The joy of life

It has been some time since I updated my blog, a lot has happened in the meantime. I am still finding life full of excitement and joy since my transition started. For the last 16 months, I have been helping in a group called “Alphabet Soup” we have an attendance on average 26 a month.   The Aims of “Alphabet Soup” is to have a safe meeting place for people that are not certain where they fit into the world. Whether they might be LGBTIQ or not certain where they fit in the world, they will probably find someone to talk to, we are a very diverse slice of humanity.  The group is open for friend’s family partners and helpers. It is held at “Denn Bar Restaurant” 113 High St Northcote 3070 Australia on the 3^rd Tuesday of each month.

I have recently returned from Bangkok where is went to Dr. Saran* for facial surgery. Dr Saran gave me a lower face-lift, and got rid of my turkey neck. He also took fat from my stomach and used to lessen my frown line and fill my cheeks. Dr Saran also filled in my top lip with cartilage. It has made quite a difference to my lips.

I went to the dentist at “Bangkok Smile”**. The work that they do there is excellent! This time had three fillings and teeth cleaned. Their prices are very good and worth going to Bangkok just for teeth work. The dentists are mainly women and they are very gentle.

                On Remembrance Day for the Transgender people who have been killed for the only reason that they where Trans I went to JOY FM 94.9*** and had an interview. It was very exciting and special. They do a lot of good work on behalf of people with gender identity problems. I also had an interview about “Alphabet Soup”

                The other fun time is when I went to “The Rocky Horror Show” it was a live show. I went with another Trans friend and two gg girls. We expected everyone to be dressed up but it ended up we were the only ones. Therefore, we were quite a sight when we took our coats off. At interval, I had about twelve of the audience asking me questions about what being Transgender was like the causes of it, and effect on my life. I personally like situations like this to help educate people, as it helps stop the concern they have about us and the problems we come across just to live normal lives

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*   Dr. Saran 1287 ,9 Soi Inthamara 43 Suthisam-Rachada Rd.,(RCA2) Dindaeng, Bangkok 10400 Phone 66-2693-9392 www.saransurgery.com

** Bangkok Smile www.bangkoksmiledental.com

*** JOY FM 94.9 SMS: 0427 JOY 949 Email: onair@joy.org.au  www.joy.org.au

TATTOO LIPS

    Like most things in life they are not quite the way we would choose, we ether put-up with the problem and complain or we can do something about the problem, of course some things we have no control over. Having thin lips is not the worst thing in the world. But I have never liked my lips, they are narrow and very uneven the edge is not very defined. I had fat from my stomach put into my lips by Dr.Saran, the effect will last for about 30> months. It did not alter the uneven outline.

 I went to:

Elk Beauty Lounge

141 Disney Street

Crib Point 3919

Phone 035-983-8773

With the help of Karyn she showed me that tattooing my lips could make then look the way I wanted. Karyn spent 45min. in marking out the profile of my lips, taking many photos so she could get the desired effect that I was wanting.

    The processing of having the tattooing did not seen painful to me just uncomfortable. If you have had electrolysis the pain level is about half. If you are very sensitive to pain then I would surges you take some painkillers about 45min. before the procedure.

   First Karyn cleaned my lip airier and then began tattooing. There is not much to say as you just are lying while she does the work, there is a couple of sensitive spots in the center of the lips that will keep you awake, for the rest it is only a matter of lying not talk as this may have unwanted consequences.

    After care is very important for the four days keep the lips clean and dry (eg. water coffee toothpaste) use a straw when drinking. Use a good antiseptic cream and keep plenty on the lips to stop drying out and splitting. One that Karyn recommends is Bepanthen Cream with Benzalkonium Chloride as a component.

    The one thing I do recommend is that you only go to someone that you have heard gives good results. Cleanliness is important as the risk of infection is always there plus if you are not happy with the results you are stuck. Fortunately Karyn has lived up to her excellent reputation.

     I’ve included photos supplied by Karen of my lips before and immediately after tattooing. I will update photos as time goes on. As you can see the lips are a little swollen but that went by about 24 hours.

 

Facial Feminization Surgery FFS part two

FFS part two

   Well like us all we are never completely satisfied about our self’s. This is practically true for people with transgender disorder. You start off thinking hormones will be adequate but then after a year or so, you look in the mirror and see you still have those male features that you hate have not gone. So you make arrangements for your first FFSurgery you have it then after some time the old feelings come back. So off for more FFS you go.

   Well that is the way it is with me. I would look in the mirror and see my thin lips that make me look mean then there is the shape of my face it still looks triangular and sharp features making me look masculine. So contacted Dr.Saran and made arrangements for a consultation. He did not want to use implants but suggested fillers and Botox. After arriving at Bangkok and seeing Dr.Saran I decided that I would have fat taken from my stomach and have it put into my lips cheeks and each side of my nose. I had cancer on my nose so major surgery is out. Fortunately I had all the necessary blood and cardio test with me so it saved time.

   Then came the day for surgery. Dr.Saran he has a surgery where he can perform small operations, which saved the expense of a hospital theater. I was given anesthetic and off to sleep I went. On waking my navel felt a bit funny where they had taken the lipo-suction, it left a few bruises that soon went away. My face felt surprisingly good. But when I looked in the mirror what a shock (good), I had high cheeks, my lips looked really good and my nose looked smaller. By placing fat at each side of my nose it gave the appearance of it looking smaller. Dr.Saran also used Botox in my frown line and just above my eye brows to help open up me eye area. All in all I was tickled pink.

   Recovery was very easy, after a few days I had the stitches out of my navel. Now when I look in the mirror I see a much softer face looking back at me and then I smile with my new lips. 

In recovery 

The new me :)