Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I'v got that kind of hair where my hair line has receded on both sides of the center area (kinda like vegita from Dragon ball Z  :P). I've seen some costs for hair advancement but I think for me it would be a little more. How much do you think it would cost to fix such hair?


Also I have been trying to find some prices for voice feminization surgery but I can't seem to find much. Does anyone know around what it would cost for "Vocal Cord Shortening (Anterior Web Creation)"?

I don't know about the hair, but my voice coach was adamant that vocal surgery is unnecessary, dangerous, and usually ineffective.  She expressed this view so strongly that I never looked into it.

Just another data point.

- Kate

Quote from: K8 on November 09, 2009, 06:43:49 PM
I don't know about the hair, but my voice coach was adamant that vocal surgery is unnecessary, dangerous, and usually ineffective.  She expressed this view so strongly that I never looked into it.

Just another data point.

- Kate

Does it become easier over time to maintain your voice. And one of my worries is i have a pretty deep voice.
oh, and do you have any tips to get me started on controling my voice?

Practice, practice, practice.  It helps if someone will work with you.  At least try recording your voice and listening to it.

Part of the difference is pitch.  You want to try to raise the pitch a little at a time.  I live alone and end up talking to myself a lot.  I also sing some, and have gradually raised the range of my singing voice without going into falsetto.  Don't try to do it all at once – baby steps.

The other part is resonance.  The male voice box (whatever it is called :P) and the larger chest cavity give the male voice resonance that female voices usually don't have – and this more than pitch makes a voice recognizable as male.  My coach's advice here was to flip up the soft palette to speak higher in your throat.  (The soft palette is the little flap at the back of the roof of your mouth.)  At first I had to pause, consciously flip it up or cock it, and then speak.  Gradually it became habit.  I usually speak now at the back of my mouth instead of down in my throat.

I probably still have a mostly male voice, but sometimes I have been thought to be female on the telephone.  And I used to sing baritone but am now a low alto.

Vocal mannerisms are another area where you can improve your voice.  Generally, women have different patterns of speech than men.  Here, you just need to have lots of conversations with your female friends and pay attention.  And relax enough to let your true, female nature come out.

Good luck!

- Kate

I agree with Kate.  Practice, Practice, Practice.  It is the best way to get a good feminine voice.  There is a good source from Deep Stealth.  That is how I developed mine and I rarely get 'sired' on the phone and never in person.

For the hair.  Ether Minoxidil or Propecia.  I use both and I am getting mixed result.  But I think that I will need transplants, which goes on the list of things I might do someday.  When I ever have the funds.


Janet

Yes, It does become easier. I find myself talking in my fem. voice when I'm in drab trying to present as a male. I get the most suspicious looks from bank tellers  :laugh:

I find singing helps allot  ;)

I'm not sure about the hair. I've got the same problem. I've only been on E for 5mo.

When I was at the Southern Comfort Conference. I attend a session about voice feminization from Kathe Perez.

I haven't bought here stuff yet it will probably be a christmas present to myself.
She will also do sessions over the internet via skype.

http://www.exceptionalvoice.com/ (http://www.exceptionalvoice.com/)
http://voicefeminization.com/ (http://voicefeminization.com/)

Money, money, money (https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.easyfreesmileys.com%2Fsmileys%2Ffree-sad-smileys-328.gif&hash=ef99b49bd80e79cd31b9587fae8688935c16216b) (http://www.easyfreesmileys.com/facebook-smileys.html) I'd like to buy those CD's .... maybe I could probably afford it but just thinking about all the other costs is depressing. but I guess one step at a time. I think I'll try makeing my voice sound more fem on my own for now...I've always been pretty good at figuring things out on my own, but definitly thanx  :D for the advice and info.

---

Post Merge: November 09, 2009, 09:22:16 PM

---

Quote from: K8 on November 09, 2009, 07:28:51 PM
Practice, practice, practice.  It helps if someone will work with you.  At least try recording your voice and listening to it.


My coach's advice here was to flip up the soft palette to speak higher in your throat.  (The soft palette is the little flap at the back of the roof of your mouth.)  At first I had to pause, consciously flip it up or cock it, and then speak.  Gradually it became habit.  I usually speak now at the back of my mouth instead of down in my throat.

How do you flip up the soft palette? if an explination is possible.

---

Post Merge: November 09, 2009, 10:50:23 PM

---

Never mind I figured it out, i remeber doing that when I was younger to sound like kermit the frog. I'm going to have to practice not sounding to froggy  ^-^ thanx.

I disagree about voice surgery.

I think it can be very effective, but if you don't have your resonance changed, you will need a bit of resonance control too.

I think the price for voice surgery is about 8000$.

If I ever trust someone with my vocal folds,m it would probably be dr james thomas and no one else.

People are afraid to turn as micky mosue with super high voice, it's been a high risk 10 years ago, nowdays it's not, discuss your fears, make assessment of your full vocal range with him.
Worse case, ask to cut a bit less.

---

Post Merge: November 10, 2009, 11:28:54 AM

---

I forgot to mention, thomas also has resonance affecting techniques, cutting the vocal tract, elevating the voice box (that means shortening the pharynx without shortening the pharynx). and the possibility of reducing the circumference size  by an incision and removal of tissue, kinda like in face lift I guess

Quote from: Myself on November 10, 2009, 12:07:05 PM
I disagree about voice surgery.

I think it can be very effective, but if you don't have your resonance changed, you will need a bit of resonance control too.

I think the price for voice surgery is about 8000$.

If I ever trust someone with my vocal folds,m it would probably be dr james thomas and no one else.

People are afraid to turn as micky mosue with super high voice, it's been a high risk 10 years ago, nowdays it's not, discuss your fears, make assessment of your full vocal range with him.
Worse case, ask to cut a bit less.

---

Post Merge: November 10, 2009, 10:28:54 AM

---

I forgot to mention, thomas also has resonance affecting techniques, cutting the vocal tract, elevating the voice box (that means shortening the pharynx without shortening the pharynx). and the possibility of reducing the circumference size  by an incision and removal of tissue, kinda like in face lift I guess

Thanx I looked into alot of stuff about that, and I was under the impression that surgery would be beneficial. I think that may be what I do. I figure even if it doesn't make my voice perfect it should at least help. My only worry is cost. I hope I can find a more accepting job than the one I have now, even though it pays well it would be insane to come out there. And it seems many of the more accepting place won't pay as well. I've been makeing 14$ an hour as an intern. But I figure I can make it on less, not to mention after taxes and 401k deductions it only amounted to 9.80$ an hour... I guess I might end up having to take out loans but who knows...or working extra hours wich I wouldn't mind.

Don't hurry to have your voice cut even if you decide to.

Meet, research, measure, picture, tape, record, laryngo-video. do it all.

I think voice surgery is best for people who can achieve their voice, and want to set it there

I was wondering what key I should try to match my voice to on a keyborad... middle A, C?

download praat.

Try to speak in an average of anywhere between 200-260.
Maybe a bit above 200.

You can select the whole sentence graph and it will give you average, there are keys I forgot to give you lowest and highest.

C4 is probably ideal for young teen to 20 talk. or kinda higher range of female voice
few notes below that is acceptable too.

I usually start at the A just below middle C  :) Then I run scales up and down to warm up. Then I work on sentences  :icon_blahblah:

I tried the A after middle C and practiced hitting that note and have been practicing speaking with it and recording my voice while on my way to school and in waiting for class and my voice is already sounding passable. But what is C4? Relative to middle c I guess.

depending where you place middle c, it's usually middle c.
Fourth octave c.

I forgot what thread i was reading a little bit ago but i went to the youtube they mentioned there. Candifla, look  her up. She transitioned MtF and does vids on how she changed her voice. Maybe it will help you out. She also has other vids that are funny to look at.

Candifla - She has a bunch of great vid.s including a whole series on developing a fem. voice. She makes it fun  :)

Candi was a great inspiration and helped me realize I could change my voice, but she doesn't give alot of practical information beyond a few basics. She also has the odd habit of not talking for very long in that lovely voice of hers...hmm

Quote from: K8 on November 09, 2009, 06:43:49 PM
I don't know about the hair, but my voice coach was adamant that vocal surgery is unnecessary, dangerous, and usually ineffective.  She expressed this view so strongly that I never looked into it.

Just another data point.

- Kate

I am very lucky in this department, my voice is very fem as it is and needs no tweaking, yours is probably the same K8..

.....but for those who have obvious male voices it is a big problem. I totally sympathise with the situation and many people do need surgery despite the risks involved.

I never looked very masculine, but my voice always betrays me. I feel like I am also somewhat tone-deaf, and I have trouble finding the correct pitch. Whenever I try practicing, I have a feeling like everything is in vain. Some people tell me that I sound flamboyant, and yet sometimes I get the "wow, your voice sounds just like a radio announcer!", OH NO!!! Back in my truly pre-comiong out stage, I tried practicing my voice by singing Rush  :D (NO ONE can truly match the voice)

As for hair, I have a moderate widows' peak and a fairly high hairline, medium brown hair that changes to blonde-ish in the summer (It helps being in the sun all day). I have so far taken measures to make myself more feminine. I used to try and blend in by growing a 'beard', which always looked like dirty muttonchops. Now I am always clean-shaven, and I removed most of my sideburns. If only I could get my hair to grow faster (no, not my facial hair  ;) ).

Dr. James Thomas at http://www.voicedoctor.net/surgery/fem_lar.html (http://www.voicedoctor.net/surgery/fem_lar.html)

I talked with them via email a bit, and I scheduled a phone call for two weeks from now.  I wanted to know more.


The fee for the FL or FL/TH is $7425.00.   These are inclusive of Dr Thomas' fee and the surgical center and anesthesia fee.

# Feminization laryngoplasty (FL)

    * A newer operating room procedure (which is an alternative to CTA) to raise the lowest pitch you can produce by removing the front of the voice box and shortening the vocal cords. Primarily designed for transgender male to female patients.

# Thyrohyoid approximation (TH)

    * A procedure to raise the resonance of the voice. Primarily designed for transgender male to female patients.


If I remember, I'll let you all know what he says after I talk with him.

I read somewhere that he is a real jerk, and from this line on his website I'm inclined to believe it:

QuoteI say this because some patients choose not to be insured

I'm interested in how this turns out, please do keep us posted!