when to get srs?

[Leah/Newt]

Ive been on hormones for almost a month now, i know srs is still a long way away but, i want to get it as soon as i can. Can you all point me in the right direction.

[NatalieRene]

When I had SRS it required a letter from my therapist and something like two or three sessions with a second therapist that also had to provide a letter. These letters required a year full time presenting as female 24/7 in order to get. Only once I had both letters would my surgeon do the surgery. I used the year not just for full time but also to save every bit of money I could because at $25,000 with expenses the surgery was not inexpensive.

[KathyLauren]

Few surgeons will do the procedure without your two referral letters, and one year of HRT, and one year of RLE (i.e. full-time).  But since long waiting times can be an issue in many places, it doesn't hurt to start working on the requirements now.

[Leah/Newt]

Im planning to get it done on my 24th birthday. 2020.

[Leah/Newt]

So what counts as presenting. Im not gonna dress much different. Most of my stiles are plaid and jeans. I vould start when ever. Right. Just buy female versions.

[sarahc]

Ive been on hormones for almost a month now, i know srs is still a long way away but, i want to get it as soon as i can. Can you all point me in the right direction.

Just start researching surgeons. Two good places to start...

1) The GCS forum here at Susan's: https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/board,50.0.html

2) The TransSurgeryWiki on ->-bleeped-<-: https://www.->-bleeped-<-.com/r/TransSurgeriesWiki/wiki/srs/introduction. Notably, this wiki has a pretty comprehensive list of SRS surgeons, from the best known ones (like Bowers and the better-known Thai surgeons) to ones few of us have heard of.

Things to consider in choosing a surgeon include: the surgeon's experience, aesthetics, patient reviews on the overall experience, distance from home and cost / whether the surgeon is in the insurance company's network (in the US). There's no one right answer for everyone. But once you've narrowed it down to a few, come back and solicit input from others here.

[Leah/Newt]

Thinking about going to Dr. Loren Schechter srs surgeon Chicago

[xAmyX]

Live your life as a female, and let it be known to your mental health providers, and get those letters! The amount of time it takes for them to decide you're ready is not only up to time itself, but up to their overall understanding of you based on the information they've acquired from the sessions they have provided.

So what counts as presenting. Im not gonna dress much different. Most of my stiles are plaid and jeans. I vould start when ever. Right. Just buy female versions.

Using female pronouns, being called your female name, genuinely expressing yourself as female. I don't think clothing matters. It's more about gender identity, and psychological expression. If you truly feel in your heart that you are a woman, that is more than enough. Bring those feelings to reality, and appreciate all the ma'am, her, she, miss etc... perceptions you will receive at an increasing rate as you progress.

When someone asks you a question like.. "Why do you want to be a woman?"
Tell them "I am a woman. There is no why.".

Also, make sure this is something you truly want before you do it. SRS was something I wanted in the beginning, but 2-3 years into Hormone Therapy, I've taken a turn towards staying pre-operative. Give it some time, and think about it in depth, and a year or so from now, you'll be more ready to make your decision. Meanwhile, you can take the appropriate steps towards receiving it and prepare.

[NatalieRene]

So what counts as presenting. Im not gonna dress much different. Most of my stiles are plaid and jeans. I vould start when ever. Right. Just buy female versions.

Full time is you don't do anything in the male role at all.

[AnneK]

Find out what's required in your area.  Judging from what I've seen, the requirements vary greatly.  For example, in Ontario, surgery requires a year on hormones and 2 evaluations.  Living in the desired gender is not required, IIRC.

[AnonyMs]

Thinking about going to Dr. Loren Schechter srs surgeon Chicago

I'd research carefully. Some of the photos and complaints you can find are disturbing.