MTF transitioning: What are the costs?

Taking the step to a sex transition can be difficult for a number of reasons. Patients may be worried about what their loved ones will think or how their community might respond. They may also be concerned about the various costs involved in transitioning and what steps they want to take.

There is no right or wrong way to transition, and many transwomen prefer to choose which feminising procedures they are comfortable with, meaning that it isn’t always necessary to do it all. As with everything in life, it is a process – this is a moment to take plenty of time about the necessary decisions. This short guide gives an idea of how to budget for an MTF transition.

What is provided by the NHS?

For some transwomen, there are very few costs involved. This is because some NHS services can provide enough for these women to feel as comfortable as they want in order to be in their true gender. However, not all procedures are covered by the NHS.

While bottom surgery can be achieved through the NHS, breast implants and other feminising procedures are usually not. Many trans women experience delays in the treatments available on the NHS and choose to access them privately, which, of course, adds to the costs.

Hair

Since the shape and styles of hair differ between the genders, transwomen often wish to enhance their looks by creating a fuller, softer head of hair. Especially for older transwomen who undergo feminisation procedures later in life, hair loss treatments can help to reverse the signs of hair loss.

Prospective clients can calculate the UK hair transplant cost to factor this into the budget. Although hair transplants are the most permanent method, cosmetics, micro-blading and hair extensions are also effective. Since women tend to have longer hairstyles, it follows that it will cost more to take care of this aspect of transitioning.

Facial feminisation surgery

For a permanent change, transwomen can choose to have facial feminisation surgery to alter the appearance of their faces. Since hormones during puberty affect the structure of facial bones as they grow, transwomen can sometimes feel as if their faces do not represent their true gender.

However, facial feminisation surgery is not covered by the NHS as it is considered a cosmetic procedure. It involves reshaping the skull, usually by shaving the bone to create softer angles and edges.

Temporary cosmetic procedures

Other treatments that transwomen often undergo involve temporary measures that are eventually metabolised by the body. These include botox, facial fillers and laser hair removal. Cosmetic treatments like this can cost a lot since they are short-term and require repeat appointments if one wants to maintain the results.

Transitioning from man to woman can be an expensive process, especially if the individual feels that many aspects of their physical appearance are holding them back from being their true gender. While it is possible to simply take hormones, there are so many other aspects to transitioning that are not covered by the NHS, and the patient has to shoulder the cost.

The editorial unit