Transgender Clients and Electrolysis

What is Transgender?

Transgender is a term used to describe a person whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth.

Doctors typically assign sex (male or female) based on physical characteristics such as external genitalia. However, gender identity is a deeply held sense of being male, female, or something else, which may not always align with the sex assigned to them at birth.

Transgender individuals may identify as a different gender from their original assignment.

Someone assigned male at birth may identify as a woman, while another person assigned female may identify as a man.

Others may identify as non-binary (a gender identity that doesn’t exclusively align with male or female).

It is important to note that gender identity is distinct from sexual orientation. While gender identity refers to one’s internal sense of being male, female, or non-binary, sexual orientation refers to one’s romantic, emotional, and sexual attraction to others.

Transgender people may have any sexual orientation, just like cisgender (non-transgender) people.

The experience of being transgender is diverse and varies from person to person.

Some transgender individuals may pursue social, medical, or legal changes to align their gender expression with their gender identity. This may involve adopting a new name, using different pronouns, undergoing hormone therapy, or undergoing gender-affirming surgeries.

Not all transgender individuals undergo medical interventions, as each person’s transition process is unique and personal.

It is crucial to respect and affirm a person’s gender identity and use their preferred name and pronouns.

Being transgender is a normal variation of human diversity, and transgender individuals have the right to express their gender identity and live free from discrimination or prejudice.

How does Electrolysis play a part in Transitioning?

A person assigned as male at birth but who identifies and wishes to live as a female may find their body developing male pattern hair growth at puberty. This can be embarrassing or distressing, especially on the face. Undergoing hormone therapy as part of their transition may reduce and soften the hair, but there will still be a visibly large number.

Laser hair treatment can reduce hair growth, but only electrolysis can clear hair growth permanently. This is particularly important if the person intends to undergo surgery for gender reassignment.

If surgery is carried out on an area that still produces hair, it may not be possible to treat them once the transition is physically complete.

With electrolysis hair removal, once the area has been clear for more than four months, it can be deemed sufficient criteria for scheduling the operation.

A person assigned female at birth who wishes to transition and have phalloplasty surgery to create a penis will also require electrolysis on potential donor tissue. This is often on the inside of the arm from the wrist up to just below the elbow.

It is necessary to remove any hair from the donor tissue prior to surgery and as with male to female surgery there needs to be 3 -4 months of no regrowth before surgery can take place.

As an electrolysist, this can be a hugely rewarding part of our career: being a small part of someone’s journey to fulfil their goal.

Not every electrolysist offers transgender hair removal for a variety of reasons. Newly qualified practitioners may lack the confidence or experience to provide lengthy treatment sessions. Treating one client for several hours, often staying in the same position for a long time, can be quite gruelling for an electrolysist: not everyone has the stamina or inclination to work in this way, whether for trans or any other client.

The NHS currently provide limited funding for transgender hair removal. However, there are long waiting lists, and funding mostly covers the areas necessary for gender reassignment surgery to proceed. Some electrolysists are registered with the NHS for this, but the registration process is currently lengthy and difficult, meaning fewer practitioners than usual. Many transgender people find the process quicker by funding their own electrolysis treatment.