Requirements for top surgery? Garramone

[Eli_]

I'd like to get top surgery with Dr. Garramone in December of 2012, and I just want to make sure I do everything right along the way to be able to get it.  I've been seeing a therapist since last November about gender issues (she's not a gender therapist, but she worked with one who supervised her) and she wrote my T letter.  I just moved across the country for college, though, so I need a new one.  Do I have to see someone who specializes in gender issues?  There are on-campus counselors that I can see for free, but none are gender therapists.  I'd like to take advantage of the free services if possible.  So if anyone can tell me exactly what needs to happen for me to be eligible for top surgery, it would be greatly appreciated.

[Adio]

I had surgery with Garramone in June this year.  I used a letter from a marriage and family therapist; she does not specialize in trans issues.  On Dr. Garramone's website he has the requirements for the letter.  They are based on the WPATH Standards of Care.  For convenience I've copy/pasted from his website, but I suggest going there for yourself as well.

# All transgender patients are required to have a letter from their Gender Therapist, Psychiatrist, or Psychologist stating "surgery is the next step in their treatment for Gender Identity Disorder or Breast Hypertrophy", and "they are psychologically ready for this next step in their therapy". This is a WPATH guideline for standards of care. Be careful of surgeons not requiring a letter within the WPATH guidelines.
# FTM (female to male) patients are NOT required to be on any hormone therapy.
# All transgender patients over the age of 35, must have a normal baseline mammogram prior to surgery. A prescription for a mammogram will be provided to you from our office.
# All transgender patients must undergo medical clearance by their primary care physician prior to surgery.

Once you do your consultation with Dr. Garramone, his office will send you a pre-op packet with further instructions on how to word the letter.  I can PM that to you if you'd like (I don't want to take up too much space here).

This is the link to his website:  http://transgenderflorida.com/