Finding an NHS top surgeon

[Elis]

So I reckon I'll have my first appointment at Charing Cross around May (hopefully  ) so it's coming up soon. So it'll probably be best to have a list of surgeons I'm interested in getting consultations with before then. But I have no idea where to start looking. I'm completely overwhelmed; plus nervous about thinking about it because I've never had surgery before. It's imperative that my chest looks like an ordinary male chest; so not completely flat; as well as still having nipple sensation. I'm only a size B so this should be generally not too improbable.

So any websites I should look? I've tried Transbucket but can't find much info.

Thanks

[nameuser]

No way, my first appointment at Charing Cross is due around May too!

I'm a bit late so you may have already found this, but this tumblr has some results from the main UK surgeons:

http://ftmtopsurgeryuk.tumblr.com/

I went to a new patients workshop at Charing Cross in November - the main top surgeon they work with is Andrew Yelland, who seems to be by far the most experienced surgeon in the UK for male chest reconstruction. He's based in Brighton. His website, complete with before and afters:

http://www.transurgery.com/

He's very highly rated, very experienced, and I'd say his results are hands down the best I've seen for the UK. Only downside is his waiting list is...I don't know how long, but I've heard 7/8 months. Might not be accurate, but if it is, it's well worth it imo - we're stuck with our chests for the rest of our lives. I have my heart set on him

The other surgeons you'll see listed in the tumblr. None of them have the experience Yelland does, so if you want the best chance of a good result, I don't know how I'd feel about them. There are a few others not listed, but most of them specialise in mastectomy for female identified people, and have little to no experience in male chest reconstruction.

I'm sure Charing Cross will be able to advise you on picking a surgeon when you get there, and they'll have all the information you need to be secure you're making the right choice (and bearing in mind the assessment process takes a while in itself, you'll have plenty of time to think it over). So try not to feel overwhelmed!

Personally, I wouldn't consider anyone other than Yelland (as long as I had a choice). Lots of info available about his practice on the web, lots of before and after shots that are consistently pretty damn good. It's difficult to find enough before and afters for the other surgeons to have much idea of what you're getting into - and often any information at all - so I wouldn't feel safe.

Another link:

http://transitionftmuk.co.uk/surgeons/

And I've exhausted my information supplies It's weird, when I first got on the waiting list medical transition was such a distant reality it didn't feel like it would ever happen. Now it seems so close I'm getting butterflies D:

Anyway, best of luck with all your stuff and stuff. Hope you're having a fabulous day and that my fangirling over Yelland was at least slightly helpful.

[Elis]

Thank you; this was very helpful . I was going to go to the workshop in Nov but I could not get myself out of bed; a mixture of exhaustion from work and not being great mentally. Was it helpful? I assumed it kinda wouldn't be.

I've heard about Yelland for a while and how he's an amazing surgeon but I haven't heard about him also accepting NHS patients  . I'll have to look into that. He'd be my first choice too.

Best of luck too and thanks again

[nameuser]

I nearly didn't make it myself, thought I was gonna anxiety puke on the way in >~<

It was basically a lecture hall about halfway full of trans people. A few of the staff from the clinic delivered a two and a half hour powerpoint presentation on all the treatments available through the clinic. They mentioned non-binary people a lot and made it very clear that they take non-binary identities seriously, if that's a worry for you (was for me). But for obvious reasons (the infinite different ways to be NB) they focussed on FtMs and MtFs.

The coolest part (apart from being in a lecture hall full of trans people ) was when they went into bottom surgery in VERY graphic detail. They told anyone who was prone to fainting to sit at the edge of their rows, so staff could pick them up easily. The phalloplasty surgeon delivered that part and went off on a tangent about dancing penises.

It was fun, but in terms of helpfulness, I think the most helpful thing was just seeing so many people like yourself gathered in one place and looking beautiful and normal, and cracking inappropriate jokes. It was interesting to learn so much about the transfeminine side of things, but I already knew almost everything about the transmasc side, and I'm sure you would've too.

Yelland definitely accepts NHS referrals, so don't worry about that. And don't feel like you missed out, in case I'm talking it up too much. It was fun, and nice to feel normal for a morning, but all the information delivered is available on their website in their info pack. Link just in case you've not read it:

http://www.wlmht.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/GIC-patient-information-pack-April-2016.pdf

Somebody requested they put the powerpoints online too and they said they might - I had a quick look, couldn't find them but they might go up there eventually. Anyway, you didn't miss any crucial information, just a few funny moments. Staying in bed and looking after your brain might have been the best thing (I hope you're in a better place now).

I just noticed the time, so I'm going to bed! Best of luck again, and I wish you another fabulous day

[Elis]

Nameuser- Very suprising to hear that they're supportive of NB identities. This was a worry for me.  When I went to the private GIC I didn't mention that I was nb, because I thought they'd take me less seriously.

Yeah I would have to look away when they started talking about bottom surgery. I find the procedure quite gruesome even though I'm not too squemish about surgeries generally.

It's good to hear they also mentioned being trans feminine as it's not really talked about.  It seems like Charing Cross isn't nearly as bad as I'd imagined being; as I thought they'd still be quite restrictive. I hadn't read the info pack before but it's definitely put my mind at ease now. I think I'm starting to look forward to my appointment now as before I was quite apprehensive due to me being nb and thinking they'd obsessively be asking me the same repetitive questions to make sure I need top surgery.

And good to hear Yelland does NHS referrals; another worry out of my mind. Strange it's not mentioned on his actual website though.

And yeah I'm in a better place now . Some days I just can't deal with stuff but most I'm alright. I hope your anxiety got better once you were there.

Thanks for being so helpful again and I wish you a fabulous day as well