FFS Cost Comparison

[Just Mandy]

This is the first consult/quote I've gotten and I'm wondering how this
quote compare to U.S. FFS surgeons:

This is what they want to do:

Feminizing Rhinoplasty
Chin enhancement (no bone work needed, just silicone implant)
Blepharoplasty
Scalp advance
Forehead contouring or reconstruction (through shaving or through setback of the anterior wall of the frontal sinuses)
Forehead/Brow lift
Upper lip lift
Midface lift
Neck lift
Cheek Augmentation using Medpor implants

All for the low low price of $23,000.

They want to do things that I'm not sure I want or really need, like I'm not sure that I need forehead work with the
way I wear my hair, but maybe I do. You know I"m not looking for perfection. Is it common for surgeons to
want to "do the works"?

I was OK with a rhino and chin, but OMG it's like a total reconstruction from there on the list down. I know if I had it all done
I'd be really happy with the outcome, but what's the point of diminishing returns? Does a nose and chin get
you 95% there, and all the other stuff the last 5%? I know for some people forehead work is a given but I really
don't see it for me. I did at one time, I thought I had to have it, but now I don't.

Amanda

[tinkerbell]

I know someone who had FFS with a famous surgeon here in San Francisco.  I'm not exactly sure what type of surgeries she had (all I know is that she had 'the works' whatever that is..).  She paid over 45K for her FFS.

tink

[lisagurl]

Mine 64K

[Myanne]

Hi AlwaysAmanda!

I was considering it as well, but only for the forehead and scalp adv...
Where did you got your infos from if I may ask? cause I find the price quite low anyway.

[Lori]

Yes...is this quote from a Z in Chicago? Seems awfully cheap.....

[Just Mandy]

No it's Marcelo Di Maggio, at least one of the people here are Susan's has gone there and
she is stunning. I won't say who because I'm not sure she has said it publicly.

http://genderways.com/en/n1/plastic_surgery.htm

The quote is higher than what the web site says but FFS normally does not
include some of the other things they think I need.

Even if you add in airline/lodging cost it's still sounds  a lot better than 45K.

Amanda

[Purple Pimp]

Wow, great price.

If you go through with it, just be aware that that route is a relatively new one.  From what I understand, rather than dealing directly with a doctor like in the U.S., you're going through a company called Plenitas that arranges everything, and they haven't got all the kinks worked out of the system yet.  I recommend that you check out the Yahoo Group (I don't recall the exact name, maybe Plenitas) created by someone who went there and was pretty unhappy with the experience.  I don't necessarily believe the claims made by this person, but it's always valuable (IMHO) to hear both the good and the bad.

Lia

[Just Mandy]

Thanks, I will check things out... I'm just getting started and this was the first consult I've
gotten.

Amanda

[Keira]

Brow bossing + Rhino cost $9.7K by Brassard in late 2006.

[MeghanAndrews]

Hey Amanda,
There's a pretty informative group on Yahoo call FFS Support. There are many, many pre and post op MTF TS there who share their experiences, photos, cost comparisons, etc. If you are considering going down that path I highly recommend checking it out. You need to apply to it and be accepted, just be honest and you'll get in, trust me It really helped me out during my research phase. Cost is important, but make sure you see a lot of before and after pics and speak directly to people who have gone there. You have one face, you don't want to take risks to save $, you know? PM me if you ever need any info on it Meghan

[Just Mandy]

Thanks Keira, $9700 sounds a lot better if I don't really need some of the other stuff.

I'll checkout the FFS group Meghan, thanks I plan to get a consult from all the major
surgeons before I decide. And I don't really want to base things on price but all other things
being equal I will choose the lower price.

Is it common for all these guys to want to give you the works even if you don't need it?

Amanda

[Keira]

Many of the top FFS surgeon tend to play on your insecurities.
Its very easy to get unnesseraty surgery with the justification
that hey, were under the knife anyway. Not sure that should be a criteria...

Clearly state what you want changed in priority,
then
Ask for their advice on other things.

[Laura Eva B]

Dr Zukowski - scalp advance / brow lift, brow shave, recontour & fill, feminizing rhinoplasty, upper & lower blepharoplasty, cheek implants, tracheal shave, jaw / chin contouring, mid & lower face / necklift .... $24k.

(London consultation Nov 2007 .... price held for a year)

Just that I don't maybe need half the procedures !

Laura x

[LynnER]

Check Dr. Cardenas in mexico... From what Ive seen hes a pretty good surgeon and only costs a fraction of his US competitors....

Hes currently my choice for FFS... being as I'll be able to afford him, before Id be able to afford any other US surgeon or GRS....

[Just Mandy]

Thanks Lynn, I emailed Cardenas last week and I have not gotten a response yet. His fee's are very
low. Have you gotten a consult from him Lynn (or anyone else)?

It's hard not to go for the works because I can see how some of it is needed but it's
hard to get past the total price. But Keira as you say it the "While we there we might as well..."
kind of thinking comes into play.

I really this I'd be very happy with nose/chin work. I can always get the rejuvenation work
done after I'm older. I know that I could say a little money but really it's only the anesthesia
and facility costs.

Amanda

[LynnER]

Ive never bothered with consultations for anything cept an orchi localy...

I dont have the funding, and its highly unlikely that I will find the funding before Im 30, and probably just as unlikely before 35 or 40... <Im stuck in a catch 22... and Ive got no way out>

And since I know Ill probably never have the money... or best case senario, wont have the money for a few years... I see no point in getting a consultation that will be out of date before I can afford to get the deed done....

Most of the time, I can barely afford food and HRT...

[Just Mandy]

Thanks Lynn, I was just wondering how much detail they give you about your needs. GenderWays sent
a lot of detailed changes they suggested I should have.

And I don't think in your case you need to worry about FFS, I think you look great But if
you rally want something fate has a way of making it possible, so don't give up on it

Amanda

[LynnER]

Photographicly spaking, It all depends on the angles....

it takes forever to get a decent shot...

I need chin/jaw work more than I think you do in all honesty... and I need to have my browridge shaved down at the very least....  squared wide chin + cleft = .....

If you look through Dr. Cardenas website it gives you most of the information you need to know... Though Im not sure how long it takes for him or his staff to respond to inqueries...

[Just Mandy]

I have trouble with certain angles as well. I think we have very similar chins, cleft and all, but yours is
a little wider. But if I saw you on the street I don't think I could read you at all. But I'm beginning to
realize it's not what others think... it's what I think of myself. And I think that is a problem for
a lot of us

[Keira]

Fat grafting is adding, usually you'd get lipo from the stomach area (male deposit)
and put it on the hips or buttocks, female fat deposit.

Part of the fat will go away with time (resorbtion)
Because it won't get the same blood supply as surrounding fats
(so some of it gets degraded as it dies off due to weaker blood supply)
Though I think there's been some improvement with this lately.
Because of this loss, which depends on the area (often its better to inject
the new fat in smaller bunches amongst existing fat to insure proper blood supply)
there is a new to come back a few time to get the result you want.
But, the removal + add, creates a quick distinct effect (more than just getting lipo).

The prices seem to be pretty low compared to US prices which are very high for the same thing.

At this price, going several time to adjust year over year
could be worth it (compared to insane US prices).

If you've got no stomach fats (rare in males and even in most females) then you're mostly out
of luck since there's not reallly another big source on the body that's usefall for a mtf
(a women could suction her hips and put some in her buttocks instead if she wanted to).