The age old topic of funding.

[Blank]

I'm two years on HRT, I have my notes and my documents.  There isn't much stopping me from surgery aside from funding.  All my life has been focused on getting to this point though, and now that I'm here I honestly don't have any clue how to bridge the big step.  The surgeries I want are:

 

-FFS (50k)

-SRS (25k)

-Vocal Feminisation (20k)

-Breast Augmentation (10k I think, but this one I might be remembering wrong)

-Laser Hair Removal (more because they told me after a year and a half that I needed to pay again even though they guaranteed 80%, still frustrated) (6k

-Laser Resurfacing (mostly for exsisting scars but also the ones I'll get from surgery) (6k)

-Then a few other small odds and ends that all together don't equal much over another 6k on top of it all.

 

Add in travel expenses and I think 150k is a safe bet from what research I've done.  I definitely have Vocal Feminisation and Brest Augmentation picked out, and I am decently confident in my FFS surgeon (though I am still looking for suggestions), SRS I am still not sure about, Dr. Suporn is the one I've been thinking about, but I don't know exactly yet.

 

Anyway though I'm hoping to find guidance for all of this, I don't have any trans friends to speak of, definitely no one who can advise me.  Be it loans or fundraising or selling my soul to the devil in white xD (I do live in Vegas after all) I don't care how much effort is involved, I just need a path to follow.

 

I know there are some charities that offer funding, but those are all lotteries from what I've seen and if you say the wrong thing your changes crash.  I also know you need to provide a surgeons name and I'd try for FFS since it's the one that costs the most (and also would make any loans easier by putting the total under 100k), it also has the perk of boosting my day to day self image a lot, I think only Vocal Feminisation Surgery can top it in that category, but it's always adviced to make that your last surgery so FFS it is.  I am still not 100% convenienced in the surgeon I've been looking at which is one thing, but I've heard they provide drastic changes wth natural results and they also do hair line reshaping both surgical and transplant, so it's also a one stop shop for that deal.

 

I should be able to tighten up the numbers once I do interviews with everyone, but again since there is a fee for interviews I want to have a rough idea who I want before hand so I don't have to burn money.

 

But yes, pretty much I'm just looking for people and places to help me figure out this whole funding deal, Google can only do so much and I think I've pushed it to it's limit.  Also always open to surgeon suggestions for SRS (can explain what I'm looking for out of it if wanted), FFS too.  I can get the list of names together as well.

 

Anyway I'll just leave this here and keep an eye on the forums, thanks to anyone in advanced who's gotten this far!

[Charlize]

Welcome Blank,

 Sorry if you want to known by another name please let us know.

 

As to your financial issue , many have similar issues and either modify their plans to spread the costs over a long period.   Even so costs are potentially high but an increasing number of insurance companies do offer  payment for many procedures.  Rather than playing the lottery a job search, keeping that in mind, with a savings plan can help you on your journey.

You might want to post an introduction 

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

 

 

[Jani]

Hello and welcome. I would focus the item that means the most to you.  When taken in totality the numbers are daunting.  But like a sandwich we eat one bite at a time, so too is it best for any plan we have to focus on the piece immediately in front of us.  A little bit by bit and before you know you're moving forward.  

 

Also don't be afraid of shopping around for a doctor that might not be the one everyone wants.  They tend to be pricey and have long wait lists. There are many good surgeons.  My doctor was a hidden gem and I am happy with my results at a reasonable cost.  

 

Jani

[Carolyn Marie]

Welcome to Trans Pulse, hon.  Your wish list is impressive, but daunting.  I agree with what the others have said; prioritize your list, and take them one at a time.  You didn't mention if you have insurance.  That can definitely help with SRS, much less certain with breast augmentation, and little to no chance with the others.  Some states allow Medicaid to cover SRS if your insurance policy doesn't.

 

GoFundMe is hit and miss - too many other trans folk using it for their asks.  That leaves saving it up as the next best option.  Thailand has great surgeons and overall is less expensive, even with travel costs thrown in.  I'm personally dubious about places like Mexico.  I've heard too many bad stories out of there.

 

Best wishes.

 

Carolyn Marie

[VickySGV]

Not all of those surgeries MUST be done for a successful transition.   You will save money in the long run by carefully going over what you really need and what it will do for your quality of life with your Gender Therapist, and gaining experience living as your True Self.  I have had GCS as my signature line shows below and know what GCS does not do and as a result I will not talk anyone in or out of having it, but I have no regrets that I had it.   (I got a mortgage loan for it.)  As good an investment was to get some needed dental work done that negated further needs for medical work on my face. 

 

By that time I had had enough social experience to find out that the other surgeries had fallen off the list because people did not have gender problems with my voice, my face or my breasts or a lot of other things.  I had also found that I simply have a streak of Non-binary in me that even makes the extreme femininity look unimportant.  I am also very out and with a group of Trans people who accept me exactly as I am which is a crusty old Trans gal who looks as good and as bad as other women her age.

 

Last May a group of Trans women who are my dear friends were in Las Vegas for a five day get-together and the Show Girls on Fremont Street wanted to be in pictures with them, instead of the other way around, and all of my friends have had almost no surgeries and come off as just nice sweet women with a taste for fun.  One of them actually had a singing gig there in town and it was great.