Susan's Place Transgender Resources

My wife has been throwing a lot of questions at me as she learns more about transitioning and what options are out there. For many this I can contact my insurance carrier and get prices. However, for things like voice therapy, voice surgery, and cosmetic surgeries that aren't covered by insurance I need prices.

I'm hoping to do well without voice surgery, but am wondering how much it costs if I end up believing it to be necessary.

I would suggest looking into voice training first.

From what I've read maybe $7,000 with tracheal shave

Quote from: NatalieRene on January 04, 2019, 12:51:11 PM
I would suggest looking into voice training first.

Oh definitely! This is more to satisfy my wife's curiosity. I hate unnecessary surgeries and wouldn't do it unless I felt it was needed. My wife is just full of questions.

Quote from: BlueJaye on January 04, 2019, 02:05:50 PM
Oh definitely! This is more to satisfy my wife's curiosity. I hate unnecessary surgeries and wouldn't do it unless I felt it was needed. My wife is just full of questions.

Oh ok I understand. I'm fairly sure everything said and done with the acomindations and the surgery VFS would be around $10,000. I also believe you could deduct it in your tax return, "I know I did for my GCS.

I'm having Feminisation Laryngoplasty with Dr Thomas in Portland, Oregon. It includes a superior chondrolaryngoplasty. It's costing around $10k USD.

I think I will keep singing songs to help achieve a nice female voice and to avoid this surgery.

See NatalieRene's voice thread.

Chrissy

Quote from: Ellement_of_Freedom on January 04, 2019, 05:19:57 PM
I'm having Feminisation Laryngoplasty with Dr Thomas in Portland, Oregon. It includes a superior chondrolaryngoplasty. It's costing around $10k USD.

10K is correct I am scheduled for 03/11/2019
have new consult on Monday, it was a choice between GCS and VFS in 2018. I am working with my therapist and a few other to see if we can get insurance to budge on paying for it.

Quote from: Margarine on January 04, 2019, 07:16:34 PM
10K is correct I am scheduled for 03/11/2019
have new consult on Monday, it was a choice between GCS and VFS in 2018. I am working with my therapist and a few other to see if we can get insurance to budge on paying for it.

Are there insurance carriers out there that pay for it?

Quote from: BlueJaye on January 04, 2019, 07:18:34 PM
Are there insurance carriers out there that pay for it?

I am not sure, however, Kaiser Washington did not cover BA until August 2018. Need to start some place and most journey's start with a step, some being thrown overboard or pushed out of a plane.

Quote from: BlueJaye on January 04, 2019, 12:42:39 PM
My wife has been throwing a lot of questions at me as she learns more about transitioning and what options are out there. For many this I can contact my insurance carrier and get prices. However, for things like voice therapy, voice surgery, and cosmetic surgeries that aren't covered by insurance I need prices.

I'm hoping to do well without voice surgery, but am wondering how much it costs if I end up believing it to be necessary.

Hi BlueJaye,

I recently had VFS with Dr. Spiegel in Boston at the start of October 2018. The total cost to me was $9970 USD, Plus: flight, prescriptions, food, and hotel.  I also went through vocal training with a speech pathologist for 8 monthly sessions.  I learned enough to speak short sentences very well. It was longer conversations where I had trouble. Because of this, I decided that pitch elevation surgery was vital to my mental wellbeing.  I used to really struggle with my vocal dysphoria. I understand why folks here on Susan's warn people about surgery, but truthfully, it has changed my life for the better. I never get misgendered anymore. I am fortunate to have the yucky phrase "passing privilege". I would encourage you to seek out voice training on your journey to VFS. Words of advice, Pay for a leading voice surgeon. Dr. Spiegel is actually a Board Certified Otolaryngologist. He is usually only known for his FFS procedures. I will say that my experience with him, his staff, and Boston Medical Center.....My results are fabulous, and when I went into the packed medical center, it felt like I was the only person there. I hope this helps you. Best, Holly.

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on January 04, 2019, 05:25:06 PM
I think I will keep singing songs to help achieve a nice female voice and to avoid this surgery.

See NatalieRene's voice thread.

Chrissy

As a person who had to deal with post surgical infections, I can tell you that anything is good that prevents somebody from cutting a hole into your intact skin!

Quote from: HollyKay on January 08, 2019, 08:35:51 PM
Hi BlueJaye,

I recently had VFS with Dr. Spiegel in Boston at the start of October 2018. The total cost to me was $9970 USD, Plus: flight, prescriptions, food, and hotel.  I also went through vocal training with a speech pathologist for 8 monthly sessions.  I learned enough to speak short sentences very well. It was longer conversations where I had trouble. Because of this, I decided that pitch elevation surgery was vital to my mental wellbeing.  I used to really struggle with my vocal dysphoria. I understand why folks here on Susan's warn people about surgery, but truthfully, it has changed my life for the better. I never get misgendered anymore. I am fortunate to have the yucky phrase "passing privilege". I would encourage you to seek out voice training on your journey to VFS. Words of advice, Pay for a leading voice surgeon. Dr. Spiegel is actually a Board Certified Otolaryngologist. He is usually only known for his FFS procedures. I will say that my experience with him, his staff, and Boston Medical Center.....My results are fabulous, and when I went into the packed medical center, it felt like I was the only person there. I hope this helps you. Best, Holly.

I am very interested in learning more about your results.  It has been about 3-4 months since your surgery and l am hoping to learn what kind of qualatatve results you have noticed.

Quote from: Complete on January 08, 2019, 09:45:31 PM
I am very interested in learning more about your results.  It has been about 3-4 months since your surgery and l am hoping to learn what kind of qualatatve results you have noticed.
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I have been doing voice recordings several times a day since I could talk after surgery. I started with a range of 110 to 140Hz. I have a graph of my recordings that shows the gradual increase a few weeks after surgery where my new "average low" post-op was at 160Hz, and my "average high" was 180Hz. 

After 13 weeks, my new "average low" is 180 to 190Hz, and I am consistently without effort hitting an "overall average" of 200 to 220Hz.  I go as high as 280Hz with some inflection, but it sounds very natural because they are inflection spikes and not held for any length of time.

Thank you.  That is very helpful and useful information. ☺