Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transitioning => Hair removal => Topic started by: Danielle Emmalee on February 25, 2014, 10:31:27 AM

Title: Laser before HRT?
Post by: Danielle Emmalee on February 25, 2014, 10:31:27 AM
There's probably a thread on this somewhere, but I couldn't find it.  Is there any point in getting laser hair removal on my face before starting HRT, or is it a waste of money and it will just start growing again?  This won't matter if I can't find a new job very soon anyways, but if I do, I have enough money to get started.  Should I at least wait until a little before HRT, wait until a little after starting HRT, or does it not matter and should start ASAP?
Title: Re: Laser before HRT?
Post by: suzifrommd on February 25, 2014, 10:33:36 AM
I believe that HRT does not affect male facial hair, so it wouldn't interfere with the effects of laser or electrolysis.
Title: Re: Laser before HRT?
Post by: Danielle Emmalee on February 25, 2014, 10:35:00 AM
Right, I'm not worried about it not working as well when on HRT. I'm worried about it not being permanent until starting HRT.

I'm not sure if that's what you understood
Title: Re: Laser before HRT?
Post by: Colleen♡Callie on February 25, 2014, 10:47:21 AM
Laser/electrolysis kills the follicles.  All testosterone did was activate the existing living folicles to grow thicker and darker.  It doesn't actually manufacture follicles.  So it'll work the same before or after starting HRT.  Overly simplified explanation but works for the question.
Title: Re: Laser before HRT?
Post by: Laurelin on March 09, 2014, 06:03:52 PM
I started before HRT and I am really happy with the results. I wish that I had started sooner because there is this resistant patch of harid on my chin that refuses to go away after 5 sessions, I also have lots of grays  left so there is still lots of time till my face is clear >_<
Title: Re: Laser before HRT?
Post by: FalseHybridPrincess on March 09, 2014, 06:06:13 PM
eeeer with a few months of hrt I had seen a lot of reduction in my facial hair, then I started laser and It will propably take care of the rest...

My endo told me that without hrt the hair will grow back...dunno if its true or not , thats what she said.
Title: Re: Laser before HRT?
Post by: Jenna Marie on March 09, 2014, 07:13:08 PM
My laser tech said the only difference in the short term is that skin gets thinner and more sensitive on HRT, so laser might hurt more. (In the long term, as in many years, testosterone can sometimes spur new hair follicles to activate. But even then I'd think it'd be better to have killed off *some* of the original set.)

It WILL be permanent, no matter when you start.
Title: Re: Laser before HRT?
Post by: Jayne on March 09, 2014, 09:20:32 PM
I saw an eloctrolsyst 3 yrs ago & she advised me to wait until I started HRT before starting facial hair removal as apparently the T in my body would cause hair folicals to regrow.
She was honest enough to say that in her opinion I would have to pay alot more for electrolysis sessions if I started before HRT for the reason given above. For medical reasons I cannot have laser hair removal so cannot comment on that kind of treatment.

I'm sure that i've read that there are growth cycles for facial hair folicles so it would seem to be best to either start hair removal shortly before HRT or as as soon as possible after starting HRT (I'm not 100% cetain about that bit though)

I've been on HRT for 5-6 months now & i've noticed that since starting HRT the hair that regrows on my legs/arms/torso after epilation is not as coarse/dark as before HRT, I have a patch on my chin that lost all hair 3 months ago due to a very severe eczema flare up & the folicles have not regrown but the rest needs shaving every day so I think she may have been correct.
Title: Re: Laser before HRT?
Post by: Jill F on March 09, 2014, 09:44:42 PM
It seems to me that laser should be started as early as possible.  Beard removal takes like forever, so the sooner you start, the sooner you'll be done.
Title: Re: Laser before HRT?
Post by: michelle666 on March 10, 2014, 08:15:48 AM
I started laser before hrt and by the time I actually started hrt, I was pretty much free of facial hair.
Title: Re: Laser before HRT?
Post by: jenn90210 on March 31, 2014, 08:20:42 AM
i started laser before going full time and it worked fine, but if for some reason you stop hrt the hair will come back
Title: Re: Laser before HRT?
Post by: SilverGirl on April 15, 2014, 03:34:04 PM
i haven't started HRT yet but i'm doing laser and it's really making a huge difference, but damn, does it hurt!

i hope when i start HRT i have a much more cleaner look, as the laser already did for a few areas