Whats the best order to do things?
As in whats best first, HRT, FFS? and then? ???
Im curious as to what you all think is the optimal transition route, and why?What was best for you?
Therapy, HRT, Laser/Electrolysis, FFS (if necessary/desired), GCS (if desired).
Vocal therapy may also be needed once you begin trying to find and learn your female voice.
Quote from: Siobhan on December 05, 2011, 01:59:28 PM
Whats the best order to do things?
As in whats best first, HRT, FFS? and then? ???
Im curious as to what you all think is the optimal transition route, and why?What was best for you?
Depends totally on what you are after and what your physical features are like.
If you feel that you just cannot pass, then FFS without question comes firstly. However, if you think that you can already pass, then you can take things in your own order that you feel is right for you.
There are really no optional transition that fits everyone, as every transitioner have different "starting-material" to begin with, and not any least, different desires transitionwise.
Quote from: stldrmgrl on December 05, 2011, 02:03:36 PM
Therapy, HRT, Laser/Electrolysis, FFS (if necessary/desired), GCS (if desired).
This doesn't include vocal therapy if needed, as finding your female voice can be difficult. Even prior to any of the above major steps, learn to properly apply make-up. As well, once you begin to learn who you are as a woman, begin transitioning clothing to your style.
Therapy? Pfft,im fine its everyone else whos the problem :eusa_dance:
Nah,im just kidding,i got more issues than National Geographic and I know it.
Quote from: Siobhan on December 05, 2011, 02:21:18 PM
Therapy? Pfft,im fine its everyone else whos the problem :eusa_dance:
Nah,im just kidding,i got more issues than National Geographic and I know it.
Therapy isn't necessarily suggested due to
needing therapy; it is more along the lines of being diagnosed with GID, thus getting your letter of recommendation to begin HRT.
Quote from: Bishounen on December 05, 2011, 02:20:37 PM
Depends totally on what you are after and what your physical features are like.
If you feel that you just cannot pass, then FFS without question comes firstly. However, if you think that you can already pass, then you can take things in your own order that you feel is right for you.
There are really no optional transition that fits everyone, as every transitioner have different "starting-material" to begin with, and not any least, different desires transitionwise.
I think i would need FFS for sure.
Quote from: Bishounen on December 05, 2011, 02:20:37 PM
If you feel that you just cannot pass, then FFS without question comes firstly.
I highly recommend against getting FFS prior to beginning HRT, as to some extent, HRT has an effect on the face.
Quote from: Siobhan on December 05, 2011, 02:23:28 PM
I think i would need FFS for sure.
Well, if that is the case, then FFS is definitely what would be the wisest to do the first, as it will spare you a lot of potential problems during the Real Life Test.
Quote from: stldrmgrl on December 05, 2011, 02:25:54 PM
I highly recommend against getting FFS prior to beginning HRT, as to some extent, HRT has an effect on the face.
That is indeed true. However, for some T-persons, the hormonal effects are just not enough in a stretch, and they still look- In the eyes of the surrounding- like guys in dresses no matter what, which can have a disasterous effect on the T-person herself.
Quote from: Bishounen on December 05, 2011, 02:26:42 PM
Well, if that is the case, then FFS is definitely what would be the wisest to do the first, as it will spare you a lot of potential problems during the Real Life Test.
That is indeed true. However, for some T-persons, the hormonal effects are just not enough in a stretch, and they still look- In the eyes of the surrounding- like guys in dresses no matter what, which can have a disasterous effect on the T-person herself.
I read about that before, sounds like torture tbh, unless you are really lucky with where you live and how you look.. surely they realise how potentially dangerous this is?
Quote from: Bishounen on December 05, 2011, 02:26:42 PM
That is indeed true. However, for some T-persons, the hormonal effects are just not enough in a stretch, and they still look- In the eyes of the surrounding- like guys in dresses no matter what, which can have a disasterous effect on the T-person herself.
Yes I agree, if passing is your top priority to begin with in your transition. For someone such as myself, this was not the case.
Quote from: Siobhan on December 05, 2011, 02:30:55 PM
I read about that before, sounds like torture tbh, unless you are really lucky with where you live and how you look.. surely they realise how potentially dangerous this is?
You mean the Real Life Test?
If so, then well yes, it can sometimes be very uncomfortable for some transitioners. On the other hand, such a test is necessary for the person that wishes to actually
live as the sex they want to transition into, as they do need to experience everything it would involve, so in that aspect, it is sort of a necessary evil to see if they can do it or not.
Quote from: stldrmgrl on December 05, 2011, 02:38:31 PM
Yes I agree, if passing is your top priority to begin with in your transition. For someone such as myself, this was not the case.
True. Just as you hinted, not everyone that transitions is interested in passing, as the main thing they really wants is to correct their bodies, and feels that other things like passing and gender-roles are of less importence.
While others, ofcourse, already pass whether they wants to or not. :P
Quote from: Bishounen on December 05, 2011, 02:46:14 PM
True. Just as you hinted, not everyone that transitions is interested in passing, as the main thing they really wants is to correct their bodies, and feels that other things like passing and gender-roles are of less importence.
While others, ofcourse, already pass whether they wants to or not. :P
Passing is very important to me, but it wasn't my first priority when I began transitioning. Even now, I'm not full-time simply because I've got other priorities in my transition that I want to accomplish first before passing is a worry (though I do plan on getting FFS in the future). Anyway, I'll bow out. To each their own; I am just offering my point of view.
I already tried transitioning by taking HRT before the FFS and it didn't work so I'm going to need the FFS first, then I'll start taking the estrogen again I think. I don't want to grow breasts unless I'm ready to live as a woman full-time.
I'd recommend working on your voice ASAP. It's something you can do at home on your own. You can get free sound programs that let you see if your voice is in the female pitch and vibration, although it wouldn't hurt to just sit down with a recording tool and follow youtube video tutorials.
Quote from: stldrmgrl on December 05, 2011, 02:03:36 PM
Therapy, HRT, Laser/Electrolysis, FFS (if necessary/desired), GCS (if desired).
Vocal therapy may also be needed once you begin trying to find and learn your female voice.
SAME HERE :)
Thanks for the input everyone,much appreciated :-*
Quote from: Bishounen on December 05, 2011, 02:20:37 PM
Depends totally on what you are after and what your physical features are like.
If you feel that you just cannot pass, then FFS without question comes firstly. However, if you think that you can already pass, then you can take things in your own order that you feel is right for you.
There are really no optional transition that fits everyone, as every transitioner have different "starting-material" to begin with, and not any least, different desires transitionwise.
FFS first? You don't even know if you'll be passable with hormones until you're on them for a while, for one thing. The vast majority of people on this forum who are passable probably have never done FFS. And honestly, I don't see how a surgeon could approve such a major surgery as that without any therapy coming first.
Quote from: toxicblue on December 06, 2011, 10:09:54 AM
FFS first? You don't even know if you'll be passable with hormones until you're on them for a while, for one thing. The vast majority of people on this forum who are passable probably have never done FFS. And honestly, I don't see how a surgeon could approve such a major surgery as that without any therapy coming first.
Well, as I mentioned, hormonal effects are sometimes not enough, and sometimes it is apparent even before hormones that HRT alone will ever be enough.
I mentioned this as I have no idea what the Thread starter looks like. However, as she mentioned FFS at all, I took it as a hint that she considered herself needing it, hence giving the advice to do that firstly before going full time, if passing was of concern for her.
As for surgeons not doing FFS without hormones or therapy? ROTFL.
The surgeons specialised in, for instance, FFS, does such procedures constantly on people that have never even tasted a hormone pill and still lives as guys.
Legally speaking, You can basically do everything you wish with your body if you got the money, apart from removing the reproductive glands. But apart from those, you are free to do what you want without any surgeon batting an eyelash.
I'd never recommend FFS first. Even if you feel you'll need it for sure, hormones will work changes once you're on them. Much better for yourself AND the surgeon to have some idea of what hormones will do with your face to decide what work gets done. It would be kinda sucky to have FFS and then have to get a bunch of revisions done later to rebalance things that hormones changed.
imho...
Doctors work on the principle "first do no harm." It's a good rule to use in most (if not all) areas of one's life.
Therapy?
HRT?
Surgery (FFS)?
Surgery (GRS)?
Let's consider getting FFS first...what if, after it's done, you realize you were better off with your "old" face? That's a harm; so let's figure out first if your "old" face is the problem. Therapy will help with that, as may HRT.
Let's then consider getting HRT first...what if, after it's done, you miss having erections (not a wistful, low-intensity feeling, but a "damn-I-might-as-well-kill-myself-now" feeling)? That's a harm; so before getting HRT we should consider therapy first (and not just to get the letter; it's to make sure you're not having other mental health issues or whatever else may be causing an inappropriate urge to "be" trans) .
So now let's consider therapy...if you go to a reputable therapist (i.e., not Uncle Bubba at the local tavern), who specializes in trans issues, at most you'll find out you're not trans, but have other issues. This is not a "harm"; it's a good thing, because then you can work on those other issues without permanently changing your body. (Of course, it could also be that you are trans, in which case you'd get the letter and move on to the next step--HRT)
Take it slow, take it one step at a time. Do the least change first, that way you'll do the least harm...you can always step it up a notch, but it's difficult (if not impossible) to undo some things.
Quote from: stldrmgrl on December 05, 2011, 02:22:31 PM
Therapy isn't necessarily suggested due to needing therapy; it is more along the lines of being diagnosed with GID, thus getting your letter of recommendation to begin HRT.
I disagree with the system in needing therapy (or RLE as they still do this in places like where I live if you go NHS) to get HRT, most people know very well what they'll get from going on HRT and only very, very few have "regret". If I had my way HRT would always be given on informed consent, none of this stupidly long rings you have to jump through now. Because if someone goes to their GP and is like "Yo gimme HRT" the chances are they've been having trans thoughts for a long time and looked into stuff a lot, and don't need like 300 other opinions telling them that they were right and all those months waiting were pointless.
To rebuttal the poster above; generally a person will know if HRT is right for them within the first few months before anything permanent is done. For example; I love the fact that my spontaneous erections are gone, the softening of my skin and breast (albeit slow) growth. If I wasn't enjoying these I'd easily be able to stop and everything would pretty much go back to how it was before since I've not been on for too long. And how often do you go on a trans community and hear someone complaining about not being able to do things that a typical male can do (like get erections), plus HRT doesn't really make you unable to get erections unless your T level is too low, if you have the right levels you'll still be able to do stuff if you got in the mood, you just wouldn't get random pop ups.
Quote from: stldrmgrl on December 05, 2011, 02:03:36 PM
Therapy, HRT, Laser/Electrolysis, FFS (if necessary/desired), GCS (if desired).
Vocal therapy may also be needed once you begin trying to find and learn your female voice.
I like this method. Probably because it's the method I'm using. But the only thing HRT will do to your face is move the fat around. It will have no effect on your prominent brow bone or square jaw with cleft chin. So, I understand those that want to get FFS in the early stages or right before going full time.
Quote from: Nurse With Wound on December 06, 2011, 01:05:16 PM
I disagree with the system in needing therapy (or RLE as they still do this in places like where I live if you go NHS) to get HRT, most people know very well what they'll get from going on HRT and only very, very few have "regret". If I had my way HRT would always be given on informed consent, none of this stupidly long rings you have to jump through now. Because if someone goes to their GP and is like "Yo gimme HRT" the chances are they've been having trans thoughts for a long time and looked into stuff a lot, and don't need like 300 other opinions telling them that they were right and all those months waiting were pointless.
I don't make the rules. It is what it is.
I agree with Jenny and stldrmgrl;
Therapy, HRT, Hair Removal (whichever method), FFS, RLE, GCS. FFS first is not a good idea in my opinion, when the FFS is done you'll basically be forced into transition, ready or not. I started Hair removal first, then Therapy, next is HRT, and the rest will follow for me.
well thanks for the valuable input everyone, atm im thinking:
- Electro for beard removal started this(got a home unit im doing this with,galvanic type)
- Grow hair out.. started this
- Trim back hedgerows..err eyebrows.. started this, and now have one higher than the other..lol ::)
- Get my own flat-so im not homeless if it all goes wrong
- Get therapy
- Get HRT
- Get FFS
- Who knows?
Quote from: SandraJane on December 06, 2011, 11:08:56 PM
I agree with Jenny and stldrmgrl;
Therapy, HRT, Hair Removal (whichever method), FFS, RLE, GCS. FFS first is not a good idea in my opinion, when the FFS is done you'll basically be forced into transition, ready or not. I started Hair removal first, then Therapy, next is HRT, and the rest will follow for me.
Not really, depending on what you looked like from the start.
In cases where the patient starts out with a very masculine face with a maculine bonebuild, a FFS will not make the person look like an actual female but like a very androgyne male with soft features.
Oh, and I ofcourse meant FFS only if it is absolutely certain that the transitioner actually wants to transition.
I forgot to mention that.
Quote from: Bishounen on December 07, 2011, 08:48:22 AM
Oh, and I ofcourse meant FFS only if it is absolutely certain that the transitioner actually wants to transition.
I forgot to mention that.
The best way to know if you're absolutely certain is through therapy.
I know that after being on hormones a few years, my views of what I needed to change on my face changed a bit from when I started. I'd definitely give hrt time to make some changes before I put myself in some surgeons hands on something as important as my face.
Quote from: Jaime on December 07, 2011, 10:12:40 AM
I know that after being on hormones a few years, my views of what I needed to change on my face changed a bit from when I started. I'd definitely give hrt time to make some changes before I put myself in some surgeons hands on something as important as my face.
I agree 100%
Axelle
I am very curious about the real result of hormones, because i meet trans girls non ops , but none of they take hormones, i dont know how much they change the body.
I am not sure really if they will help enough to worsth the expensive charge..that can be used in surgery.
IF i must chose between hormones or surgery...what can be more important...
Maybe is a hard question to answer..because maybe that is different from one to other people and her own needs :/
Note: when i see before and after pics..i dont really know what is a result of hormones and what is surgery :s
for me its working on voice and FFS. and then HRT and GRS