I've been reading along with some of the links in the OP/the thread in general lately. I just wanted to say thanks, it's good to have a resource on this subject. Myself, I'm cis, but my ex-wife has recently become something of an ex-husband. We're still friends -- it's hard not to be when we were together for four years -- and I've tried to be there for him and whatnot, and I know it might come across as selfish or something, but I've honestly spent as much time thinking about if it means anything for me as what it's like for him. He was a woman through and through the whole time we were together, but in recent times he's realized he's wanted this life instead, and it's gotten my head in a tizzy questioning stuff. I don't know. I guess it's just a confusing thing. So again, thanks.
It's a hard road he's going down right now, thanks to the social bigotry he's facing during his transformation and whatnot. I feel for him, I really do. So it's good to learn all this in order to speak with him on his wavelength too.
Augh, it's also good to get this off my chest. I'm sorry, again, if it sounds like I'm making this about me when it's obviously all about him. But he's my ex-wife, and that's just not a sentence I'd ever expected to type.
Welcome to the thread.
I'm glad you're willing to support your ex-partner through their very difficult endeavor of transitioning, thank you for that.
Having said that, it's normal to think how it affects you and I'm here to tell you that it doesn't change a thing. I'm sorry to say that he was never a woman, including when he was with you, even if he played the social role to the expectations of society. This isn't bad and it doesn't mean you're gay or anything, it just shows how fucked up things can be for trans folk and people who are close to them when people have to pretend they're something that they're not. Also, he's your ex-husband, sorry.
If you have any questions please do feel free to ask them, we're here to help
I never heard of either pieces of news. That's wonderful! Though I imagine the cost is pretty steep. I'd kill to at least do the vocal cords one....Both would be wonderful but the vocal cords one would make it easier than training my voice to "pass".
It's actually not. It's surprisingly affordable in a way, or at least as expensive as breast implants. From people's experiences, I believe they ended up paying around the $10000 which isn't too bad but still out of reach for many, especially since it involves international travel and 2+ months on not uttering a single sound.
I was unaware of that voice treatment. the times i've seen people with vocal surgeries have been a bit too squeaky for my liking. didn't quite normal (tho there definitely are girls with voices that squeaky)
i know. every advancement is still exciting though. 10 years ago most of these kinds of things would sound ridiculous (well at least to me). They really need to get moving on hair cloning tho
The problem with "traditional" voice surgeries is that they involve literally cutting out your throat and then having the surgeon use a dremel-like tool to sculpt your voice box all over again based on what you have. Then everything has to be re-attached somehow and hopes and prayers that your body doesn't reject it or you don't get an infection. With some luck you'll even sound like a human.
Yeson's technique is a lot simpler. Basically they just use a suture in your throat to "stitch" your vocal chords to your throat, which stretches them and raises the pitch considerably. Over time the suture gets absorbed by the body since it's bio-degradable but the body covers the suture point so your chords remain permanently stretched and therefore our voice permanently changed.
It does require 2+ months of not uttering a single sound though. In fact, for the first two weeks anything from just clearing your throat to a whisper can rip the suture clean out, which is why they ask you to stay at least that long at their clinic. Other than that, it requires you re-learning how to speak altogether since your body doesn't know how to use these new vocal chords, they no longer respond the same way so you'll make a lot of funny noises.
Anything else, just ask!!
