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Due to the sheer volume of enquiries I receive, I'm no longer able to write back individually - it was just taking up too much of my day. For that, I apologise. However, if you have a specific query, please raise the issue in the forum section below and I will try and answer genuine issues. Take a look at the FAQ's, though, because you may find your answer there.
Sorry. For legal reasons, I am unable to answer questions on my transition within the Army, or my military service.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Why did I go through gender re-assignment surgery? It wasn’t a decision I took lightly at all. I tried really hard for a long, long time to deny the female side of me, hiding beneath layers of anger and denial. It was very difficult to come to terms with – and would probably never have happened had I not been medevacked back from Afghanistan. When that happened, I decided to seek help. Through some lovely people’s understanding, I came to realise I was not wierd, I just had a condition called gender dysphoria. It meant my brain was built and wired as female, whereas my body was male. It was that that was causing me the dis-comfort but as a condition, like all brain conditions, it manifests itself in behavioural difficulties, with associated mental trauma caused by living life in a role other than the one I believe to be the right one for me. I’m glad to say that since I finished the process, I am now happy with my life, my appearance and, generally, how I am treated by society.Did you have counselling? Absolutely – a lot of it. I first went to see a lovely lady called Sue Leaman, who really did the initial diagnosis on me. She is a gender therapist, with a masters degree in gender studies. She took me to a place where I examined my soul and came up with some answers. I then went to see Dr Richard Curtis in London. He is the UK’s leading gender specialist, operating in the private field. His opinion is highly respected, although he is expensive, his time is limited and it was a long journey for me. He was a she at one time, so has been along the same journey. Alongside that, I consulted with my GP, who referred me to my NHS PCT, through them to mental health. I have to say, the chain from here was not successful, and it took 14 months to get a referral from them to Charing Cross, the national centre of excellence, by which time my re-assignment was done and dusted, so the process was a bit of a waste of time. If you are considering gender re-assignment, my number one tip is go and talk it through with your GP first and foremost. It is an immensely hard journey, not to be taken lightly, and you will need some-one to listen to. Plus, you cannot be referred for surgery without a positive recommendation from a qualified therapist.Where did you go for your surgery?I went to a wonderful, caring man and an amazing surgeon, called Dr Suporn, in Choniburi, Thailand. I had a couple of consults with other surgeons, both in the UK and the US. However, I was persuaded that Dr S’s technique, combined with his breadth of skills and positive testimonials, together with the fabulous after-care regime, meant that there was no better alternative. It’s an opinion I still have – he is not cheap but he is the best. 
Dr Suporn and I the day I came home from Thailand for the last time. A wonderful man.What surgery have you had done? On 23 August, 2007, I had 12 hours of surgery to re-construct my face and breast augmentation. The operations were forehead re-construction, upper and lower blepheroplasty, rhinoplasty (2ce), lip lift, upper face lift, hair transplants and breast augmentation. It hurt and really knocked me out of it for a couple of months. Because your sinal cavities are all re-arranged, it affects the balance and is quite nauseating for a while. I was in hospital for 5 days and in Thailand for 28, recovering. 
The morning after my facial surgeryOn 01 February, 2008, I had 8 hours of gender re-assignment surgery. This was combined orchiedectomy, labiaplasty, clitiroplasty and vaginoplasty. It REALLY hurt for months. Combined with the hormone withdrawal, it was incredibly unpleasant and depressing for several weeks. I was in hospital for 7 days and Thailand for 28. I had some bleeding to begin with and had to have some corrective work 2 weeks after the inital op, but this is actually fairly usual. I have to maintain a programme of post-operative care, dilating every day. It is time-consuming and painful to begin with but it remarkably simple now, six months on.All that surgery has been combined with an aggressive diet and exercise regime to radically change my body mass. I lost five stones in about 14 months and still carefully watch my diet to keep my BMI within a female range for my height of 5'9".Although people always ask about the physical process, it is not the major part of the journey. Transition was an emotional and spiritual journey for me. You give up so much to become female, while retaining an understanding of the other gender. For all its trials and tribulations, I do believe you can experience a level of understanding of the human condition far beyond that of the rest of society. Very few are asked to hold a mirror to their soul the way we are. I have learned to separate the physical being I inhabit, learning to deal with the pain helped here, and my inner spirit, which is now burning brightly.Can you have sex? Yes – Dr S’s technique means that I have a fully functioning vagina, which is sensate and physically identical to any other post-hysterectomy female i.e. complete minus the reproductive organs. The 3 criteria for successful surgery are depth, cosmetic appearance and sensation. I am pleased to say, my surgery has been a complete success.What hormones did you take? Initally, I was so desperate, I was naughty and self-medicated. This was wrong and Dr Curtis rightly slated me for it and regulated my prescription. I took 100 micro-gram Estraderm patches, 2ce weekly, and 100mg spirinolactone, an anti-androgen, every day. Since my op, I just use the patches. What effect did the hormones have? First off, these things are not sweeties. I really didn’t understand just how powerful hormones are on the functioning of the body. They run everything! The anti-androgens removed my libido, and ability in that department, pretty early on. The oestrogen calmed me radically and within weeks, I just felt happy. They aren’t a wonder drug – it’s taken 18 months for my skin to soften and for fat distribution etc to change. The change since the op has been the greatest catalyst, though, as I no longer produce male- type quantities of testosterone. What else did you have done? I’ve had over a year of laser hair removal on my face. That is very sore and your skin definitely gets more sensitive, the more you have it. I’m pleased to say, it’s pretty much gone now. Where did you learn your clothes sense? It took time, really, to find my style. Actually, I’ve just thrown a load of clothes out because my body shape has changed so much. I started in a sort of ‘50’s look, now I tend to dress down with jeans and a top. I began as a 20, now I take a 10 jeans and a 12/14 jacket., so I can pretty much shop in the High St. Shoes went from a 10 to an 8. It’s all the ligature shrinking. I suppose I always had a sense of clothes – I had a big wardrobe before. Fashion is something I really enjoy and have a lot of fun putting a look together. Like any woman, though, I have my disasters!Where did you learn to do make-up? I went to beauty school outside Windsor and trained as a make-up artist and beauty therapist. I loved it. Make-up is hard to get right at first, as the sort of over-done drag queen thing might work on a Sat night but it just isn’t going to help you pass through the day. Laser is terribly important as the less hair you have, the less foundation you need. Nowadays, while I won’t go out without my face, I can get it all done in less than 10 minutes.Is your hair real? I’m about to change my image totally, so I’ll be revealing more on this soon. At the moment, I’ve had propecia and hair transplants, but I use a weave to help things along. Do you miss the Army? Nowadays, I don’t really think I could fit in there. I’m quite a gentle soul now and I really get scared quite easily by loud noises etc, so I probably wouldn’t be a great soldier! It’s in the past for me now, really it was Ian’s thing. I am happy as I am.You talk about Ian as if he was a different person, why? Well, he really was. I’m not mad, I just see my life as Ian as a separate construct. Some things travel over but my personality is really quite different now. Ian achieved some wonderful things, was a very successful male, but those male totems are not the ones I now find important.Do you have a partner? Not yet. I’d like to find some-one who loves me but it’ll take time. It’s harder as a woman, there’s an element of waiting for the man to find you. I’ve had a few dates and enjoyed them but I haven’t had that spark yet. I still hope it might happen, though. I think I would make a good wife.How did the documentary "Sex swap Soldier" come about?
I was approached in April 2007 by flim-maker Jane Preston after my story broke in The Mail On Sunday. I was quite nervous about it to begin with, to be honest. However, I decided I had nothing to hide and much to be proud about - and, hopefully, it would be a document to a momentous year that might just help others, whilst educating and informing those who ought to know more tolerance and understanding. Jane and Peter Prada on sound spent a whole year with me. in many ways, it's a shame the show was only one hour because so much was recorded that never saw the light of day. I hope someday to do an extended version. It's now been seen all over the World, repeated 2ce on C4, and was the most commented programme on that channel the month it was first broadcast. I've had letters from as far away as Canada and Israel on it since it first aired in March 2008. 
With Jane and Peter the day I went into hospital for my final operation in Thailand Why don't you feature Ian on your web-site?I suppose because he has gone now. I have his medals, commendations and awards in a cupboard but more importantly I have his memories. It's like having a big brother who's passed on. He looked after me for a long time and I miss his strength. It makes it hard for men sometimes to be around me because I unconsciously judge them by him - and he achieved a lot. I do have one photo of him that I leave out, to remind me to never give up, when I get down. It was taken in 2003, when I was home on leave from Bosnia, my happiest time in the Army. Here it is: 
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janhamilton.co.uk
