Local Gender Affirming Services

Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal is a common procedure for transfeminine people, where lasers in specific wavelengths of light are used to target, overheat, and damage hair follicles in the skin. In most cases, this will result in the death of the hair follicle, but laser is not guaranteed to be able to kill all follicles, because some follicles (e.g. those with lighter hairs) don’t respond to the laser as well.

Most of the effects of laser are permanent, but a series of treatments is usually required because follicles can only be targeted when they are active, and a single treatment may not sufficiently damage any given follicle. In ideal conditions for someone on HRT, 8-12 treatments are typically needed (with a lot of variance from person to person and clinic to clinic). For some, laser may be less effective and require more treatments or electrolysis.

Because follicles need to be active for the laser to target them, it is important to wait sufficient time between sessions for enough follicles to become active. You can tell when your follicles become active because your hair will start to regrow after a period of several weeks where you should be basically hair free (given adequate treatment). For most people, the ideal period is actually from 2-3 months, but many laser clinics will push you to schedule every 4-6 weeks, which will result in you paying for more sessions. More frequent sessions aren’t ineffective, they’re just less effective, meaning that you would need more of them.

Good clinics will be transparent about what lasers they use, enabling you to look up reviews. Common laser types include diode, YAG, and alexandrite; it is possible to get good results with any of these types in the right conditions, though there is more variability in the quality of diode laser machines, and the frequency of alexandrite lasers targets lighter skin. Some clinics also offer IPL hair removal, which does not use a laser and does not reliably give permanent results. You can purchase IPL devices to use at home, and some people experience significant reduction in body hair with these devices.

• Milan (1653 N Atherton St)

  • Has Candela lasers (alexandrite + YAG)

  • Only offer unlimited packages for body areas, no single / bundle treatments. Packages are usable at any of their clinics nationwide – if you move, you can continue getting treatments.

  • Uses “limited time offers” and monthly financing to try to hook customers. Their usual “discount” is 50% – 70%.

  • Quoted prices vary from person to person for no apparent reason. Reports of $4500 after discount for face + neck (Summer 2024).

  • Multiple trans people have reported being misgendered by staff at this location.

• Vanish (119 S. Burrowes St #703)

  • Has diode lasers

  • Reports of approximately $150 per session for face and neck (2026).

• Transformation to a Flawless Me Med Spa (212 Kenlee Dr #1, Bellefonte)

  • 814-931-9441

  • Reports of approximately $100 per session for face and neck (2025). One report of someone being misgendered by staff.

  • The types of lasers they offer are currently unknown. If you have information about this, please reach out to a member of the CCTR-WG.

• Mount Nittany Health system offers laser hair removal and a number of other cosmetic treatments. Geisinger does as well. Reportedly expensive.

• European Wax Center (closest location near Pittsburgh)

  • Offers packages of 7; $1200 for full face and (front) neck, which is about $170 per session.

  • Uses Candela GentleMax Pro lasers

  • They have multiple locations, but packages are not transferable

• If you go to Philadelphia regularly, prices are extremely competitive, even for the best lasers (as cheap as $50 per session for face). Consider Philly Med Club, for example, which allows you to pay per treatment and uses the Candela GentleMax Pro.

Electrolysis

• Ober Yahr Electrolysis

  • Located in Pittsburgh, about 2 hours, 20 minutes from State College by car

  • Shows prices online — $125 for a one hour session

  • Has professional electrologists certified by the American Electrology Association

  • Offers the blend method, which can reduce the risk of scarring in some cases

If you know of electrolysis clinics that are currently providing services in the central PA area, please reach out to someone on the CCTR-WG.

Voice Training / Speech Therapy

Local Therapists and Speech Pathologists

Penn State’s College of Health and Human Development has a Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic that provides a therapy program for trans people. Services are provided by graduate students within the health program, under oversight by licensed professionals.

• Availability is limited and it’s best to get on the waiting list as soon as you can.

• Discounts are available for students and those who can prove financial hardship.

Amanda Silliker voice studio in Bellefonte, PA is trans affirming and has experience working with trans clients.

• $55-65 per 45 minute session

• Contact [email protected] for information

Free Online Resources

There is a wealth of free resources online for trans people and others who wish to modify their voices, including numerous YouTube channels dedicated entirely to the topic.

• TransVoiceLessons is probably the most popular and well-known YouTube channel, although it is mostly focused on transfemme voice training.

Transfeminine speakers who wish to get a comprehensive overview of the topic in (mostly) written form might refer to Transfeminine Voice Training 101, which was written by a Working Group author.