Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transsexual talk => Male to female transsexual talk (MTF) => Topic started by: Achila on April 19, 2012, 11:13:43 PM

Title: HRT and FFS timeline
Post by: Achila on April 19, 2012, 11:13:43 PM
Hi girls, I just got my letter for HRT. Before all seemed vague but since I got my diagnose I can seek for FFS in September. However, my face is rather masculine, and I am affraid that doing HRT even for 5-6 months will feminize my body, thus, conflicting with my facial appereance. Nonetheless, I read that one's face changes during HRT's first years, so does it mean that doing  FFS before HRT is a bad move??? 
I understand that things change during HRT; however, my masculine jaw and nose shape won't go soften alone, tho.
I am not doing cheeks cuz during HRT they can become too pronounced due to fat and water retention from the hormones..
I saw the timeline from some girls who replied to other posts. this is mine:

0- changing just name from Alexander to Achila (instead of Jackie)
1- begin HRT regimen
2- surgery in 6 months (sep/oct)
3- get my wardrobe in order and work on my voice in the meantime
4- change gender after FFS is completed

Title: Re: HRT and FFS timeline
Post by: Butterflyhugs on April 20, 2012, 03:22:10 AM
My timeline was:

0- Begin HRT
1- Begin Laser after 2 months of HRT
2- FFS after 5 months of HRT
3- Change wardrobe after I recovered from FFS
4- Changed Name and Gender on License

I was pretty young though so that might not be optimal for everyone.

Edit: I'll add, my transition as a whole was pretty atypical from what I understand. For example, I presented as a boy right up until the morning of my FFS. I don't think I ever went out as a girl ever prior to it. My mom only started calling me Kristy a few days before it in order to practice. The fact that I was a girl was my single greatest conviction, though, so to me the real life experience test-run wasn't necessary.
Title: Re: HRT and FFS timeline
Post by: Raneth on April 20, 2012, 08:36:06 AM
Quote from: Butterflyhugs on April 20, 2012, 03:22:10 AM
My timeline was:

0- Begin HRT
1- Begin Laser after 2 months of HRT
2- FFS after 5 months of HRT
3- Change wardrobe after I recovered from FFS
4- Changed Name and Gender on License

I was pretty young though so that might not be optimal for everyone.

Edit: I'll add, my transition as a whole was pretty atypical from what I understand. For example, I presented as a boy right up until the morning of my FFS. I don't think I ever went out as a girl ever prior to it. My mom only started calling me Kristy a few days before it in order to practice. The fact that I was a girl was my single greatest conviction, though, so to me the real life experience test-run wasn't necessary.

This was exactly my story with ffs too, although I had it after 14 months of HRT.  I think I went out as girl maybe twice prior to ffs, and didn't go fulltime until 2 months after ffs.
Title: Re: HRT and FFS timeline
Post by: Rebecca Perez on April 20, 2012, 07:00:18 PM
Being 41 I feel like things are a it more clear for me regarding how I want to spend the rest of my life.

0 - Therapy (still going weekly. Changed therapists midway because I wanted more than a "letter" for hormones.)

1 - Started HRT

     a. Voice lessons (worth it)

     b. Started laser

2 - Slowly integrating females clothing into everyday life

3. Started electrolysis (blond hairs left after electrolysis)

4. FFS and oriectomy surgery for August (yay!)

5. RLE

During this whole process I have come out to family and friends introducing everyone to me
Title: Re: HRT and FFS timeline
Post by: Alainaluvsu on April 20, 2012, 07:14:30 PM
How do yall pay for this? Geez I'm having trouble finding money for laser :P
Title: Re: HRT and FFS timeline
Post by: Raneth on April 20, 2012, 07:29:03 PM
Quote from: Alainaluvsu on April 20, 2012, 07:14:30 PM
How do yall pay for this? Geez I'm having trouble finding money for laser :P

My parents paid for most of my transition, but I also live in a country that has a decent minimum wage and very low unemployment.
Title: Re: HRT and FFS timeline
Post by: Alainaluvsu on April 20, 2012, 07:31:28 PM
Quote from: Raneth on April 20, 2012, 07:29:03 PM
My parents paid for most of my transition, but I also live in a country that has a decent minimum wage and very low unemployment.

I own my own place outright and make twice the minimum wage... lol!
Title: Re: HRT and FFS timeline
Post by: JennX on April 20, 2012, 10:32:19 PM
Quote from: Jackie Witt on April 19, 2012, 11:13:43 PM
I am affraid that doing HRT even for 5-6 months will feminize my body, thus, conflicting with my facial appearance.

No... it will not... at least not to the degree that you are thinking of.  :)

Most surgeons recommend waiting at least for 2 years of HRT to see what if any changes will occur to the soft tissue of the face. The older you are, the less dramatic the changes generally speaking.
Title: Re: HRT and FFS timeline
Post by: Annah on April 20, 2012, 10:38:14 PM
5-6 months will not overly feminize your body as much as you think. JennX is right.

Most doctors strongly suggest waiting 2 years for HRT to make changes in your face before going through FFS.

Also, in your post it shows you wont even be buying clothing until after FFS. I would really go fulltime or even parttime first before FFS.

What if you got the surgery, went fulltime and realize it wasn't for you? Surgery is irreversible. I know you are thinking "that will never happen" but I know quite a few girls who got FFS too soon and even before fulltime and then whigged out.
Title: Re: HRT and FFS timeline
Post by: Achila on April 20, 2012, 11:48:23 PM
0- changing just name from Alexander to Achila (Achila is a androgenous name and has a good numerolgy vibe onto it)
1- begin HRT regimen (May, 2012)
2- surgery in 6 months or still cannot go out (sep/oct 2012 )
3- get my wardrobe in order ( I meant "in order" as tossing my guy stuff or sorting thru)
4- change gender after FFS is completed ( I must have face/ looks/ name all in tandem so I can go for the gender aspect of it)

Thanks for your great posts.  I have been dressing for 5 years and just could not go out because of my super masculine face..honestly, I am not trying to find an excuse to go FFS  just that I am one of those Italian looking guidos w very strong masculine features that make impossible to pass; on top of it I am completely bald and I shall wear wigs for the rest of my life which makes me look even more ackward w my current face. I am all set for this great hair systems that are more sexy, well taken care of, and exuberant than actual female hair..so my 5000$ in hair shall crown only the right face
This 4 years of home cross-dressing (I call it home schooling) I have prepared me to start it off right. I want to ask about voice lessons. Which is the best course to take?
Title: Re: HRT and FFS timeline
Post by: Annah on April 21, 2012, 12:25:11 AM
well everyone is very different when they approach voice

I invested a very small amount of money in Kathe Perez just to get the fundamentals.

Then I did this:

1. bought a digital recorder (15 bucks)

2. Download a spectograph (http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/Spectrograph-Download-112411.html (http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/Spectrograph-Download-112411.html))
2a. Try to keep your voice at 175 and 256 Hz, averaging 200 Hz on the spectograph

3. Practice an hour a day for 4 to 6 months

4. Get tips from CandiFLA on youtube and http://www.genderlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/voicebook020.pdf (http://www.genderlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/voicebook020.pdf)

5. Try to avoid using falsetto

Its really complicated to describe through writing. But start with those tips.
Title: Re: HRT and FFS timeline
Post by: Annah on April 21, 2012, 12:56:09 AM
also this is me talking to you

http://vocaroo.com/i/s0qZWSG8g5JD (http://vocaroo.com/i/s0qZWSG8g5JD)

Hope this helps too