Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transitioning => Hormone replacement therapy => Topic started by: likealolita on January 28, 2012, 02:20:52 PM

Title: Hormones and Cheeks
Post by: likealolita on January 28, 2012, 02:20:52 PM
Hey all, I've been wondering just how much I can expect hormones to change my face with regards to cheeks.  I've been on the lowest/minimum dosage of Estrodial for around two and a half months and have yet to experience any noticeable changes.  My curiosity is expanded further by the fact that I'm really tall (6'4"), but really skinny (around 123 pounds).  Assuming I'm eventually granted a larger dosage of Estrogen, can I expect to see any changes in my cheek area?
Title: Re: Hormones and Cheeks
Post by: Maja.V on January 28, 2012, 02:32:13 PM
Given your weight, estrogen won't have much fat to work with in the first place. Start eating pies, and lots of those. You are far too light for your height, bordering on an eating disorder.
Title: Re: Hormones and Cheeks
Post by: likealolita on January 28, 2012, 02:43:50 PM
Oh, okay.  Yeah, I didn't think it could do much for me since I am so skinny.  However, the reason I am so is because I've been apparently given the genes of one of my uncles, who is also very tall and very thin.

Do you think, potentially, that cheek implants might be worth pursuing?
Title: Re: Hormones and Cheeks
Post by: eli77 on January 28, 2012, 02:44:20 PM
That's a BMI of 15.0 which means you are about 30lbs below the bare minimum for healthy. If you have no fat to distribute, estrogen isn't going to do much of anything for you.

I would recheck your weight and height actually. You should look visibly skeletal at those measurements.
Title: Re: Hormones and Cheeks
Post by: Jameve on February 02, 2012, 01:28:40 AM
I'm skinny too and I haven't noticed any fat gain or difference in how the fat distributed in my face unfortunately but even if your skinny you'll notice more of your body weight becoming fat rather than muscle. So for the rest of your body it's not like you won't see any change just because your thin. You will.
Title: Re: Hormones and Cheeks
Post by: 8888 on February 02, 2012, 05:14:21 AM
I'm underweight too and have noticed a big difference in my cheeks. Obviously you need fat for it to work; my cheeks get puffy when I eat loads and exercise less - unfortunately I burn a lot of fat at work so they change quite frequently. If you stick to the GDA of 2000 kcalories you should be OK.

As for cheek implants, they are to add structure to your face. If your cheek bones already stick out, you don't need cheek implants. Look into fat grafts and dermal fillers and possibly sub-malar implants.
Title: Re: Hormones and Cheeks
Post by: likealolita on February 02, 2012, 11:23:44 AM
I booked a consultation with Dr. Spiegel in April, so I'll have a better understanding then of what I'll need to do.  I'll have a few more months with hormones under my belt, too, so I'm looking forward to it. :)

Thanks for the suggestions, 8888.  I'll be sure to mention them to the doctor and see what he has to say.
Title: Re: Hormones and Cheeks
Post by: Christine Eryn on February 02, 2012, 12:06:32 PM
The only thing I ever had going for my face was my high cheekbones. With E & Spiro, they are more feminine than I had ever imagined. I consider myself pretty thin too.