Quote from: Sydney_NYC on November 27, 2015, 08:39:34 PM
iKate,

I don't see anything about your face that clocks you as trans at all. There is nothing wrong with getting FFS, but get it for the right reason like you want to change a feature of your face. I can't imagine anything that would change that would make you look more feminine. I don't think that FFS is going to improve passibility at all since you pass completely fine. If you just want plastic surgery to fix flaws, that is a better reason.

I myself have been on the fence about getting FFS. My brow bothers me some as I feel it's a little too strong. No necessarily masculine, but strong. Everyone tells me it's fine. I pass just find and I've seen cis-women with a much stronger brow. After going back and forth on this, I've decided that my $$$ is best spend on hairline improvement so I fee more comfortable with getting my hair wet swimming and being able to where my hair back in the high ponytail. I can pull off a low ponytail, but not a high one.

Sydney, you know I respect your opinion like the sister you are but everyone says I don't "need" FFS but they don't see myself in the mirror every day.

Sometimes I amaze even myself at situations where I pass but I think a lot of that has to do with the voice. I want to complete the picture with the face. The other issue as I mentioned is safety back home. Not that I would ever go back to live there but I have to go to deal with stuff now and again.

My aunt saying I look like a man (when I almost pretty much look like her!) really hurt me too.

But my main reason is I want to look at myself and see who and what I want to see. I spent 36 years looking at something I didn't like at all. Now I want to spend the other half of my life looking at something I want to see.

I don't know how aggressive I would get with FFS as I am kind of skittish about pain, numbness and recovery. But that is why I'm getting a feel for it. I did the same for the voice surgery and thoroughly researched everything. The forum has been immensely helpful in that regard, with Jenny, Jamie, Anja and others... and there were people telling me "you don't need it" but that was never true. Sure, I can train my voice but I couldn't get the result I have now, where everything sounds feminine with zero effort. I wake up in the morning and talk, and that's it.

I want the same for my appearance.

Quote from: iKate on November 28, 2015, 06:54:27 PM

I don't know how aggressive I would get with FFS as I am kind of skittish about pain, numbness and recovery. But that is why I'm getting a feel for it. I did the same for the voice surgery and thoroughly researched everything. The forum has been immensely helpful in that regard, with Jenny, Jamie, Anja and others... and there were people telling me "you don't need it" but that was never true. Sure, I can train my voice but I couldn't get the result I have now, where everything sounds feminine with zero effort. I wake up in the morning and talk, and that's it.

I want the same for my appearance.

From your pictures, it looks like you would do well with FFS.  And it is easy to understand why you want that transformation.

I see some of the comments here about the post surgery pain and longer term swelling.  I am not sure I understand the reason for some of those reports, because from other reports I have seen elsewhere,  if done properly, it is possible for FFS patients to go home mid-day the day following a 10 or 12 hour surgery - -  and not be taking nor needing to take narcotic medications.  I think the key concept here is that a lot depends on who the surgeon is and the  surgery has to be planned and executed properly and the immediate post op overnight care has to be well planned and executed.

Quote from: iKate on November 28, 2015, 06:54:27 PM
Sydney, you know I respect your opinion like the sister you are but everyone says I don't "need" FFS but they don't see myself in the mirror every day.

Sometimes I amaze even myself at situations where I pass but I think a lot of that has to do with the voice. I want to complete the picture with the face. The other issue as I mentioned is safety back home. Not that I would ever go back to live there but I have to go to deal with stuff now and again.

My aunt saying I look like a man (when I almost pretty much look like her!) really hurt me too.

But my main reason is I want to look at myself and see who and what I want to see. I spent 36 years looking at something I didn't like at all. Now I want to spend the other half of my life looking at something I want to see.

I don't know how aggressive I would get with FFS as I am kind of skittish about pain, numbness and recovery. But that is why I'm getting a feel for it. I did the same for the voice surgery and thoroughly researched everything. The forum has been immensely helpful in that regard, with Jenny, Jamie, Anja and others... and there were people telling me "you don't need it" but that was never true. Sure, I can train my voice but I couldn't get the result I have now, where everything sounds feminine with zero effort. I wake up in the morning and talk, and that's it.

I want the same for my appearance.

Thank you for your kind words

Your reasoning for FFS is a healthy reason and hearing how you feel is re-assuring. We as trans women tend to focus on those minimal masculine feature that 99.9% of the population don't see. I would hate to so you are anyone get FFS and still focus on those features that you see and no one else sees.

QuoteWe as trans women tend to focus on those minimal masculine feature that 99.9% of the population don't see

Ain't that the truth! Even so, it's amazing how much more feminine this surgery can make someone. Still, it's hard to accept that for many of us, there may always be some kind of masculinity left no matter how aggressive the surgeon is. Despite saying that, in my opinion, it's worth the pain and the money, even if only to feeling safer on the streets. It's a travesty that insurance most often doesn't pay for it.

- Ruby

We girls are perfectionists and why not.

We are trying to irradicate many links from the past.

Being female is not all about the face, it's about everything that comes natural to a genetic woman and that's the hard part.

Mind you when I look at our genetic sisters, I think " Hey you look quite masculine or you need a nose job ".

I am amazed how a simple rhinoplasty can sometimes transform a plain woman into a beauty.

Quote from: RubyAliza on November 28, 2015, 10:09:26 PM
Ain't that the truth! Even so, it's amazing how much more feminine this surgery can make someone. Still, it's hard to accept that for many of us, there may always be some kind of masculinity left no matter how aggressive the surgeon is. Despite saying that, in my opinion, it's worth the pain and the money, even if only to feeling safer on the streets. It's a travesty that insurance most often doesn't pay for it.

- Ruby

Sent from my SM-G900R4 using Tapatalk

Well it's not so much about perfection, it's about reality. My brow bossing is really bad. Not as bad as some people but bad enough that it bothers me a lot. The chin is a problem too.

I still owe you ladies some pics but I have been running ragged the past few weeks. Maybe this weekend I'll get to snap a pic or three.

If and when you decide to have ffs, have you thought about which doctor to go to ?

Quote from: JaniceNL on December 04, 2015, 01:52:58 PM
If and when you decide to have ffs, have you thought about which doctor to go to ?

Probably facial team. I like their results and their philosophy.

Well here I am again. I finally got around to taking some pics to show what my face needs. No makeup, obviously.

Front:


L profile:


R profile:

3/4 profile:


Hair down:

I can definitely see forehead work in my future, along with some chin contouring. The rest, I'm not really sure.

I may look like I need hair transplants but I'm totally fine without them if they can save me a bit of money.

Totally honest opinions welcome. Yes, I look totally unflattering but that is kind of the point. I want to be sure I'm looking my worst without any fancying up or camera tricks.

Yeah definitely forehead. The brow ridge and the sunken in eyes effect. I have both as well....even after 6 years of HRT, it's still enough to bother me.

Quote from: Debra on January 10, 2016, 05:24:17 PM
Yeah definitely forehead. The brow ridge and the sunken in eyes effect. I have both as well....even after 6 years of HRT, it's still enough to bother me.

What about chin and jaw?

Hi Kate,

Just out of interest who did you go to for voice surgery?

My research tells me to get on a plane to Korea ..

Hugs

Paula

Quote from: iKate on November 28, 2015, 06:38:13 PM

It's like the voice. I knew I could train it but I felt the surgery gave me a better outcome. No regrets whatsoever. It has been a total life changer. I have zero fear of my voice outing me now. I could not sound masculine even if I tried, and I tried as a test on the phone with Amex to their customer service in India, nope, still ma'am. I am extremely pleased about that. I do not have to ever think about my voice and that is wonderful.

Quote from: Paula1 on January 10, 2016, 07:06:09 PM
Hi Kate,

Just out of interest who did you go to for voice surgery?

My research tells me to get on a plane to Korea ..

Hugs

Paula

I went to Dr Kim. I have no regrets other than I should have stayed longer in Korea to be a tourist more.

In the end it's a personal decision but I'm happy with my outcome and that's all that matters.

Check out the voice forum. I documented much of my trip toward the tail end of Jenny's first Yeson thread and my result in the beginning of the 2.0 one.

Morning Kate,

I am up fairly early here in the UK, it's 5.53am !!!!

Quote from: iKate on January 10, 2016, 08:01:34 PM
I went to Dr Kim. I have no regrets other than I should have stayed longer in Korea to be a tourist more.

Thought you might have done. The NHS pays for vocal chord surgery here in the UK with two British surgeons BUT I would not let them take their scalpel anywhere near me. I applied once before and got the funding but realised that I would not get a good job done. So I will be applying for funding to pay for it to be performed in Korea. Obviously I will have to pay for flights and accommodation. I have not had problems yet getting money sent overseas by the NHS for surgery, so this should hopefully be OK. If not I will fight them based on precedent and the NHS effectively screwed my face. Also I expect it will be cheaper for the NHS as it is for them to pay Facial Team in April. The surgery for my face would be double if I had stayed in 'Rip Off UK'.... but there is no expertise here anyway for the surgery that I will be having as we know from my failed facial revision surgery in October 2014.     Watch this space kiddo.

In the end it's a personal decision but I'm happy with my outcome and that's all that matters.

That's all you want and you have only one voice .. Well done on your result .. 

Check out the voice forum. I documented much of my trip toward the tail end of Jenny's first Yeson thread and my result in the beginning of the 2.0 one.

Will do and thanks .. :-)

Have a nice day or nite ... 

Hugs

Paula

Quote from: Paula1 on January 10, 2016, 11:54:44 PM
Morning Kate,

I am up fairly early here in the UK, it's 5.53am !!!!


Have a nice day or nite ... 

Hugs

Paula

Hi Paula,

Good to hear. We don't have the NHS here which is probably a good thing except for cost if you don't have insurance.

I could have gone to a local surgeon or Dr Haben (who I could drive to) but Dr Kim was a known quantity. So I went there. As I said, no regrets. I even made a vacation out of it and bonded with my mum who took excellent care of me.

For FFS I have funds but I have to budget carefully so I'm looking for good results at a reasonable price. I'm not looking to do every procedure under the sun but I'm looking to fix the major issues. My goal is to blend in better. I do so already pretty much but I don't feel 100% satisfied with myself.

Hi Kate

Your nose and kips looks fine to me. I would agree with your assessment that Forehead/orbitals, chin and probably jaw would give you a huge bang for your buck.

Hi Kate,

Can you kindly let me have the two links for your posts.

I have searched and searched but cannot find them ...

Ta

Paula

Quote from: iKate on January 10, 2016, 08:01:34 PM
I went to Dr Kim. I have no regrets other than I should have stayed longer in Korea to be a tourist more.

In the end it's a personal decision but I'm happy with my outcome and that's all that matters.

Check out the voice forum. I documented much of my trip toward the tail end of Jenny's first Yeson thread and my result in the beginning of the 2.0 one.

Quote from: Paula1 on January 11, 2016, 10:26:04 PM
Hi Kate,

Can you kindly let me have the two links for your posts.

I have searched and searched but cannot find them ...

Ta

Paula

Jenny's original thread:
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,139439.0.html

This is where I am departing for Korea and the pages that follow have a lot of my experiences:
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,139439.1860.html

Post op is in this thread as the original grew too long and had to be split off:
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,192899.0.html

Take care.