I had first voice therapy today.
The therapist is awesome, she was extremely nice and professional. We talked about everything in much detail. I told her how and which things I've been practicing for the last three years and how my voice has developed. I told about the things I'm happy with and things I wish to improve and what I want her help with. Main thing was maybe new approach on practicing resonance. I told her that I'm mostly happy with pitch as I land easily to female range at all times and I can push it even higher if I want, but brighter resonance might be helpful and that's a thing of practice.
She asked if I'm aware about the limitations and risks of the vocal chord surgery and I told her I'm quite well informed about it and its a risk and opportunity I'm willing to take to alleviate dysphoria, maybe help with my internal voice and to give me confidence about my voice in all situations. I told her I'm also aware that losing volume is possible and singing might not be the same afterwards but I'm willing to take the leap.
She told me that it is obvious that my voice practice has been successful, my voice if fully female one and credibility is not a problem. She also said I'm doing great on both pitch and resonance, I don't sound like I would have tension in my larynx and there's no typical "trans voice" mistakes there either. The vocal chord surgeon told me these same things. I think I can safely say that who ever claims my voice doesn't pass for a cis woman is full of shit, they're all idiots and liars. I think professionals dealing with voice issues have a tendency to know better and their job is not to kiss asses but to help their patients.
Anyway, just another confirmation for things I already knew. My voice is fully cis passable, that's not why I need the surgery for, but for helping with dysphoria and minor details of how I wish to sound like. And grabbing the most amazing opportunity for very expensive world class surgery for price of hospital stay. So plan is few more sessions and then decisions and contact phoniatrics clinic to get me on the waiting list.
EDIT:
I just came back home, I just had my first professional laser session done. I will likely end up doing 2-3 at least, but with little luck that might deal with any facial hair left that has pigment in it. I told about my plans to likely finish the job with electrolysis later on depending on how it goes. Btw, this clinic is part of the same chain who are doing all my cosmetic procedures so the lady operating on me knows my surgeon obviously. I asked her idea about a non insavise, simple facial feminisation as I'm not going for a full FFS due to costs and difficulty getting one... And because I don't need it! Despite what another set of liars have said that I do need it... Well, I take word of professionals over that, now second plastic surgeon has told me that I don't need a major feminising surgery, but can benefit from small subtle fixes, I take their word for it. I asked for her ideas and told what I've been thinking about and she pretty much listed just the things I've had in mind already.
She told me that my cheecks, lips and nose don't need anything at all, but microneedling for skin quality would be good idea, along with minor filler to deal with few wrinkles I have and for lifting outer side of my eyebrow which I think is a great idea. These can be done with minor filler, just few shots and nothing major. Also she told about a technique for my jawline, stuff that kills fat cells locally without anything damaging the skin. That had some fancy name, apparently some brand new technique I had never heard of before. All this would cost just over one thousand so a tiny fraction of FFS. None of it is really incasive either and I've seen plenty of results of minor cosmetic fixes and she showed me a whole lot of her work. Looked really nice so I'm seriously considering.
Today has been so amazingly validating! When medical professionals tell me things like my voice is spot on cis passable, or that my facial features are so naturally feminine that I don't need any major operations. These people have no reason to lie or to pat my back, especially plastic surgeons who get paid a lot. This is such a confidence boost, I love it. When a plastic surgeon tells me that I have bunch of really spot on pretty facial features, comes up with the same ideas I've had about procedures and is just over all really pleasant and professional with everything, well, this made my day.
The therapist is awesome, she was extremely nice and professional. We talked about everything in much detail. I told her how and which things I've been practicing for the last three years and how my voice has developed. I told about the things I'm happy with and things I wish to improve and what I want her help with. Main thing was maybe new approach on practicing resonance. I told her that I'm mostly happy with pitch as I land easily to female range at all times and I can push it even higher if I want, but brighter resonance might be helpful and that's a thing of practice.
She asked if I'm aware about the limitations and risks of the vocal chord surgery and I told her I'm quite well informed about it and its a risk and opportunity I'm willing to take to alleviate dysphoria, maybe help with my internal voice and to give me confidence about my voice in all situations. I told her I'm also aware that losing volume is possible and singing might not be the same afterwards but I'm willing to take the leap.
She told me that it is obvious that my voice practice has been successful, my voice if fully female one and credibility is not a problem. She also said I'm doing great on both pitch and resonance, I don't sound like I would have tension in my larynx and there's no typical "trans voice" mistakes there either. The vocal chord surgeon told me these same things. I think I can safely say that who ever claims my voice doesn't pass for a cis woman is full of shit, they're all idiots and liars. I think professionals dealing with voice issues have a tendency to know better and their job is not to kiss asses but to help their patients.
Anyway, just another confirmation for things I already knew. My voice is fully cis passable, that's not why I need the surgery for, but for helping with dysphoria and minor details of how I wish to sound like. And grabbing the most amazing opportunity for very expensive world class surgery for price of hospital stay. So plan is few more sessions and then decisions and contact phoniatrics clinic to get me on the waiting list.
EDIT:
I just came back home, I just had my first professional laser session done. I will likely end up doing 2-3 at least, but with little luck that might deal with any facial hair left that has pigment in it. I told about my plans to likely finish the job with electrolysis later on depending on how it goes. Btw, this clinic is part of the same chain who are doing all my cosmetic procedures so the lady operating on me knows my surgeon obviously. I asked her idea about a non insavise, simple facial feminisation as I'm not going for a full FFS due to costs and difficulty getting one... And because I don't need it! Despite what another set of liars have said that I do need it... Well, I take word of professionals over that, now second plastic surgeon has told me that I don't need a major feminising surgery, but can benefit from small subtle fixes, I take their word for it. I asked for her ideas and told what I've been thinking about and she pretty much listed just the things I've had in mind already.
She told me that my cheecks, lips and nose don't need anything at all, but microneedling for skin quality would be good idea, along with minor filler to deal with few wrinkles I have and for lifting outer side of my eyebrow which I think is a great idea. These can be done with minor filler, just few shots and nothing major. Also she told about a technique for my jawline, stuff that kills fat cells locally without anything damaging the skin. That had some fancy name, apparently some brand new technique I had never heard of before. All this would cost just over one thousand so a tiny fraction of FFS. None of it is really incasive either and I've seen plenty of results of minor cosmetic fixes and she showed me a whole lot of her work. Looked really nice so I'm seriously considering.
Today has been so amazingly validating! When medical professionals tell me things like my voice is spot on cis passable, or that my facial features are so naturally feminine that I don't need any major operations. These people have no reason to lie or to pat my back, especially plastic surgeons who get paid a lot. This is such a confidence boost, I love it. When a plastic surgeon tells me that I have bunch of really spot on pretty facial features, comes up with the same ideas I've had about procedures and is just over all really pleasant and professional with everything, well, this made my day.