Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hey there, so I'm transgender and am now looking into changing my voice to sound more feminine. In my search, I have found these 2 resources that seem to be able to help me do exactly that. They seem legit, but I don't know if either are real or worth my money.

The first is this http://www.genderlife.com/products-page/ultimate-packages/transsexual-voice-video-download/ -- a Finding Your Female Voice coaching course. It seems like it may have a lot of good information for me, but the price was lowered from $36 to just $6, which makes me a little wary.

The second is this http://professionalvoice.org/feminization.aspx , a transgender voice surgery that claims to have a lot of good results. It's the first thing that comes up when I google "transgender voice surgery", but I asked my gender therapist about it and he had never heard of it before. So that raises a red flag.

If any of you have used these or know others that have, I'd like to know. IT'd really ease my worries and I could move forward with things.

Quote from: Blucatt on March 11, 2018, 03:47:23 PM
Hey there, so I'm transgender and am now looking into changing my voice to sound more feminine. In my search, I have found these 2 resources that seem to be able to help me do exactly that. They seem legit, but I don't know if either are real or worth my money.

The first is this http://www.genderlife.com/products-page/ultimate-packages/transsexual-voice-video-download/ -- a Finding Your Female Voice coaching course. It seems like it may have a lot of good information for me, but the price was lowered from $36 to just $6, which makes me a little wary.

The second is this http://professionalvoice.org/feminization.aspx , a transgender voice surgery that claims to have a lot of good results. It's the first thing that comes up when I google "transgender voice surgery", but I asked my gender therapist about it and he had never heard of it before. So that raises a red flag.

If any of you have used these or know others that have, I'd like to know. IT'd really ease my worries and I could move forward with things.

I can't comment on voice videos, I didn't use any.. The 2nd link is for Dr Haben, who is well known for his pitch-raising surgeries. Something to remember though, surgery only changes pitch - you still have to do all the other voice work yourself, so maybe do the work first and then see if surgery is still required.

I'd also be suggesting to your therapist that he either get up-to-date on the "Who's Who" of the trans world, or cease making comments on other medical professionals. Dr Haben is quite well known for his voice work, internationally.. In this case, your therapist is the red flag.

Quote from: Blucatt on March 11, 2018, 03:47:23 PM
Hey there, so I'm transgender and am now looking into changing my voice to sound more feminine. In my search, I have found these 2 resources that seem to be able to help me do exactly that. They seem legit, but I don't know if either are real or worth my money.

The first is this http://www.genderlife.com/products-page/ultimate-packages/transsexual-voice-video-download/ -- a Finding Your Female Voice coaching course. It seems like it may have a lot of good information for me, but the price was lowered from $36 to just $6, which makes me a little wary.

The second is this http://professionalvoice.org/feminization.aspx , a transgender voice surgery that claims to have a lot of good results. It's the first thing that comes up when I google "transgender voice surgery", but I asked my gender therapist about it and he had never heard of it before. So that raises a red flag.

If any of you have used these or know others that have, I'd like to know. IT'd really ease my worries and I could move forward with things.

Get with Dena

Quote from: Cassi on March 11, 2018, 04:09:06 PM
Get with Dena

Dena? Who's Dena?

Sorry, Dena's one of the mods on this site.

To make my decision for VFS surgeon I spent a couple hours reading many previous posts in this forum, and listened carefully to before/after recordings.  A couple hours isn't much compared to the investment and risk with VFS. 

I purchased the "Finding Your Female Voice" video 3 years ago (for $36 USD) and found it useful.  It isn't perfect, but compared to the cost of one hour of professional voice training that's a bargain.   

I have had four voice therapy sessions thus far and the most important has been help in understanding the "Head voice" which my therapist says I do do.

Being relaxed is a key and I use Voice Pitch Analyser which I told my therapist about and she liked it. 

Getting to understand the "Head Voice" is a key.  Another issue is that despite using my head voice, my ears and brain still hear my voice.

Quote from: Blucatt on March 11, 2018, 03:47:23 PM
Hey there, so I'm transgender and am now looking into changing my voice to sound more feminine. In my search, I have found these 2 resources that seem to be able to help me do exactly that. They seem legit, but I don't know if either are real or worth my money.

The first is this http://www.genderlife.com/products-page/ultimate-packages/transsexual-voice-video-download/ -- a Finding Your Female Voice coaching course. It seems like it may have a lot of good information for me, but the price was lowered from $36 to just $6, which makes me a little wary.

The second is this http://professionalvoice.org/feminization.aspx , a transgender voice surgery that claims to have a lot of good results. It's the first thing that comes up when I google "transgender voice surgery", but I asked my gender therapist about it and he had never heard of it before. So that raises a red flag.

If any of you have used these or know others that have, I'd like to know. IT'd really ease my worries and I could move forward with things.

I would recommend Linda Peres program called Eve (download from the Apple Store) Unfortunately it is only available for Ipad and Iphone.  It was recommended by my voice / lifestyle coach. Another thing to do is download "Da Tuner"  It is a guitar tuner but works for voice. What you want to do with it is find your baseline either by pitch, Htz. and then raise it an octive. My norm is E2 so I shoot for F3 or 175htz. You want to be able to hold that higher pitch so it takes practice. Lots of practice. But eventually you'll get there. Several must do's is sitting up straight, breathing from your stomach instead of the chest and also forming your words in your mouth (resonance)so your mouth feels like it's buzzing. Practice, Practice Practice.   Here are some resources to review. https://www.susans.org/links/Help_&_How-to//Voice_therapy_&_training//

Quote from: Blucatt on March 11, 2018, 03:47:23 PM
Hey there, so I'm transgender and am now looking into changing my voice to sound more feminine. In my search, I have found these 2 resources that seem to be able to help me do exactly that. They seem legit, but I don't know if either are real or worth my money.

The first is this http://www.genderlife.com/products-page/ultimate-packages/transsexual-voice-video-download/ -- a Finding Your Female Voice coaching course. It seems like it may have a lot of good information for me, but the price was lowered from $36 to just $6, which makes me a little wary.

The second is this http://professionalvoice.org/feminization.aspx , a transgender voice surgery that claims to have a lot of good results. It's the first thing that comes up when I google "transgender voice surgery", but I asked my gender therapist about it and he had never heard of it before. So that raises a red flag.

If any of you have used these or know others that have, I'd like to know. IT'd really ease my worries and I could move forward with things.

BTW, I sent a PM to Dena mentioning this thread.  Hopefully she'll pop in soon.

I used the program and it was helpful. The daily dozen drills are good.

I went to a voice pathologist that worked with trans for 9 months. She helped Dr. McGinn and is referenced on her web site.

I had a procedure by a doctor in Philadelphia called Dr. Sadaloff. I had a procedure scheduled with Dr. Haban and cancelled the procedure. I have read and listened to a dozen people that went to Dr. Haban and spoke to a person that went to Dr. Spiegel. I formed a conclusion about laser assist VFS. I also formed a conclusion about the percent of web needed and needed vocal HZ increase and history of smoking. Smoking tends to thickens the vocal folds.

My research points to micro instruments removing mucosal tissue to be  minimally disruptive to the vocal fold. Dr. Kim is one that uses micro instruments.

I will see Dr. Sataloff March 28 and will ask him about his glottoplasty procedure. I would go to him if he performs the same procedure as Dr. Kim and I can see several post op pic results just after the surgery. If not I may go to South Korea.

These are my thoughts and I am not a doctor. Many have gone to Dr. Haban and had excellent results. I recommend you read as many as possible posts on VFS prior to having the operation if that is what you want to do.

I had the surgery with Dr. Haben and I highly recommend it. I went from getting 100% Sir'd on the phone from people blind calling me, to 100% ma'amed. I seldom got sir'd in public, but presentation was a lot of that. The price runs around $7000 with half up front to book the date, but includes the price of your hotel stay. This was some of the best transition money spent, after GRS and FFS.

Voice surgery is not magical. Voice surgery only alters the pitch so therapy is as much of a proper voice as surgery is. In addition, voice surgery isn't perfect so it's best to have therapy first to determine if surgery is needed. There are other doctors performing this type of surgery and as this is one shot, learn as much as you can before deciding on surgery or a surgeon. That said, here is my thread (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,192393.0.html).

By the way, my voice is the 64 year old voice.