Hey everyone :) so I had my forehead reconstruction performed by Dr.Spiegel onn November 12th. I I went into surgery totally ocnvinced I only need this one procedure and I would be done. I am glad I did it that way, but have also come to realize that I want more work done. I think part of the issue is that phenomenon of...once your forehead looks so much better, the rest that once looked good in comparison to the miserable forehead now looks bad in comparison to the good one! Anyway I think I am beautiful and the forehead WAS the main issue. Prior to forehead reconstruction surgery I was very anxious and depressed about my face, and now I can relax andn accept myself. None the less, I want more work done.
I have been hesitant to ask this group or many people what they htink I "need" as we all know this is somewhat subjective, but we also know of course that there are principles of masculinity/frmininity and to achieve the goals we are set out to achieve - its necessary to have input form informed people, such as yourselves.
I am fully satisfied with my forehead, so please - no crticisms if you don't like spiegels work. I love it, and I understand others may have their own taste.
As for the rest of my face...I feel I would benefit from jaw/chin reconstruction with a lip lift and fat injections to my cheek.
I am not considering the fat too much at the moment because I don't want to go overboard. I got a quote from dimaggio for jaw/chin/lip for 8k - which is a GREAT price. I could also go to cardenas in guadelahara and get jaw/chin/lip/breast implants for 12k...also amazing price.
I love dimaggios work, as do most of you - would you reccomend him storngly for lower face work?
Also, any cardenas ladies willing to speak to cardenas' capability and the cleanliness of the hospital? I know he is opening a new hospital this summer should be very nice.
My american ignorance makes me feel nervous of going out of the country. But I know that shouldnt be a real concern, and understand why medicalcar ein other countries often surpasses that here.
Being in boston medical center for my forehead DID make me feel very safe though.
I am a student and have limtied income, so cheap is necessary - but of course not mroe important than results or safety. I will be savingn for this work for some time. Fortunately I have no sense of urgency anymore, as the forehad was the onlything that induced panic.
Here is a before/after photo of my forehead work and my profile
(I've been on HRT for 16 months)
http://i.imgur.com/jBstBqR.png
heres a frontal view (2 months postop)
http://i.imgur.com/GKYDYmj.jpg
and my other profile
http://i.imgur.com/dxdXWtI.jpg
Please offer critical feedback onn what else I need - or don't need.
I pass 100% of the time...not saying no one knwos I am trans, just saying that no one has called me sir or he since 4 months on HRT. even pre-ffs I passed.
There is defintiely a yearning to erase all signs of manhood, but I know I should balance that w the reality of my history.
thanks and love to you all
Di
First I just wanna say your forehead work looks great. If that one thing was enough to make you more comfortable I say good for you.
In my opinion your choices of jaw/chin, lip & breasts are good choices. Sometimes when girls go in for consultations they may focus on that one thing that bothers them most. I see nothing wrong with wanting to go back for more. It at least gives you the option of seeing if you're ok with the changes you've made and to have more if needed. Also, sometimes when you get somethings done it can kinda throw other things out of sync or show up more than first realized. I think that's why sometimes Dr's suggest a combo of procedures.
The way I've planed things out I'll be going to Cardenas for slight ffs & breasts. I know what you mean about the fear of going out of the country for work. At this point my desire to get the work done over powers any fears I may have had. In my opinion I'm not willing to pay an arm & leg for work that's just as good out of the country. I'm sure whatever choice you make you'll be fine since you pass pretty well now. You don't sound like the kind of person who has a laundry list of things they hate which is a red flag to me.
Thank you so much for your response. I value all input here...I appreciate what you said about my forehead :) so happy w it. I also felt like all fear was less than my need for FFS when I was getting my forehead done. I haven't reached that zone yet w the rest of my FFS, but I will. It's really a matter of acceptance, making the decisions, and letting go.
Anyway...my other anxiety is that my family has been fully supportive, I told them about my forehead and though none thought I needed it, as they consider me a beautiful woman, they accepted what I did.
I really really don't think they will understand AT ALL why I want to do more, and I think if they knew I was going out of the country my mother would have a heart attack!
I'm 24, an adult, I make my own decisions :) but I dunno I feel responsible to inform them of what I am doing, but honestly I feel like it is unnecessary and will just cause more harm to them than good.
There are no guarantees - but I'll be fine. I just will be. Telling my mom I'm going seems like worrying her for the benefit of getting it off my chest.
I have Nowhere near enough money to go have surgery anytime soon. So it isn't like this will be an issue now per se...
I am seriously considering just telling my sister and asking her to keep it to herself. Why tell her? Because I think someone in my family ought to know where I am in case something does go wrong.
Anyway...after forehead reconstruction my mom was like "oh now I totally understand why you wanted that done" and I'm like lol duh!! You know they don't see us as we do ourselves all the time.
I know that I am going to have the rest of this work done in my life and I want to get it ASAP. I also know that they will see how much more female I will look once they're done but won't understand doing it now.
Thoughts?
I think you look great now. And I can tell a difference in your forehead and brow bone areas. I would for sure tel your sister or someone incase something does not go well for sure its a safety thing. Your nose looks great not sure if you did anything there. I think the rest of your face looks fine but thats just me.
That's really helpful to hear honestly :)
My nose shrunk on HRT no surgery here :)
Im a Dr C girl. what would you like to know about him, his team. new surgical center, etc.
Does he compare to DiMaggio? I recognize the bias you or anyone may have but I just have been amazed by dimaggios work and haven't felt that way about Cardenas tho I do like his work too
yes jaw/chin surgery will do great for you. I had surgery with Dr Cardenas, the team are very professional and the result are great.
Quote from: PrincessDi on January 11, 2014, 04:44:17 PM
Does he compare to DiMaggio? I recognize the bias you or anyone may have but I just have been amazed by dimaggios work and haven't felt that way about Cardenas tho I do like his work too
although i have not known anyone to see that doctor i can say dr c and his team help you come up with your own female soft/cute look. and know thats what alot of people are looking for. at first i was looking to look like someone else. he was like ," you want to have your own natural look." and he was right. everyone i know of who has gone to him had good results to. esp. with bone work and nose work. he took some awfully manly people and actually helped them look female. the down side is most of them are like me know which is stealth. I have been a supporter of his teams work since i went (i use to have my user name on this site as my old name, starts with a T. but had to change it because of steath reasons)
Ya I know you darling I always admire your posts supporting dr c. I am truly looking to venture into the "no indication of trans-status" territory. Meaning I need my next set of surgeries to be done by someone who can make me look female.
I pass as female anyway but I think ppl read me sometimes I dunno I'm not stealth I write about being trans all the time but I don't want to look like I could be a boy
Your forehead turned out beautifully and honestly there is nothing masculine in your face. Dr Cardenas is famous, but I would not go alone and you definetly want someone to keep in touch with when leaving the country.
If you were to do one thing only I would do the jaw. But its hard doing one thing at a time. FFS is an art, like sculpting living flesh. I wont do it, been looking at my face 56 years.
I am going to Thailand in April. Ill let you know what I think when I get back. Im having work done on my face and an otoplasty (ears).
Quote from: PrincessDi on January 11, 2014, 06:51:01 PM
Ya I know you darling I always admire your posts supporting dr c. I am truly looking to venture into the "no indication of trans-status" territory. Meaning I need my next set of surgeries to be done by someone who can make me look female.
I pass as female anyway but I think ppl read me sometimes I dunno I'm not stealth I write about being trans all the time but I don't want to look like I could be a boy
Trust me, you don't look like a boy! :)
Another thing I like going to Dr Cardenas is their service at the recovery house. They provide almost everything you need, transport, accommodation, meal, snack etc.
Oh my, you dont look even remotely like a boy. Zero and zero that anyone ever thinks otherwise.
Stealth is a lifestyle choice. Passing is about freedom. You pass in your pictures, perfectly, so you can stop even thinking about it.
Quote from: PrincessDi on January 11, 2014, 01:14:30 PM
That's really helpful to hear honestly :)
My nose shrunk on HRT no surgery here :)
Thats neat! How long into HRT were you before you started to notice your nose shrinking? (crosses fingers)
Between 7 and 14 months :)
well thats what i like about him too. i dont normally need make up and he makes you look like the woman you should be. not trans at all. i hug him everytime i see hime
Quote from: amber1964 on January 11, 2014, 08:13:05 PM
Oh my, you dont look even remotely like a boy. Zero and zero that anyone ever thinks otherwise.
Stealth is a lifestyle choice. Passing is about freedom. You pass in your pictures, perfectly, so you can stop even thinking about it.
Statements like this surprise me so much...it means a lot to hear this, I want to believe it. Thank you for sharing it w me.
I wouldnt say it if it wasnt true. My bluntness gets me in trouble. And it is dangerous to tell someone what I said to you if it is NOT true. That gets young ladies harmed. But this is not something you need to give any further thought to at all. Everything you do from now on, is about you liking what you see in the mirror.
I think our faces from the side view look a lot alike( with a few differences). I think your forrhead looks great and you pass very well. But, if you want to take it further, I think its your mouth/chin/jaw area that can be improved. This is just my opinion and Im new to this stuff. You have a similar face from the side, still. Im planning on getting my teeth moved back as part of any future surgeries because the top front teeth push my mouth forward. This gives me that look where my mouth pushes out more than my forehead. I dont know if this is the same for you, but if it is, changing it can bring good results. I just notices your lower face isnt aligned with your forhead.