Hi, I’m the total mess known as Emma, and I’m currently a little overwhelmed with things.

So, long story short:

  • I started HRT January 2023

  • I desperately need bottom surgery as soon as possible

  • I’m worried that I should have been doing electrolysis instead of laser

  • I’m worried about wait lists for surgery

  • I’m worried about the costs of surgery

  • I need to find a surgeon

  • I’m interested in evacuating to a safe state on the west coast

  • I feel overwhelmed with everything that I need to do

There’s so much going on for me right now, and I’m seeking input from everyone here with something to say about any of my struggles.

Thanks ❤️

  • LainTrain@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    6 months ago

    Hey 👋

    I started HRT Nov of 2015 at 17 and just got my SRS a month ago.

    As soon as possible

    Unless you have fuck loads of cash I’d say settle in for the long haul and cope, I’ve never heard of SRS costing less than £20k and that’s for basic old school PI in the UK.

    Even with a full time job for years at software dev with an MSc I never managed to save anywhere close to that with the pandemic hitting as I entered the workforce, unless you’re like some boomer with a house? I take it you’re in the US? Is there insurance that covers it maybe?

    As for surgeons check out the /r/Transgender_surgeries wiki.

    Laser, you mean on face or genitalia? For face do Laser for now while you’re early in transition and try to zap away as much as possible. I stopped because I thought it’d be good enough and was broke, big mistake as years later my hair came back but now it was blonde and required electro, which takes forever, just some stubborn bits on neck have taken me over 2 years for now and it still doesn’t feel gone, just more sparse.

    For genitalia you need electrolysis as laser is not permanent, but I wouldn’t rush into that as most people don’t need any hair removal prior to SRS, I had totally normal amount of pubes even well along the shaft and the follicle scrape took care of everything and I got no hairs inside, I woke up with most of my pubes intact to my shock even, I’m in the UK and I wasn’t circumsized so YMMV.

  • femtech@midwest.social
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    6 months ago

    I only got Lazer, but I had 12 sessions. My Dr said either was good but laser takes longer. I’m not sure where you are for Drs but if in America Rush medical center is great and where I had mine done. Cost wise will depend on insurance. Mine has paid a lot, I paid co pays which was a few hundred dollars after everything. My account still says I “owe” 90k but that’s because Blue Cross is being stubborn. All the good surgeons have a long wait list. Was 4 months for the consultation and almost a year for the surgery.

    • Ada@lemmy.blahaj.zoneM
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      6 months ago

      Laser is MUCH MUCH faster than electrolysis. The issue is that it’s not 100% effective. A small amount of hairs will always grow back.

      • -Emma-@fedia.ioOP
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        6 months ago

        A small amount of hairs will always grow back.

        Yeah, that’s what I was saying on matrix is what concerns me. Like, I’m thinking I just want the most permanent removal possible. I’m such a perfectionist, and it causes bad thoughts to consider flaws and stuff. I really need to find a surgeon and go over this stuff. Also a therapist would probably help a lot right now…

        • Ada@lemmy.blahaj.zoneM
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          6 months ago

          The majority of surgeons do pore scraping to remove any hairs left over. As my surgeon said to me, he can do hair removal during the surgery, but he doesn’t want to be doing hours and hours of hair removal, so he wanted me to get rid of as much as possible before hand.

          • -Emma-@fedia.ioOP
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            6 months ago

            omg that is so good to know! thank you thank you! that is like the missing puzzle piece that actually calmed my mind about it. i should still get a therapist tho.