Costs?

[Aussie Jay]

After the question was posed about someone thinking of going to Thailand for top surgery, I got to thinking what if I went somewhere else? Is my current quote a bit on the high side? I know I am in Oz and well your US dollar generally buys more than mine, but I have a question regarding costs in the States Vs here.

So I have this quote from a good surgeon, seen results through FTMAustralia etc, spoken to a past patient who's happy and results look awesome. He's reputable and spoken highly of. Now the quote is just for the surgery and nipples are done at a later date, no extra lipo that I might like to give me a more masculine shape because I'm a fat guy, with a grand total of 10K (11US).

I looked at Dr Garramone's site where the top surgery alone is like 5.7K (6.5AU), then if you want some lipo its 4.5K (5.1AU), equalling 10.2K (11.5AU). Not much difference... And I would have had a surgeon who has done thousands of these surgeries as opposed to hundreds.

I realise plus airfare and accommodation etc and blah blah but... I could treat that aspect as a holiday I guess... Take my sister or my mum as a get away... Finally go to a MLB Game!!

Does that quote over here seem a little high to y'all? Or am I just being tight!? I want good results and I don't mind splurging a little on something I have to live with for the rest of my life...

Any thoughts guys??

[tekla]

I know a lot of the guys like this doctor in SF who does a lot of these types of operations, and I've heard good things about his work and the general level of care.  And SF (and Northern California in general) is a nice place to visit.

[Jamie-o]

It sounds as if the basic cost may actually be higher in Oz.  The cost for DI with nipple grafts seems to be running between $5500 and $7500 (U.S.) or so, typically.  Now, as you say, airfaire and hotel/food, etc. can add quite a bit.  And that cost will vary a lot from place to place.  Expect to pay a lot more for hotel in SF for Brownstein than in FL for Garramond, which would probably be more than in Omaha, NE for P. Johnson.  On the other hand, who wants to vacation in Omaha, NE?    Me, I'm trying to save up about $10,000 so I can have DI with Garramond, and spend a couple days at Disney World while I'm at it.   

Definitely check out Transbucket for pics and costs. There's also a yahoo group called FTMSurgeryInfo that has a lot of good pictures to browse through.

[Radar]

10K ($8,722 USD) sounds like alot for not doing the nipples at the time and no lipo. I can go to a doctor near me who does the whole thing (DI) at once for around $7300 USD. That also includes the initial visit, all follow-up appointments and any revisions needed. Since she's close by I can drive (don't have to pay for a plane) for surgery and any revisions (which hopefully wouldn't be needed).

She has great results and is spoken highly of in the area. After getting quotes from other doctors this seems the best way for me to go. But, since you have to factor in plane tickets and extended stay in the U.S. it might be better for you to go to the Australian doctor recommended.

[Ender]

There's another doctor in Australia that I've heard about, her name is Dr. Megan Hassall.  There's one photo of her work on TransBucket--a DI with nipple grafts and tattooed areolae (which look really good, actually; nice shape/color/placement).  The guy said it cost around $6000; he didn't specify if that was US or Aussie dollars. 

Another Australian guy on FTMVanity (search "ftmvanity livejournal") recently had top surgery from the same doctor.  Just look for the entries that say '2 days post op' and '6 days post op.'  He's in stage 1, with the moobs removed by DI, and is awaiting nipple grafts & areolae once that heals.  The chest contour looks really nice; he has pics up as well as an account of how everything went.

[Aussie Jay]

Cheers guys!
@Eryk - I looked up that site, thanks for that. I can't find a lot of information about his surgeon but I know who he's talking about... Just gonna have to search some more! And his chest looks great. It seems the way we do it over here - they either remove the nipples altogether or leave the originals in place til the new ones are constructed later down the track.

It obviously makes more sense to stay here and get everything done - no travel, family support and people to look after me... It's just a really hard decision hey! There are no surgeons near me that I know of - I live about 3000kms from the nearest 'big city' with a somewhat experienced surgeon... Luckily that's where the parentals are!

Thanks for the help guys - its just going to take me more research from what I can tell! Just wanted to know what others thought/were quoted and all that.
*walks back to the drawing board*

[millsy]

Hey mate,
In hindsight i think it would have been cheaper for me to fly to miami and go to garramone. All up it cost me about $19,000 to get a bilateral mastectomy done with nipple grafts and lipo on upper chest and under arms. I got it done in Auckland nz and stayed up there for a week. Since the aussie dollar is stronger than the nz one it might be worth looking at our fine shores. I am more than happy with the results and I'm happy to post some pics up if you like, the surgeons name is Julian lofts.
I have heard both good things and bad things about megan hassall.

[Aussie Jay]

Hey millsy - if you wouldn't mind posting some pics that would be great! Or if you don't want them here feel free to email them or I can PM you if you would prefer?

Yeah I mean 10K for just the mastectomy then who knows what on top if I want a bit of sculpting. Even with private health insurance it still comes to 8K out of pocket just for the chest.

Hassall seems to be a bit cheeper - with insurance people have posted only being 2/3K out of pocket... Why the hell is it so goddam expensive where I live!!!???!!

[Nick Aiden]

I'm from Pennsylvania, US and have mostly been thinking about going to Christine McGinn in Philadelphia. Her Double Incision is $6,300.

Recently I've seen some results from Dr. Charles Garramone in Florida that make me want to make the trip. His Double Incision is $5,700. The trip would cost another $1,500. I plan to take a loan out to finance surgery. Because of that I have a little extra room in the budget department cause I can pay it later.


So what to do? Go for a slightly more pleasing surgery results but make my girlfriend drive me back from FL. I hate "riding" in the car, I prefer driving. So the trip back may force me to have a nervous breakdown, thank god I would be medicated with pain pills.

Or go to a surgeon I like nearby, closer to home, but maybe not as super results. Good but not Amazing.

I guess only time will tell.

[sneakersjay]

FWIW I've heard that Dr. Garramone is great with bigger guys and bigger chests, in fact a friend had surgery with him with great results.  I don't think he had any lipo with it though.


Jay

[JakeDenver]

I am planning on going to Garramone in FL. I live in Ohio and plan on having my mom go with me in my little Dodge Neon so gas wont be bad. If we were in the same place in transition it would be cool to schedule surgeries the same time and all meet up in Florida... Anyways I had a friend have surgery and he only paid 350 for a hotel for a week. There is a surgeon in Cleveland which is only an hour away but I would rather travel and pay for gas and hotel for better results.

[Carson]

I'm from Pennsylvania, US and have mostly been thinking about going to Christine McGinn in Philadelphia. Her Double Incision is $6,300.

Recently I've seen some results from Dr. Charles Garramone in Florida that make me want to make the trip. His Double Incision is $5,700. The trip would cost another $1,500. I plan to take a loan out to finance surgery. Because of that I have a little extra room in the budget department cause I can pay it later.


So what to do? Go for a slightly more pleasing surgery results but make my girlfriend drive me back from FL. I hate "riding" in the car, I prefer driving. So the trip back may force me to have a nervous breakdown, thank god I would be medicated with pain pills.

Or go to a surgeon I like nearby, closer to home, but maybe not as super results. Good but not Amazing.

I guess only time will tell.

dr. mcginn is the who manages my hormones at the moment and honestly i don't like her very much and would never go to her for surgery. but thats just me.

[Nick Aiden]

I've never met her, but that's good to know. One of my college friends went to her for top surgery and loved her. But everybody's experience is different so who knows. My doctor for hormones mentioned some "loop hole" where if I go for just an initial consult with my top surgeon that I could get my gender marker changed on license and such. So I'm starting to look into top surgeons now even though my surgery is probably 2-4 years away.

[JonasCarminis]

I looked at Dr Garramone's site where the top surgery alone is like 5.7K (6.5AU), then if you want some lipo its 4.5K (5.1AU)

garramone wont do lipo on you if youre doing DI.

[Aussie Jay]

Roger that, Josh - thanks man.
Such a tough choice dammit!