Dr. Rachel Bluebond-Langner?

[FTMax]

Has anyone heard of Dr. Rachel Bluebond-Langner? There is only one year-old thread on here about her. Dr. Fischer had mentioned her to me during my top surgery process. Today my therapist mentioned her and said that she was really impressed by the quality of work she'd seen. She performs both metoidioplasty and phalloplasty (with microsurgery!). I've been considering doing a consult with McGinn just to see if I'm a good candidate for meta, so I'm tempted to make an appointment with Dr. Bluebond-Langner so I can see these results.

I know she's affiliated with the University of Maryland, but beyond that I'm not seeing much. No results on transbucket, minor mentions on YouTube and ->-bleeped-<-. Has anyone heard of her? Had a consult? Seen results of anything anywhere? At this point I'm more so looking for an opinion than a surgeon, but I'm open to considering her if I like what I see.

[mm]

I would like to know more about her and the results of both meta and phallo with microsurgery.

[Bimmer Guy]

Has anyone heard of Dr. Rachel Bluebond-Langner? There is only one year-old thread on here about her. Dr. Fischer had mentioned her to me during my top surgery process. Today my therapist mentioned her and said that she was really impressed by the quality of work she'd seen. She performs both metoidioplasty and phalloplasty (with microsurgery!). I've been considering doing a consult with McGinn just to see if I'm a good candidate for meta, so I'm tempted to make an appointment with Dr. Bluebond-Langner so I can see these results.

I know she's affiliated with the University of Maryland, but beyond that I'm not seeing much. No results on transbucket, minor mentions on YouTube and ->-bleeped-<-. Has anyone heard of her? Had a consult? Seen results of anything anywhere? At this point I'm more so looking for an opinion than a surgeon, but I'm open to considering her if I like what I see.

Just this page:  http://www.transhealthcare.org/rachel-bluebond-langner/

It doesn't have meta listed, just phallo, but I can't imagine someone doing phallo and not meta.  If you do talk with her, I would love to know where she got her training.

Remember, McGinn doesn't take insurance (unless something has changed, recently).  You would have to pay upfront and then submit yourself to your insurance company.  Also, I don't know if you plan to get vaginectomy, but McGinn does not do one.  She closes the vagina canal by 80%.

EDIT:  Also know that McGinn is very strict about her BMI Index requirements.  Has to be lower than 28.

[FTMax]

Thanks for the link Bimmer Guy.

The consult with McGinn would just be to get a professional opinion on if I've got enough length to move forward with meta. She's the closest geographically whose opinion I respect. I've only seen one recommendation as far as length goes, which I meet, but it would be nice to hear yay or nay from a surgeon. I didn't meet her BMI requirement until very recently, and I do need a vaginectomy, so I've never considered her an option to actually perform my surgery.

I got one referral yesterday, and have an appointment with the person who will be co-signing it on Jan. 21st. I'll reach out to Dr. Bluebond-Langner's office tomorrow or Friday and see if I could do a consult before I have letters in hand.

[Bimmer Guy]

Thanks for the link Bimmer Guy.

The consult with McGinn would just be to get a professional opinion on if I've got enough length to move forward with meta. She's the closest geographically whose opinion I respect. I've only seen one recommendation as far as length goes, which I meet, but it would be nice to hear yay or nay from a surgeon. I didn't meet her BMI requirement until very recently, and I do need a vaginectomy, so I've never considered her an option to actually perform my surgery.

I got one referral yesterday, and have an appointment with the person who will be co-signing it on Jan. 21st. I'll reach out to Dr. Bluebond-Langner's office tomorrow or Friday and see if I could do a consult before I have letters in hand.

That makes sense in terms of your purpose in meeting with McGinn.  That's how this whole thing started for me with Crane.  I had only been on low dose T for 6 months and yet my length was already in the average range.  I had planned on waiting two years originally.  When I saw that Crane was going to be in town for a conference I contacted him and was able to see him.  He took half a glance and said, "Yes, I could operate on you today".  Then you told me he was going to be in Austin.  Next thing I know I am calling the office and scheduling!   

[FTMax]

Off-topic, but did Crane give any specifics as far as what length he would've wanted you to achieve prior to performing the surgery?  The only recommendation I've heard was that once you extend past the labia, you're good.

I hope he gets his Austin situation sorted out. I'll have my second letter in hand Jan. 21st and I'd like to schedule ASAP. There's no possible way I'd be able to afford travel to and lodging in SF though. Austin would be possible, maybe even preferable to Schechter in Chicago in terms of cost.

[Bimmer Guy]

Off-topic, but did Crane give any specifics as far as what length he would've wanted you to achieve prior to performing the surgery?  The only recommendation I've heard was that once you extend past the labia, you're good.

I hope he gets his Austin situation sorted out. I'll have my second letter in hand Jan. 21st and I'd like to schedule ASAP. There's no possible way I'd be able to afford travel to and lodging in SF though. Austin would be possible, maybe even preferable to Schechter in Chicago in terms of cost.

I don't know about length, in order to urinate.  That is what it is really all about.  No problem doing a meta for any size penis.  The question for the FTM is if you aren't long enough to STP into a urinal through your pants, would you prefer to go phallo?  As I recall, you are in the average length zone.  I don't see why you wouldn't be fine.

I was concerned about the fact that since I will only be one year on full dose (prior to this, 6 months 1/4 dose to 1/2 dose), I wouldn't be at my potential.  We always hear two years on T before meta.  He said that I will still grow after surgery if there is growth to be had.  My plan is to wait the full two years on full dose T and then see if I can get some of that DHT.

I met a guy who actually had a surgeon perform meta on him PRIOR to T, many years ago.  So, it can happen.  AND, indeed after he went on T, he grew with no problems.

P.S. I am thinking about how we have also always been told that we should be on T for a year prior to top surgery, and now that belief is defunct by surgeons.  Crane took half a glance at my 6 month full dose penis and said no problem.

For what it's worth, my lodging costs about the same in San Fran as it was in Austin.  Both are AirBnb and the San Fran one is nicer.

[Goodguy]

I have a consultation scheduled for February with Bluebond-Langner. Working on getting my letters for her office. I'm hoping to talk with her about meta and phalloplasty. I found an article that she co-authored about phalloplasty "Phalloplasty in Complete Aphallia and Ambigiuous Genitalia" which goes over several free flap techniques, but not specifically for transmen. It would be great to hear from other guys who have seen this doctor.

[FTMax]

I have a consultation scheduled for February with Bluebond-Langner. Working on getting my letters for her office. I'm hoping to talk with her about meta and phalloplasty. I found an article that she co-authored about phalloplasty "Phalloplasty in Complete Aphallia and Ambigiuous Genitalia" which goes over several free flap techniques, but not specifically for transmen. It would be great to hear from other guys who have seen this doctor.

Hey Goodguy,

I just reached out to her office today to schedule a consultation. I should have my second letter at the end of January. I'm not necessarily looking to schedule surgery with her unless I'm really wow'd be her results, but it would be incredibly convenient for me given her location. Plus I know she works with my insurance. I'll make an update when I've got something scheduled.

If your consult is before mine, I'd really appreciate if you could tell me how it went!

[FTMax]

Update - I'm scheduled for a consult with Dr. Bluebond-Langner for March 8th. For anyone interested, these are the notes that were sent to me in regards to the consultation request:

- The office requires 1 mental health letter BEFORE the consult. You can schedule the consult without the letter, but it needs to be faxed or mailed prior to the day. She requires 2 letters to perform the surgery.

- Your doctor needs to fax your HRT history over. I'm waiting on confirmation to see if they need top surgery notes as well.

- Consult fee is $100 if you're paying out of pocket. If you're paying through insurance and the claim is denied, you have to pay $100. It goes towards the cost of surgery when you schedule.

- She is in network for BCBS and Horizon. She also accepts other insurance plans. After the consult, the office will contact insurance with all of your documentation and request approval. On average it is taking them 4-6 weeks to hear back.

- They require full payment (out of pocket) or an insurance approval before they will schedule surgery.

- They do not provide any estimates over the phone or email.

- I am waiting to hear back about whether or not she performs a vaginectomy and if she does the hysto in house or not.

Once I have my referral letters at the end of January, I'll also be scheduling a consult with Dr. Schechter.

[Bimmer Guy]

Update - I'm scheduled for a consult with Dr. Bluebond-Langner for March 8th. For anyone interested, these are the notes that were sent to me in regards to the consultation request:

- The office requires 1 mental health letter BEFORE the consult. You can schedule the consult without the letter, but it needs to be faxed or mailed prior to the day. She requires 2 letters to perform the surgery.

- Your doctor needs to fax your HRT history over. I'm waiting on confirmation to see if they need top surgery notes as well.

- Consult fee is $100 if you're paying out of pocket. If you're paying through insurance and the claim is denied, you have to pay $100. It goes towards the cost of surgery when you schedule.

- She is in network for BCBS and Horizon. She also accepts other insurance plans. After the consult, the office will contact insurance with all of your documentation and request approval. On average it is taking them 4-6 weeks to hear back.

- They require full payment (out of pocket) or an insurance approval before they will schedule surgery.

- They do not provide any estimates over the phone or email.

- I am waiting to hear back about whether or not she performs a vaginectomy and if she does the hysto in house or not.

Once I have my referral letters at the end of January, I'll also be scheduling a consult with Dr. Schechter.

Thanks for the details.  Other guys who do the search on the site for her will appreciate this information.

Sounds like a great plan!  Are Schechter's consults free?

I didn't realize that with my $1,000 cash down payment for my meta, that only $500 goes towards my surgery costs.  The other $500 is for the cost of checking the insurance.  If you get a phallo it is a $2,000 down payment and you only get $1,000 towards your surgery.  This honestly does not make sense to me and I am not pleased. 

I didn't even think to ask, I just assumed the whole amount went towards the surgery like it did when I got my top surgery with Garramone.  I have never had a physician charge me for checking my insurance.  At least mine is a little complicated.  It's crazy to charge the guys whose insurance Crane is in-network with!  That is a 5 minute phone call (after being on hold for 10 minutes)...or just a quick email requesting authorization.

[FTMax]

Ouch, that's no good man. I'm not sure if Schechter's consults are free. When I originally reached out, it was asking for pics of MLD results and if they worked with my particular insurance. The response was that pics are only shown during in-office consults because of their affiliation with whatever hospital they work out of, and that they'd be happy to run my insurance as long as they had 2 mental health letters. No mention of fees for checking or fee for the consult. I'd be (pleasantly) surprised if it was a free consult.

That's so interesting to me. Dr. Fischer didn't charge to check my insurance. I had a different plan at the time that didn't cover anything, but her office had no issue checking and didn't charge me any extra to do it based on my invoice.

Now, assuming insurance approves, could you then ask to be reimbursed for the whole down payment, or have it counted towards your out of pocket costs? Or is it essentially an administrative fee applied by Crane's office? Is it possible for you to get the authorization yourself and avoid the fee, or do they have to do it?

This'll be my first real use of my insurance. Makes me nervous!

[Goodguy]

Thanks for the details about Bluebond-Langner's requirements. The person I spoke with in her office told me about the required letters. I have one letter that I picked up today and should have the second letter in early January. I didn't know about the HRT letter, but that shouldn't be difficult to get. My consultation is in mid February so I will post an update then.

[jeburt515]

Hey, I'm really interested in seeing Dr. Bluebond for phalloplasty because she works with my insurance. Does anyone have any updates? did she have pictures of her work available? any info would be great thanks!

[FTMax]

Hey, I'm really interested in seeing Dr. Bluebond for phalloplasty because she works with my insurance. Does anyone have any updates? did she have pictures of her work available? any info would be great thanks!

I have a consult scheduled with her on Oct. 4 and am planning to book surgery with her then as long as everything goes well during my consult. I will be doing a write up of the consult experience in my bottom surgery thread either the same day or the day after.

[jeburt515]

I have a consult scheduled with her on Oct. 4 and am planning to book surgery with her then as long as everything goes well during my consult. I will be doing a write up of the consult experience in my bottom surgery thread either the same day or the day after.

That's awesome, congrats! and thanks for the reply I look forward to the update