Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I've had around 70-80 hours of electrolysis on my face. The hair is almost all gone but the skin texture where the hair used to be around the mouth area remains a little rough compared with the rest of the skin on the face. It's not that bad but it is a bit little noticeable in certain light. I don't really like it.

I'm trying derma roller treatment to try and smooth out my skin but I'm wondering if anyone else has had a similar issue post-electrolysis?

Hi Kaye

Um, yes, I am definitely noticing this too, mainly on my chin. My skin does look a little haggard/rougher than it used to be, and if you find that the derma roller really works, please post an update.

Julia

Well my skin got rought at first but when a zone got "finished" it's even softer than before when I was shaving. The only exception is over the lip, it stay rought. I'm at about 140-160 hours now, so it's pretty finished for my face.

I mean it's better for me too but it has this slight 'hair once grew there' look that I don't like. I'm going to try a 1.5mm derma roller treatment once a month with rosehip oil. Rosehip oil has vitamin A and C so it's great for skin and collagen production. The derma roller also stimulates collagen and allows for much greater absorption of topicals.

Quote from: kaye on November 03, 2014, 06:50:24 AM
I mean it's better for me too but it has this slight 'hair once grew there' look that I don't like. I'm going to try a 1.5mm derma roller treatment once a month with rosehip oil. Rosehip oil has vitamin A and C so it's great for skin and collagen production. The derma roller also stimulates collagen and allows for much greater absorption of topicals.

The rosehip oil really seems to work well after treatment and then for several days.  But yeah, sadly, it's not as smooth as it used to  be....

I'd suggest maybe looking into a chemical peel.  It can pretty much wipe away moderate acne scars and sun damage and even lessens the sever cases to a great extent.  It should smooth out your skin, even the color, and tighten it a bit as well.  It should also promoting future collagen production.

Whats your skin care routine like?

Yes, my skin isn't very nice now either, but part and parcel of electrolysis I'm told. There are a few pesky hairs remaining, but not a great deal. Once they are gone, my beautician would like to do a full laser rejuvenation on my face. Apparently this works wonders for her other clients after completing electrolysis ( most of which are transwomen ). It is healing on its own in some areas though.

Okay... I've been intending on getting electrolysis, but my facial hair isn't very thick. In my senior year I barely had anything while friends of mine had full beards. (Thank you, androgen insensitivity!) So, would that make any difference on how severe the effect on my skin would be since there's probably only like 50% thickness compared to the usual? Also, how much does a single session normally cost? I'm working with a very tiny budget, and I only get at least $200 once in a while from my mother. She claims to be supportive, so I'd hope she'd help me pay for it; but if not would you say one treatment would be at most $100?

I am considering a full facial peel once facial hair removal is done. I notice the same effect, slightly rougher spots. I've been told that a full facial peel often helps these sorts of situations as well as evening out complexion and pigmentation.

Does anyone else have experience with full facial peels after facial hair removal is complete? I believe Donna did one? And another woman I know who doesn't post here did one as well. Both results were good as I recall.

Maybe it improves with time? Once the hair is no longer coming through the pores might close up a bit?

Quote from: sororcaeli on November 04, 2014, 01:12:15 AM
Okay... I've been intending on getting electrolysis, but my facial hair isn't very thick. In my senior year I barely had anything while friends of mine had full beards. (Thank you, androgen insensitivity!) So, would that make any difference on how severe the effect on my skin would be since there's probably only like 50% thickness compared to the usual? Also, how much does a single session normally cost? I'm working with a very tiny budget, and I only get at least $200 once in a while from my mother. She claims to be supportive, so I'd hope she'd help me pay for it; but if not would you say one treatment would be at most $100?

Depends on the electrolysist really. In my area I shopped around and got quotes at $95, $40, and $60 per hour. Now keep in mind you pretty much have to come back like every week or every two weeks to keep working on it. And for those of us with a full thick beard it can take a year or longer of those treatments. My quote was 60 hours to be readable clear and I choose the $60 option for driving distance and convience.

Be prepared for pain of different levels as well. Some areas don't hurt at all and others feel like stings. Also neck pain because the human body was not meant bend at that angle and hold it for hours at a time.

If you feel up to it then contact a few elctrolysists and get quotes for price Then see that person and ask questions. Like sterility of their practice, plan for getting it done on a budget, what that person is willing to do to meet your schedule. Once you're comfortable do it girl. I spend about $260 a month not including about $50 in gas to get there and back. But I do 4 hours a month and there is no electrolysist within easy driving distance.

Well, I know the pain of getting a tattoo, and it was tolerable. Would you say it's about the same or could it feel worse? My tattoo felt like thousands of ants biting me. Once the needles run over the skin a couple times it numbs up, but I imagine electrolysis isn't like that.

After I get in to see the endocrinologist, get my blood work done, and finally get my prescription then I'll move onto that. Unfortunately, I can only do one thing at a time. I may have a job lined up photographing dancers, but I doubt it will pay me that much. I do have awesome parents, though, so between the two of them I should be able to make it happen.

It's all so stressful, but I know it's worth it. :)

Well it's not the same pain as a tattoo especially in the face. I got my tattoo after few months of eletrolysis and I could have sleep on the chair. When doing facial electrolysis I can't even think of sleeping on the chair, but the skin is getting used to it.

Tip to reduce the pain is to avoid doing the same zone 2 times in a row ( when you let your skin rest enought it hurt less ), if you hit this zone another time the next week you'll experience greater pain.

What about using an epilator until money can be saved for electrolysis?

Quote from: sororcaeli on November 04, 2014, 09:02:32 AM
What about using an epilator until money can be saved for electrolysis?

Apparently that's bad news.  I guess when you do anything aside from shaving your breaking the hair off in a way that will make electrolysis more difficult and more prone to issues afterwards.

Well, I used an epilator for the rest of the body but for the face it's not recommended. There is some devices made especially for the face but even them are not recommended and shaving can split the hairs making them harder to target with electolysis. The best if you can stand to have short facial hair is to use an electric shaver.

I have finished electro, except for touch ups.  While I never had a lot of hair, it did cause problems while getting zapped.  I use Olay ProX facial moisturizer every single morning.  SPF of 30.  At night I use ProX face cream and 2-3 times a week I use a prescription tretinoin/retinol product.  It causes growth of underlying collagen, skin thickness, exfoliates and reduces appearance of pore size and fine lines.  Occasionally I use one of those electric circular pads with a special cream to exfolliate deeply.  It is kind of like using a a sander with a very fine grit on your face.

It is all fairly expensive but doesn't take too much time.  For a "girl" of my age, I think I have great skin.  Enough that I sometimes catch my wife's female friends looking and trying to figure our what I do.  I have been asked if I am wearing make-up (when I wasn't).  Get a cheap subscription to a mag like ALLURE and they will have numerous articles on which products are best, cheapest, new, etc.  And yes, it is fun to try out some of the new stuff!  Hope some of this is helpful.   

P.S. Suncreen is your new best friend if you still want to look good in 10,20.30 years!

Quote from: LizMarie on November 04, 2014, 02:14:39 AM
I am considering a full facial peel once facial hair removal is done. I notice the same effect, slightly rougher spots. I've been told that a full facial peel often helps these sorts of situations as well as evening out complexion and pigmentation.

Does anyone else have experience with full facial peels after facial hair removal is complete? I believe Donna did one? And another woman I know who doesn't post here did one as well. Both results were good as I recall.

I don't know which Donna you are referring to but I will be doing a Croton chemical peel in January around my upper lip and chin. It's to repair demage from electrolysis but also chin surgery (far less bone, too much skin) and ageing. When the time comes I'll let people know how it went.
This is a very deep skin peel and I have to start the preparation 6 weeks in advance. It also takes a long time to recover which explains both why I'm waiting until after Christmas to do it and  doing it in the middle of winter. Details of the procedure can be found here: http://facialfeminization.eu/aesthetic-procedures/chemical-peel/ (http://facialfeminization.eu/aesthetic-procedures/chemical-peel/)

My mistake, Donna! I thought you'd said you had already done one!

Quote from: Nicole on November 03, 2014, 06:47:02 PM
Whats your skin care routine like?

Moisturise as well as cleanse and use toner everyday. Exfoliate a few times a week.

My new derma roller arrived and I have rose hip oil coming. First though I'm going to try a skin peel (50% glycolic acid) which I think will help a bit.

As planned, on Thursday I did the Croton chemical peel: chin, upper lip and forehead and can only say I'm very glad I knew what to expect. Since yesterday my lower face is as swollen as it was after my lower face FFS, I have pieces of skin peeling off all over the place and considerable oozing of serum creating an orange coloured crust when it dries. Not pretty at all.  However, there is little pain and I was able to drive home yesterday (~ 450 kms) without any problem.
Knowing this was coming I have no appointments with anyone for the next 2 weeks and if all goes as I've been told, by then I should have the worst behind me.
Not a procedure for the fainthearted though as you really look pretty gruesome for the first few days after the treatment. I also think that anyone planning to do this should schedule the procedure in the winter as you are supposed to avoid any significant exposure to the sun for about 6 months afterwards.
In my case, the purpose of this treatment is to remove all the uneveness and roughness of my skin on the upper lip and chin (due to electrolyis and chin surgery). While I was at it, I decided to do the forehead too, just to eliminate the last traces of the very heavy brow furrows I had prior to FFS.  I'll let you all know if it was worth it a few weeks from now. 

I have some scarring and texture changes from electrolysis on my upper lip and chin, where there hair was the thickest.My family and friends say they don't even really notice it, but I do and it really ramps up my dysphoria.  I have days where it is hard to get my mind off of it and I feel like crying.  I have been trying fraxel resurfacing to smooth out this skin. I have had three secession of the recommend 5-7, but have yet to notice any real improvement. I suppose I will continue until all 7 secession are done and if there still is no improvement I may try chemical peels, like the croton oil peel Donna E mentioned.

Donna E: Please do keep us informed about your progress. I am very curious. I will see Dr Bart in a few weeks for a separate procedure, but I had planned to ask him about this.
 

Quote from: liz on November 04, 2014, 08:53:41 AM
Well it's not the same pain as a tattoo especially in the face. I got my tattoo after few months of eletrolysis and I could have sleep on the chair. When doing facial electrolysis I can't even think of sleeping on the chair, but the skin is getting used to it.

Tip to reduce the pain is to avoid doing the same zone 2 times in a row ( when you let your skin rest enought it hurt less ), if you hit this zone another time the next week you'll experience greater pain.

You can help reduce the pain if in addition to taking Advil if you use Bactine on the area first.  Bactine has 2.5% Lidocaine which will help numb your skin a little.  After I found out about it I told the electrologist.  They tried it and they now make it available to patients for laser and electrolysis.  Just passing that tip along in case it can help you other ladies. 

More reason why I go to E3000. :) Lidocaine injections, total numbness in the face, and I can literally sleep through a session on the entire face (and have!).

As I noted earlier, yes, I am seeing the roughness on areas continually treated by electrolysis. My technician told me that will clear by itself but can take 2 years to do so, or a facial peel will almost always clear it quickly.

I'm noticing a bit of roughness. Something I can cover with makeup but I do plan to get it peeled once I'm done.

Witch Hazel and bacitracin are what is recommended for care.

I wish I could do E3K. But taking 3-5 weeks off? I don't have that luxury this year. I want to go to Yeson and maybe take the kids down to see their grandma. That said, had I known about E3K last year (and decided to come out last year) I'd have chosen that route instead.

Quote from: Mary81 on January 10, 2015, 05:35:58 AM


Donna E: Please do keep us informed about your progress. I am very curious. I will see Dr Bart in a few weeks for a separate procedure, but I had planned to ask him about this.

Today I'm just 9 days post-peel and all the swelling has already disappeared. So has all the dead skin and crust leaving me with beautifully smooth... and very red, skin in the areas treated.
Happily, the good news does not stop there. Much to my surprise, a little green concealer is enough to make me pretty  presentable meaning I was already out and about today, well ahead of schedule..
Today the weather was terrible with no light all day. Tomorrow is supposed to be clear and sunny and if so  I'll try to post a couple of photos, both the horror photos and how I am now.

That's great news. Donna! Thanks for the feedback!

As promised, here is a pictorial history of my chemical peel. I think you will understand why I said it wasn't for the fainthearted and I was very glad I didn't have to interact with many people on the evening and the first days after the intervention.
However, I was forewarned: " Somewhere between two and seven days, you'll probably wonder if it was all worth it" , "Depending on the state of the peel, you may be considerably swollen and generally unrecognizable".  Dr Bart Van de Ven

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi893.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac133%2Fdonnaoly%2FDonna%2520FFS%2FFirstdays_zpscfc4c564.png&hash=5516cfd20991d8759d4af3b7b7365c3c2bf0d068) (http://s893.photobucket.com/user/donnaoly/media/Donna%20FFS/Firstdays_zpscfc4c564.png.html)


Here is the situation today, with and without concealer but otherwise w/o any makeup on my skin.

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi893.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac133%2Fdonnaoly%2FDonna%2520FFS%2F10days_zps1205fc51.png&hash=cb339827f9a30b705e1faf570bab909b7f0e1d7e) (http://s893.photobucket.com/user/donnaoly/media/Donna%20FFS/10days_zps1205fc51.png.html)


NOTA: Please DO NOT copy-paste these photos into other posts.

Now I'm scared about getting electrolysis

Quote from: Donna Troy on January 18, 2015, 09:48:56 AM
Now I'm scared about getting electrolysis

Donna,
If it's the pictures that have you scared, they're not after electrolysis which can be bad too if you do long sessions. Not that bad though..  :)  They were taken after a chemical  (Croton) peel.

Honestly, Donna, from what I've heard otherwise, you seem to be recovering very rapidly. Every single case I've heard about has also resulted in very marked improvements in skin texture and overall complexion too. Keep us posted?

And thank you! Thank you so much for sharing this information!

Hi DonnaE,
Thank you so much for sharing this with us. Your recovery looks quite encouraging. Can I ask if you had only texture changes from electrolysis, or did you also have any scaring?
Thank you again and good luck with the healing process!
Mary