Trans guy anxious about first massage

[Pompal 09.]

I'm going for my first massage in a couple days and I'm increasingly anxious. I'm a female-to-male trans guy - I've had a double mastectomy and a hysterectomy, but no genital reconstruction surgery. Is this something that gets talked about at all during their education? Should I say something to the therapist up front? If I don't, will they freak out when it becomes obvious?

 

[Nightnurse]

Trans guy anxious about first massage

I see no reason it would be obvious or even suspected unless you're getting a massage with no drape. Depending on where you are, in a lot of states that's illegal anyway. If you're uncomfortable bringing it up, there's no need for your therapist to know unless your surgeries are relevant to their work.

 

[Wott Wott]

Trans guy anxious about first massage

I see no reason it would be obvious or even suspected unless you're getting a massage with no drape. Depending on where you are, in a lot of states that's illegal anyway. If you're uncomfortable bringing it up, there's no need for your therapist to know unless your surgeries are relevant to their work.

Thanks!

 

[Saliva Man]

Trans guy anxious about first massage

I don't know why it would become obvious, in 5 years of doing massage I have yet to see a client's genitals or breasts. I've worked on a couple people I suspected may have had gender reassignment surgery but it's not something that is asked about on our intake form and it doesn't matter one bit to me. I don't know any MTs who would have any issue with this or for whom it would cause any problems. The **only** clients I have problems with are the ones who act inappropriately - the rest, big, small, scarred, lumpy or bumpy, black or white, thin or obese - are just people with muscles to be worked on.

Enjoy your massage!

 

[Passion (is sick)]

Trans guy anxious about first massage

I do think it makes sense to discuss your surgeries with your therapist. Breast reconstruction, male or female, can impose muscular restraints and certain issues an MT may want to be aware of.

Also, I feel like you will feel more yourself, if you let your therapist know you are completing the trans-process.

An easy way to make sure your appointment and table time is not going to be judgemental in nature, is to call your therapist ahead of time and address your concerns with them. This way you will have a feel as to the therapist and their comfort level with the changes you are going through.

Another good way to find a complimentary therapist would be to ask for someone to contact you from this forum that is from your city. Possibly we have a match.

Enjoy your first massage, and please come back to let us know about your experiences.

 

[Mucky pup]

Trans guy anxious about first massage

I'm going for my first massage in a couple days and I'm increasingly anxious. I'm a female-to-male trans guy - I've had a double mastectomy and a hysterectomy, but no genital reconstruction surgery. Is this something that gets talked about at all during their education? Should I say something to the therapist up front? If I don't, will they freak out when it becomes obvious?

Chmod-me, I plan on specializing in working with trans/intersex folks.
If you don't want to being up your plans (although if this is a therapist you really click with, it should come up as other surgeries happen),mention the mastectomy.
I'd think the scars would tell their story, but who knows?

relax and let touch heal you inside and out. :massage:

 

[picazo77]

Trans guy anxious about first massage

I don't know why it would become obvious, in 5 years of doing massage I have yet to see a client's genitals or breasts. I've worked on a couple people I suspected may have had gender reassignment surgery but it's not something that is asked about on our intake form and it doesn't matter one bit to me. I don't know any MTs who would have any issue with this or for whom it would cause any problems. The **only** clients I have problems with are the ones who act inappropriately - the rest, big, small, scarred, lumpy or bumpy, black or white, thin or obese - are just people with muscles to be worked on.

Enjoy your massage!

Thank you!

 

[Petals B]

Trans guy anxious about first massage

I do think it makes sense to discuss your surgeries with your therapist. Breast reconstruction, male or female, can impose muscular restraints and certain issues an MT may want to be aware of.

Also, I feel like you will feel more yourself, if you let your therapist know you are completing the trans-process.

An easy way to make sure your appointment and table time is not going to be judgemental in nature, is to call your therapist ahead of time and address your concerns with them. This way you will have a feel as to the therapist and their comfort level with the changes you are going through.

Another good way to find a complimentary therapist would be to ask for someone to contact you from this forum that is from your city. Possibly we have a match.

Enjoy your first massage, and please come back to let us know about your experiences.

Thank you!

 

[orly]

Trans guy anxious about first massage

I'm going for my first massage in a couple days and I'm increasingly anxious. I'm a female-to-male trans guy - I've had a double mastectomy and a hysterectomy, but no genital reconstruction surgery. Is this something that gets talked about at all during their education? Should I say something to the therapist up front? If I don't, will they freak out when it becomes obvious?

Chmod-me, I plan on specializing in working with trans/intersex folks.
If you don't want to being up your plans (although if this is a therapist you really click with, it should come up as other surgeries happen),mention the mastectomy.
I'd think the scars would tell their story, but who knows?

relax and let touch heal you inside and out. :massage:

Thanks!

 

[Got My MoJo Working]

Trans guy anxious about first massage

I'm going for my first massage in a couple days and I'm increasingly anxious. I'm a female-to-male trans guy - I've had a double mastectomy and a hysterectomy, but no genital reconstruction surgery. Is this something that gets talked about at all during their education? Should I say something to the therapist up front? If I don't, will they freak out when it becomes obvious?

I'm wondering if your massage has already happened, if so please let us know how it went.

I'm betting almost no massage schools talk about transgender issues specifically in their education. Whether or not to talk about it is up to you, but whether someone will freak out about your body is not something anyone can predict. It might be best to talk to massage therapists you're interested in working with about this before scheduling... that way it's already been talked about and you don't have to have even a moment's worry or stress once you're on the massage table.

 

[Cran]

Trans guy anxious about first massage

So, an update, but first, thanks everyone for your responses. They were helpful.

I waivered back and forth on whether or not to tell right up until the massage therapist asked if I'd had any surgeries. I told her, she was fine with it, and seemed knowledgable enough about that kind of stuff that it wasn't as uncomfortable for me as I thought it was going to be. Then I was free to worry about all the same stuff that it seems like most eveyrone worries about before their first massage -- none of which happened. So, it was a win all the way around.

 

[Ryan-HxC]

Trans guy anxious about first massage

So, an update, but first, thanks everyone for your responses. They were helpful.

I waivered back and forth on whether or not to tell right up until the massage therapist asked if I'd had any surgeries. I told her, she was fine with it, and seemed knowledgable enough about that kind of stuff that it wasn't as uncomfortable for me as I thought it was going to be. Then I was free to worry about all the same stuff that it seems like most eveyrone worries about before their first massage -- none of which happened. So, it was a win all the way around.

:mrgreen: GREAT!