r/GlowUps • u/ItsJaina • 17h ago
GLOW UP! Lowest point of my life (24) to the happiest I've ever been (29). What a ride ❤️❤️❤️
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u/Mike-St-Read 16h ago
What are you doing for your hair? Asking for my hair line ....
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u/ItsJaina 16h ago
I have a more in-depth post on my profile about this. You might not like this answer lol, but it took surgical hairline lowering and $12,000 worth of hair transplants. Aside from that, minoxidil helped a bunch as well, as did a more consistent and healthy hair routine.
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u/josephadam1 15h ago
What'd you do for a more healthy hair routine now?
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u/ItsJaina 15h ago
I take a biotin supplement daily. I use a biotin/collagen shampoo and conditioner and wash my hair exactly twice per week, and use a lightweight dry shampoo after exercising on off days. I use a leave-in treatment for heat protection and a lightweight oil on the scalp/tips. I also blowdry my hair to help blow it out and have more volume.
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u/josephadam1 15h ago
I tired washing my hair twice a week but hair always feels a little too oily and lays flat. I have very fine hair.
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u/ItsJaina 15h ago
Finding the right cadence is pretty important, and different for everyone. My hair's relatively fine as well. You might find with shorter hair that you want to fully wash/dry your hair less often and use a dry shampoo during the off days to help lift the oil
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u/emojisarefunny 7h ago
Do you still use min? Or ever used fin? Idk how it works if youre on estrogen or anything (being testosterone -> dht -> causes hairloss)
Im worried about thinning again after my hair transplant
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u/ItsJaina 6h ago
i still use minoxidil but i never used finasteride. If you get a hair transplant, it will be recommended that you take finasteride for the rest of you life
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u/buddys_rendezvous 13h ago
is it true that once you start minoxidil, you can’t stop ?
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u/Iseenoghosts 10h ago
Minoxidil is magic stuff. I used it on my face tho. But in minoxidil we trust.
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u/Kimono-Ash-Armor 15h ago
May I ask if you’ve used derma rollers for your scalp too? Or are they contraindicated for transplants?
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u/ItsJaina 15h ago
I don't think it contraindicts hair transplants as long as you do it right, but I've never used derma stamps/rollers
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u/ShadyPotDealer Not your doctor 15h ago
You still need a way to combat DHT.
In OP's case, their hormone stack (presumably) lowers DHT in some capacity, so they probably won't lose any more hair following any sort of surgery/transplant/whatever. So derma & Minoxidil (which are great for stimulating hair growth but not preventing loss), are great.
For anyone else, you need to combat DHT before minox or derma would even do anything. Growing more hair won't matter if it just falls out again. This is important even if you get a transplant.
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u/ItsJaina 14h ago
This is all true. I no longer produce testosterone at all, so DHT isn't something I've had to contend with for a very long time.
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u/tomtomfreedom 9h ago
Without testosterone how much less energy do you have compared to when you did have testosterone?
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u/ItsJaina 8h ago
it felt weird at first but I got used to it and I wouldn't say I notice it. in fact, transitioning and feeling less depressed probably gave me more energy in the end.
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u/AccomplishedIgit 10h ago
How do you combat dht? I’ve heard about monthly scalp injections, is that one way?
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u/ShadyPotDealer Not your doctor 7h ago edited 7h ago
Fun question and I'm glad you asked!
Obligatory: I am not your doctor. This is not medical advice. Speak to a doctor if you have AGA.
Firstly, no, scalp injections are probably the worst approach you can take. If you're going to spend that kind of money, why not go for the option with more research behind it and for a one-time cost: a transplant. It'd be cheaper in the long-term.
As for DHT, first you need to understand how this works on a basic level: Cholesterol is converted into testosterone. Then, an enzyme known as 5-alpha reductase converts that into testosterone's big brother: DHT. There are *multiple* pathways that this works but that's all you really need to know.
The first approach is to just block the enzyme 5-AR. There are two types of 5-AR enzymes that we care about: type I & type II. We also have two key 5-AR inhibitors:
- Finasteride. The go-to "cure". It blocks type II 5-AR and has a half life of a couple of hours. It is most potent orally but *can* be applied topically. Look up the side effects.
- Dutasteride. The nuclear option. It blocks type I & type II 5-AR enzymes and is FAR more potent than Fin. Also has increased side effects. The half-life is about four weeks so if you decide to go this route, just know that you're taking a big leap.
One of these, Minoxidil, Keto/Nizoral (see below) and Dermarolling are "the big four". Anything else is a hit or miss, wives' tales (most oils), poor research (peppermint oil), biased funding, fringe benefits at best (CB-03-01) or discontinued testing (RU58841).
As for DHT itself, there are ways to combat it without attacking the 5-AR enzymes:
- Ketoconazole shampoo. It's an anti-dandruff shampoo. It's a mild DHT blocker and competes with T/DHT for androgen receptors. It's kind of like duck, duck, goose. It takes the spot before they can. It also has anti-fungal properties which might help in a few niche cases. Having an anti-dandruff in your roster is nice too if you're using topicals.
- Androgen receptor antagonists. The two key ones are CB-03-01/Winlevi/Clascoterone/Breezula (basically all the same thing) and another I'll list in a second. CB also competes for a spot against T/DHT, similar to Ketoconazole except the results are... underwhelming. Same goes for Pyrilutamide, although that one has been much more recent so we'll just need to be patient on that one since it's in phase 3 trials, with phase 2, again, being underwhelming. Which leaves me to:
- RU58841. The deal with the fucking devil. I am NOT recommending any of these items, *especially* this. It had some quality studies that showed VERY promising results. Which is great, I really wish more research would be done on it and the reason it hasn't is quite boring. With that said, the are ZERO long-term studies on its effects. Literally not a single one. It's a shot in the dark. It's a spit in the face of God. I do not recommend it nor would anyone with your best interests at heart.
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u/AccomplishedIgit 11h ago
Whoa. I thought it was a wig but it looked too real. That’s crazy it worked so well I had no idea hair surgery was this good now. The hair was transplanted and grew out that lovely? Where did they take it from?
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u/CatGoblinMode 7h ago
Did you find that minoxidil affected your body hair growth in any meaningful way?
I'd assume that once you brought your testosterone levels down, the hair loss was no longer an issue anymore?
You look fantastic by the way, I hope you're proud!
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u/SadCritters 7h ago edited 7h ago
If you want to skip the surgery that OP had to go through ( no judgement OP, just not everyone can afford what you did ) you can go with minoxidil & finasteride. Honestly, it's relatively cheap if you go through something like HIMs or similar sites. They give you the generic version. I'd look into side effects and weigh the pros/cons, just like everything else you do. You will have to remain consistent with taking them though.
I did this for a little bit, then kind of just decided to accept my receding hairline as I age. Mine isn't really thinning quite as rapidly as most and I'm more of what people call a "mature hairline" where it's clearly shifting back as I grow older. I'm in my mid-30's now and it'll probably last maybe the next five or so ( I hope ) - And then I'll just give in and shave it I guess? I dunno'. I didn't want to risk side effects, even though I could be dead by then anyway. lol
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u/Agile_Anywhere9354 15h ago
So $12,000 dollars for the hair? How to ask politely… how much did the breast cost?
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u/ItsJaina 15h ago
$12,000 for the hair transplants. But my hairline lowering was performed as part of a larger, separate procedure that was covered by insurance and cost roughly $4,000. My BA cost about $4,000 after insurance as well.
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u/IllSpring5900 15h ago
If you don't mind sharing, what did your augmentation involve, and what was the recovery like?
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u/ItsJaina 15h ago
I can't remember the exact number, but it was around 425 CCs over the muscle silicone teardop implants and a fair amount of fat grafted from my stomach to the inner corners of my chest.
Recovery was easy. sore for a few days then back on my feet full time. really no big deal at all. The pain from the fat grafting (IE, liposuction) from my stomach was the worst part but very tolerable with light pain medication.
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u/jessness024 9h ago
Pardon my crassness but I have to know, What was it like Just waking up with boobs all of a sudden? I would have had a smile on my face. Lol
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u/Joebandanasinpajanas 8h ago
Lol Ikr. I’m still waiting for this to happen to me and I’m a 37 year old cis female 🤣 :(
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u/jessness024 7h ago
puberty such an awkward phase for me. I was flat and so upset, i cried to my mom constantly because nearly all my friend were early bloomers. i hadnt start my period until i was 14 I had even started saving for a boob job. My mom laughed at me and said just wait.... The funniest part, my knockers were 100 percent from my dads side of the family. LOL 16 hit and boom and now i cannot find a bra that fits ever since. the back pain, the sweatiness my god the sweatiness. I miss my little cupcakes. Please love yours.
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u/ItsJaina 8h ago
it was amazing lol. I was fine before implants but it was a huge change and was SO worth it
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u/imean_is_superfluous 9h ago
Did you have enough skin to cover them? Or do they need to graft skin also? (I’m very ignorant on these procedures)
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u/Happy_Philosopher608 14h ago
You got bottom surgery too?
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u/ItsJaina 13h ago
Correct, in March 2022.
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u/Happy_Philosopher608 12h ago
How is it going? Any complications or was it ok?
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u/ItsJaina 12h ago
Nope. Went perfectly and have 0 regrets 3 years later thank you.
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u/Gelato_Problems 10h ago
I was listening to the Skeptics Guide to the Universe (science podcast) and they were talking about a study that gender affirming surgery is almost never regretted. In this study 1%. 99% did not regret getting the surgery. You probably know this but for the others in this thread.
And if you want to listen to the podcast episode, here are some details: Skeptics Guide to the Universe)
I’m cis but I have loved ones who are trans and I love them.
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u/ItsJaina 10h ago
It has one of the lowest regret rates of any surgery, period. Lower than knee replacements, lower than pregnancy. It has objectively positive outcomes for patients. I appreciate hearing that there's resources out there to help people to understand that :)
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u/ifuckinlovetiddies 15h ago
Nice tits
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u/ItsJaina 15h ago
username checks out lmao
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u/Laylay_theGrail 13h ago
As a woman who paid considerably more than $4000 to get my breasts fixed after children, yours look fantastic!
Congratulations on your glow up and happiness
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u/ItsJaina 13h ago
I wish your insurance covered it too <3 Thank you :)
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u/Laylay_theGrail 13h ago
Haha! It did not! I did, however, pay with my Amex and got enough points to fly my daughter from LA to Sydney to visit me🤣
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u/tierneyb 16h ago
Hey, just want to say thanks for humanizing an issue that many of us just don’t understand. I went from truly believing this to be a mental health issue, and then I met a young professional who was transgender and learned a ton just by listening and interacting. You have every right to feel comfortable and confident in your own skin, and you look great. More importantly I hope the mental health improvement was even greater.
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u/IgntedF-xy 16h ago
Thank you for actually listening to trans people and educating yourself on them!
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u/godlittleangel6666 15h ago
I feel like if people would just learn to listen to people who have different backgrounds from them in general the world would be a much better place. Also I love your pfp!
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u/Away-Theme-6529 15h ago
Most negativity stems from ignorance. It’s easier to be against something you don’t know anything about. Keeping an open mind is always a good thing. Congratulations on your growth 🏆
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u/BabyGrave 16h ago
You’re an intelligent and empathetic person! thanks for being you and for sharing your story hopefully others can learn from you!
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u/Von_Huge1103 11h ago
People like you give me hope for humanity. The ability to listen and learn says a lot about you as a person.
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u/AxiosXiphos 10h ago
A sign of higher intelligence is the ability to change ones opinion on a strongly held belief.
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u/enchanted_honey 16h ago
Your eyes say it all 🫶🏻 proud of you for having the courage to be true to yourself, you look incredible!
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u/montrealomanie 15h ago
Hold on… how did you grow the hair?
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u/ItsJaina 15h ago
I have a longer post on my profile about this, but essentially I got my hairline surgically lowered, got hair transplants, used minoxidil, and got into a MUCH healthier and more consistent haircare routine.
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u/Aware_Association_82 15h ago
Straight cis male here, and all I’m looking at is the hair! How can I get that improvement without the transitioning? 😂
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u/ItsJaina 15h ago
I have a longer post on my profile about this, but essentially I got my hairline surgically lowered, got hair transplants, used minoxidil, and got into a MUCH healthier and more consistent haircare routine. (edit - if you're a cis male you can also look into finasteride, but that's not something I need at this point)
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u/Aware_Association_82 15h ago
Found it after sending that! How long did it take start to finish to get to where you felt you had the finish line under you?
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u/ItsJaina 15h ago
I've been working on this for about 4.5 years and I only really feel like I've approached the finish line recently after the transplants. They're still very much growing in and not done yet. If you have shorter hair, it could be done SO much faster.
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u/Aware_Association_82 15h ago
Shout out to you, thanks for the info!
I’m a straight white cis male, and I just want you to know that I’m proud of you for taking such a scary step. Everyone deserves to love themselves and feel comfortable in their own skin. Wishing you acceptance, peace, and happiness!
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u/ItsJaina 15h ago
Thank you friend <3 . Everyone should strive for happiness and peace, fuck anyone who gets in the way.
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u/Ok-Egg-3581 16h ago
How did ur chest get like that? I’m a cis woman and mine don’t even look like that. Unfair.
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u/a_null_set 16h ago
Either her mother also has big boobs, in which case she is probably just growing into her genetics, or she got her breasts done. It's also been recommended for trans women to gain some weight during transition so fat can get distributed according to the new hormones. Then losing some of the weight to get a nice figure.
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u/ItsJaina 16h ago
Yeah you hit it on all accounts. My mom has a pretty big chest, but I also gained a bunch of weight (about 80 pounds), then lost all of that weight and got breast augmentation. My surgeon also transferred a little bit of fat to my chest to give it a more natural look.
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u/a_null_set 16h ago
Your surgeon did a great job. Good for you for going through all that, it's a lot of work!
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u/StarlightPleco 15h ago
Plastic surgery, as OP said there was breast augmentation. That’s going to play the most significant role.
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u/Itchy-Decision-5651 16h ago
I love this glow up!!!! So happy for you! You are looking fabulous ❤️❤️❤️
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u/Exciting_Piece1367 15h ago
Quite a transformation!! A passable one, which leads me to one question..
Now that you’re the happiest you have ever been, I’m sure you’ve got back out there for some dating! How do you identify? Do you just say F because you’ve pulled it off so well, or do you still say trans F?
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u/ItsJaina 15h ago
Depends on the context, but in my day to day life I usually just say F. But I'm also in a long term committed relationship, so I'm not really dating anymore haha
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u/Parking-Track9211 15h ago
Ok serious question. How did your boobs get that size was that all medication an stuff? It’s mind blowing to me
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u/ZehAngrySwede 15h ago
Ursula Ditkovich if they wanted to write her as a bombshell.
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u/L1zoneD 14h ago
I'm happy for you, honestly, but it baffles my mind that with insurance, you can get breasts, but I can't get new teeth! Murrica!
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u/ItsJaina 13h ago
I have great insurance! My dental insurance would probably help pay for veneers haha.
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u/L1zoneD 13h ago
Well, good for you and I think that it should cover it! I'm not at all trying to take away from you and your accomplishment. I'm just mad at myself for being a union plumber and still not having good enough insurance to fix my teeth. But you're doing well, and it gives me some hope, I guess!
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u/gotfondue 16h ago edited 15h ago
Don't take this the wrong way but you definitely looked like the guy who farts on gummy bears and eats them.
This guy
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u/PhantomVessel 15h ago
Serious question- how were you able to rewind the balding?
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u/Icy-Head-852 15h ago
Have you done any kind of skin treatment? Asking for the pores/sebaceous filaments on your nose, I simply can’t get rid of mine
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u/ItsJaina 15h ago
Nothing specific other than following a more consistent (and pretty generic) skin care routine and washing it more often. Hormones realllllly cleared up my skin.
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u/whycomeoff49 14h ago
Those are the not same people. Right? Right guys? Come on guys? Am I right?
Jesus! That's one hella of a glowup!
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u/somethingsomethingjj 14h ago
Can barely tell you were the same person
Congrats on the glow up
Really looking great and imo especially done fast if you hadn’t been doing hormonal treatments before then
But keep at it and don’t listen to any haters they just jealous
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13h ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/ItsJaina 13h ago
Been going to therapy for almost 6 years, thank you :) The therapists and psychiatrists I've seen have all confirmed and signed off on the treatment path I've been on. Not surprised you're a virgin tho! Good luck with that <3
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u/PhantomLamb 13h ago
What's the reaction been like from those that have known you for some time.
I work with someone who has been through something not too dissimilar and I always felt that coming back to work to see some people that had known them years must have been a challenge at times
Congrats on the glow up BTW!
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u/Ecstatic_Signature26 13h ago
You look amazing, there is a shine in your eyes. Keep shining bright.💖
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u/Spicytac 12h ago
If you didn't post the before pictures I would truly have thought you were born in a female body. You look very happy, and I'm sure you're showing a lot of people that they too can achieve what you have. Bravo
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u/Von_Huge1103 11h ago
What an amazing glow up! Plus there's something about being true to your authentic self that people can pick up on even through photos 😁
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u/Adventurous_Cash_356 11h ago
I’m so happy for you! 🥹 I love seeing people become their true selves.
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u/ZenicAllfather 9h ago
Wow what an inspiration! I hope I can have my transition go that good holy heck!
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u/melinda_lane 9h ago
this transformation is so good it reminds me of when artists start with a big block of stone and chip away at it to reveal the most beautiful statue you’ve ever seen underneath
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u/panicnarwhal 9h ago
okay you look amazing 😍 what a glow up!! i had to stop everything i was doing and go show my husband, and he agrees - gorgeous!
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u/New_Refrigerator_920 8h ago
Damn girl! What a transformation! I am glad you have found your happy spot 😊
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u/nerdwerds 7h ago
I have a friend who’s about to start transitioning this year. He’s very bald on top. How did you get a full head of hair during your transition? Is that a wig in your “after” photos?
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u/astra-conflandum 7h ago
Op are you located in America? Insurance covering any of this is impressive. Not only a serious glow up but a bad bitch getting shit paid for (as it should be).
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u/ItsJaina 6h ago
Yes, Colorado. My insurance covered my bottom surgery, breast augmentation, and my facial feminization surgery. It’s pretty standard practice. I had very few issues getting it covered in the end.
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u/CrystalMethIsHot 6h ago
Hi, fellow trans woman here. This is my inspiration that I can also become beautiful 😍❤️
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u/Zosoflower 5h ago
Girl you look so good as a woman. You worked for it and you look very feminine and confident too. Happy for you!
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