Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I'm currently at 3.5 hours, have another 2 hours booked in with the tech, over the next 6 weeks.

I haven't done any, but I've spent plenty of time thinking "ohgodthatmusthurt!"  ;D

One year.  But not the entire year... I also did a few other things with my time.  ;)

For a full year before GCS I was already sort of finishing up electrolysis in other areas - cleaning up body hair that was somewhat re-growing after laser, and facial hair was getting rare.  I don't have an exact number but I'm pretty sure at least 20 hours downstairs.  My goal was zero hair below my eyebrows (well I did keep my eyelashes too).  Some GCS surgeons provide an illustration showing what is medically necessary to clear and I went waaay beyond that.

When I had my in-person GCS evaluation after a year of clearing, Dr. Ley seemed surprised and said I was medically ready for GCS the following day if I wanted.  I am guessing some patients come in with quite a bit of hair and get as much removed as possible while on the waitlist.  With the way hair growth works, I think clearing hair far in advance is a good idea.

Pain from electrolysis was worse after starting estradiol.  I'm glad I completed the majority of this before HRT. 

It took me over 20 hours to clear the genital area. Even though it only took about 5 hours for one clearing, the hairs just kept growing back.

The area cleared was the penis shaft, a one inch area around the shaft, the entire scrotum and a one inch wide strip from the scrotum to the anus.

Yes, it hurt a lot, but it was worth it once I was post op.

The only difficulty was finding an electrologist who was willing to work on this area. Many will do bikini line electrolysis, but only a few will go near male genitals and only after a relationship of trust is established. I had to be honest and sincere about my need to transition. Once trust was established, I brought in a diagram of the areas my surgeon wanted cleared. When my electrologist understood what needed to happen, she was more than willing to provide the electrolysis needed.

Six sessions of laser got rid of beard hair but gotee area. I ended up buying my own Aplius electroysys machine and finished it all myself.

COUNTLESS HOURS in front of a mirror!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am probably around the 12 hour point now. I expect at least that much more. You really don't want any hair growing in your vagina, so you need to keep going until it stops coming back (plan for 9 - 12 months). Although it is really uncomfortable, taking some ibuprofen or other painkillers will help. I with @Kendra on this, I have always hated body hair. Although my electrologist is concentrating on the areas specified by my surgeon, if there is time left in our session she goes for anything she can find!

What hair clearing would be required if one will not get a vagina, but a vulva and a clitoris only?.  I am lucky and am not a very hairy person, but some of the stuff may need to be removed, I wonder how much if a vagina is not desired?

The next question is, who does this stuff?  Is this done by the same beauty salon people who do my beard?  Or do I need to see another specialist for this?

Quote from: Dietlind on November 23, 2018, 09:15:58 AM
What hair clearing would be required if one will not gt a vagina, but a vulva and a clitoris only?.  I am lucky and am not a very hairy person, but some of the stuff may need to be removed, I wonder how much if a vagina is not desired?

The next question is, who does this stuff?  Is this done by the same beauty salon people who do my beard?  Or do I need to see another specialist for this?

This seems to be a most unappealing procedure!  For anywhere down there!

Chrissy

Quote from: Dietlind on November 23, 2018, 09:15:58 AM
What hair clearing would be required if one will not gt a vagina, but a vulva and a clitoris only?.  I am lucky and am not a very hairy person, but some of the stuff may need to be removed, I wonder how much if a vagina is not desired?

The next question is, who does this stuff?  Is this done by the same beauty salon people who do my beard?  Or do I need to see another specialist for this?

Hair removal is not (at least in my case) generally needed for a vulvaplasty only a vaginoplasty.

For vaginoplasty,  the surgeons seem to prefer electrolysis over laser if at at possible, due to its reduced chance of late regrowth.

Sent from my MI 5s using Tapatalk

Quote from: Dietlind on November 23, 2018, 09:15:58 AM

The next question is, who does this stuff?  Is this done by the same beauty salon people who do my beard?  Or do I need to see another specialist for this?

Not many electrologists will do this. I am only aware of three within a 100 mile radius of my home. Luckily the electrologist I started out with (a one-woman company) eventually got approval from her husband to work on me.

I put in more than 20 hours spread out over a period of 1-1.5 years. It delayed my srs surgery but it was worth it to me. It was almost like normal electrolysis. It was every week at the beginning, then every other week, then once a month for touchups and then one day the electrologist said you're a done deal.

Some electrologists charge extra to work in this area.  Before starting all this I assumed the reason for charging extra was because electrologists can get away with it.  Having done all this I now know that's not necessarily the case - this area is technically challenging to work on.  Not just because some clients might occasionally hit the ceiling (as I almost did) but because genital hair grows in random directions and the root bulbs in this area are different.  These unique root bulbs might also be why MTF HRT doesn't substantially reduce hair in this area.

In other areas my electrologist (very experienced) spent about 4 seconds on each root.  In the genital area, about 2 to 3 times slower. 

At my initial appointment I asked about working on this area at some point in the future.  (In 2015 I was undecided on transition but I was certain I wanted to get rid of hair).  Her answer was "skin is skin."  In other words, a good electrologist doesn't worry about any social barriers and just focuses on getting the job done. 

Thanks, this gives me some idea.  Would somebody have a link to some graphics that allows to judge the hair growth down there?  I have absolutely no idea, what is lots of hair growth, normal hair growth or little hair growth.

I hope mine is among the little growth!

In my particular case, the initial clearing of the area the surgeon wanted hair-free took 2.3 hours.  The area was then re-cleared every 2-3 weeks, and after 6 months remained hair free, with a total of 8.5 hours of electrolysis work.  I was fortunate to have not too much hair there (I have essentially no body hair), and a very experienced, fast electrolyst.

Discomfort-wise any work around the upper or lower lip was far more painful thn the genital work. I used EMLA cream for the genital work, sealed under strips of plastic wrap to maximize effect until time to work on a particular area.

Quote from: Michelle_P on November 24, 2018, 02:00:45 AM
In my particular case, the initial clearing of the area the surgeon wanted hair-free took 2.3 hours.  The area was then re-cleared every 2-3 weeks, and after 6 months remained hair free, with a total of 8.5 hours of electrolysis work.  I was fortunate to have not too much hair there (I have essentially no body hair), and a very experienced, fast electrolyst.

Discomfort-wise any work around the upper or lower lip was far more painful thn the genital work. I used EMLA cream for the genital work, sealed under strips of plastic wrap to maximize effect until time to work on a particular area.

It seems that you have pretty much a similar body hair condition like I have (not a single visible hair growing higher up on my body than my pubic hair).
I now have to find out how much of the pubic hair needs to be removed for a vulva plastic only.
I just read on the MTF surgery site that a vulvoplasty with minimal depth vaginal canal (I think they do this minimal depth vagina for aesthetic reasons)  requires no hair removal.  That would be great as far as pain and money saving goes!

Here is the document that Dr. McGinn's office sent me for what they think is necessary to clear for surgery if anyone is interested....

It's NSFW, of course.

<Link removed - Susan's Terms of Service (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,2.0.html)>

Quote from: LexiDreamer on March 25, 2019, 07:44:14 PM
Here is the document that Dr. McGinn's office sent me for what they think is necessary to clear for surgery if anyone is interested....

It's NSFW, of course.

<Link removed - Susan's Terms of Service>

Thanks Lexi!  I appreciate this info a lot!

Quote from: Dietlind on March 25, 2019, 08:36:59 PM
Thanks Lexi!  I appreciate this info a lot!

You are very welcome!
I figured someone would find it useful. I knew it was hard for me to find the info online when I looked into what it was going to take.

I also have a document on what they want to see in the referral letters as well, if anyone wants to see that as well.

I just realized that you're looking for a shallow depth procedure?
Bare in mind the pictures in that document are for full vaginoplasty GCS.

Quote from: LexiDreamer on March 25, 2019, 09:50:52 PM
I just realized that you're looking for a shallow depth procedure?
Bare in mind the pictures in that document are for full vaginoplasty GCS.

But they give a general idea for what needs to be removed.  I don't know what the do with the penile skin with a limited depth procedure, they might use it for the labia minor, which, means the hair would need to be also removed.

Might I be so bold as to ask you why you have chosen only the limited depth procedure?

I'm not looking to judge, I'm just curious. Seems like one is about 2/3 the way to the other, so why not go all the way?

If you don't feel comfortable answering the question I won't take offense. ; )

Quote from: LexiDreamer on March 26, 2019, 12:27:22 PM
Might I be so bold as to ask you why you have chosen only the limited depth procedure?

I'm not looking to judge, I'm just curious. Seems like one is about 2/3 the way to the other, so why not go all the way?

If you don't feel comfortable answering the question I won't take offense. ; )

Because of the less invasive surgery (I made my living in the surgical field), because of the easier recovery time and zero maintenance, because i am 100% lesbian (I think), and because of my age, I don't think that I would engage in many wild love affairs anymore.
Does his make sense now?

I came to the party late with only 4 weeks till surgery as I could not find anyone to do it for me. I did have have 8 Laser session but only managed about 3-4 hrs of Electro. I have discovered since surgery in December that the follicle scrape performed by my surgeon was extremely effective. I have looked and cannot see any hair anywhere...that does not mean I don't have any it just means I can't see it without extensive yoga training and a speculum. I am having an internal exam in about 4 weeks and will ask my Dr then what she can see(pictures optional) but certainly nothing in the first half.

LizK

Quote from: Dietlind on March 26, 2019, 09:57:39 PM
Because of the less invasive surgery (I made my living in the surgical field), because of the easier recovery time and zero maintenance, because i am 100% lesbian (I think), and because of my age, I don't think that I would engage in many wild love affairs anymore.
Does his make sense now?

It does. I suppose it's a matter a personal preference.
Thank you.