Unmasking inadequate healthcare: Laser hair removal for transfemme adults in Germany

Abstract

Background Facial and body hair alterations are crucial for some transfemme individuals. To date, no data on the healthcare quality of permanent hair removal for transfemme adults are available for Germany. Aims To analyze the financial and psychological distress, treatment satisfaction, and health service situation of transfemme individuals in Germany seeking laser hair removal. Methods This study was designed as a prospective cross-sectional clinical trial including adults from the routine cohort of the Laser Department at the University Medical-Center Hamburg. The Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18) and a self-developed, structured questionnaire were applied. Results In total, 80 transfemme people were included with a mean age of 30.3 years (SD 8.5; range: 19–56). Among respondents, 96.3% identified as female and 3.7% as nonbinary. Participants experienced significant burden in daily life, relationships, and work due to facial hair. BSI-18 results indicate great psychological distress. Laser hair removal was received with high satisfaction. The time from referral for laser hair removal to the initial consultation at the Laser Department was 4 months (IQR 4). Approval for cost coverage from health insurance after the first consultation took 4 months (SD 4.3). 40.0% received direct cost coverage approval by the health insurance, 34.5% received approval after opposition, with over 20% not receiving any cost coverage approval. Conclusion Unwanted facial and body hair has a massive impact on transfemme adults’ psychosocial and mental well-being. The current insurance framework indicates an insufficient healthcare situation of those individuals in Germany.