(non medical) Transition:
Gender affirming Presentation
Binding
Binding can be an amazing and freeing resource for those who desire to have a flatter chest and are uncomfortable with their chests.
Binders are compression tops that create a flatter, more masculine chest. It’s important to be safe about how and what you bind with, and for how long.
gc2b has a great range of colors and styles. One of the most comfortable and flattening “everyday” binders.
Transguy Supply has links to several other binders, including the Underworks Tri-top binder which offers strong compression but can be uncomfortable for long periods.
Chinese Cosplay Sites like this one can be another great place to find binders, especially more breathable ones. These binders often have hooks or velcro on the side, which makes it easier to take breaks or loosen if necessary.
Image: Point of Pride
Always remember! Your ribs are forever-
your chest is not. Be safe!
There are many different giveaways and binder donations: Here are a few to get started.
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Packing
Packing refers to putting things in the crotch area to create a bulge. Some trans masculine people pack, many do not.
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Some people pack with prosthetic penises: others use a sock. But it’s important to remember that packers are NOT sex toys. Their function is a cosmetic one that makes some trans masculine people feel gender euphoria.
Videos on Packing:
FTM- All About Packing! by Ty Turner
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HOW TO PACK (FTM TRANSGENDER/NON BINARY) by uppercaseCHASE1
Some packers also double as STP devices, which stands for Stand To Pee. These devices have a tube and funnel type shape that allow trans masculine people to pee standing up.
Tucking
Tucking is a way for people with penises to create a smoother, more feminine shape in the groin.
This is often done by placing the testicles back into the cavities they originally descended from, and curving the penis back between the legs. There are several ways to secure a tuck, including medical tape, tight underwear or dance belts. A gaff is an item specifically designed to secure a tuck, and can be bought online or a version can be made.
More information on TUCking:
How Does Tucking Work and Is It Safe? by Kaleb Dornheim
The American Trans Survival Guide #5: HOW TO TUCK by Stacy Fatemi
HOW TO TUCK | 2 Methods by Kourtney Fierce
Medical Transition:
Gender affirming care
hormones
HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) can be an exciting and often fundamental part of a trans person’s medical transition.
Starting hormones requires careful consideration, evaluation, and work.
Many effects of hormone therapy are not reversible. After all, going on hormones meaning going through puberty!
Testosterone:
Testosterone is typically injected subcutaneously once a week. However, it can also be applied as a gel *once a day or a small pellet injected into the arm every few months that releases the hormone at a regular rate.
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How to Give Yourself A Subcutaneous Injection
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Remember, HRT is intentional puberty. The changes and timeline you experience depends on your body and your genetics- you can’t pick and choose the changes. There’s also a lot of patience involved: puberty isn’t an immediate process. It’s not a race- it’s a marathon that is the rest of your life.
It’s easy to be impatient about the coming changes when you know the exact start date! But even though you know what’s coming, your body doesn’t. After your first few doses, you’ll probably be tired as your body catches up to the new normal.
Taking testosterone is not birth control. Fertility after being on testosterone can be quite unpredictable (some become infertile soon after starting, others have children after 10 years of HRT) but it is very possible to get pregnant while on T. Make sure to use protection.
For the most part, a trans person successfully on HRT often feels like it’s the hormone their body has been asking for. Although there may be acne and mood swings, the experience of being on hormones should be rewarding, although not always easy.
more info on testosterone HRT:
Estrogen:
Estrogen is typically taken orally as a pill, but can also be injected subcutaneously or applied as a gel or a patch. Estrogen requires Testosterone/Androgen blockers as well, as Testosterone is a more dominant hormone.
An Estrogen puberty involves more feminine distribution of fat, development of breasts, softening of the skin and shrinking of the genitals.
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Being on Estrogen means it is very likely that you will become sterile. It’s important to consider before starting HRT whether or not you would like to preserve sperm to keep your options open.
Remember, HRT is essentially an intentional puberty. The changes and timeline you experience depends on your body and your genetics- you can’t pick and choose the changes. There’s also a lot of patience involved: puberty isn’t an immediate process.
It’s easy to be impatient about the coming changes when you know the exact start date! But even though you know what’s coming, your body doesn’t. After your first few doses, you’ll probably be tired as your body catches up to the new normal.
For the most part, a trans person successfully on HRT often feels like it’s the hormone their body has been asking for. Although there may be acne and mood swings, the experience of being on hormones should be rewarding, although it is not always easy.
more info on estrogen HRT:
Surgery
Top Surgery
Top surgery is a double mastectomy that masculinizes the chest and often includes nipple grafts. There are different types of top surgery- eligibility often depends on the size of one’s chest.
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Peri areolar & Keyhole: these surgeries involve incisions around the nipple where the breast tissue can be removed. This only works for those with small chests, where the nipple will not radically shift with the removal of the breast tissue.
Double incision: This is the most common form of top surgery, which leaves more distinct scars often right under the pec, and a nipple graft. Sensation in the nipple is likely to be lost after the procedure. Different surgeons have different approaches, and there are many different scar shapes. Make sure to ask questions and even show pictures so that your chest will look just how you want it to!
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For more information on the different types of top surgery, click here.
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FTM Transgender Pre-Surgery Preparation (Top Surgery) by upperchaseCHASE1
Bottom Surgery
Also known as Sexual Reassignment Surgery (SRS) or Gender Confirmation Surgery (GCS), Bottom Surgery refers to genital surgeries for trans individuals. Despite it being called Bottom Surgery, it is actually multiple complex procedures to construct and transform someone’s genitalia.
Click Here for several videos from a trans man detailing his experience!
Videos on prep, sensation, recovery, etc: this guy has it all!
For a personal account of urethroplasty: click Here.
For more information:
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Metoidioplasty : Known as “clitoral release”, this procedure creates a more penis-like shape using the existing length of the clitoris ( which has often grown considerably if the patient is on testosterone). Has both erectile capacity and erotic sensation.
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Phalloplasty: Uses tissue from either the arm or leg to create a phallus more or less the size of a cisgender penis. Erection requires a pump or other implant and erotic sensation is sometimes spotty after the procedure and requires a lot of healing and time.
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Scrotoplasty: Uses silicon implants to create testicles. Performed with both the metoidioplasty and phalloplasty procedures.
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Urethroplasty: The lengthening of the urinary tract to allow urination out of the newly formed phallus. This can be performed with both metoidioplasty and phalloplasty. A very complicated procedure with a higher risk for complications.
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Vaginoplasty: Vaginoplasty is the surgical construction of a vagina. There are different procedures and approaches: the most well known being penile inversion, where the depth of the vaginal cavity depends on the length of the phallus pre op. There are zero depth operations for those interested in the appearance but not penetration.
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Orchiectomy: The surgical removal of the testicles. Since the main production of testosterone is removed, androgen blockers are no longer necessary after surgery.
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Curious about what recovery from Vaginoplasty might look like?
Here you go:
101 THINGS TO EXPECT From Vaginoplasty (GCS/GRS/SRS) [CC]
Other Procedures
Facial Feminization Surgery (FFS)
Facial Feminization Surgery (FFS) is facial plastic surgery that feminizes the face and attempts to undo some of the masculinizing effects of a testosterone puberty.
FFS is not one surgery, but multiple existing facial surgeries such as rhinoplasty, lip lift and the shaving down of the chin bone or Adam's apple. Different people may have different priorities or procedures they wish to undergo. The uniting truth in FFS is not a specific procedure, but a Gender Confirmation Surgery.
Facial Feminization Surgery - One Year Post-Op by Stef Sanjati
Electrolysis/laser hair removal
Estrogen brings lots of changes, but one it doesn’t stop is hair growth (cis women grow hair too!) Although the hair may grow a bit lighter and softer over time, many trans women still deal with facial hair. Pursuing hair removal treatment is the best way to make that hair stop growing.
Want a conversation that touches on a ton of trans surgeries? Check out:
Comparing Transgender Surgeries (ft. Chase Ross!) by Stef Sanjati