Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Anyone know who the cheapest Top surgery doctor is?  Dr. Garramone is my first choice, but I also want to see who else is out there that that might be cheaper.

I know you asked for a sort of serious answer. But the cheapest one is one who can do a good job for you that (includign needed reversions) will be happy with your whole life. That said there may be someone locally, if that were possible. I was very surprised that there is someone here in my city, very well thought of. It might be cheaper since it wouldn't involve traveling. i'm not really seriously considering it. (At this point.)

--Jay Jay

I thought Garramone was one of the cheapest? And his work is very good. Why not just stay there with someone who wont mess you up...

So far Dr. Garramone is the onlyo ne I know of that has the cheapest top surgery price in the states (unless you find one that takes your insurance).  I know there are some surgeons in Mexico that are cheaper but I don't know their names.

I'll try to find their names, but I remember hearing about a couple surgeons that are priced around $5000.  I think one was in Chicago or somewhere in that area.  If I stumble across the posts again, I'll either edit this post or send you a PM.

Dom -

What area are you around? A surgeons fees may be cheaper but if you need to fly there and pay for a hotel and everything else...they may be more expensive for you to go to.

keep in mind that garramone may be the cheapest surgeon, but the cost of travel will really cost you.  You have to have gas money, or plane tickets, and hotel for a week, we are talking an extra thousand dollars or more.

if you can find a surgeon closer to you, it may cost more but you can still save

I was going to go to garramone, pay 6,400 (i think that is his price?) but then pay another thousand or more for travel, and have to recover in a hotel.  With the surgeon I found an hour away I can recover in my own home and pay 8,000, and if that ends up costing more, well i think paying a little extra is worth it if I can spend my week with my drains in my own bed/house

Quote from: Elijah on July 28, 2012, 12:30:30 PM

6,400 (i think that is his price?)

Currently it's $5900 for the double incision and $6500 for the Keyhole" or "Peri-areolar" method

Quote from: Malachite on July 28, 2012, 12:35:23 PM
Currently it's $5900 for the double incision and $6500 for the Keyhole" or "Peri-areolar" method

I am including his 500 fee to set a date or whatever

Quote from: Elijah on July 28, 2012, 01:09:20 PM
I am including his 500 fee to set a date or whatever

They usually subtract the consultation fee from the total fee. For example, my surgeon was charging $7500, but I paid $300 for the consult, so I only owed him $7200 later. Does Garramone not do that?

Dom I think you really should wait until you can see the surgeon that you want to see, you've been having a hard time dealing with less than satisfactory results of t, I'd hate to see how emotionally damaged you'd be if you got a crappy job done on your chest.

Be strong mate, we are all here for you

There's a few people who have been going to Mexico recently for surgery with total costs (airfare, surgical costs, food, hotel) being around $4,000. No idea what the results are like.

Quote from: Aeris on July 28, 2012, 12:42:40 AM
I thought Garramone was one of the cheapest? And his work is very good. Why not just stay there with someone who wont mess you up...

I'm not sure. I was watching a youtube video some posted about Garramone and they were talking about sensation loss, like he's one not to go if you still want feeling in your chest after surgery...? So that got me thinking too.

Quote from: Adio on July 28, 2012, 10:34:27 AM
I'll try to find their names, but I remember hearing about a couple surgeons that are priced around $5000.  I think one was in Chicago or somewhere in that area.  If I stumble across the posts again, I'll either edit this post or send you a PM.

Okay, cool, thanks.

@JesseO and @Elijah: I was thinking about paying for the surgery and putting the plane ticket and hotel on my credit card and paying that off later.

Quote from: Elijah on July 28, 2012, 01:09:20 PM
I am including his 500 fee to set a date or whatever

I thought his consultation was free...?

Quote from: Geek on July 28, 2012, 03:03:28 PM
Dom I think you really should wait until you can see the surgeon that you want to see, you've been having a hard time dealing with less than satisfactory results of t, I'd hate to see how emotionally damaged you'd be if you got a crappy job done on your chest.

Be strong mate, we are all here for you

Thanks. Yeah, I'd be really disappointed if I didn't get the result I wanted. I would really hate to have revisions done.  I'm terrified of surgery as it is, I don't want to go under the knife twice. Most guys go with Dr. Garramone so I think I'd feel the most comfortable going to him b/c he's well know for this kind of surgery.

Quote from: Nygeel on July 28, 2012, 03:21:53 PM
There's a few people who have been going to Mexico recently for surgery with total costs (airfare, surgical costs, food, hotel) being around $4,000. No idea what the results are like.

I don't think I would travel to Mexico. But that's cool that airfare, surgical costs, food, and hotel would be around $4,000. Just wish that there was something cheaper like that closer by.

@aleon515: I'm hoping I don't need revisions, but I think the cost of revisions are included with Dr. Garramone...?

@ Malachite: I'm also gonna look into that, seeing if my insurance will cover anything... that would be great if they can cover it.

This is from his website:

"All costs include preoperative consultation fee, postoperative physician care, and a letter written by Dr. Garramone stating you have had irreversible sexual reassignment surgery. Revision surgery is only covered if related to the prior surgery performed by Dr. Garramone. If revisions must be performed in a hospital or surgery center, only Dr. Garramone's fee will be waived. The patient is responsible for all outside operating room and anesthesia fees."
"

***To reserve a surgical date a $500.00 (U.S. Funds) Non-refundable deposit is required. Upon making a reservation we will email you a pre-op packect with our financial policy, which must be signed and returned to our office immediately to confirm your scheduled reservation. Final payment is due three weeks prior to surgery. "

I hope that helps.  I pretty much live on his website lol.  I plan on going to him currently unless I get more convinced to have it done in Mexico.



To my understanding loss of erotic sensation in the nipples (if one has them because not every guy does) appears to be higher with the DI method than the Peri although I have heard of erotic sensation loss with the peri because the surgeon has to regraft the nipples most of the time.  That can happen with any surgeon and is to be expected as a possibility reguardless of who does it.  A person should still have tactile sensation and respond to touch and temperature eventually.

Quote from: Malachite on July 28, 2012, 07:33:51 PM
This is from his website:
and a letter written by Dr. Garramone stating you have had irreversible sexual reassignment surgery.

Thanks. Are you talking about top surgery? I thought reassignment surgery referred to bottom surgery...? I know bottom surgery is not required to get top surgery by Dr. Garramone.

Quote from: Dominick_81 on July 28, 2012, 07:54:14 PM

Thanks. Are you talking about top surgery? I thought reassignment surgery referred to bottom surgery...? I know bottom surgery is not required to get top surgery by Dr. Garramone.

Yes it's about top surgery.  I believe in this case he referring to the breasts as being a secondary sex characteristic with top surgery being an irreversible procedure.  I'm not 100% sure though but it's just the wording that's kind of confusing.

In the area of bringing-down-the-total-costs, find out if your job (if you have one) has short term disability. That can cover top surgery even when insurance doesn't cover anything. So at least you wouldn't be out the salary for the weeks off. Also, again, if an employer offers it, flexible spending accounts can cover some costs associated with surgery. That means those items are effectively "discounted" since they can be paid for or reimbursed by pre-tax earnings. Finally, surgery costs are deductible on income taxes, which may or may not be a help.

Reading back a bit in the boards, I see that the job aspects aren't relevant for you right now. Sorry about that. More and more colleges are starting to add top surgery to their student health plans, as are employers, if that's even a possibility.

Quote from: Dominick_81 on July 28, 2012, 07:19:08 PM
I'm not sure. I was watching a youtube video some posted about Garramone and they were talking about sensation loss, like he's one not to go if you still want feeling in your chest after surgery...? So that got me thinking too.

Well considering that most guys who go to Garramone get double incision, sensation loss is pretty much a given.  You should go into surgery, be it double incision, peri, keyhole, or other, with the expectation to lose sensation.  Surgery involves cutting nerves.  When the skin is shut after surgery those nerves are not reconnected.  It takes time for the nerve connections to be remade.  This could take months or years, especially with double incision, because such a large incision is made.  That is why they say peri, and keyhole (less invasive surgeries) are at a better chance (but not 100%) of retaining sensation.  You have to take the good with the bad. 

Quote from: Malachite on July 28, 2012, 08:03:13 PM
Yes it's about top surgery.  I believe in this case he referring to the breasts as being a secondary sex characteristic with top surgery being an irreversible procedure.  I'm not 100% sure though but it's just the wording that's kind of confusing.

Oh okay, thanks.

Quote from: MrTesto on July 28, 2012, 08:19:52 PM
Reading back a bit in the boards, I see that the job aspects aren't relevant for you right now. Sorry about that. More and more colleges are starting to add top surgery to their student health plans, as are employers, if that's even a possibility.

Yeah, no job. Hopefully if I get a job that insurance will cover it. I still have to check with my insurance and see if they will cover it or part of it.

Quote from: Andy8715 on July 28, 2012, 08:28:19 PM
Well considering that most guys who go to Garramone get double incision, sensation loss is pretty much a given.  You should go into surgery, be it double incision, peri, keyhole, or other, with the expectation to lose sensation.  Surgery involves cutting nerves.  When the skin is shut after surgery those nerves are not reconnected.  It takes time for the nerve connections to be remade.  This could take months or years, especially with double incision, because such a large incision is made.  That is why they say peri, and keyhole (less invasive surgeries) are at a better chance (but not 100%) of retaining sensation.  You have to take the good with the bad. 

Yeah. I haven't thought about the whole sensation loss and how it's gonna feel. It's gonna sucks yeah, but I just want these tumors gone.

Re sensation loss with Garramone:  I had top surgery with him in June 2011, so it's been a bit over 1 year.  I'm still regaining sensation and have recently regained some erotic sensation as well.  Doesn't feel quite the same but still better than it was several months ago.  Any time a person has top surgery, particularly DI, there is always the possibility of sensation loss regardless of the surgeon.

Quote from: Adio on July 30, 2012, 07:01:14 PM
Re sensation loss with Garramone:  I had top surgery with him in June 2011, so it's been a bit over 1 year.  I'm still regaining sensation and have recently regained some erotic sensation as well.  Doesn't feel quite the same but still better than it was several months ago.  Any time a person has top surgery, particularly DI, there is always the possibility of sensation loss regardless of the surgeon.

Is the sensation loss uncomfortable? Do u always feel the sensation loss? Like do you forget it's there b/c you lived with it so long? It is something you get used to?

Quote from: Dominick_81 on July 30, 2012, 07:36:05 PM

Is the sensation loss uncomfortable? Do u always feel the sensation loss? Like do you forget it's there b/c you lived with it so long? It is something you get used to?

My chest doesn't actually feel numb all the time.  I'm not really aware of my chest throughout the day.  When I touch my chest, I can mostly feel it.  Some parts near my scars and sides have only a little feeling.  My nipples require fairly strong pressure to feel anything (but it does feel good).  It used to be uncomfortable to touch my chest and not feel anything.  Only in a way that when your leg goes numb from sitting on it for too long.  Not painful or anything like that.

Quote from: Adio on July 30, 2012, 08:06:11 PM
My chest doesn't actually feel numb all the time.  I'm not really aware of my chest throughout the day.  When I touch my chest, I can mostly feel it.  Some parts near my scars and sides have only a little feeling.  My nipples require fairly strong pressure to feel anything (but it does feel good).  It used to be uncomfortable to touch my chest and not feel anything.  Only in a way that when your leg goes numb from sitting on it for too long.  Not painful or anything like that.

Thanks for explaining how it feels. Glad it's not painful for you. Hope you get more feeling back.

I have a couple of numb spots on my chest, but I barely notice them. I have to do a whole lotta poking to even locate the numb spots. I had a lot more numbness during the year following surgery, but almost all of that went away. I didn't have surgery with Garramone, though.

I was getting nerve healing even more than a year out.