stressing out a bunch now.)

Just my experience but I did not see much difference on spiro vs nothing for hair growth. I saw huge differences when I added finestiride though.


Hugs,
~Brooke~

[Angela Drakken]

Just my experience but I did not see much difference on spiro vs nothing for hair growth. I saw huge differences when I added finestiride though.


Hugs,
~Brooke~

Finasteride reduced body hair? I'm taking that as well as cyproterone.

[Brooke]

Finasteride reduced body hair? I'm taking that as well as cyproterone.

That is what I was told from my prescribing physician. It was explained that it increases scalp hair growth (for male pattern baldness) and decreases all other hair growth.


Hugs,
~Brooke~