Well, let's see what I can clarify with my own opinion, this site's definition for a transsexual (TS) based on relatively current medical thinking and the viewpoint of so many transsexuals who have gone before us in the outside world and on this site, which at one time had a very active, opinionated and vociferous TS membership.

If a serious person declares themself a TS, that person is a TS, until proven otherwise, i.e. mistaken or a fraud. They do not need a medical opinion, though that does help the undecided sometimes, to have advanced beyond that opinion, no surgeries, no hormones and no requirement for living full time, and not a so called full time with or without weekends off!

A pre-op TS would be one that has not yet had any surgeries, whether due to medical, logistics or some other reason. This is probably used when one states that they want some surgeries but have not yet had any. This term is not really used that much by most of us. They are still TS.

A non-op TS is similar a pre-op one who may have decided to live their life with no surgeries. Now, actually this term does not get much use and I may be a little off in my description. However, the key here is that this person is still TS.

A post-op TS is one who has had one or more gender confirming surgeries, which could include an orchiectomy, breast augmentation, some type of bottom surgery, facial feminization surgery, or something else. Facial hair removal is not surgery. A person does not need to do more than one to be post-op. The term is used commonly to refer to post-op bottom surgery, but in my opinion and since the term in itself is not specific, it could apply to any of these procedures.

Also, having one or more gender confirming surgeries does not make anyone more TS than someone who has not had them. This is no contest. We are who we are.

Teresa, according to you, you are basing your declarations based on your conversations and understanding of what others meant in your social group, formal or informal, one on ones. I am basing my definitions on all my conversations with my extensive trans network of friends, this site, my readings and the medical definitions used by most.

People can define themselves anyway they want, but to be accurate, to be consistent, to be in tune with current medical and community thinking, please follow the site's definitions of TS. On this there should be no debate. Now, if you want to go out and debate how the site defines CD and NB, when one is a crossdresser and when not, fine, have at it.

I hope this helps the OP and others.