Hair removal and the endless story of neglected, medicalised trans bodies
Two weeks ago, I recieved a letter by my insurance. Finally, they grant coverage for hair removal treatment, provided by a medical professional. While these are good news, they come with quite a few caveats.
As it turns out, it presents a serious challenge to find a medical professional experienced in trans health care. To see a well-ish seasoned practitioner is important to me, mainely for two reasons.
On one hand, I would feel emotionally secure and in a better position to take responsibility for my body. The staff would already know where exactly my donor site needs to be cleared, which methods provide what kind of results for the procedure may be to expect and what kind of treatment would fit my needs best. On the other hand, I would feel a lot less distress if the medical professionals would use gender-affirmative, respectful and appropriate terms for my identity and my genitals.
Yesterday, I had a consult at a clinic for laser treatment. I went there because lately community knowledge said they would offer relatively easy accessible care. A lot of trans folks, especially women, went there. Plus, this same hospital offers lower surgery, including phalloplasty, hence I figured there may be at least some common ground.
The consult was disappointing. What they told me broadly didn’t match the knowledge I gained within my community-based research and the appointment I had with an elecrologist and I felt they took the matter far too lightly.
In my case, they estimated five sessions, each four weeks apart. This would be sufficient to guarantee a hair-free donor site. Some minor regrowth may be to expect, but usually it remains insignificant.
I read a lot about hair removal online, and usually trans patients agreed that they initially had good results with laser removal, but that it didn’t last. It is said that most patients see up to 80% regrowth within three year’s time. They seem to agree that you need to use the old fashioned electrolysis approach. Plus, I had an initial consult with a private electrologist who also stated that currently, permanent removal is exclusively provided by electrolysis. The electrologist estimated a max of 80 hours of treatment (usually a bit less) and 9 months to a year of work on my donor site.
The doctors at my appointment were respectful in general and obviously have experience with trans patients. They couldn’t say how much people with similiar goals they already treated and they obviously didn’t know where my donor site needs to be cleared. Additionally, there was a situation in which their wording showed disrespect (”Some people also need some clearing on their ... you know, how do you call it ... neo-phalluses...?” - “You generally just call them penises”, I replied and they went with my proposal).
I felt I knew more than the medical professionals and the need to explain, guide and reassure them. There was no “big picture” for treatment and how to include different approaches. I’m afraid that their service, while being appealing and easily accessible, may be entirely in vain since no permanent removal will be achieved. I’m feeling tired once more.
Lower surgeries include so much additional medicalisation of trans bodies (and medical transition includes so much medicalisation already), in a prolonged, exhausting and intrusive way. I think people without a need for bottom surgeries don’t have a clue about this level of medicalisation and disempowerment.
