Hello. I've been wondering, I'm worried HRT won't work on me because I'm too old. I'm 23, which is basically the age everyone stops growing (if not earlier), so I'm not sure if HRT will have any effect on me. Am I too old? Do people have successful transitions when they transition at my age? Mind you, I'm not looking for HRT to make me look beautiful, that's what make-up is for. I'm only hoping for it to at least make me look passable without make-up.

This is how I currently look:

I started at age 23, and look at me now! I'm all papery an' stuff!


More seriously, all you have to worry about is bone structure. Everything else is malleable. And honestly, I think you'll do fine - no bones about it.

It better still work, I started at almost 25!  I spent a while concerned that I was starting too late too, but there are lots of pretty women around here that started in their 30s or even 40s.  23 is considered a young age for transitioning

Quote from: ZoeM on May 23, 2013, 02:24:42 PM
I started at age 23, and look at me now! I'm all papery an' stuff!


More seriously, all you have to worry about is bone structure. Everything else is malleable. And honestly, I think you'll do fine - no bones about it.

Good one! And you pass just fine?

Quote from: riversong on May 23, 2013, 03:19:01 PM
Good one! And you pass just fine?

I'm getting there - this is month 4-ish for me. I'm 6' tall, but other than that I'm turning out OK.

Quote from: Anna! on May 23, 2013, 02:33:11 PM
It better still work, I started at almost 25!  I spent a while concerned that I was starting too late too, but there are lots of pretty women around here that started in their 30s or even 40s.  23 is considered a young age for transitioning

"...or even 40s?!? Can you imagine someone starting HRT at that advanced age?"

Asked the 51-year-old who took her first spiro this week.

Don't worry its not to late for you I started at 33 and I'm doing just fine. I wish I had started at 23 which btw is like really young so just relax you'll be just fine. 

Quote from: suzifrommd on May 23, 2013, 03:32:34 PM
"...or even 40s?!? Can you imagine someone starting HRT at that advanced age?"

Asked the 51-year-old who took her first spiro this week.

Haha!  You all know what I meant!  The point is you can have good results at any time, so don't spend a lot of time agonizing over if <reader's current age> is too late.  Like the saying goes - better late than never

Nope, it's not too old!

Besides, there are lots more benefits to HRT than just changes to your appearance. At least that's what I've been told and that's what I'm hoping for!

Quote from: Heather on May 23, 2013, 03:36:10 PM
Don't worry its not to late for you I started at 33 and I'm doing just fine. I wish I had started at 23 which btw is like really young so just relax you'll be just fine. 

You look great Heather!

And yeah, don't worry Riversong. If you need some inspiration, be on the lookout for Alainluvsu (like the prettiest girl ever) and I'm pretty sure you're younger than her when she first started.

I started HRT about 2 years ago, shortly before my 42nd birthday. Yes, it's working. It's slow, but it's working.

only time it is too late to start HRT is when you are dead, 

I started when I was 23 and did well and actually stopped for a while then RESTARTED at an older age and I pass fine, I think you will do great.

Quote from: kyh on May 23, 2013, 04:30:44 PM
You look great Heather!

And yeah, don't worry Riversong. If you need some inspiration, be on the lookout for Alainluvsu (like the prettiest girl ever) and I'm pretty sure you're younger than her when she first started.

Thanks! Your right about Alaina her before and afters are some of the most impressive ones on the site! And inspired me to think I could transition too! Riversong just spend some time around the before and after threads there is some amazing transformations on that thread.

Thanks everyone! I still can't imagine having the confidence to post "before" pics. That takes true confidence!

I started at 32 and was passing with makeup by two months and without by four. Plus you have pretty reasonable expectations - not to end up as a supermodel - so I bet you'll do great!

I'm in the same age group so I know how you feel.  I'm going to start soon (in the next month or so) and often kick myself for not starting at 19.  However, 23 is not a bad age to start at all.  While Your mileage may vary, you are likely to have a positive response.   

Quote from: Jenna Marie on May 23, 2013, 07:40:08 PM
I started at 32 and was passing with makeup by two months and without by four. Plus you have pretty reasonable expectations - not to end up as a supermodel - so I bet you'll do great!

That's a good reminder.  However, I can't help but hope I'll look like a supermodel after it's all said and done.  Realistic?  Perhaps not.  But a girl can dream.

Oh, I think all girls dream about it, even cis girls hitting puberty. Nothing wrong with dreaming... as long as it's not an expectation that life won't be worth living if it doesn't come true.

I am in my 30s and have been on HRT for 3 months and apparently I pass. BTW, masculinzation is complete by age 20 if not 18. You do not grow after 18 other then maybe a nanometer. This age thing is a dangerous myth. The only time I ever heard of growth after age 18 is here. I asked my friends and they looked at me like I was insane when I said people grow after 18. They don't. A young is good for HRT because the body is more efficient and the skin looks better and T builds more muscle over time. Genetics play a way bigger factor. That and how andro you were when you started. The closer you are to looking female or farther from not male the better.

To echo a previous response... I certainly hope so... because I didn't start until I was 27.

Trust us, 23 is still very young. Don't worry about it. No, you won't get the same results as someone who transitioned in their teens, but you should still get good results. In fact, a majority of the trans-women on Youtube that I idolize are 20-something transitioners, who started HRT between like 18 and 24. In fact, it is VERY rare for someone to begin transition younger than that. So probably a majority of the trans-women that you have ever seen didn't begin transition until after 18.

From what I've seen, most who transition during their natural hormonal "prime," between 18 and somewhere in the early-mid 30's, almost consistently get good results. And hell, a lot of people get excellent results even at 50 or 60. A lot of it is just the luck of the draw in the genetic lottery.

Quote from: Carrie Liz on May 24, 2013, 02:04:01 AM
From what I've seen, most who transition during their natural hormonal "prime," between 18 and somewhere in the early-mid 30's, almost consistently get good results.

BINGO! I actually think the number of people who transition before 18 is in the low 1000s. Maybe less. That might rise in the future but even 10 years it was extremely hard to transition. I wanted to transition at 19. I tried. I failed. There was less then zero information and resources. It obviously happened but it wasn't as easy as it is today by a long shot.