Community Conversation => Female to male transsexual talk (FTM) => Transsexual talk => FTM Top Surgery => Topic started by: TK9NY on April 11, 2018, 11:43:00 PM Return to Full Version
Title: First Consult - Excited and Nervous!
Post by: TK9NY on April 11, 2018, 11:43:00 PM
Post by: TK9NY on April 11, 2018, 11:43:00 PM
So i have my first surgery consult tomorrow and i've sort of compiled a list of questions to ask - i'm hoping some of you guys could take a look and make suggestions (did i miss anything, should i not ask certain things, etc). I'm seeing Dr Rockmore in Albany, NY - if anyone here has gone to him i would appreciate it if you could let me know what you thought and how your surgery turned out.
I'm going to have to go with the double incision. Too big for anything else.
Some of the main questions:
1) Cost - is insurance accepted (specifically Anthem BC), what do i need to do to get insurance approval (how do i get it), are there any payment plans or other payment options if i can't get insurance approval, is care credit accepted (and how do i go about that), when is the payment due (at time of booking or at time of surgery).
2) Pre-Op: how many pre-op appointments are required and what will they consist of, will the cost be factored into the sum given today, will i need blood work and/or a physical done prior and can this be done by my GP or will i have to have it done here.
3) Surgery: fasting, when do i stop my regular meds, will i have to stop T, what do i have to do the morning of surgery and when do i have to be present, what do i have to bring with me, what kind of anesthesia is used, how long will i be under anesthesia, how long will the surgery take, what does the surgery consist of (what is your method recommended for me), what is recovery like immediately after, will i be staying overnight or will i go home the same day.
4) Post-Op: medications, (assuming) drains but for how long will they be in, how do i care for them while i have them, how are they removed, (assuming) compression vest for how long will i have to wear it, will i have to wear it 24/7, what about dressings underneath, what about showering/cleaning, once everything is removed how do i care for the incision site, what about the nipples, scar reduction, when can i resume "normal" activities like like exercise (walking), what about walking and caring for my dogs (and other pets - cleaning cages), when can i go back to work (active work - dog groomer), what about lifting and restrictions.
5) Complications: what are the complications you normally see during and after surgery and how do you resolve them, are visits to deal with complications covered or will they cost extra, what is the likelihood of complications, how do i tell when something is seriously wrong (signs to look out for particularly: infection, necrosis, hematoma, etc), when should i be worried enough to go to the ER, will your staff be on hand to answer calls.
6) Clotting (this one is directly related to me and my history): have you had patients with clotting disorders before, have you had patients have clotting issues after surgery in the past, what is your comfort level with giving me lovenox after surgery and how will that effect my healing, are you willing to discuss this with my hematologist (who has cleared me for surgery as of a few weeks ago), any suggestions for reducing the risk of clotting following surgery.
7) Revisions: when can i have revisions done, when will i know if i NEED to have them done, are they covered (free).
8) Misc: what is your wait time for booking, what are your openings for Feb/April of next year.
9) OBVIOUSLY need to see before/after portfolio.
Someone i found on tumblr who went to Rockmore (i found the before/after photos on transbucket originally) gave me some of the suggestions for questions and i added my own. I think it's pretty thorough..... I'm also going to be seeing Dr Kalnoki in Rochester, NY in May. I'm planning to compare the answers i get, and my experiences with the facility/staff, before deciding on who i go with. Obviously my first choice in Rockmore as he's only an hour from me but i'm willing to travel a bit.....
I'm just so pumped that this is happening - i've been waiting years to transition and now it's happening. The past year alone i've gotten T, legal name change, and next week plan to change all my documents and such (name and gender). If i can't get insurance to cooperate with this, or CareCredit, i don't know what i'll do - i don't have near enough $$ to pay entirely out of pocket and my parents are really distant with this (they express concern that i be safe but haven't offered to go to any appointments or help pay for anything).
So.... any advice would be great! Thanks!
I'm going to have to go with the double incision. Too big for anything else.
Some of the main questions:
1) Cost - is insurance accepted (specifically Anthem BC), what do i need to do to get insurance approval (how do i get it), are there any payment plans or other payment options if i can't get insurance approval, is care credit accepted (and how do i go about that), when is the payment due (at time of booking or at time of surgery).
2) Pre-Op: how many pre-op appointments are required and what will they consist of, will the cost be factored into the sum given today, will i need blood work and/or a physical done prior and can this be done by my GP or will i have to have it done here.
3) Surgery: fasting, when do i stop my regular meds, will i have to stop T, what do i have to do the morning of surgery and when do i have to be present, what do i have to bring with me, what kind of anesthesia is used, how long will i be under anesthesia, how long will the surgery take, what does the surgery consist of (what is your method recommended for me), what is recovery like immediately after, will i be staying overnight or will i go home the same day.
4) Post-Op: medications, (assuming) drains but for how long will they be in, how do i care for them while i have them, how are they removed, (assuming) compression vest for how long will i have to wear it, will i have to wear it 24/7, what about dressings underneath, what about showering/cleaning, once everything is removed how do i care for the incision site, what about the nipples, scar reduction, when can i resume "normal" activities like like exercise (walking), what about walking and caring for my dogs (and other pets - cleaning cages), when can i go back to work (active work - dog groomer), what about lifting and restrictions.
5) Complications: what are the complications you normally see during and after surgery and how do you resolve them, are visits to deal with complications covered or will they cost extra, what is the likelihood of complications, how do i tell when something is seriously wrong (signs to look out for particularly: infection, necrosis, hematoma, etc), when should i be worried enough to go to the ER, will your staff be on hand to answer calls.
6) Clotting (this one is directly related to me and my history): have you had patients with clotting disorders before, have you had patients have clotting issues after surgery in the past, what is your comfort level with giving me lovenox after surgery and how will that effect my healing, are you willing to discuss this with my hematologist (who has cleared me for surgery as of a few weeks ago), any suggestions for reducing the risk of clotting following surgery.
7) Revisions: when can i have revisions done, when will i know if i NEED to have them done, are they covered (free).
8) Misc: what is your wait time for booking, what are your openings for Feb/April of next year.
9) OBVIOUSLY need to see before/after portfolio.
Someone i found on tumblr who went to Rockmore (i found the before/after photos on transbucket originally) gave me some of the suggestions for questions and i added my own. I think it's pretty thorough..... I'm also going to be seeing Dr Kalnoki in Rochester, NY in May. I'm planning to compare the answers i get, and my experiences with the facility/staff, before deciding on who i go with. Obviously my first choice in Rockmore as he's only an hour from me but i'm willing to travel a bit.....
I'm just so pumped that this is happening - i've been waiting years to transition and now it's happening. The past year alone i've gotten T, legal name change, and next week plan to change all my documents and such (name and gender). If i can't get insurance to cooperate with this, or CareCredit, i don't know what i'll do - i don't have near enough $$ to pay entirely out of pocket and my parents are really distant with this (they express concern that i be safe but haven't offered to go to any appointments or help pay for anything).
So.... any advice would be great! Thanks!
Title: Re: First Consult - Excited and Nervous!
Post by: Utterly Confused on May 01, 2018, 04:08:37 AM
Post by: Utterly Confused on May 01, 2018, 04:08:37 AM
Congratulations!! Also those are some fabulous questions! I can't really help with any information but I know the importance of asking questions and never feel like you are asking too many!! Hope everything goes well