Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I went to a clinic to get first hand information about a laser treatment. Top notch facilities and very experienced personnel, etc. I learned about how it goes and possible effects, yadda, yadda, yadda, and we walked to one of those aseptic looking rooms. Took my shirt off, got shaved in a bunch of places, and tried to imagine what was going to come next...



...goddamn!  :o



It was luckily just a test, and I didn't have any anesthetic on, but what's to come reminded me of how strong t-girls have to be to endure this process of going back to 'normalcy'. So what's now in my head is this question: during HRT, when my nipples get soft and tender and breasts begin to form, will I have to suffer what I think will be an insurmountable amount of pain? Have you lasered your chest months into HRT? If so, how did you deal with pain? Was it any different than before any growth happened?


Right then, pain was bearable even with a bunch of shakes and sweats, but when she shot near my nipple I was going to scream bloody murder. I just hope EMLA and self-control work out when the time comes.


Ouch.  :'(

i have not done my chest. i cant say that i need to. but i have done the face and arm pits. the pits really sting. people i know who get the chest say its not t bad after the 3rd treatment

Typcially, most chest hair disappears on HRT. Up until about my third or fourth year, I had some chest hairs.  Nine years in, I have a few very light velous hairs but nothing that I would consider that I would need to remove.

The chest for me wasn't that painful. The face, especially upper lip, hurt the most. A high pain tolerance comes in handy here. It took me about 6 sessions scheduled 6 weeks apart to clear my chest 90%. There were also a few dark/black hairs around the nipple/areola that needed electro to finally kill them.

I don't know why people are bothering with the chest area since HRT removes chest hair in most cases.

I haven't had laser on my chest, but I used to get waxed...after 4 months on menopause supplements I was getting buds behind the nips and some raising of the breasts (this was before HRT). I tried once more to get waxed, but the pain was SO intense it actually caused "ripples of pain" to transit across my chest and I almost passed out a couple times.

We could only do my chest, since we both knew my tummy was a LOT more sensitive (my tech and I had established a one-year history with each other) we had to cancel that part.  I haven't been back since (about a year ago).

We both felt the phyto-estrogen in the supplements caused my skin to become *very* sensitive to the waxing. I would think the same might happen with laser...but remember that everyone develops sensitivity (and tolerance) to pain at their own pace...

I just shave now, waiting for the hairs to go away. They're already thinned out noticeably after just 6 months of HRT.

Quote from: UCBerkeleyPostop on August 17, 2012, 11:57:29 PM
I don't know why people are bothering with the chest area since HRT removes chest hair in most cases.

Quote from: UCBerkeleyPostop on August 17, 2012, 09:51:52 AM
Typcially, most chest hair disappears on HRT. Up until about my third or fourth year, I had some chest hairs.  Nine years in, I have a few very light velous hairs but nothing that I would consider that I would need to remove.

Curious. If these forums are still around in a year and a half, I'd be able to verify whether the third-or-fourth year thing holds any water. So far, twenty months in, I haven't noticed any reduction in chest hair (or most other bodily hair) myself. The legs are slightly affected, but it's hardly a big deal, and the hair there is certainly nowhere near the range my female family sits in.

I won't likely have the money for it, so I hope your guess is applicable to my situation. Or perhaps I'm just lucky enough to not be a part of "most" - as usual.

I'm going to say I seriously doubt that HRT removes chest hair in most cases. Perhaps a significant minority, but "most" is a long shot, and "removes" is an even longer shot.

Quote from: Kelly J. P. on August 18, 2012, 12:10:14 AM
Curious. If these forums are still around in a year and a half, I'd be able to verify whether the third-or-fourth year thing holds any water. So far, twenty months in, I haven't noticed any reduction in chest hair (or most other bodily hair) myself. The legs are slightly affected, but it's hardly a big deal, and the hair there is certainly nowhere near the range my female family sits in.

I won't likely have the money for it, so I hope your guess is applicable to my situation. Or perhaps I'm just lucky enough to not be a part of "most" - as usual.

I'm going to say I seriously doubt that HRT removes chest hair in most cases. Perhaps a significant minority, but "most" is a long shot, and "removes" is an even longer shot.

Everything I have read over the years is that HRT significantly reduces body hair but not facial hair Of course, results will vary. Maybe you should consider changing  talking to you medical professional about changing your regimen. I have read that progesterone may increase body hair.
Body Hair

QuoteDepending on how hirsute (possessing hair) an individual's body may be, body hair will generally lessen noticeably to almost entirely over a period of several years.  Individuals will generally notice a diminishment of bodily hair occurring on the extremities, and most of the torso.  As example, arm and leg hair as well as hair on the abdomen, chest, and shoulders will greatly lessen and in some instances disappear completely.  Hair growth in specific regions including that around the areola, armpits and pubic area will not lessen to the same extent.

http://www.transgendercare.com/medical/resources/tmf_program/tmf_program_6.asp (http://www.transgendercare.com/medical/resources/tmf_program/tmf_program_6.asp)

I had lots of hair before, and thick ones too. After almost 4 months hrt there is a significant reduction.



Its now only a 3rd left or so from what I had before. its the same on the rest of my body too.

Quote from: UCBerkeleyPostop on August 18, 2012, 12:40:14 AM
Everything I have read over the years is that HRT significantly reduces body hair but not facial hair Of course, results will vary. Maybe you should consider changing  talking to you medical professional about changing your regimen. I have read that progesterone may increase body hair.
Body Hair
http://www.transgendercare.com/medical/resources/tmf_program/tmf_program_6.asp (http://www.transgendercare.com/medical/resources/tmf_program/tmf_program_6.asp)

Yeah. Changing my regimen isn't going to happen, but I'm not on P. So, I'm not sure whether to jump for joy or slice my wrists.

So I'll just sit here and wave my little flag, and the unenthusiastic mumble of "yay" shall be my anthem.

And there's always the possibility that I'm just one of those super-lucky people that don't get body hair reduction.

After 15 months of HRT, my chest hair is mostly gone. I get a dozen or so blonde hairs in the middle of my chest and about 3 or 4 around each nipple. The middle is nothing that can't be dealt with with a wax strip and tweezers deal the the strays around the nipple.

Frankly, I don't get why so many people get so much laser/electro on the their body hair - being hairless is for reptiles.. I have hair in all the usual places a woman does, I deal with it just like a woman does. I do have hair in a few odd places, but as time goes on, they become less and less of a problem.

Quote from: kelly_aus on August 18, 2012, 01:51:57 AM
After 15 months of HRT, my chest hair is mostly gone. I get a dozen or so blonde hairs in the middle of my chest and about 3 or 4 around each nipple. The middle is nothing that can't be dealt with with a wax strip and tweezers deal the the strays around the nipple.

Frankly, I don't get why so many people get so much laser/electro on the their body hair - being hairless is for reptiles.. I have hair in all the usual places a woman does, I deal with it just like a woman does. I do have hair in a few odd places, but as time goes on, they become less and less of a problem.

Easier for some to say than it is for others, I guess. Those gorillas among us find the reduction from laser and electrolysis a very welcome improvement, and an adjustment that would end at a more natural state of body hair. While one is at it, it is easy to just eliminate it entirely to reduce the hassle of manual removal periodically - after all, why not? Being hairless is in, and will be for as long as anyone can possibly tell.

Quote from: Kelly J. P. on August 18, 2012, 01:56:28 AM
Easier for some to say than it is for others, I guess. Those gorillas among us find the reduction from laser and electrolysis a very welcome improvement, and an adjustment that would end at a more natural state of body hair. While one is at it, it is easy to just eliminate it entirely to reduce the hassle of manual removal periodically - after all, why not? Being hairless is in, and will be for as long as anyone can possibly tell.

I would have described myself as a gorilla to start with.. And manual removal is hardly onerous, about every 6 weeks I lie around while someone else waxes my legs.. I shave my pits about every 10-14 days - takes less then 5 minutes.. As for being hairless being in? That's open for debate, depending on who, what and where you are..

QuoteOriginally posted by kelly_aus:

Frankly, I don't get why so many people get so much laser/electro on the their body hair - being hairless is for reptiles.. I have hair in all the usual places a woman does, I deal with it just like a woman does.

I don't know about the others, but there are people who simply don't like body hair (men and women). In my case, I had to get rid of it because of the association with childhood traumas...body hair = molesters = I felt trapped inside their bodies. Incredibly agonizing mentally...being almost totally bald not only relieved that anxiety, it also made me feel very sexy, in a healthy and self-respecting way.

So, even if one doesn't understand it...it's always a "Good Thing" so please don't say mean things like "being hairless is for reptiles."

Please.  :)

And, it SUCKS that the hair around the nipples is the last to go...the nipples are probably the most sensitive area to de-hair...   :-X

Quote from: kelly_aus on August 18, 2012, 01:51:57 AM
After 15 months of HRT, my chest hair is mostly gone. I get a dozen or so blonde hairs in the middle of my chest and about 3 or 4 around each nipple. The middle is nothing that can't be dealt with with a wax strip and tweezers deal the the strays around the nipple.

Frankly, I don't get why so many people get so much laser/electro on the their body hair - being hairless is for reptiles.. I have hair in all the usual places a woman does, I deal with it just like a woman does. I do have hair in a few odd places, but as time goes on, they become less and less of a problem.

I might be the only lunatic here... I dont want that hair to get back, ever! My greatest fear is if I have to stop HRT.. Thats also why I want FFS so badly. I have a bad habit to think of possible nightmare scenarios.

I had my first laser session on my chest about a week after I started hrt, and it was not too bad. I just had my second treatment yesterday. I have enough breast growth that I need to wear a sports bra to hide my chest through my shirt. Anyway...yesterday hurt so much more. I had only put on a little numbing cream which was a bad idea. I should have used a lot more! Luckily the lady is super nice so she took frequent breaks and we talked.  But, yeah it hurt a lot more. It is definitely worth it though.

Quote from: Brooke777 on August 18, 2012, 12:47:38 PM
I had my first laser session on my chest about a week after I started hrt, and it was not too bad. I just had my second treatment yesterday. I have enough breast growth that I need to wear a sports bra to hide my chest through my shirt. Anyway...yesterday hurt so much more. I had only put on a little numbing cream which was a bad idea. I should have used a lot more! Luckily the lady is super nice so she took frequent breaks and we talked.  But, yeah it hurt a lot more. It is definitely worth it though.

Crap you just made me scared :S. I was thinking to do laser on my chest in September.


It seems that I will feel some pain :P.  And.. My upperlip has a few dark thick ones now too :((, oh my..

Carolina, I did not mean to scare you. One thing to keep in mind is the more hair you have the more it will hurt. The reason it is so bad for me is I have a horrible amount of chest hair. My stomach does not have as much, so it barely hurts at all. Just use the numbing cream and you will be fine. Also, keep the end goal in mind. That is what I do. I imagine how great it will be to finally be able to show some nice cleavage.

Be brave, you will be fine.

Reduction and eventual disappearance of chest hairs for me took time. Up until about my fifth or sixth year, I thought I would eventually need to electro my lat remaining chest years. But voila! Now approaching my tenth year, my chest is virtually hair-free. 

i never really had chest hair, thankfully, the most I ever had was a stray hair or 2 that somehow grew to 1". I know a few people who went from having body hair everywhere to nearly none with just hrt though, and they told me finasteride and/or dutasteride help a LOT to get rid of body hair, so you might want to check that out

Quote from: kelly_aus on August 18, 2012, 01:51:57 AM
Frankly, I don't get why so many people get so much laser/electro on the their body hair - being hairless is for reptiles.. I have hair in all the usual places a woman does, I deal with it just like a woman does. I do have hair in a few odd places, but as time goes on, they become less and less of a problem.

Well, I can't speak for anyone else, but for me face and body hair were a MAJOR issue. I wasn't a particularly hairy male, but it was there and had to be dealt with. For me, getting rid of all my body hair and now my facial hair is almost as big a deal as SRS, BA, or FFS. I'm not the kind of girl who likes to get up 1 hour every morning before work to shave and let my face cool down/heal before doing my makeup. It's also a big buzz-kill to have to shave my face, let alone have my BF in the next room while doing so. It just doesn't fit. So basically hair removal, like SRS, FFS, or BA is just another means to make my outer presentation become more congruent with my inner self. Also it saved me tons of time and some money in the long run. It would take almost 1 hour to shave my body in the shower every week. Also I live in Miami Beach, FL and wear a bikini (or bikini top and shorts) several times a week. So if I lived in Gnome, Alaska, it might have been less of an issue... bot more than likely not.

Bottom line: if it doesn't bother you, and you can deal with it, more power to you. For me, I couldn't. Which is why I took 3 years and spent almost $15,000 on hair removal.

PS: I've been on HRT for 2 years. Yes it does help on some areas... but it won't clear you everywhere and it does not work the same on everyone. Call me impatient I suppose.  ;)

I feel the same way Jennx feels. For me the body hair is a huge barrier to me being truly female. Luckily I live in Seattle so I don't have to worry about a bikini, but it is still an issue for me.

Quote from: JennX on August 18, 2012, 06:03:17 PM

Bottom line: if it doesn't bother you, and you can deal with it, more power to you. For me, I couldn't. Which is why I took 3 years and spent almost $15,000 on hair removal.

PS: I've been on HRT for 2 years. Yes it does help on some areas... but it won't clear you everywhere and it does not work the same on everyone. Call me impatient I suppose.  ;)

Everyone has different priorities and needs but, I think, for most, 15k could be used more prudently.

I'm very self conscience of body hair. I had a very hairy chest and blotches of back hair. Super hairy legs and arms thick like wolverine. My face wasn't too thick to begin with but my neck was always thicker in hair. I've been Lasering my entire body (face,neck,arms,pits,hands,legs,feet,toes,chest,back,face,neck,butt, and the beans and frank) now for the last five months and only been on HRT now for 2 months.

I don't think it hurt too bad after starting HRT it's very manageable everywhere on the body for me. Getting my half sleeve tattoo hurt more.

Quote from: UCBerkeleyPostop on August 19, 2012, 10:46:18 AM
Everyone has different priorities and needs but, I think, for most, 15k could be used more prudently.

Thanks for your opinion. It's been noted. I'll just say we'll agree to disagree. Your same argument could be made for the myriad procedures transgender people go thru for different reasons, but I for one won't judge what a person feels they may or may not need.

Quote from: JennX on August 19, 2012, 11:38:41 AM
Thanks for your opinion. It's been noted. I'll just say we'll agree to disagree. Your same argument could be made for the myriad procedures transgender people go thru for different reasons, but I for one won't judge what a person feels they may or may not need.

I could be wrong but I am guessing that $5,000 is more or less what most allocate for hair removal. No one is judging what anyone needs. What I am suggesting is to do a careful cost benefit analysis when one decides how to allocate resources.

Or you could save a lot of money just using this:

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpagead2.googlesyndication.com%2Fsimgad%2F4532049111120239976&hash=71474a92acc7bb4415f83c1c412f6fe323b56e34)


Just kidding of course.

Quote from: UCBerkeleyPostop on August 19, 2012, 11:44:29 AM
I could be wrong but I am guessing that $5,000 is more or less what most allocate for hair removal. No one is judging what anyone needs. What I am suggesting is to do a careful cost benefit analysis when one decides how to allocate resources.

Again thanks for the advice. It's been noted as well. Unfortunately for me, removing my body and facial hair cost me more than $5K. Wish it cost me less, but it didn't. Furthermore, when you tell someone, especially another transgendered person, how much money to spend on which procedures is "prudent" (in your opinion) or not, you have just made a judgement. Some people may say spending $50K on FFS is excessive, some might say SRS at $20K is excessive. If it's your money, your body, and you are happy with the result, it's really of no consequence to anyone else. Life is too short, be happy.

Quote from: JennX on August 19, 2012, 11:56:33 AM
Again thanks for the advice.

I am not giving you advice. I am suggesting that 15k is more than most people (not you) probably need to spend on hair removal. I had quite a bit of chest hair. I didn't spend one dollar on chest hair removal except HRT which I would have done anyway. Today, I have no chest hair.   Any money I would have spent on my chest hair before letting HRT work would have been wasted.

QuoteSome people may say spending $50K on FFS is excessive, some might say SRS at $20K is excessive.

Which would be fine unless it is just an assertion without evidence. People make that argument all the time saying that "so and so" is just as good as "so and so." Then you go look at the pictures and see that "so and so" is not quite as good as "so and so" or visa versa...

If your happy with the results JennX then congratulations  :)

I don't think I'd want ANYONE to see me with a slight amount of hair - but I don't have that much money to spend...

as for the Elena, don't worry girl, I think the pain should go away eventually   :)

Phew, I was always wondering how long it took for chest hairs to go away. I dont have many, but they are dark and stand out, just have to wait longer. Would a laserplace even do nipple lhr? That seems like it would be really painful.

 Those nipple hairs are often not distributed enough per unit^2 to make laser an efficient course of action. Electrolysis may usually be more practical for that area.