I feel really down after loosing my appeal for hair removal at my local PCT, sheer torture and the pannel had nothing but leading questions i knew the answer was no even before i went.
Anyone else been in this situation?
What on Earth might you be talking about?
Quote from: A on April 10, 2012, 05:28:02 PM
What on Earth might you be talking about?
PCT = English NHS primary care trust (I'm assuming)
Uhm, it's a beginning, but the OP will still have to explain the problem with more details...
If I understand the OP correctly, the issue seems to be having been denied access to hair removal by "gatekeepers" who exhibit an anti-trans bias. Unfortunately, I can't really relate on that score; the only hurdle to hair removal in my region is ability to pay.
Different PCTs have different funding priorities - and differing attitudes towards trans issues. It's really not good that there's such variation across the country, but it's a fact. My PCT has recently reduced its funding for hair removal (laser - they don't fund electrolysis at all, which I consider discrimination against old people :)).
Quote from: Padma on April 11, 2012, 03:13:17 AM
Different PCTs have different funding priorities - and differing attitudes towards trans issues. It's really not good that there's such variation across the country, but it's a fact. My PCT has recently reduced its funding for hair removal (laser - they don't fund electrolysis at all, which I consider discrimination against old people :)).
Thank you for your reply, i just wish they had not lied to me and just said we will not fund you full stop, instead i have had to try to prove why i am in need more than anyone else in front of 5 strangers with no clue how HRT works ahhh, i need to do the lotto :)
Quote from: Dana_H on April 11, 2012, 01:55:08 AM
If I understand the OP correctly, the issue seems to be having been denied access to hair removal by "gatekeepers" who exhibit an anti-trans bias. Unfortunately, I can't really relate on that score; the only hurdle to hair removal in my region is ability to pay.
Thank you for clearing that up ;D
Quote from: amdee on April 10, 2012, 04:47:36 PM
I feel really down after loosing my appeal for hair removal at my local PCT, sheer torture and the pannel had nothing but leading questions i knew the answer was no even before i went.
Anyone else been in this situation?
I couldn't get it done through the PCT either. I have yet to hear of anyone getting assistance from their PCT for hair removal. You will have to pay for your hair removal yourself like the rest of us have to.
To be most fair though electro is not so expensive, i am a uk resident and my hair removal only costs £30 per week
i know if you have no job that is alot but even with a small part time job it make it affordable.
I have never expected the nhs to pay for anything i saved all my surgeries i even pay my own drugs bill and i suspect they have no wish to pay for anything anyway, i certainly would of never considered them for srs
that said it is tough and i feel for any who this is you own options and i have read of many.
If you want something bad enough you shall get it though and an hour here and there of hair removal still counts ofc to you end goals
i have heard of one girl, a fairly well known ts in the north of uk who got 6 laser sessions but as NB has kind of said, they are rare
It just depends on which PCT you're under. Devon used to provide 6 laser treatments - now they only provide 5.
Quote from: Padma on April 11, 2012, 09:48:44 AM
It just depends on which PCT you're under. Devon used to provide 6 laser treatments - now they only provide 5.
I know that in the area I live the PCT would never consider funding for Laser Hair removal. Padma, you say that your PCT provides 5 different laser treatments? what are they?
I guess less inner city areas like Devon they may be more flexible with their NHS PCT budgets?
Quote from: Ms Delgado on April 11, 2012, 09:36:57 AM
To be most fair though electro is not so expensive, i am a uk resident and my hair removal only costs £30 per week
i know if you have no job that is alot but even with a small part time job it make it affordable. I have never expected the nhs to pay for anything i saved all my surgeries i even pay my own drugs bill and i suspect they have no wish to pay for anything anyway, i certainly would of never considered them for srs.
I have to pay for my laser which costs me around £170.00 per session which I think is expensive. I've never known anyone to do it for as little as £30.00? Also all of us have to pay for our own prescriptions in England unless we are on benefit Scotland is the only place in the U.K that gives free prescriptions.
Quote from: Naturally Blonde on April 11, 2012, 10:41:07 AMAlso all of us have to pay for our own prescriptions in England unless we are on benefit Scotland is the only place in the U.K that gives free prescriptions.
Erm, try Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland that gives free prescriptions.
Quote from: Keroppi on April 11, 2012, 11:56:35 AM
Erm, try Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland that gives free prescriptions.
I only knew about Scotland, thanks for the info Keroppi.
Quote from: Naturally Blonde on April 11, 2012, 10:41:07 AM
I know that in the area I live the PCT would never consider funding for Laser Hair removal. Padma, you say that your PCT provides 5 different laser treatments? what are they?
I guess less inner city areas like Devon they may be more flexible with their NHS PCT budgets?
Not "5 different laser treatments", five sessions of laser treatment.
Devon as a PCT has a very progressive transgender policy - and has its own Gender Clinic in Exeter (currently expanding to meet the increasing demand), which has a more flexible approach to gender expression/identity than some others in the UK, from what I hear. I'm fortunate to have landed here.
QuoteI have to pay for my laser which costs me around £170.00 per session which I think is expensive. I've never known anyone to do it for as little as £30.00? Also all of us have to pay for our own prescriptions in England unless we are on benefit Scotland is the only place in the U.K that gives free prescriptions.
Ms Delgado was writing about electrolysis costing her £30 a week, not laser.
Quote from: Padma on April 11, 2012, 12:22:01 PM
Not "5 different laser treatments", five sessions of laser treatment.
Devon as a PCT has a very progressive transgender policy - and has its own Gender Clinic in Exeter (currently expanding to meet the increasing demand), which has a more flexible approach to gender expression/identity than some others in the UK, from what I hear. I'm fortunate to have landed here.
Ms Delgado was writing about electrolysis costing her £30 a week, not laser.
Yes sorry! but you are still very lucky to get five free NHS laser treatments. I wasn't able to get any from my NHS PCT.
Quote from: Naturally Blonde on April 11, 2012, 12:25:00 PM
If you scroll up you will see that in your post you did say 5 different laser treatments! you should have said 5 sessions in the first place and then people might understand you better!
I never used the word "different", and I'm sorry if using "treatments" as shorthand for "sessions of treatment" was too ambiguous.
Quote from: Ms Delgado on April 11, 2012, 09:36:57 AM
To be most fair though electro is not so expensive, i am a uk resident and my hair removal only costs £30 per week
i know if you have no job that is alot but even with a small part time job it make it affordable.
I have never expected the nhs to pay for anything i saved all my surgeries i even pay my own drugs bill and i suspect they have no wish to pay for anything anyway, i certainly would of never considered them for srs
that said it is tough and i feel for any who this is you own options and i have read of many.
If you want something bad enough you shall get it though and an hour here and there of hair removal still counts ofc to you end goals
i have heard of one girl, a fairly well known ts in the north of uk who got 6 laser sessions but as NB has kind of said, they are rare
well electro here in the us where i live is 90 $ an hour and most need 200 plus to clear a face. so 200 x 90 = $ 18000 !!!! oh yeah not expensive at all.....
Quote from: Naturally Blonde on April 11, 2012, 08:49:23 AM
I couldn't get it done through the PCT either. I have yet to hear of anyone getting assistance from their PCT for hair removal. You will have to pay for your hair removal yourself like the rest of us have to.
I may be new here but do not go off on me ok! you know not my situation.
Quote from: angelfaced on April 11, 2012, 01:01:28 PM
well electro here in the us where i live is 90 $ an hour and most need 200 plus to clear a face. so 200 x 90 = $ 18000 !!!! oh yeah not expensive at all.....
the op was refering to the uk i am aware of it is more expensive elsewhere and no need be sarcastic
we were discussing uk as far as i am aware
you just reminded me why i rarely come here and offer anything
Quote from: amdee on April 11, 2012, 01:28:49 PM
I may be new here but do not go off on me ok! you know not my situation.
I'm sorry if you thought I was being rude but usually regarding the NHS you have to fight for everything and I've had 12 years of it! please don't assume that it will all fall into your lap!
Quote from: Naturally Blonde on April 11, 2012, 03:17:44 PM
I'm sorry if you thought I was being rude but usually regarding the NHS you have to fight for everything and I've had 12 years of it! please don't assume that it will all fall into your lap!
Fall into my lap, okayyy ???
I would not count on the nhs for much tbh. Im just hoping for therapy and hrt..will pay for the rest myself.
I want laser soon though,any uk ppl know a good place in birmingham area?
Quote from: Beverley on April 11, 2012, 02:24:32 PM
I am having it done in Leeds for £17 per session - 6 sessions for £99. I signed up for a groupon deal. Laser hair removal pops up every few weeks - www.groupon.co.uk
amdee - if you are suitable for laser (brown/black hair) then signup for GroupOn. Also look for a Cristanos clinic and speak to them as they seem to be very good at getting funding out of PCTs and they have several clinics around England
http://cristianos.co.uk/laser-hair-removal-clinics-nationwide/
£17.00? I find that very hard to believe as most salons charge anything from £150 up to £200 per session and £50.00 for a test patch. Maybe you are having IPL instead which is a different treatment than laser?
I know about Cristianos in London and they are very expensive from when I last called them for a quote!
94% discount? Seems fishy, but oh well.
By the way, aren't diode lasers the best? Why use ruby lasers and stuff?
There are some really good deals on Groupon (94% is not unusual) - but they do tend to be for IPL, which isn't as effective on "male" hair.
If you ask me, IPL isn't effective, period. o.o I've been told it's not any more permanent than waxing.
Having had test patches of both Laser & IPL at one salon, they felt exactly the same to me. The prickly pain was the same. I tried a number of salons trying to get a good deal and then I came across the GroupOn deal so I did that.
After 4 sessions my chest hair is greatly reduced, almost all my under-chin bristles have gone, my cheeks are clearer and my chin is looking good. My upper lip is fighting the hardest but about half the bristles have gone and the 'five o'clock' shadow has gone. I have two more sessions to go and then I will need to decide whether to continue or go straight to electrolysis for the grey hairs.
Quote from: A on April 13, 2012, 04:33:38 PM
If you ask me, IPL isn't effective, period. o.o I've been told it's not any more permanent than waxing.
Neither laser nor IPL are allowed to be described as 'Permanent Hair Removal'. Both are described as 'Permanent Hair
Reduction'.
I may be mistaken, but the last time I looked, I believe that laser had proof of its efficiency, whilst IPL didn't, and had a few warnings of "don't listen to their claims" on it.