Susan's Place Transgender Resources

This is my 6th week on T.  I'm feeling fugly! I'm older so don't know if that has anything to do with it.

I was consider very attractive before but now my face feels fatter and its no longer angular with high cheekbones. I can already hear people saying "but you used to be so attractive". 

Is this because I'm still so early on T?

Is it normal for your face to become round or fatter?  Lol. 

Sorry for such a vain post but I am sort of vain. haha. It's not going to change my course but just want to prepare myself (and others who probably won't see me for another few months).

It didn't happen to me, but it happens to a lot of other guys. It's supposed to be temporary.

I've heard of that happening to quite a few guys.  I wouldn't worry about it, it always seems to go after time.

When I first started T, around the 6 - 8 month mark I had some swelling in my face and I felt just like you.  I am very thankful to say that it did go away.  My Dr told me that T can make you gain weight but depending on your genetics you should lose what you gain and maybe more.  When I started T I was a fairly attractive woman and I weighed 190 lbs was 5'8 and most of my weight was in my hips and butt area.  Now I have been on T for 2 yrs, I have been told that I am just as handsome as a man as I was attractive as a woman.  I now weigh 175 lbs, I have lost it all in my hips and butt area, I went from a size 38 relaxed fit pants to a size 34 straight.  I am not a vain person, but was worried about being too "girly" in my facial features because I had no masculine features at all, I was very soft and feminine looking, but T does wonders with time, I pass 100% of the time.  BTW I started T when I was 49 yrs old, I am now 51 and I think I look and I certainly feel better than I ever have.  But with that being said, my male genetics brought with it high cholesterol and heart problems so I work out regularly and I eat very healthy.  Hope this helps you, trust me there is hope you just may have to be a little patient.  Good luck to you.

Thanks guys. This helps to hear. I'm glad I'm finally on T but was thrown by the facial swelling.

Shean I'm a similar age. It's good to hear you feel and look better than you ever have. I'm looking forward to that. Are there places for older trans guys to get info? 

I need to work more on eating healthier. Sometimes I crave salt (but cut all that out a couple weeks ago in the hopes it would help my face). 

Did you have specific questions about transitioning in middle age? I mean, apart from the kind of thing that you would ask your doctor?

Hey Arch-

Mainly not to feel so isolated. I also have concerns about finding trans friendly doctors and housing. I also have a chronic illness so need doctor care more often.

I think because a majority of guys transitioning are under 40, it's easier to feel more isolated.

I think you will find quite a lot of 40+ guys here. I believe we even have a thread or two devoted to older transitioners.

I think that most MDs in the major metro areas are pretty progressive, but it might depend on what part of the country you are in. I live in a big city. My regular doctor does AIDS research, so he's pretty trans-friendly. I guess I got lucky there. But so far, I haven't encountered any doctors who were anti-trans when I came out to them. I've come out to a couple of different GYNs (fun) and a sleep specialist. I don't know whether my latest specialist knows about me; it's in my records, but he was treating me for something not trans-related. Still, so far, so good.

Quote from: TRyan on March 29, 2014, 03:47:44 PM
Thanks guys. This helps to hear. I'm glad I'm finally on T but was thrown by the facial swelling.

Shean I'm a similar age. It's good to hear you feel and look better than you ever have. I'm looking forward to that. Are there places for older trans guys to get info? 

I need to work more on eating healthier. Sometimes I crave salt (but cut all that out a couple weeks ago in the hopes it would help my face).

I don't think "swelling" would be the proper term (and I know you did't say it first, just figured I'd point it out).  That implies that its some sort of weird fluid build up when it is probably more likely something along the lines of gaining weight in your face like some people do in puberty (which makes a lot of sense why it may be happening to you).

Good point GnomeKid. I think my nephew's face might have puffed up a bit.

I'm hoping it will ease up. I feel like I have a plumpy face right now so am not liking it (I want the angular male face). It gets worse the day after my shot so maybe my body is still adjusting.