top surgery

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by nhplowboi

I am wondering if anyone knows much about Dr. Melissa Johnson? I would rather go to Dr. Garramone but would have to arrange time away from home if I choose him. Johnson is a short car ride away.

Melissa Johnson is very good and carries a great reputation in the community. Check out transbucket.org for pictures of her work.

I assume you know you would only have to stay for 7 days in FL if you went to Garramone, right?

[DapperButch]

Bard,

I don't know if you have read my extensive ramblings to cathexis, but one thing I listed was this site: http://www.topsurgery.net/

It will give you a solid foundation when starting the process of looking into top surgery.

I forget to tell you that when you contact your insurance company for providers, you need to ask them to send you information on what is required for them to pay for your surgery. Look on your insurance website for trans health coverage which will also have the information.

Without a doubt both your insurance company and the surgeon will require at least one "letter" from a gender therapist saying that this surgery is medically necessary. Make sure that when you see said therapist that you give them a copy of what your insurance company wants in a letter and what the surgeon you have chosen wants in a letter. This way the therapist will make sure to have all of the information needed for both parties. Otherwise, you will find yourself returning for another letter.

If you don't have a gender therapist you can look for a gender therapist who will meet with you for an evaluation and write a letter for you. Usually this is out of pocket, rather than using insurance. Make sure you also find out the therapist credentials required for the insurance company and surgeon.

Let me know if I can help in any other way.

[kittygrrl]

i think top surgery is amazing..i am just not sure about the hormone therapy..dated a few guys in transition and ftm..nice guys but seemed unhappy..had a lot of fun with mtf, we sync..a lit experience

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by kittygrrl

i think top surgery is amazing..i am just not sure about the hormone therapy..dated a few guys in transition and ftm..nice guys but seemed unhappy..had a lot of fun with mtf, we sync..a lit experience

Well, you are going to find unhappy people of every gender. I don't think that your sample of a "few guys" is statistically significant to determine the happiness of an entire population.

Typically, you see improvement in mood when someone begins hormone therapy. Their mood levels out since they are finally getting the hormone their body has been missing. That is why the 42% suicide attempt rate of trans people begins to decline when they begin medical transition.

[kittygrrl]

Originally Posted by DapperButch

Well, you are going to find unhappy people of every gender. I don't think that your sample of a "few guys" is statistically significant to determine the happiness of an entire population.

Typically,

My sample, is part of my life and very meaningful. You can disagree Dapper but my experience is my experience. I'm telling you from a girl point of view. Most couples i knew broke up, because transition put stresses on their relationships. Of course this is years ago and maybe it's better now. Unhappy was never meant to imply suicidal and since I was never deeply involved, my dates didn't share their issues. also..

btw the top surgery i saw about 20 years ago was top notch, beautiful work, very little scarring. This was in the PNW.

[Dean Thoreau]

Hey all,
Back in January I had to get a mammogram prior to top surgery simple right.
My schedule was like this start T appx Jan 15

Get top surgery April
Get lower removal surgery April

Well I went and got a mammogram , two days later they call I need a more detailed one....ok cool prolly a cyst.
Well long story short it wasn’t a cyst
So schedule had to be adjusted:
Lumpectomy, so I did that and in one day I had appt to return visit surgeon and endocrinologist.....
Endocrin refuses to start the T said see your surgeon... long story short cancer....
sooo now it’s other breast testing, radiation, genetic testing,
Well of which needed to be done b4 top surgery and a vacation to Italy in March.
So had all the basics and then was faced with a decision full bilateral mastectomy..... or take tamoxifen for 3 years and no T

Genetic testing came back verified what I already knew

Two weeks ago I had a bilateral mastectomy and a complete hysterectomy and three lymph nodes removed in arm pit area at same time. All pathology reports are in and all is clear no cancer no possibility of “female cancer since everything is gone”. Every 6 months I will get a ct scan.
Tomorrow I start T

Now this is not what I planned.... but it is all working out.... in about 6 months the plastic surgeon will do top surgery and contour and I will get tattooed on nipples for the look.

Right now hi am getting accustomed from going from a DDD to nothing but a swollen strip with stitches from armpit to armpit...
So I pass sort of.... next week I start speech therapy to teach me how to maintain my voice in the lower octave range as well as fine tune male word inflection. So as the T takes hold and the facial hair and voice goes even lower than it is already... I’m prepared sort of
I’m 65 and doing this and tomorrow my adult kids and the grands are throwing me a Happy T Day. Party

Why am I scared and doubting myself after all this ?

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by Dean Thoreau

Hey all,
Back in January I had to get a mammogram prior to top surgery simple right.
My schedule was like this start T appx Jan 15

Get top surgery April
Get lower removal surgery April

Well I went and got a mammogram , two days later they call I need a more detailed one....ok cool prolly a cyst.
Well long story short it wasn’t a cyst
So schedule had to be adjusted:
Lumpectomy, so I did that and in one day I had appt to return visit surgeon and endocrinologist.....
Endocrin refuses to start the T said see your surgeon... long story short cancer....
sooo now it’s other breast testing, radiation, genetic testing,
Well of which needed to be done b4 top surgery and a vacation to Italy in March.
So had all the basics and then was faced with a decision full bilateral mastectomy..... or take tamoxifen for 3 years and no T

Genetic testing came back verified what I already knew

Two weeks ago I had a bilateral mastectomy and a complete hysterectomy and three lymph nodes removed in arm pit area at same time. All pathology reports are in and all is clear no cancer no possibility of “female cancer since everything is gone”. Every 6 months I will get a ct scan.
Tomorrow I start T

Now this is not what I planned.... but it is all working out.... in about 6 months the plastic surgeon will do top surgery and contour and I will get tattooed on nipples for the look.

Right now hi am getting accustomed from going from a DDD to nothing but a swollen strip with stitches from armpit to armpit...
So I pass sort of.... next week I start speech therapy to teach me how to maintain my voice in the lower octave range as well as fine tune male word inflection. So as the T takes hold and the facial hair and voice goes even lower than it is already... I’m prepared sort of
I’m 65 and doing this and tomorrow my adult kids and the grands are throwing me a Happy T Day. Party

Why am I scared and doubting myself after all this ?

Wow, you have been through a lot!

Sorry about the cancer. It was hard for me to understand what you were saying, but I think you are done with radiation?

Good luck with your top surgery. I know a guy that had to get mastectomy due to genetic testing. The surgeon was supposed to make his chest more male looking, but he did not. It was a horrible situation, and clear transphobia. He is going to go to a top surgeon now that he has trans health care.

Is your insurance paying for voice therapy? That is very unusual.

Make sure you use a medical tattoo artist for your areola/nipples

It isn't unusual for someone to doubt themselves before going on T. However, you have been through a hell of a lot. I know that you decided to go on T prior to all this stuff hapenning. However, it certainly wouldn't be a bad thing to give yourself a breather before you get started on T.

Just a thought.

[Dean Thoreau]

I am pretty lucky where I live, I have penn medicine which is a great nonphobic place. Even non gender bathrooms.

The speech therapy is paid for by insurance since it is part of my treatment for my diagnosed condition of gender dysphoria.
I met one plastic surgeon and I thought he was just an asshole so I.met with another and he is great so we are just counting days and pounds if I can drop about 40 or so pounds then with the contouring I will also get some stomach work done.. since the internal material needed for top is coming from the gut..
I also moved back to pa from nj because of the better medical care and thanks to Obamacare care the insurance is affordable.
Also I am a vet, and if the va can not provide a needed service then they send to civilian... and of course I say send me to penn medicine and get the needed treatment.

This starting T stuff is a bit unnerving for me, it’s weird I am looking forward to greater hair growth on face, I already have a deep voice, but for 40 years have thrown the voice higher to more easily be acknowledged as female... I really got tired of being met by police outside the ladies room doors.

Well in 2 hours I get T, for so many years I have waited for this...wanted it, now I am in the Countdown and honestly have no idea if I am going to go thru with it and get the first shot and the rx. Guess I will know when I know... dean

[Gemme]

Dean, good luck with whatever choice you make for yourself.

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by Dean Thoreau

I am pretty lucky where I live, I have penn medicine which is a great nonphobic place. Even non gender bathrooms.

The speech therapy is paid for by insurance since it is part of my treatment for my diagnosed condition of gender dysphoria.
I met one plastic surgeon and I thought he was just an asshole so I.met with another and he is great so we are just counting days and pounds if I can drop about 40 or so pounds then with the contouring I will also get some stomach work done.. since the internal material needed for top is coming from the gut..
I also moved back to pa from nj because of the better medical care and thanks to Obamacare care the insurance is affordable.
Also I am a vet, and if the va can not provide a needed service then they send to civilian... and of course I say send me to penn medicine and get the needed treatment.

This starting T stuff is a bit unnerving for me, it’s weird I am looking forward to greater hair growth on face, I already have a deep voice, but for 40 years have thrown the voice higher to more easily be acknowledged as female... I really got tired of being met by police outside the ladies room doors.

Well in 2 hours I get T, for so many years I have waited for this...wanted it, now I am in the Countdown and honestly have no idea if I am going to go thru with it and get the first shot and the rx. Guess I will know when I know... dean

Hi, Dean.
I hope you are comfortable with whatever decision you made today.
I don’t live in PA but I live near the area. I am curious to know who your top surgeon is. Since you mentioned a male being an “asshole”, I am going to assume you saw Dr Leis. He is a misogynistic jerk, yet does fine work. The thing about him though, is that he has no idea. And supposedly all of the women who go to him find him to be very kind and caring.
I work in the trans health care field and have worked with all the major insurance companies. I am also very involved with the trans community nationally. This the first time I have heard of an insurance company paying for voice therapy for a FTM billed under a “Gender Dysphoria” diagnosis. I know of one person who had it approved under “hoarseness”, because he is a teacher. I have only known of one company who has paid for voice therapy for a female under Gender DyphoriA
Are you sure they are using the ICD-10 code for Gender Dysphoria (F64.1) for your voice therapy? You mentioned Obamacare, so I assume this is your insurance. Who is the
carrier? Or is the voice therapy under TriCare?

Would you mind asking your voice therapist what code they are using to bill? I interface with a lot of trans people and it would be helpful. Insurance companies are still not following WPATH standards and voice therapy is so very important for many MTF individuals.
Thank you for your help.

[nhplowboi]

Thanks for the info Dapper, I will check out transbucket. Unfortunately, a week away from the store and farm would take tremendous planning.

Originally Posted by DapperButch

Melissa Johnson is very good and carries a great reputation in the community. Check out transbucket.org for pictures of her work.

I assume you know you would only have to stay for 7 days in FL if you went to Garramone, right?

[candy_coated_bitch]

Originally Posted by nhplowboi

Thanks for the info Dapper, I will check out transbucket. Unfortunately, a week away from the store and farm would take tremendous planning.

I've seen Johnson's work up close and personal with two friends who went to her. I saw them imediately after surgery and through the healing process and I would highly recommend her. She was great, the results were great, and both friends were thrilled with their results.

If time away from the store is a concern, I would say go to Johnson. As an outsider. Hope it's ok I posted in this thread.

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by nhplowboi

Thanks for the info Dapper, I will check out transbucket. Unfortunately, a week away from the store and farm would take tremendous planning.

I hear you. As CCB said, Johnson does good work. You will be in good hands. I would definitely set up a consult and you can see how she "feels" to you. She will also have pictures of her work. Of course, surgeons always have their best pictures, but that is why transbucket is such a good resource.

I have always thought that Johnson had done quality work, but years ago she used different incision lines, instead of cutting under the pec muscles, which is the standard with the double incision method. Since we just simply cannot get away from scaring, the scars were more noticeable for those who have the ability/choose to, build up their pecs that can hide the scars somewhat.

I know you have been thinking about this for a long time/planning this. Good luck to you.