Susan's Place Transgender Resources

So just wondering would yall suggest starting laser before starting HRT, or after starting HRT? Im just asking because now that im working again and caught up on my bills I can only afford one at a time till Obummercare kicks in.

If it's one or the other, I would definitely go for HRT.  Both will help a ton with your appearance but HRT has the added affect of making you feel better (for most/many) and their affect on your outward appearance happens a bit faster too.  Well idk abt laser, maybe that's faster, I am blonde and stuck with electroysis.   Never discount how big of a deal removing facial hair is though, it's major.

Another thing, for what it's worth (nothing) my electrologist told me that once I got on hormones I would see faster and more permanent results, but in reality that did NOT happen from what i could tell.

I think before....for the same reasons Jen mentioned. Hrt does eventually slow some growth but this also could be because of laser. Eliminating facial hair is very affirming. I had at least 4-6 sessions done and some electro before going FT. Sometimes you can look for deals that you can buy 10 sessions at once and save some money.....I did not do this but I also had a place that priced fair.

Well the HRT is a longer process to see the results, so I'd personally lean that way myself if I had to choose one or the other. By the time results start coming in more noticeably from the hormones, then it would be a good time to make those results exponentially better with some type of hair removal.

Definitely HRT, my laser techs were pretty definite that laser would clear me much easier when I was on E - they were right!!

mon endocrinologue m'a recommandé de commencer après 2 à 3 mois de traitement. j'ai fait ma première scéance d'IPL la semaine dernière.
L'IPL pratiquée par une dermatologue est-elle aussi efficace que le lazer?

i did my laser before HRT, as I did not want to laser my chest while my breasts were starting to grow.. and i did not want to have a 5 o clock shadow when presenting as female.

Quote from: arno on October 22, 2013, 05:08:46 AM
mon endocrinologue m'a recommandé de commencer après 2 à 3 mois de traitement. j'ai fait ma première scéance d'IPL la semaine dernière.
L'IPL pratiquée par une dermatologue est-elle aussi efficace que le lazer?

Can anyone translate plz.

My endocrinologist recommended that I start after 2-3 months of treatment. I made my first sitting IPL last week.
IPL performed by a dermatologist is as effective as the lazer?

Translated via Google :)

sorry, I use google translate my messages. I combined the two texts ^ ^

After always after it's my experience is that it's a senseless fight to do it before, I got IPL as soon as I turned 18 because while I was still unsure if I wanted to transition I definitely didn't want facial hair. so I tried to remove it but it just grew back as thick as ever after 3-6months, I don't know if it's because I was so young (and it might have still been growing in) but it felt like I was fighting the tide in a futile battle.

Quote from: noleen111 on October 22, 2013, 09:56:49 AM
i did my laser before HRT, as I did not want to laser my chest while my breasts were starting to grow.. and i did not want to have a 5 o clock shadow when presenting as female.

This.

I have to wait for HRT anyway due to health coverage shenanigans, So I have been getting rid of the hair on my face, chest and belly (primarily) while I wait. At least this way I don't have beard stubble poking though my makeup :P

I'll probably still be doing IPL treatments by the time I start HRT anyway, it takes a long time to get it all. And when my breasts start growing in, I do NOT want them to be all bristly  :embarrassed:

Quote from: pebbles on October 22, 2013, 01:11:32 PM
After always after it's my experience is that it's a senseless fight to do it before, I got IPL as soon as I turned 18 because while I was still unsure if I wanted to transition I definitely didn't want facial hair. so I tried to remove it but it just grew back as thick as ever after 3-6months, I don't know if it's because I was so young (and it might have still been growing in) but it felt like I was fighting the tide in a futile battle.

Only a percentage of your follicles are active at one time...and IPL only treats the active follicles. Down the road, the dormant ones become active, and must be treated.

Quote from: arno on October 22, 2013, 05:08:46 AM
mon endocrinologue m'a recommandé de commencer après 2 à 3 mois de traitement. j'ai fait ma première scéance d'IPL la semaine dernière.
L'IPL pratiquée par une dermatologue est-elle aussi efficace que le lazer?

"My endocrinologist recommended that I begin after 2 or 3 months of treatment. I had my first session of IPL last week. Is IPL performed by a dermatologist as effective as laser?"

I haven't started HRT yet, but have started laser. Laser/hair removal seems easier to begin and is still a big step in transition.

Just wondering, what is IPL?

Intense Pulse Light.

Most of the at-home systems are IPL, as well as a lot of the ones used by day spas, etc. They are not as powerful as lasers, and take longer (more treatments) but are typically much cheaper, with eventually roughly the same (if not identical) results.

My tip would be if finances allow this to do one laser session now, then go on HRT and whenever you can muster enough money afer that, do another laser. That way you can get a huge boost in the results of shaving (you will have a beard still but less of a beard shadow) for some months and E will make a lot of changes later and help with laser. This advice is in case you are trying to present in your gender at this point and beard shadow is a severe issue. If that is not the case, just going on HRT first is IMO better.

The sooner the better. I had almost all my body hair removed before starting HRT. HRT will not remove and stop everything... not even SRS will do that. You will continue to grow hair... lighter, and thinner, depending... but it will come back. Kill it off the sooner the better.