Top surgeons for minors?

[Skyler]

Hey everyone. I'm not really sure if this question has already been posted but I've scrolled through the topics for a while and wasn't able to find it so I figured I'd ask.
Does anybody know of top surgeons located in the US that perform on minors? I am young, on T, and filing for my legal name and gender marker change. I am preferably trying to find surgeons within a few hours of North Carolina or in Florida but am open to hearing about surgeons throughout the country. If there is anybody that knows of these surgeons please let me know. Thanks

[LordKAT]

I think you may have to make a lot of phone calls and just ask. Surgery on  minors that isn't pretty much life threatening in their eyes seems to be rare.

[aleon515]

My guess that it might be easier to gain if the parents initiate it. They are not going to do surgery on a minor without either parent okay or in some cases perhaps a court order. I don't know of any place that would do a court order. But I am pretty sure it has been done once or so. So I would guess that someone like Dr G has operated on a minor, but only if the parents contacted him and not if they minor child does.

--Jay

[Bimmer Guy]

I know that some surgeons do it, but you need parental consent.  Like LordKAT said, you should call around to find out.  I think there is some concern doing plastic surgery on a body that has not finished growing.

[littleprince]

I tried getting top surgery when I was 16 (I am in Australia however) and it was a really, really meticulous and stupid process, which in the end got rejected by the health minister for my state (it's stupid how one person in charge gets to decide what I choose to get done on my own body).
Also, you have a higher chance if both of your parents are supportive and will allow you to get the surgery. Only one of my parents consented which also held me back.
And also, you will need to test whether you have stopped growing or not. I was tested at 16 and had stopped growing at that point. They x-ray your wrist to see if it has fused completely to the hand which determines your growth.
As far as the USA goes, I am not sure but I have heard that it's possible. It is best to make a bunch of phone calls and perhaps contact a local LGBT-friendly medical centre which deals with transgender patients. You may also need to go to court in order to be allowed the surgery. I was going to go to court but couldn't because my dad didnt consent to it anyway. There are LGBT-friendly lawyers who will offer to fight your case for free.

I turned 18 in March 2013 and had my surgery in November. I promise you that you can wait (if the minor thing doesnt work out). I have been there and I know how horrible it is.. but the time will come eventually, so just keep hanging on!

[Sir Wafflinton]

little prince - For people under 18 in Australia (obviously just incase anyone else asks) Dr Hassall will operate on you because it is really up to the doctor to decide whether you are "gillick competent" (pro-tip: no transgender person ever is, but that is a rant for another day haha) and Dr Megan Hassall doesn't see it as in her role to assess whether you are psychologically ready (and I fully agree with her - that is a job for yourself, family, your GP, psychologist, psychiatrist etc.). I called every other Australian surgeon who routinely performs top surgery and she is the only one (although some will operate if you have a court order).

In terms of the USA, I know Dr Medalie and Dr Crane will perform on minors with parental consent. Dr Garramone will not. I think you should get a list of all the surgeons you would consider for top surgery, and just put aside a morning to calling all their offices and asking. That is what I did and I got all the information I needed. I know one guy who had surgery at 15 in the States so it can be done but you may have to travel interstate for a good surgeon willing to operate on you.

[aleon515]

In terms of the USA, I know Dr Medalie and Dr Crane will perform on minors with parental consent. Dr Garramone will not. I think you should get a list of all the surgeons you would consider for top surgery, and just put aside a morning to calling all their offices and asking. That is what I did and I got all the information I needed. I know one guy who had surgery at 15 in the States so it can be done but you may have to travel interstate for a good surgeon willing to operate on you.

Yeah I know Dr G's page says not, but I would bet if a parent contacted him it's different. I base this on a post or two I have seen on his FB page. I would guess he does *not* want young guys calling his office and so on. But if a parent would call his office and say I have a son who is 17, he'd have a different view. I don't have personal experience and Dr Medalie is an excellent surgeon, so... (I think Dr Crane's gift lies in bottom surgery but he's also an excellent surgeon). I would gather a surgeon would want to know that there isn't much more growing going on. It would be bad for you if you had surgery and then your shoulders broaden 4 inches. LOL.

--Jay

[Sir Wafflinton]

It would be bad for you if you had surgery and then your shoulders broaden 4 inches. LOL.

I believe that is Dr Garramone's precise reason for not operating on people under 18 (shoulder/rib changes). But the vast majority of female born people who did not access hormone blocking medication (and hence, need surgery) are done all or almost all of their bone growth by the time they are 16, and as such should not expect more changes than someone going on testosterone at 30 (well that's what the current medical view seems to be) although the cumulative effects may end up greater. It is important to consider the cartilage in your chest though too.

I know binding over the course of years can cause rib problems too though, so it seems a bit lose-lose :/

[aleon515]

I believe that is Dr Garramone's precise reason for not operating on people under 18 (shoulder/rib changes). But the vast majority of female born people who did not access hormone blocking medication (and hence, need surgery) are done all or almost all of their bone growth by the time they are 16, and as such should not expect more changes than someone going on testosterone at 30 (well that's what the current medical view seems to be) although the cumulative effects may end up greater. It is important to consider the cartilage in your chest though too.

I know binding over the course of years can cause rib problems too though, so it seems a bit lose-lose :/

My guess is that anybody with that involved parents so that both of them would okay surgery would be on T by the age of 16-17. So it is problematic.

--Jay