Transgender London

Hair Removal

Hair Removal for the M2F is one of the first processes undertaken after HRT is begun. Hair is of course a major defining factor of appearance for all and much effort for both the M2F and the F2M is put into this.

The F2M has a much smaller concern since HRT will encourage hair growth. The F2M however has a greater number of issues. First, depending upon the regimen of HRT followed by the medical community, generally, body hair will become finer and some may disappear while the anti androgens used to block testosterone receptors will encourage some growth on the head. However, this is not always the case and it is entirely possible that some hair transplant might be necessary. It is impossible to predict and only once the regimen has begun will any changes be noted.

Beard removal is usually the first step taken by the M2F and for the transsexual pursuing SRS, some genital hair removal is also required. This however should not be done until the surgeon to perform the reconstructive surgery has been decided upon and consulted.

Some surgeons do not want the client to pursue and hair removal in this area, preferring to do it themselves as a part of the reconstructive surgical procedure. Other surgeons are very specific about how they want it done. After this, minor removal may be required on other parts of the body and in some extreme cases, massive hair removal may be indicated.

I want to be absolutely clear about this process. The ONLY method that is ASSURED to be permanent is electrolysis. Laser is good, but not yet perfected to provide permanent hair removal. There are other claimed methods by various groups but they need to be dismissed. Simply, they cannot provide clinical proof of their efficacy in either the short or long term.

For the reasons above, I will only deal with Laser and Electrolysis as hair removal techniques. Neither method is cheap, nor are they painless.

Pain Management is usually simple enough and prescribed mild pain killers from your GP can help. Usually these are in the realm of Tylenol 2 or some other equivalent. However, many people have reported success with over the counter medications. Some people have reported some success with topical anesthetics however others have not had acceptable results.

Laser is faster but not proven to be permanent. So for larger areas this might be a viable option if the client can afford repeat treatments every few years. It is possible that over time the treatments will have a permanent effect, but initially, this is not proven to be so.

Hair removal requires that the root of the hair in the follicle must be destroyed. The application of heat is the method used to create a chemical reaction destroying the root. Of course the medical explanation is far more detailed but in a nutshell, the above will suffice.

Regardless of the method used, side effects can include scarring and pigment change.

Laser Treatment

Laser Treatment for hair removal first became commercialized around 1998 after 10 years in development. In order to understand how it works it is important to realize that it isn't a true laser since it uses filtered light from a full spectrum of light provided by a Xenon tube. There are three factors that affect its effectiveness, the wavelength of the light transmitted, the intensity of the light, and the duration of the pulse. These 3 factors combined are what are used to theoretically destroy the root of the hair follicle. Understanding the above factors and their interaction with melanin, (the part of the follicle that must be destroyed) is what determines its effectiveness. This interaction requires careful, in depth training of the operator who must thoroughly understand skin types and construction as well as hair types, colour. All of this combined is what is needed to properly epilate using Intense Pulsed Light.

It is well known that dark colours absorb light. With IPL epilation, the melanin within the follicle absorbs the light converting the energy to heat and "destroying" the root.

Originally it was only effective on dark course hair on light skin but advances in the technology have allowed for increased capability. There are still disputes over its long term effectiveness. It is definitely short term effective and requires fewer treatments than electrolysis.

Electrolysis

Electrolysis is recognized as permanent hair removal and again, requires the knowledge and skill of a highly trained operator. It is both expensive and painful. The time required varies with the individual but an average beard removal can require about 200 hours of treatment and normally this is done in a period of two years. This can vary of course with the individual and method used but is a generally accepted figure.

There are 3 methods of electrolysis; Galvanic, Thermolysis, and Blend and it is important to understand that one method offers no advantage over another. The method used is dependent upon the type of hair, skin condition, pain threshold of the client and the skill of the operator.

The Galvanic Process delivers a charge of up to 3 milliamps through the body. When the positively charged probe contacts the hair matrix cells, sodium hydroxide is formed to kill the cells. Most modern Galvanic units provide a constant charge increasing their effectiveness.

Thermolysis (Shortwave) Process is essentially the transmission of radio waves at a frequency of 13.5 Mhz with a current of up to 8 watts. This heats the hair to about 48degrees C (118 degrees F) destroying the hair and root.

Blend Electrolysis combines both Galvanic and Shortwave methods.

This site was last updated 08/11/10