Hi all!  I'm so excited to find this forum, and hope I can use it as a source of support. 

I'm 30 years old, and currently identify as genderqueer/transfeminine, but I'm increasingly leaning towards transitioning to female.  For years, I led a public life as a 'gay man,' and kept dismissing my feelings of wanting to be female as purely sexual, or worse, ridiculous.  I would just look at the mirror and not be able to visualize the woman in me (I still can't really do that, but at least acknowledge that that doesn't make my feelings any less 'real').  It wasn't until I moved to a new city and started meeting trans people that I began seeing myself in trans women. 

Recently I've come out to my family, and to my surprise, most reacted positively.  The fact that I was overjoyed with how my mom said she'd look forward to seeing 'her daughter blossom' if I chose to transition showed me that in fact my feelings were never purely sexual or fetishy.  Yes, I do deeply want a meaningful relationship with a straight man, but more than that, I want the world to see me as female/feminine, and I can't believe it took me all these years to acknowledge this!

All trans women I know transitioned in their early 20s.  I've heard that 30 isn't too late to transition, but I'm still really worried that I won't be passable even with HRT.  I have been blessed with a really small frame for a man (5'4"/110 lbs), but unfortunately do have fairly masculine facial features.  I've asked around about this before, but have any of you transitioned later in life?  What's your experience been like, if so?  Is it possible for a person transitioning at my age to pass relatively well?

ALSO... any women here have experience with laser hair removal for facial hair?  I have a really thick shadow, and I'm prepared to invest money in getting rid of it, but I'm wondering if it actually works? 

Hi   

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V M

Lovely warm welcome to Susan's

Age... pfft, I knew at 4 who I really was, started a very long transition at around 50, now 12 years later about to enter into final run to FT... however has been my reasons for taking so long, excited? oh yes, any regrets on not going earlier? yes, but I am sane and living life well... so no never too late.

Congrats coming out to your fam's and getting the good response, HRT does soften the facial features, but there are plenty of options, I'll certainly be looking closely at those... Oh I'm about the same height... Lucky eh? Also I have small'ish feet, good waist, but have not been able to get fat transferred onto my butt... but on the whole happy, hence the final run now!

I am avoiding laser, mainly because of fairer (grey/white) hair now, was very reddy before. But just about to start Electro.... They say it works best on fair skin with dark hair, hope that helps, but figure you may have got that bit already 

Anyway, welcome and look  forward to seeing you about

L Katy 

Hi and Welcome to Susan's. 30's is still fairly young to transition. I look forward to seeing you around the forums. Good luck and Hugs
Mariah

Quote from: starting_anew on August 26, 2015, 07:06:24 PM
ALSO... any women here have experience with laser hair removal for facial hair?  I have a really thick shadow, and I'm prepared to invest money in getting rid of it, but I'm wondering if it actually works?

Hi there!! Great to meet you! I'm 35 almost 36 and just now finally coming to terms with my life and who I truly am in my heart. I don't have a lot of advice to offer about coming out as I am not really out yet myself. But, I AM currently finishing up laser facial hair removal. I have one treatment left from the package I purchased. This will be treatment number 10 out of 8 lol. I had such thick coarse facial hair when I started that they comped me for two additional treatments to ensure I would be satisfied with my results. The best advice I can give you is to be ready. Regardless of what anyone else tells you, if you have really coarse facial hair, the first few treatments are going to STING. After a few treatments it does sting a little bit less as your hair thins out. Personally I still need the little squeeze balls they offer. But everyone's tolerance is different. Also, if you are out in the sun a lot or work outside (even on a cloudy day) make sure to apply a strong sunblock throughout the day. I use Neutrogena baby faces spf 70. It contains zinc and titanium as active ingredients which was what the staff recommended. Any reputable laser hair removal provider will be very adamant about limiting sun exposure prior to treatment because it can cause burns from the laser attacking the melanin in your skin instead of the melanin in the hair. That pretty much covers everything I know. Hope thia helps.

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MWAH!!