There are some really expert people on here so I hope someone can point me to the facts.
When I started T (at age 36) I thought that there was a chance my face would masculinize because I had watched a program with a physical anthropologist who associated bone accretion on the brow and jaw with older skeletons--late 30's and early 40's. However, it seems like some individuals acquire this in their early 20's. And I saw someone on here say that it takes more than just testosterone to get this change, that HGH is also involved? Isn't that only high during early puberty?
How does this work and is there any chance I could get bone growth? (The father's side of my family doesn't have much but my mother's side does and two of my brothers have prominent brow lines.)
I don't think you can get brow bossing with testosterone at your age. You can try dermal fillers to get perfect masculine chin and forehead.
Facial changes on T seem to be more subtle and take place over time. I think a lot of them are more so the result of fat redistribution and changes to the hairline than actual bone changes.
Whenever people come by asking about facial changes and considering surgery to masculinize the face, I always say give T 5 years to do it's thing. If you aren't happy by then, surgery can fix it. I don't think I've seen anybody's brow area become more prominent but it's also not something I've paid close attention to. IMO, the jaw is more noticeable.
I guess I had gotten the impression that this was something that happened later in life and now I'm kind of sad about it.
I do not pass well, I get no pronoun or "ma'am" far more than "sir". Very frustrated right now. Gender neutral is actually okay with me but "ma'am is not.
Are you open to posting pics in the thread about passing? I think oftentimes when we look at ourselves constantly, we stress about these minute details that we see as feminine, but that typically isn't what is stopping us from passing. Maybe folks looking from the outside could be more helpful.
I want to be able to be frank here, and that means not posting identifiable pics. I know when I'm not passing because I start getting the "ma'am" thing from total strangers.
Usually young guys think I am male, but older men think I am female.
I'm very frank and I've posted identifiable pics, but I know it's not for everyone :) You could try what a friend of mine does. He went through a pretty long 50/50 phase in terms of passing, and everyone that gendered him incorrectly, he asked why. It's uncomfortable, but maybe it'll help give you some things to focus in on.