Living full-time in new gender role is typically a requirement for SRS - note that this is not a legal requirement but a requiement under the conventional Standards of Care. Furthermore, were a surgeon to deviate from these guidelines, there is a risk that he / she could be subsequently sued by the patient.

However, in Asia (obviously Thailand, but not only Thailand), some of the SRS surgeons take a much more 'liberal' view than those in the western world ............ this was certainly good for me (SRSin Bangkok) and over 1 year after surgery, I don't have any regrets ........ however, I do realise that this more lax atitude to guidelines could result in higher rates of regretted SRS.

I pass between both genders simply because I made a conscious decision to do so a few years ago - in many ways, I would fit the description / profile of a typical transsexual - whilst I wanted the relevant physical modifications, I did not want to lose my current well-paid job, or parts of my social life (i.e. whilst I may not have chosen to live as a male, I did live as a successful one for 26+ years so did not want to lose my network of friends & colleagues overnight) - and there werea few other reasons too .......

How do I pass between both genders??? I am small build anyway, circa 5ft 6inch, wear a chest binder as a male etc - the only physical changes that have been noted by colleagues etc is a general sense that I appear to look younger (I assume due to female homones).

Ulysses

well i would love to lose face fur , i wonder how long hormones take to make any difference, as for male or female once balls are gone you are technically not male, but body dont seem to respond as quick. its still got its old male habits

Trixie,

Sorry honey - hormones don't get rid of 'face fur'. I hate (HATE) it too, but it takes laser or electrolysis treatment. That's why, in a recent documentary, they reckoned that, although mtf's are given hormones more readilly, ftm's are still given a rougher time 'cos facial hair is triggered within just 6 weeks on male hormones - and can't be 'undone' without the same kinds of treatment.

Bummer, but there you go.

lol Rachel

trixie (imported) wrote: Wed Apr 23, 2003 10:59 am well i would love to lose face fur , i wonder how long hormones take to make any difference, as for male or female once balls are gone you are technically not male, but body dont seem to respond as quick. its still got its old male habits

Shortly after my own castration, I noticed that the facial hair grew more slowly, but it still grew. I hate to shave, so always have a beard and moustache. After 13 months trying to cope with hot flashes and night sweats, I went on a low dose daily of Premarin. This made no difference in facial hair growth rate. It still seems to be 1/4 th of my pre-castration rate.

Some questions:

1) What do you do if you meet a women in your male social settings that appears to be interested?

2) What about facial hair and eye brows? These would seem to be difficult to hide one way or the other.

3) What about summer time and things that require minimal clothing?

4) What about things like leg hair?

Nemo

Of the questions raised, only the first poses a difficulty.

2nd question re. facial hair & eyebrows - I hav nevr been particularly masculine in appearance anyway so have never had significant facial hari growth - at present, I would still "suffer" from certain amount of 5 o'clock shadow syndrome but not to a noticeable extent (not noticebale at all if weaing make-up) and undergo laser treatment every 4 weeks that is gradually eliminiatin / reducing facial hair. Have my eyebrows plucked occasionally and, in male mode, no one has ever made in comment regarding my eyebrows.

Summer time / minimal clothing - I wear a chest binder always as a male - have been able to pass as a male inT-shirts etc with no problem - some people have made reference to my lack of muscles / non-muscular build but they do not equate this to gender ........ also, people tend to think I am younger than I actually am (I'm 28). Note - I do not wear shorts and obviously do not go swimming etc.

Leg hair / body hair - quite easily removed via deplatory (prob. not correct spelling) cream which I use every 3 weeks or so ........ note that facial hair is much more difficult to remove than body hair and also grows faster - thus, is much more of a problem ............ removal of body hair is simply a practical inconvenience.

As for the first question .............. it is difficult because I'm attracted to females and quite a lot of females tend to be attracted to me (that's not a boost - it's simply the case because,whilst I'm not in any way 'camp', I tend to be able to talk on same wavelength - i.e. not only about sport, drink etc) ........ its not difficult in terms of turning people down (i.e. no different here than a gay man) .............. but extremely frustrating and the only pat of being post-op TG that I don't like (though I knew this would be the case before I went ahead with surgery and, overall, the positives of being post-op outweigh the negatives).