Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Which surgeon would you recommend (from those who had theirs) in the PA/NJ area?

I'm in NYC but I went to Florida for Garramone. Did a ton of research and it all circled back to him, no matter how hard I tried to justify staying local. Not knocking other docs though as I obviously don't know first-hand what their work is like. I did have a consultation with an expensive surgeon in Manhattan but wasn't crazy about his pictures.

If you can get to Florida, you can't really go wrong with Garramone.

I've been looking at surgeons all around the mid-Atlantic region and settled on Dr. Fischer. She's in Baltimore as opposed to PA or NJ, but still relatively close in the scheme of things. She has a ton of experience and was very willing to discuss all the potential procedures we could do (I'm borderline in chest size).

I think it would really depend on which procedure you're most strongly leaning toward and if we could find a surgeon that has good results with other people of your body type.

There are Mcginn, Leis and Kathy R. all around Philadelphia.

Medalie

Between Dr McGinn and Dr Rumer, who would you recommend?  Unfortunately, traveling isn't an option for me.

Quote from: makipu on February 06, 2015, 12:53:09 PM
Between Dr McGinn and Dr Rumer, who would you recommend?  Unfortunately, traveling isn't an option for me.

What's your body shaped like? Based on pictures, I like McGinn's work better but I think it really boils down to what her results look like on bodies similar to yours.

I never thought about body shape. Do you mean the breasts or the entire torso?

Both! The way I've been told to evaluate whether a surgeon's work is right for me is to see their results of the desired procedure on a person with an overall similar shape.

For me, I'm a medium B cup, but I have a wide torso for my height (I'm 5'4" and my shoulders have a 48" circumference). During my consult with Fischer, we debated for a bit whether a DI with grafts or a peri with lateral extensions would be more appropriate for me. After I looked through some pictures of the peri with lateral extensions, I didn't think it would look good for the way my upper body is built. It seems to look better on guys who noticeably thin out from shoulder to hip. I thin out some (waist is 34"), but I still look like a rectangle. She had quite a few guys built similarly to me that looked great with the DI, so that's what we're going with.

Quote from: makipu on February 06, 2015, 12:53:09 PM
Between Dr McGinn and Dr Rumer, who would you recommend?  Unfortunately, traveling isn't an option for me.

I would look up their pictures and let that be your guide.

I'd compare my body type with results with people with similar body type (and also whose results you like the best). If a doctor isn't willing to give you examples of their results, I wouldn't be interested. However, some doctors may want you to have a consultation. Some doctors do free phone consultations. Not sure re: McGinn and Rumer.
(Dr Beverly Fisher is in MD. She's supposed to be very good.) But between the two, I'm not sure who my choice would be.

--Jay

Quote from: aleon515 on February 06, 2015, 04:14:45 PM
I'd compare my body type with results with people with similar body type (and also whose results you like the best). If a doctor isn't willing to give you examples of their results, I wouldn't be interested. However, some doctors may want you to have a consultation. Some doctors do free phone consultations. Not sure re: McGinn and Rumer.
(Dr Beverly Fisher is in MD. She's supposed to be very good.) But between the two, I'm not sure who my choice would be.

--Jay

I'm not sure who I would choose, either.  I would go with Fischer, personally, if I had done it in this (PA) area.  I think you really should consider her, Makipu.  I am glad to hear you are not considering Leis. 

I just checked Dr Fischer's site. I do like the results but how many months post op are they?  Also how much does she cost as it doesn't mention it.

I'd take Dr Fisher over the other two selections. Also I believe she's more interested in FTMs than the other two. I agree re: Leis. I have read some quite transphobic things he has said.


--Jay

Quote from: makipu on February 06, 2015, 09:30:25 PM
I just checked Dr Fischer's site. I do like the results but how many months post op are they?  Also how much does she cost as it doesn't mention it.

My total is $8450 for everything surgery related plus 1 night in a hotel @ ~$100. So $8550 for the surgery and required stay time. I think you'd have to ask her about how many months post op the images are. You could probably email and ask. Her staff were very helpful when I was in for my consult.

I think I left the quote printout in my truck, but I'll get the specific breakdown of costs next time I can grab it. As far as the hotel price, the two closest to the surgery center were both around $100 per night. You might be able to find cheaper the further you go. But I get car sick if I'm not driving so I didn't want to risk it.

Edit:

$5700 Surgeon's Fee
$550 Anesthesia Fees
$2200 Hospital Fee

Motels: Might look into "Extended Stays". They aren't much cheaper or esp nice, but they have a little kitchen and so you could save on food. I know for me staying at NBR saved me a lot of money with meals.

--Jay

Thank you guys. Reading your posts made me double think about several things. Now I am not sure if I should just rush it with whoever gives me the soonest surgery date...  :-\ The reason is,I simply can't take it anymore because it's been a WHOLE DECADE since I wanted this done. 

I think that Dr Fischer does sound like a good choice but I don't know how I will make this work because I have no support. Basically, I only have a family member who is only willing to drive me but that's considered too far.  I had no support to begin with and actually still don't but like I said I am not waiting anymore and I guess for someone to take me seriously I had to literally damage my body parts from binding and my mentality by being a shut-in (due to the same bodily reasons)
And just for knowledge, I pulled myself together and...measured my body when I almost never look otherwise and I have to say that I am so mad at the fact that I am actually a bigger cup size than I thought and was told. (thought a C and was told a B) but by following the directions it's a dreaded D.......Like I wasn't disgusted enough already. I was so close from punching them like I used to every year up until the beginning of this year.

As for the other areas; waist is: 28" and 37.5" for the oversized hips...

By the way, I didn't know about Dr Leis' transphobia but I can safely say that I didn't connect with him. He was the first surgeon I ever went to. He kept commenting on how I was too feminine to be male and when he checked out my chest he said a lot of women would love to have what I have. 

Well sounds like you do need to stay in PA. See if you can get results for the body type and size you are. That's how I would do it. I just don't know between Rumer and McGinn. I think you could do a lot worse, let's just say.

That sounds like the kind of comment from Leis. He's very "binary" and old fashioned in his view of trans. The older school doctors used to tell patients if they thought they were too masculine or feminine to transition. It's pretty much BS. Very few guys, at least, don't get read as male after taking T for awhile, and the point of transition isn't how you are read anyway.

--Jay

Quote from: makipu on February 07, 2015, 09:58:55 PM
Thank you guys. Reading your posts made me double think about several things. Now I am not sure if I should just rush it with whoever gives me the soonest surgery date...  :-\ The reason is,I simply can't take it anymore because it's been a WHOLE DECADE since I wanted this done. 

I think that Dr Fischer does sound like a good choice but I don't know how I will make this work because I have no support. Basically, I only have a family member who is only willing to drive me but that's considered too far.  I had no support to begin with and actually still don't but like I said I am not waiting anymore and I guess for someone to take me seriously I had to literally damage my body parts from binding and my mentality by being a shut-in (due to the same bodily reasons)
And just for knowledge, I pulled myself together and...measured my body when I almost never look otherwise and I have to say that I am so mad at the fact that I am actually a bigger cup size than I thought and was told. (thought a C and was told a B) but by following the directions it's a dreaded D.......Like I wasn't disgusted enough already. I was so close from punching them like I used to every year up until the beginning of this year.

As for the other areas; waist is: 28" and 37.5" for the oversized hips...

By the way, I didn't know about Dr Leis' transphobia but I can safely say that I didn't connect with him. He was the first surgeon I ever went to. He kept commenting on how I was too feminine to be male and when he checked out my chest he said a lot of women would love to have what I have.

If timing is important, you should check with everyone you're considering and see how far out they're booked as well. That was a big deal for me.

Any kind of surgery is going to be difficult to get through with no support. Would you have someone able to take care of you at home post-op?

Yes, I do have someone who can take care of me post-op but the problem is more like getting to the place not just once. By the way, how many visits to the office/hospital does top surgery consist of? 
There is consultation, pre-op, actual surgery&1 week post-op to have the drains removed and then is there more?  Does it vary from person to person?

McGinn is too far off because her consultation doesn't start until April. And no one here had theirs with Rumer here?

Hmm. I think it'll vary by surgeon. With Fischer:

- In office consultation to get a quote and schedule
- 3 weeks pre-op consultation with you and your caregiver to go over recovery/aftercare instructions, get your paperwork for physical and bloodwork
- Actual surgery
- Morning after surgery check in with potential for on the spot fixing if something doesn't look right
- 1 week post-op for drain removal (I believe with the option to have another doctor do this if you don't want to travel back)

You could always add in to your budget for transportation costs. I believe there are some taxi services that cater to medical transportation. I think the only issue you'd encounter would be the day of/night after surgery. I don't think they want you staying alone overnight just in case something does go wrong.

It varies by surgeon. Garramone does a phone consult, pre-op (a few days before), surgery, post-op (a week after), that's it. Some have a few more. There will be a pre-op and post op but how many others varies widely.

Well make a consult with Rumer, ask to see some photos (pre-and post), say you want to see whatever you are like, say "I want to see medium size guys with a C cup chest size" or whatever. I would ask maybe before surgery. It's not a deal breaker to have someone not known of too well here. I'd say that both she and McGinn see more MTFs. It wouldn't be an absolute deal breaker, but I would want to see results.

--Jay

Quote from: makipu on February 08, 2015, 10:03:49 AM
Yes, I do have someone who can take care of me post-op but the problem is more like getting to the place not just once. By the way, how many visits to the office/hospital does top surgery consist of? 
There is consultation, pre-op, actual surgery&1 week post-op to have the drains removed and then is there more?  Does it vary from person to person?

McGinn is too far off because her consultation doesn't start until April. And no one here had theirs with Rumer here?

Quote from: makipu on February 08, 2015, 10:03:49 AM
Yes, I do have someone who can take care of me post-op but the problem is more like getting to the place not just once. By the way, how many visits to the office/hospital does top surgery consist of? 
There is consultation, pre-op, actual surgery&1 week post-op to have the drains removed and then is there more?  Does it vary from person to person?

McGinn is too far off because her consultation doesn't start until April. And no one here had theirs with Rumer here?

There is a guy here who went to Rumer, but I can't remember his name.  He posted in the Top Surgery Recovery Sticky thread.  Start at the first page.  I am not sure how many pages he is in.

Quote from: aleon515 on February 08, 2015, 11:14:29 AM
Well make a consult with Rumer, ask to see some photos (pre-and post), say you want to see whatever you are like, say "I want to see medium size guys with a C cup chest size" or whatever. I would ask maybe before surgery. It's not a deal breaker to have someone not known of too well here. I'd say that both she and McGinn see more MTFs. It wouldn't be an absolute deal breaker, but I would want to see results.

--Jay

I agree with Jay (as usual ;))

Yes, and we should stop meeting this way. LOL
--Jay

Quote from: Brett on February 08, 2015, 08:59:43 PM
I agree with Jay (as usual ;))

Thank you Brett, I see it. I never visited that thread before.
By the way, I already had a consultation with Rumer before and she showed me results but what do I know? I guess I rushed and didn't properly ask questions.  I just want the flattest chest possible.

Even though its Dr Leis...I just found out that he's the SOONEST who can do this for me.... I actually cannot very much tell the results that are good from bad. Is it because of his results that he's not recommended too or is it because of the transphobia? I don't know what I should do!

Not sure his results, but since there are thousands of other possibilities... I wouldn't deal with someone with these sorts of attitudes. I think actually he's old fashioned.

Jay

Quote from: makipu on February 11, 2015, 05:04:23 PM
Even though its Dr Leis...I just found out that he's the SOONEST who can do this for me.... I actually cannot very much tell the results that are good from bad. Is it because of his results that he's not recommended too or is it because of the transphobia? I don't know what I should do!

Quote from: makipu on February 11, 2015, 05:04:23 PM
Even though its Dr Leis...I just found out that he's the SOONEST who can do this for me.... I actually cannot very much tell the results that are good from bad. Is it because of his results that he's not recommended too or is it because of the transphobia? I don't know what I should do!

Both.  I would never consider the man to be my surgeon (I have heard him speak more than once at conferences and have had brief conversations with him).

He can get you in so early because no one uses him anymore.  There are other surgeons out there now.  He has been around forever. 

Darrin Scott on this site went to Rumer.  Contact him if you have questions about her.  I met her and love her personality. 

I have a friend who knew christine mcginn in hs, shes really qualified. I plan to go to her, medalie in ohio, or kathy rumer in philly. Jus gotta make the consultation, thats the only way youll really know

Really the time deal, you are going to be busy getting stuff together. I got a 2-3 month date out for Garramone. Garramone is probably busier than anybody. It's not going to matter that much. You'll need a physical, labs, etc. Lots to get together and plan. Say in the worst case, you wait a month more for Rumer than Leis. In the end it's not going to matter for you.

I agree that that's probably why he's so "free" right now. I haven't seen anybody for a long time. I have read the MTF forum, no he's not popular there either anymore. Just by the sound of it, I would not do it.

You'll get in with Rumer fast enough.

--Jay

Quote from: Brett on February 11, 2015, 07:39:05 PM
Both.  I would never consider the man to be my surgeon (I have heard him speak more than once at conferences and have had brief conversations with him).

He can get you in so early because no one uses him anymore.  There are other surgeons out there now.  He has been around forever. 

Darrin Scott on this site went to Rumer.  Contact him if you have questions about her.  I met her and love her personality.

Ok, since I calmed down a bit I will take Dr Leis out of my mind.

Good for you. :)

Quote from: makipu on February 12, 2015, 08:40:12 PM
Ok, since I calmed down a bit I will take Dr Leis out of my mind.