Quote from: ItachiUchiha on February 02, 2012, 12:00:30 PM
Wow, this got a lot of replies quickly, so I'll try my best here...

Assoluta: you are exactly right, I definitely should be looking at personal happiness before anything, it's just hard to make a blind leap like this knowing there is no going back if I hate the results.

Yes, this was what worried me too, but to some extent it is a leap of faith - I made it because I was fed up of the confusion and it leading to nowhere. But as Bishounen says, you can make this leap of faith less daunting by being gradual - perhaps presenting as female in one place, first indoors, then maybe in a gay/trans friendly place, and by actually being out there and doing what you know is right in your mind will bring a lot more resolution one way or the other, rather than trying to think your way out of it.

More than satisfied, I have a good life and I love it.
33 years hrt, 28 years post op.

I live in a fairly large city.  Like 1 million plus people, inc the suburbs.  What I eventually realized as I went out is that nobody gives a ->-bleeped-<- about my appearance as much as I do.  Once I realized that, the rest came easily.  The satisfaction comes from being happy with what you end up with - not the idea that you could end up with something better, you know?  I've accepted that I will always be XY and I will always have to deal with that - but I can take steps to minimize it's effect on my life/presentation/psychology, and, thanks to modern medicine, I'll be able to get pretty far in that minimization.  Satisfactory for me.  Will I be the perfect beautiful rock chick snarky lesbian that I'd like to see myself as - no.  But how many genetic girls hit exactly what they want to be?  How many men?  I think it's about working what you have and being satisfied at a certain point before perfection - whatever perfection is.

My hopes, prayers and love to all.

Definitely satisfied.I'm 18 years post op everything works down below and I look good for my age(55).I'm no Miss World but I'm attractive and look younger than 55.

Quote from: Melody Maia on February 02, 2012, 09:39:30 AM
Hon, it is one of those things that you have to do. If you are starting at 19, you are likely to have a pretty good result. Hard to say really without seeing what you look like now of course. It is a leap of faith, but it is also one you can try and back out of if you don't like it. The only thing I can tell you for certain is that the longer you wait, the worse it will get for you. It will build and build until you can't go on as you are. The age you reach that is different for everyone, but if it takes years, the result you will get at that point is not likely to be better than what you can achieve right now.

I myself only dreamed of being passable. I was an overweight, middle-aged suburban dad that looked like this:



and now I'm the princess 




I pretty much pass 100%. Most people don't believe me if I tell them I'm trans. Still got some weight to shed though, sigh, but I've lost 70lbs so that I can get SRS. Dr. Bowers will be performing it this Tuesday, so I'll have to get back to you on the post-op side of your question 

That's really amazing! Can't wait until I'm a princess. If you can do it then so can I.

Did you get face surgery or is that all hormones?

Quote from: Cadence Jean on February 02, 2012, 07:08:18 PM
I live in a fairly large city.  Like 1 million plus people, inc the suburbs.  What I eventually realized as I went out is that nobody gives a ->-bleeped-<- about my appearance as much as I do.  Once I realized that, the rest came easily.  The satisfaction comes from being happy with what you end up with - not the idea that you could end up with something better, you know?  I've accepted that I will always be XY and I will always have to deal with that - but I can take steps to minimize it's effect on my life/presentation/psychology, and, thanks to modern medicine, I'll be able to get pretty far in that minimization.  Satisfactory for me.  Will I be the perfect beautiful rock chick snarky lesbian that I'd like to see myself as - no.  But how many genetic girls hit exactly what they want to be?  How many men?  I think it's about working what you have and being satisfied at a certain point before perfection - whatever perfection is.

Cadence, if that's really you in your super-cute profile pic then I'd say you were as near perfection as makes no difference! 

I have massive bouts of depression that i never had pre op. When i stay home and watch tv or lounge around the house i feel fine but i am so scared about venturing into public anyone.

It seems passing has become more than an obsession with me in the last few months. A couple of months ago ago in class quite a few students were laughing and making crude jokes and even took pictures. I told the instructor and she put a stop to it fast and i have no issues at least that i can hear or see in school. But what that incident did is reinfoce my fear of never passing and always being laughed at.

I am affraid to go anywhere in public because everytime i hear people laughing or whispering i assume it is about me and start crying and run home.

i seemed to have alot more self confidence pre-op then i do now, but seeing as how i kinda did things in a weird order maybe the only one to blame is myself
6/11 HRT
7/12 SRS
12/1/12 got M changed to F on drivers license
4/13 legal name change(hopefully) was unable to do this beacuse of LONG divorce and court wouldnt allow until divorce was final. Now im broke and dont have the $1000 to do it right away and have to save up.

I am overweight at 202-210 and 5"7 and probably wont be loosing anymore (started above 300 at 6/11). So i guess my answer is.. i am satisfied with surgery and results but not satisfied with my life.

Quote from: ItachiUchiha on February 01, 2012, 03:06:44 PM
So for any post-ops (or anyone on HRT for several months) do you feel happy with how you turned out? I don't mean mentally, just physically (I know mentally is most important, but that's not the point to this question) and what age did you do it at? If you want to post pics, feel free.

I am 10 year post-op and to be truly honest I wouldn't trade places even with a genetic girl. I have it made, all of the equipment and none of the hassles. I came across a picture of myself about 17 years ago at the grand canyon before I transitioned and if you asked me then if I would ever make a convincing woman I would have said hell no. But with time (and of course money) all things are possible.I think for me the key thing was letting go of the old me and seeing how the new me was going to turn out. Eventually I gave myself permission to just be me. That's the hard part, a life without crutches.

I am very happy with myself, although if I had to do it again I would know alot more shortcuts. I am in agreement with Candence.  You have to care about yourself and not worry about what other people think.  Really to be honest, people do not really care, lol  I know everyone wants a good outcome, but it is you that you have to satisfy.  I have tats all over my arms. Not because I want to stand out, but because I like them, but do you think that doesnt make me stand out?  I do not care what ppl think..I do what I want for me, no one else.  Generally speaking if a guy is attractive as a man, then he will turn out attractive as a woman.  You just have to research the surgeons.  This is something I had to do and was not because I would only do it if i turned out passable.  You also have to know what to do to accentuate your looks as a female.  Some just do not have a clue.  It takes practice and experimenting. Also, it doesnt matter how good you look, if you talk like a guy, you will be made.   

well i was scared outta my mind but i just tried not to think of it and just do it! i knew thats what i wanted and it was amazing ... i would do it all over again.... sexually i am very pleased(oh definatly) lol, and it seems like even though some people know your transgender its like a switch that goes off in there head and you can kind of tell that things just got SO much easier to deal with. it was definatly painful but thats why they have the painkillers lol... and trust me i didnt say no to them ! all in all i give it 10 / 10 .

the only downfall i had about the whole surgery is the dilation ...gawd i did not wanna spend all my time dilating 4 - 6 times a day ... but i ended up finding it relaxing ... i found i was excited when i got the chance to just go to the bedroom and have a relaxing moment to myself and i didnt realize that you end up only doing it once a week in a years time so i really dont even notyice it when i have to do it. its like riding a bike you just get used to it.

27years post op, but the first 2years after my surgery I was a bit dissatisfied due to some complications which did settle down (girly problems) but Im now very satisfied, no regrets, surgery was necessary to complete my transition to become the woman I am now, life is great, Im now a married woman to a guy who fully excepts me as a woman and living life fully as a woman.

Quote from: Michelle Hayden on December 09, 2012, 03:28:37 PM
Generally speaking if a guy is attractive as a man, then he will turn out attractive as a woman. 

Gosh I don't know about that, not always the case, I was 1 ugly looking guy lol, but thankfully I transition into a glamous attractive woman, well my husband seems to think so, Im now 55, I feel and look as a woman in my 40s, I dread to think what Id look like now if I didn't transit, probably old balding and very unhappy. Im more content, happier and satisfied now as a woman.
p

ill play devils advocate and say if you're worried about caring about passing, being feminine, having a male past, etc... unless you are really feminine right now I would not attempt trans

meaning, if you can NOT transition... don't

I felt the same way as you, now I am overly concerned with passing, looking feminine, etc .. it drives me Cray Cray

then again, you are 19, and when I was 19 I wanted NOTHING to do with anything feminine and fought my feelings to trans

this is me at 24


and 27... do I look like my sister? OMJ I never thought about that!



now I obvy pass, but I beat myself up over being a ->-bleeped-<-... but then again I've only been fulltime for like 8 months
I don't know if getting a vag will help or not, but my Dick has really stared to cause me anxiety lately, along with my hairline, and my small butt, and my big head (girl hats don't fit me), my height!, and my wide waist, wide chest, my silly fake boobs, and my FFS surgery scars, and my voice, and my big hands, and my big feet, and my lack of socialization as a female, and my overt awareness of having once been male and trying to make sense of it. oh and don't forget having facial hair cause blonde hair is still prickley, and my concern over whether or not new friend will like me or not when or if they find out I have a penis.  and dating, that ->-bleeped-<- sucks ! s

if you don't have to trans, don't

however... if given the chance to do it again? would I still trans? yes, but I would have done it earlier :-) because I feel like if I would of had less time developing a male persona I would be happier, at least thats what my brain says LOL

or maybe I'm just a crayzy person?

I'm with you oZma, I wish I had done this earlier. However up to only a short while ago when I started transition, I fought my trans feelings tooth and nail. Even though I fought them I was miserable and hated my life.

27 post op and happy. hunting for nerd men...yummy

Quote from: MaidofOrleans on December 12, 2012, 06:20:01 PM
I'm with you oZma, I wish I had done this earlier. However up to only a short while ago when I started transition, I fought my trans feelings tooth and nail. Even though I fought them I was miserable and hated my life.

Same here. But I didn't fight them per se. I knew they were there, I knew I couldn't get rid of them. I just stayed inside and didn't go out because I was just so disgusted with myself. Now when I don't go out, it's because I don't have the money, lol!!

Quote from: oZma on December 12, 2012, 06:10:28 PM
ill play devils advocate and say if you're worried about caring about passing, being feminine, having a male past, etc... unless you are really feminine right now I would not attempt trans

meaning, if you can NOT transition... don't

Absolutely. I always told myself that I would not transition if I didn't pass even in boy mode until I just flat out got suicidal. Luckily I started getting ma'amed constantly in boy mode.

Transition is a HUGE psychological step. I think those who have not done it yet see the ones that do and think "Wow their lives are really working out for them, I want to hurry up and transition too so I can be like them!" I thought this! But I'm so glad I had things like clothes, savings, steady income (unemployment), friends, family, part-time experience, passability, my own hair, a little bit of confidence, and a plan. Most of this stuff fell into place without really trying to make it happen and if it hadn't, I probably would be much worse off than I am now.

It's much different living as a girl, too. It really is a mans world. Finding employment is much harder, the streets are much more dangerous, women are more catty, men are much less honest and will give you the run around (ever try to get your car worked on as a girl?), and the standards to fit into a box is much more rigid (being proper and demure, for example). I wouldn't change it for the world, but in reality I was very naive before I transitioned and I don't think many trans women realize that being a woman is actually more difficult until they DO transition. If I could psychologically go back to being a guy and not caring about the world, and just do all the heavy lifting I would, tbh. But the reward of living guilt free is worth it all 10 fold.

Don't ever transition because you think it'll be easier. Life will NOT be easier. It'll just be more psychologically acceptable.

All that said, I will get back on topic. I'm looking forward to SRS when I can afford it. The thing between my legs just disgusts me and is embarrassing to look at. I'd rather have flat skin, or even a very mangled vagina than to have what I have now.

Quote from: Alyx. on December 04, 2012, 01:36:54 AM
That's really amazing! Can't wait until I'm a princess. If you can do it then so can I.

Did you get face surgery or is that all hormones?

Oh wow, haven't been on this site forever and I see someone actually asked me a question on this thread. No, I didn't have FFS. What you see is the result of hormones, weight loss and genetic gifts that made me passable pretty easily.

I am now post-op nearly a year and it all works and looks good. I don't think I could ask for more really.

Can I ask for something?
Does you feel natural down there?
I have misgivings that after op it will be artificial for me, reminding me what I am and never become natural. 

Quote from: Medusa on December 27, 2012, 05:51:26 AM
Can I ask for something?
Does you feel natural down there?
I have misgivings that after op it will be artificial for me, reminding me what I am and never become natural.

That's kind of a hard question to answer, because I have no idea what you would think "natural" feels like.

However, for me, I do feel "normal".  I feel that what I have now is what should be there.  The dangly bits are gone and in it's place is something that feels so normal now that I hardly notice it.

That is the one thing that I was not quite prepared for following surgery.  I no longer think of my gender any where near as often as I did before.  And I think that is what people feel who have been born into their proper gender feel.  Normal.  So much so that their gender is merely one facet of their existence and not a major one at that.

I used to feel that getting dressed as myself and putting on my proper clothes as something magical.  My underwear almost glittered with its aura.

Now, panties are just underpants.  A bra is just a bra.  I strap it on and go on with my life.  No big deal.  (And it's one of the first things to come off at night!)

It's just normal.

And that is what I think other people feel.

It's just *normal*.

-Sandy

Quote from: Medusa on December 27, 2012, 05:51:26 AM
Can I ask for something?
Does you feel natural down there?
I have misgivings that after op it will be artificial for me, reminding me what I am and never become natural.

No it doesn't feel natural. Natural to me is a synonym for pain and horror and despair. I've spent the majority of my life fighting against a body that seems to want me to suffer endlessly. The less natural my body feels, the more it feels like it belongs to me. Like it is really a part of me. My medications, my surgeries, even my tattoos and my piercings... they are expressions of my identity on my flesh. Acts of reclamation.

I understand that my perception is... shifted as a result of a pretty nasty chronic pain condition on top of the transsexualism thing. But for me, post-op, I feel like my body is more my own than it ever has been before. Natural I don't care for, but this feels right.