The $18,000 to $25,000 cost of SRS from someone like McGinn, Rumer or Leis in the Philadelphia area, where I live, is prohibitive for many. Even The $15,000 cost is too much and seems daunting from what's his name in Miami. But, there is an alternative and his name is Dr. Guillermo Mac Millan, who performed over 250 surgeries as of 2004. His Web site now says it costs $5,000,000 pesos. That's $8,888 American dollars. So for the cost of a plane ticket, a hotel or two week stay (be frugal), and the SRS, it prolly will be less than $11,000 and more like $10,000. And he is the best of the best in South America. So, another surgeon could be as inexpensive as $5,000-$7,000. That is doable by the time I ant to have it done, which is on Oct. 23, 2015.
The prices could even go down now that most SA countries provide SRS free of charge and Argentina even has a constitutional amendment saying that Every Transsexual has the right, not the privilege, of SRS. i don't speak Spanish but have 15 months to learn. And many willprolly speak English and be more than willing to speak to an American who has tried hard to learn Spanish. I have all these problems and the one that really drives me nuts is thinking about being stuck with this useless appendage for life. By the time I'm 33 I could be 100 percent female, sans ovaries. I am literally crying since it gives me hope. Something that has been in short supply in my life.
Now, I know what some may think. South America? Really? But, I have done a lot of research and the doctors and facilities are top notch. Heck, it may even be better than North America has the trans phobia that exists in America, doesn't exist there. Or at least it's not the same visceral hatred that you'll see from some. I've even thought of detranstioning becuase of the inability to go all the way. I know some don't need too, and that's awesome and totally their choice. But for me I have extremely severe genital dysphoria. I used to hope that I'd get in an accident and they'd have to cut it off.
But anyway, I hope this info give some trans women (and men) hope,the same hope it gives me: a half-life and a future, a future where I am normal for once. In body and mind. Total congruency.
Edit: Of course the much higher price for me will be the outcasting of me from my family, transformingme into a woman without a past. My mom accepts me, but when my sister and brother visit (i had to recently move back), she gets all angry and makes me wear male clothes and take off any trace of makeup. Then they leave, and she's all I love you again. It sucks, but I told them all you have to October 2015 to wrap your head around it or that will be the end of us. My sister's family acts like I don't exist right in front of me. I's pretty disgusting as I'm intersex. My Probation Officer, when i showed him all my medical work, said I should get the hell away from them asap. In fact, everyone does. I loook very female yet they won't even call my the feminized version of my male name, which is unisex, but much more female now, if not completely so. The ironic part: they used to call me it before transtion. They used to call me a drama queen. Now Im an "actor."
I understand your struggles and feel for you so much.
My advice would be to surround yourself with positive people, positive energy, and good memories. Just because someone is your family doesn't automatically make you relate in any way, shape or form. I myself could never get along with my family, it's such a relief to just not care what they think.
You're an independent person, and if you don't fight for your own happiness and fulfillment, no one will. Don't listen to whatever your family expects from you. You do you, sweetheart :)
Good luck on your journey, wherever you choose to go <3