top surgery

[cathexis]

Thanks Dapper,
Your note has helped me calm down a bit, but still bouncing off the walls. No one knows anything about this guy. He took the place of a surgeon who had quit. My TG/IM/Primary Care doc said he has heard good things about him. Plan to approach this the way I do most other things...as a skeptic and a cynic. Will let you about the appointment on Monday night. Thanks for the empathetic, calming words. They do help.
cathexis

[cathexis]

Originally Posted by cathexis

Thanks Dapper,
Your note has helped me calm down a bit, but still bouncing off the walls. No one knows anything about this guy. He took the place of a surgeon who had quit. My TG/IM/Primary Care doc said he has heard good things about him. Plan to approach this the way I do most other things...as a skeptic and a cynic. Will let you about the appointment on Monday night. Thanks for the empathetic, calming words. They do help.
cathexis

Sorry, it took Saturday for me to get back. The doc is older with a very laid back, but knowledgeable demeanor. He seems like he has done a fair amount of plastic/reconstructive surgery with experience in trans. surgery ... top surgery at least. Sue and I perused his certificates on the wall, and were happy with his credentials.

Had pictures taken at various angles. He examined me, and questioned about how long I had been thinking about and why. I have a follow up in a month when he has all the WPATH documentation.

Will keep you posted, but I'm really excited about this surgery and the surgeon.

[homoe]

Originally Posted by cathexis

Sorry, it took Saturday for me to get back. The doc is older with a very laid back, but knowledgeable demeanor. He seems like he has done a fair amount of plastic/reconstructive surgery with experience in trans. surgery ... top surgery at least. Sue and I perused his certificates on the wall, and were happy with his credentials.

Had pictures taken at various angles. He examined me, and questioned about how long I had been thinking about and why. I have a follow up in a month when he has all the WPATH documentation.

Will keep you posted, but am

Good to hear! Thanks for posting and keeping us up to date.

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by cathexis

Sorry, it took Saturday for me to get back. The doc is older with a very laid back, but knowledgeable demeanor. He seems like he has done a fair amount of plastic/reconstructive surgery with experience in trans. surgery ... top surgery at least. Sue and I perused his certificates on the wall, and were happy with his credentials.

Had pictures taken at various angles. He examined me, and questioned about how long I had been thinking about and why. I have a follow up in a month when he has all the WPATH documentation.

Will keep you posted, but I'm really excited about this surgery and the surgeon.

I'm glad you felt good with him. You mentioned "a fair amount of plastic/reconstructive surgery with experience in trans. surgery" I am not sure what that means. Did you ask him directly how many top surgeries he has done? Did you ask to see pictures of his work?

[cathexis]

Originally Posted by DapperButch

I'm glad you felt good with him. You mentioned "a fair amount of plastic/reconstructive surgery with experience in trans. surgery" I am not sure what that means. Did you ask him directly how many top surgeries he has done? Did you ask to see pictures of his work?

Did ask to see photos. He wanted the medical records (even though I brought some of them with me) before going into specifics. He was especially interested in getting the WPATH documentation, probably because I don't look very masculine.

This is our first meeting. Perhaps, he thought it might be an impulsive decision. Not sure his rationale for waiting to discuss the specific surgery (like 2 incision vs keyhole, when I'm obviously not a candidate for the latter). Appreciate his need to be certain , but a bit worried about how far into the summer I'll be healing if he waits too long. Don't tolerate summer as it is.

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by cathexis

Did ask to see photos. He wanted the medical records (even though I brought some of them with me) before going into specifics. He was especially interested in getting the WPATH documentation, probably because I don't look very masculine.

This is our first meeting. Perhaps, he thought it might be an impulsive decision. Not sure his rationale for waiting to discuss the specific surgery (like 2 incision vs keyhole, when I'm obviously not a candidate for the latter). Appreciate his need to be certain , but a bit worried about how far into the summer I'll be healing if he waits too long. Don't tolerate summer as it is.

So did he show you any photos (you only said you asked)?

Did you ask him how many top surgeries he has done?

Did you ask him where/who trained him in top surgery?

I know you said that he replaced someone. Is he there specifically to do trans surgeries, or he just inherited this role from this last surgeon?

Based on the fact that he doesn't know anything about WPATH and didn't immediately start talking about double incision (your chest is larger than a small B with no droop to your breasts, right?), concerns me.

I'm sure he is a good surgeon. He might be an excellent plastic surgeon. What matters is if he is an excellent (or good) top surgeon. The question is if he had any training in top surgery and how many times he has done it.

I think you live in Michigan? I assume you have Medicare. You can go to the University of Michigan.

http://www.uofmhealth.org/conditions...ender-services

Since Medicare is a federal insurance, you can use it anywhere. Transgender health programs are popping up at all the University hospitals and they take Medicare.

It's true that every surgeon who does top surgery has to start somewhere. The question is if he had any training in it. I have seen too many guys in such distress over their results when using a non-seasoned top surgeon. I know travel is costly, but it might be worth it.

Yet, with all this said, there are many guys who don't care about how "good" it looks and just "want them off". There is nothing wrong with that, either.

[cathexis]

Guess I was a bit worried in the office. He told me the WPATH documentation he needed before going any further. You wrote that it concerned you when he seemed unfamiliar with WPATH. Please explain.

Didn't ask the questions you recommended, He seemed reluctant to discuss it any more in depth before receiving the WPATH and other medical records? Will print out the list for Jan. visit. Do many plastic surgeons take telephone questions?

You mentioned that you were familiar with other medical centers. I live in NY way up near Montreal, Canada. The closest large US cities are Burlington Vermont (3 hrs.) and Albany New York (5-6 hrs) . Yes, I truly live in the boondocks of a small dairy town. Don't ask how or why this Chicagoan got stuck here. I'll tell you sometime, if you're curious.

Thanks for all the advice. I'd be lost without it.
Btw, do you know of any trans support groups in either city. We are saving up for Albany, though.

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by cathexis

Guess I was a bit worried in the office. He told me the WPATH documentation he needed before going any further. You wrote that it concerned you when he seemed unfamiliar with WPATH. Please explain.

Didn't ask the questions you recommended, He seemed reluctant to discuss it any more in depth before receiving the WPATH and other medical records? Will print out the list for Jan. visit. Do many plastic surgeons take telephone questions?

You mentioned that you were familiar with other medical centers. I live in NY way up near Montreal, Canada. The closest large US cities are Burlington Vermont (3 hrs.) and Albany New York (5-6 hrs) . Yes, I truly live in the boondocks of a small dairy town. Don't ask how or why this Chicagoan got stuck here. I'll tell you sometime, if you're curious.

Thanks for all the advice. I'd be lost without it.
Btw, do you know of any trans support groups in either city. We are saving up for Albany, though.

I'm sorry, I assumed you knew what WPATH was. WPATH informs the Standards of Care (medical care) for trans people. It is where all things spring when it comes to care for trans people. I looked back and I can't tell from your post if he had never heard of WPATH, or just wanted a letter from your therapist.

http://www.wpath.org/

Why are you saving for Albany?

I have to be honest with you. The number of people doing top surgeries have increased quite a bit in the last few years and I have not kept up with them. I could talk to you about bottom surgeons all day long, but not top surgeons.

I found this, however:

http://www.topsurgery.net/surgeons/medicare.htm

I would not assume all of these people still take Medicare and I would not assume that this list is up to date. There are probably more surgeons who take Medicare. I can tell you that Berverly Fischer no longer take Medicare.

Call your closest University hospital and see if they have a surgical trans health program. If they do, you can be pretty sure they will take your Medicare. It will be harder to find a private practitioner who takes Medicare since they pay so poorly.

Are you on FB? If so, the best thing you can do is join a top surgery FB group and the guys there will have everything you need to know. I can find out the name of the "main one", if you want. I bet that within one post of giving your location someone there can tell you the closest person to you who will take Medicare.

With all that said, it seems that you haven't asked the questions you need to ask your current provider in order to rule him out. But, his reluctance to discuss is a huge red flag. Why wouldn't a trans provider assume you would ask how many surgeries he has done and to ask to see pictures? YOU are the consumer. He is providing the service. I can't help but wonder if he has only done a couple and doesn't have any pictures. Anyway, I wouldn't move any further with this guy if he didn't answer these questions to my satisfaction. Don't let him intimidate you.

Remember, you want a surgeon who specializes, or at least has some decent experience in doing FTM top surgeries. Nothing else matters. Trans people often feel like they have to take crumbs. That we should be thankful that there is someone out there who will do our surgeries. Well, guess what? Shit has changed and there are now qualified people who will do them, who care about our community and want to do them. Unfortunately, some trans people still don't have a choice, based on their location, and that sucks (no money for travel). Insurance is often a sticking point, too. However, don't feel that you have to accept this provider without at least getting some of your questions answered to your satisfaction. With all of this said, I am not saying that one shouldn't accept a provider who is new to it and is eager to learn...sometimes that is the best you can get. Just DON'T forget to ask about free revisions. Do all your research about other providers before you next appt. with him so you know your options going in.

Good luck.