Seeking any FFS mentor(s)

[Ms Grace]

Hey Blossom

Welcome to Susan's    Great to have you here - looking forward to seeing you around the forum.

Sorry, Jenny isn't around much these days - things have been going great for her and she is mostly away from the forum so don't be disappointed if you don't hear from her. I'm sure the other ladies who have been through FFS can offer you advice and support nonetheless.

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Cheers

Grace

[blossom]

Hello everyone,

I originally directed my post to Jennygirl, but was told she isn't around much these days. Therefore, I am extending an open invitation to anyone with FFS experience to be my mentor and help guide me though the process.

I will re-type some of what I wrote earlier in case you didn't read it in my earlier post.

I'll talk a little more about myself so everyone can get to know me better. Here is my transition timeline.

2005-2007:Started laser hair removal on my face

2007-2009:Began electrolysis on my face. Started taking estrogen. Grew my hair out from a buzz cut to shoulder length hair. Had an orchiectomy by Dr. Murray Kimmel in Philadelpia, PA.(He has now closed his practice some time ago). I had two procedures by an Ohio surgeon to take a scalp sliver from the back of my head and transplant the hairs into my temples to make a more feminine "arc" hairline.(I used to have a masculine "M" shape to my hairline.) Moved from the very transgender unfriendly Midwest to the more accepting San Francisco Bay Area (That was my Midwest experience at least). Met with Dr. Ousterhout over FFS.

2010: Met with Dr. Meltzer in Arizona over FFS. Tried to get a loan to pay for FFS, but was unable to. This is where my transition reached a roadblock and I had to put it on hold for awhile. Very sad times.

2012: I had taken estrogen about 5-1/2 years by this point and I was getting called "sir" by everyone in public and I also thought it might have been causing the heart pain I was experiencing, so I stopped taking estrogen, but my body did not revert back to masculine because I had an orchiectomy.

2016: I saw an inspiring video on YouTube of a transgender girl named Nicole Gaines who is an identical twin. This motivated me to resume transition again. Currently, I am just working part-time and I cannot expect to get a loan now, but on the positive side all of my debt got paid off during my years of transition being on hold. With this all said, I am currently trying to get a full-time job (I do accounting for a career). Once I have a full-time accounting job, and pay for accounting jobs is good, not great, but good, I'll apply for a loan again for FFS and hopefully be able to resume my transition which has been on ice for 6 years.

I plan to have my FFS with Dr. Meltzer. I e-mailed his office this week and was told the soonest they could schedule me is 4/11/17!!! Over a year from now!!! I was very surprised, but I was debating paying the deposit to schedule surgery, as long as it is refundable, and then seeing how soon I can get full-time work. Then once employed full-time, I can apply and hopefully get a loan for FFS and be all set for April 2017.

I am looking forward to people's opinions and advice on my transition.

You might be wondering about pictures. I'll be happy to post pictures of me from multiple angles. The problem is I can't figure out how to access my iPhone pictures on a desktop computer so I can post them here.

Talk to you all soon!

-(I was going to choose Lillian, Lily for short, but now I'm not as sure)

[blossom]

Thank you for your kind words and info Ms. Grace. I am hoping to learn a lot from these forums.

[Laura_7]

You might grow your hair out so it covers brows and forehead.
This can make a big difference.


*hugs*

[kittenpower]

I wouldn't choose just one person to guide you through the process, as so many of us have gone through it, so there is a lot of information to be found here at Susan's, and other sites. Anyway, I had some initial FFS with Dr. Meltzer in 2007; I had type 3 forehead reconstruction with scalp advancement, Rhinoplasty with osteotomy at the top of the bridge to lower the radix, and a cheeklift to enhance my natural cheekbones, and I am very happy with the results; I would recommend him to a friend or family member without hesitation. Here is a profile picture...

[blossom]

Kittenpower,

Thank you so much for posting a picture and replying to me! I really appreciate the advice that you gave.

[blossom]

Well, I guess it's quality over quantity as far as responses go.

[Jessie Ann]

Hey girl - Just noticed your post.  I can't speak to the work of Dr. Meltzer.  There are a number of posters here who have gone to a number of other doctors.  In the LA area you have Dr. Toby Mayer (who Jennygirl went to) and Dr. Harrison Lee (who I went to).  Both of those doctors have little to no waiting time for FFS.  I'm not sure what procedures you are planning on having but I had a hairline lowering, forehead contouring, brow reduction, brow lift, upper and lower eyelid work and breast augmentation.  My cost was a little over $20,000.  I believe that that cost is similar to what Dr. Mayer would charge. 

There are a number of very good doctors who can do FFS.  Many of them do not charge a consultation fee.  It would be to your benefit to contact a few of them to see what they would recommend as far as procedures and what they would charge. 

My review of Dr. Lee is here - https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,198862.msg1773492.html#msg1773492

I've also posted a review of Dr. Lee on the RealSelf web site.

Good luck girl!!

[Maybebaby56]

I think Jessie got the homegirl discount.

This is what Dr. Lee's office quoted me on 2/25:

Rhinoplasty and lip lift        $12,000
Face and neck lift               $18,000
Jaw & chin reduction           $9,000
Brow bone reduction           $14,000
(includes hairline advance)
Trachea shave                    $5,000

Package discount               -$8,000
Sub Total                           $50,000
Operating room/anaesthesia $8,150

TOTAL                                $58,150

The price includes two days of aftercare. Oh, and there is a non-refundable 20% deposit due the day you schedule surgery.

Love his work, but this is completely out of reach for me.

~Terri

[Jessie Ann]

It did help that my therapist referrers a lot of patients to him.    I got a little bit of a discount on the eye work. 

It also helped that I did not need any of the jaw or cheek work that so many of us need.  I did not need a lip or face lift.  Like so many things the cost will depend on what you have done.   

I think Jessie got the homegirl discount.

Love his work, but this is completely out of reach for me.

~Terri

[blossom]

Thank you everyone for your help.