Becca's FFS with Zukowski 2018

[Becca Kay]

I will use this thread to document my Facial Feminization Surgery with Dr. Zukowski.  I also have a nearly year old thread in the HRT forum that documents my HRT and transitioning experience.  I am not quite 1 year on HRT.  I live full time and have completely socially transitioned.  My surgery takes place later this week at The Zukowski Center in Illinois. 

Here is a two day old selfie.  So you can get an idea what I look like day to day.  I have a very feminine presentation.  I wear make-up and usually wear dresses and skirts.  I am 47.  Six feet tall.  175lbs.  I am in generally good health.  I do have generally male facial features.  Like a large nose and jaw and brow.  I wear wigs, so you cant see that my hairline has receded 2 inches. 

[Becca Kay]

I started "researching" FFS a year ago and got serious about it last winter.  I had consults with two surgeons, Zukowski and Speigel.  I liked Speigel but his quote was over $60k for fewer procedures than What Dr Z Quoted me.  While i think Speigel does very good work, he also tends to be very conservative in his approach.  Also, Speigel only does forehead contouring by removing the bone.  That was something I simply didn't want.  Zukowski is a bit more aggressive in his overall approach to modifying facial features, and he works with orthoscopic techniques which help minimize the size of incisions, risk of nerve damage, etc. and should help speed recovery. 

Since 2017 I have spoken with more than a dozen of Dr Z's patients and have gotten overwhelmingly positive feedback from them.  I am friends with several "Z Girls" now and they all look amazing and beautiful. 

I received my initial quote/estimate from Dr Z in April.  Total Cost is approx $40k.  Soon after getting my quote I scheduled my Sept surgery date.

Post Op I will spend 7 days days recovering at a nearby hotel (Staybridge Suites), which is used by most of Dr Z's patients.  I'll have two family members with me and I've opted to hire a nursing service for the first 72 hours. Each of the women I spoke to strongly recommending a nurse for the first 72 hours, and I'm taking their advice. The nurse will be in the hotel around the clock for a full three days.

My surgery involves the following procedures:

Endoscopic Varient Biplaner browlift with 3 dimensional frontal bone and orbital rim contouring
Scalp advancement and forhead height reduction
Rhinoplasy/septoplasty
Endoscopic chin bone contouring, soft tissue reshaping
Tracheal (shave) camouflage
Lower face, neck and jaw skin lift with corset platysmaplasty and internal suspension fo the neck muscles.
Endoscopic jaw body and jaw angle bone contouring
Masseter muscle reduction through intraoral incision
Upper lip lift and length reduction
Fat Grafting to lips, cheeks, nasolabial fold creases and temples

[Another Nikki]

also 47, about to start hrt, subscribed . I'm also interested in Zukowski for brow ridge reduction without removing the bone and reattaching.

[Karen]

Thanks for sharing Becca!   Good luck!

Looking forward to following your journey.

Karen

[MissyMay2.0]

Congratulations and best wishes for a speedy recovery and amazing results😊

[Breeze 57]

Good luck Becca.  I'm scheduled for surgery with Dr. Zukowski in November 2018.  I'm also staying at the Staybridge and also am doing the nurse for the first 3-days post-op.  My bill is also $40K.  Unfortunately, I won't be having anyone other than the nurse staying with me.  I'm excited but also kind of nervous.  This is going to be a big procedure.  I'm 58 by the way.  I've been on HRT about 7.5 months now.  I cheaped out at the Staybridge as much as I could and went with the 1-bed suite for $99.99 a night.  This is all out-of-pocket for me so it is a pretty hefty financial hit for me.  But what good is money if you're not happy.

[Becca Kay]

Congrats and hope your recovery goes well.  if you don't have anybody there with you then you don't need a big room. 

you should be just fine.  The worst of it is the first three days and you'll have the nurse there!

let us know how it goes!!

[josie76]

Becca good luck in your surgery! I have a phone consult with Dr. Z tomorrow. I'm hoping he suggests a bit less that $40k  as I don't have that income level right now. One girl near me spent $30k with a lot of fat graft type work. Another spent $16k for mostly bone and nose.

I'll see what he says. I want brow reduction, nose, lip lift, and chin for sure. Oh and the hairline

[Becca Kay]

Becca good luck in your surgery! I have a phone consult with Dr. Z tomorrow. I'm hoping he suggests a bit less that $40k  as I don't have that income level right now. One girl near me spent $30k with a lot of fat graft type work. Another spent $16k for mostly bone and nose.

I'll see what he says. I want brow reduction, nose, lip lift, and chin for sure. Oh and the hairline

good luck!!  you will get a quote from him with each procedure itemized.  So you can prioritize which you are able or most willing to pay for.

A friend just got a quote from him and comparing hers and mine it looks like his prices went up slightly.  I think that's because prices generally for Trans surgeries are going up with other surgeons. 

[Kendra]

Becca, best wishes girl!!  I know you're going to do well.  Huge positive changes are right ahead for you, and before you know it recovery will be a quickly fading memory and you'll get the benefits every moment of every day.  I am very happy for you. 

[Becca Kay]

Had a pre op meeting today.  I report to the clinic tomorrow at 5:30am.  Everything going as planned.  Hopefully I can do an update in a few days...

[Michelle_P]

Very exciting!  Best of luck for the procedures, and may you have a fast and comfortable recovery.

[Daisy Jane]

He suggested the same list of procedures for me, minus the lip lift. If I can, I want to get everything else done as well as breast augmentation. For FFS and BA, I was quoted a total of $42,000 during the consultation, but the email said $44,000, so I'll have to figure out why there's a discrepancy. Even if my insurance agrees to cover part of it, I'll probably have to make some sacrifices. Most likely I'll have to skip the bone work for my jaw and chin.

[Danni98]

Good luck and Congratulations. I'll be having surgery with him in March.

[Becca Kay]

Ol24 hours post op

[Becca Kay]

Im not going to lie this is NOT fun!  Lol

[Michelle_P]

Im not going to lie this is NOT fun!  Lol

Becca, welcome to Mummy Life! 

The good news is that it gets better.
The bad news is that you don't have Laurie right there to get you through the first week.

The first few days are pretty yucky.  Sleep, with elevated head, relaxing music, and someone to keep you company are a great way to spend the next few days.

[Kendra]

Becca, here's a big hug. 

This is difficult and each day gets better - continuously better.  And then pretty soon you will look in the mirror and be astonished at the improvement. 

[josie76]

Becca, best wishes for a fast recovery.

[Karen]

Becca, thinking of you lots.  I hope your recovery is speedy and that you are doing ok.

Thanks for sharing your journey.

Karen