TOPSurgeryAtLast

They called to schedule my consultation! OMG I was so excited. One month to the day after seeing my gender-care specialist Dr. G on March 30th, I would be discussing the specifics of my TOPSurgery with the surgeon who would perform the procedure, Dr. S, on April 30th. I felt reinvigorated and hopeful although I had prepared myself to hear that the waiting period between the consult and the actual surgery may be significant. At least this was the foot in the door and it helped me to believe that it would actually happen. I finally allowed myself to look in the mirror and actually imagine what I would really look like with a "male chest configuration". I tried on my clothes, men's shirts really, that didn't currently fit over my breasts and wondered which ones I would be able to wear proudly after the surgery. I want to be clear that this was not vanity; it is about finally looking into the mirror and seeing the outward appearance that matches my inner perception of...

While awaiting my consult with the plastic surgeon who would perform my TOPSurgery, my gender-care specialist Dr. G suggested several options to help me feel more like myself, and become more aligned with the gender that I felt internally. I was open to hearing why Dr. G felt that taking testosterone injections or "T", would help me feel better. My wife feared that I would become louder, more aggressive, and lose my feminine qualities that she found appealing, and  were missing from past relationships with men. She really didn't want me to be, well, more like a dude. Looking back with a more educated eye, I realized that the depression that I had been struggling with was really present on and off since I was a child. I could now admit that although I prided myself with coping with my sexual preference, and the appearance that I felt accompanied that, I really was sincerely unhappy with the physical and political implications of being sexually a female. Dr. G assured my ...

When my gender-care specialist told me that the wait for my surgery date could easily be 18 months, I was crushed and defeated. In her office, I forced myself to recover quickly.  Dr. G then explained some options that I might consider while I wait.  First was binding to  reduce the prominence of the breasts. This entails wearing an Ace wrap or a garment designed to compress (squish) the breasts  to make them as small and unnoticeable as is possible. It is very uncomfortable to say the least. I already did this with sports bras, which were restricting enough.  I had tried several different types of binders only to find that they were way too uncomfortable or gave me pretty much the same results as my sports bras did.  Next option was packing which Wikipedia defines as " wearing padding or a phallic object in the front of the pants or underwear to give the appearance of having a penis". I believe that this may be important for some Trans-guy s who want...

My appointment with my gender-care specialist, Dr. G, was set. I was sooooo excited and had so much anticipation. Again accompanied by my wife, I awaited the unknown.  In walked Dr. G, who in both my and my wife's opinions, is one of the most knowledgeable, kind, compassionate, caring and low key health care providers that either of us have met. She (her preferred pronoun) explained the process and more importantly the availability for TOPSurgery options.  She showed me the website of a plastic surgery practice in the San Francisco area, and spoke about the confidence she had in their results. The pictures were awesome.  The results amazing in my mind. Then the lights went out - she told me that the wait to get into the queue was about a year and a half.  I nearly crumbled.  I cried.  I was instantly depressed and deflated. She understood. She explained that now, with so many TG folks coming forward combined with the availability of insurance to cover the ...