Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hi everyone!

I decided to start another thread with my FFS pics. That way you didn't have to fish through the older one.

I put together a little album for all of you to see.

Just to give you an idea of what type of surgery I had...
I had Brow bossing, orbital eye work, nose, lips, small cheek implants, a midlift (ouch that one hurt), chin and jaw reduction, and I think that's it. Lol 

I'm going to keep this thread more about the pics and my older one will get into the details of the work.

I have to say, that Dr. DiMaggio wasn't afraid to get very aggressive with ANY part of my face. I had a lot of work done.  I wasn't going to have much work done on the lower part of my face but then, changed my mind. I'm glad I did.  He made sure to balance my facial geometrics well. My friends were very happy as well.  They were afraid I would look to different or plastic.  Most of all, I AM VERY HAPPY!

I'm providing a link to my google album since I can't seem to figure out how to upload the pics directly on here.

If ANY of you need more info or have questions feel free to send me a message on here.

(you may have to paste the link onto your browser)  ;D


https://goo.gl/photos/9WnPSLTtBzrH8Jmj9

THANKS EVERYONE!

That 3rd last photo is hilarious!  :D at first I thought it was real, lol.

Quote from: KarmaGirl on June 20, 2016, 04:22:01 PM
Hi everyone!

I decided to start another thread with my FFS pics. That way you didn't have to fish through the older one.

I put together a little album for all of you to see.

Just to give you an idea of what type of surgery I had...
I had Brow bossing, orbital eye work, nose, lips, small cheek implants, a midlift (ouch that one hurt), chin and jaw reduction, and I think that's it. Lol 

I'm going to keep this thread more about the pics and my older one will get into the details of the work.

I have to say, that Dr. DiMaggio wasn't afraid to get very aggressive with ANY part of my face. I had a lot of work done.  I wasn't going to have much work done on the lower part of my face but then, changed my mind. I'm glad I did.  He made sure to balance my facial geometrics well. My friends were very happy as well.  They were afraid I would look to different or plastic.  Most of all, I AM VERY HAPPY!

I'm providing a link to my google album since I can't seem to figure out how to upload the pics directly on here.

If ANY of you need more info or have questions feel free to send me a message on here.

(you may have to paste the link onto your browser)  ;D


https://goo.gl/photos/9WnPSLTtBzrH8Jmj9

THANKS EVERYONE!

You look absolutely gorgeous!

I am consulting with Dr Dimaggio myself and glad to see how beautiful you turned out!

You look great.  Can i ask where you stayed in BA? Dr MDM has given me a list of places to search for when staying but i don't know what to look out for. (looking for somewhere between september and november). I hope to be half as lucky as you and i would be happy.

You look beautiful :) Not only very feminine, but also much, much younger. Congrats :) Buenos Aires is quickly becoming a top destination for FFS. Also, you'll continue to look better as you heal.

- Ruby

Hi KarmaGirl ...  :)

I agree totally with Ruby.

You look awesome.

A friend of mine from Albuquerque, New Mexico went to Dr DiMaggio about 5 years ago and I was very impressed with her result too ....  8)

Happy healing kiddo.

Hugs and love

Paula  xx

Quote from: RubyAliza on June 20, 2016, 07:14:52 PM
You look beautiful :) Not only very feminine, but also much, much younger. Congrats :) Buenos Aires is quickly becoming a top destination for FFS. Also, you'll continue to look better as you heal.

- Ruby

Amazing results, great selection of procedures and the doctor

Wow! Thanks everyone!!!   Thanks for all the kind words too. Again, I'm always the last one to notice anything. Lol

I went ahead and added one more pic.  Some of you were asking if Dr. DiMaggio was aggressive enough---some of the chunks of skin and bone he took out in the pic might change your minds.  ;)

I'm tempted to share some pics of me before my transition in Guy mode. Maybe I'll post them up?

I have to tell you, it's something I had been dreaming of for a long while.  Had it not been for a recent situation with our finances, and my wives good heart, I would have been dreaming forever about it.

My Facial Dysphoria, has been crippling at times. In the past, I was kinda hiding from things/situations/people. Now, I don't feel that way. I feel I have the freedom to do and go wherever without worry.  I never really had issues passing or at minimum blending, but there were times that I did worry about my safety, especially when traveling with my wife. 

I'm middle aged (Thanks RUBY for saying I look younger), and life seems to have started over for me.  In fact, my wife and I will be having another wedding celebrating more than a few years together. This time, I will be the one walking down that isle, wearing my beautiful wedding gown.

My friends are just so happy for me too.  I have to say, I took my own time with my transition.  It was a struggle at times.  Having such a good wife as mine, truly helped the process.  I can't really complain.

If any of you have any questions feel free to message me.

It's a new day...and new beginning for me.

Cheers!

Wow! You look beautiful!  :)

Quote from: kylie1 on June 21, 2016, 06:26:19 PM
Wow! You look beautiful!  :)

Thanks so MUCH!  HUGS!!!!

As per usual DiMaggio completely transforms someones upper face.  Congrats.  Nose looks good not over done or  out of  place.

Yeah, he did some amazing work. You look stunning! so happy for you, enjoy it!

Looking at those pieces of skin, did he do a rhomboid flap surgery for the M hairline? it looks like it, but I could be wrong.

Btw, Buenos Aires looks amazing as well.

Welll... The only thing I can say is... WOW! You look amazing!

Take care
Danielle

Quote from: KarmaGirl on June 20, 2016, 04:22:01 PM
I put together a little album for all of you to see.

Great results. I'm glad you're so happy!

ScaryGrrl

KarmaGirl,

Wonderful outcome of the surgery. Very pleased to hear that you're satisfied with the result from the surgery.
FFS is truly a game-changer in many ways and I do hope it will be for you as well.
Say hello to Dr Di Maggio from me.

I wish you all the best.

Warm hug

Jannicke

The changes are amazing! Seeing your before and after gives me hope that one day FFS will be as effective on me as it was on you.

Great job!

congratz! You look amazing!!! =)

Hi everyone!

I want to thank all of you again for being so kind to me.  The truth is I hid a lot before my ffs. I was becoming slightly agoraphobic. This operation, has given me a freedom I never thought I could have.  It's actually a little weird for me. The other day, I had a woman start talking to me about being menopausal at the bank. Then she said, " You're a young girl, you don't have to worry about that kinda stuff yet."  Little did she know my story and the fact that I wasn't too far away from her age!
My face has encouraged me to go out and live again. I feel great...sure I'm still healing, and sometimes I panic when I feel a little ache here and there, but I know it's just the healing process happening.
No more hiding . 😀


Dr. DiMaggio was very happy with the results already, and asked me if it would be okay to send a video for his website.  He doesn't like taking videos of people right after the surgery for several reasons. One, is because the  op is still fresh and there is no way that most can see what has been done. Plus, he feels that I should go home and really ask myself if I was truly happy with his work. No pressure . So, today I said I was ready, and willing to do that video.  It makes sense I guess.

Feel free to post here, or send me a message, and I'll do my best to answer you. My mac is in the shop, so bare with me while I chicken peck away my iPad . Lol

You are SO pretty! And I agree you look younger. I've been wanting either Spiegel or Facial Team however I think you have single-handedly sold me on DiMaggio plus his affordability. How much was the cost for your procedures? I know that Argentine currency is about 14x less than that of US currency but am still curious. I have about $2,400 saved up so far which converts to $34k in Argentina I think and intend to save more before I really consider FFS likely next year.

Argentine surgeons quote prices in USD, not Argentine Peso.  Best way to know what your cost would be is contact both Argentine surgeons, they both provide estimates.

Quote from: SerenaOhSerena on July 10, 2016, 11:39:45 PM
You are SO pretty! And I agree you look younger. I've been wanting either Spiegel or Facial Team however I think you have single-handedly sold me on DiMaggio plus his affordability. How much was the cost for your procedures? I know that Argentine currency is about 14x less than that of US currency but am still curious. I have about $2,400 saved up so far which converts to $34k in Argentina I think and intend to save more before I really consider FFS likely next year.

Quote from: SerenaOhSerena on July 10, 2016, 11:39:45 PM
You are SO pretty! And I agree you look younger. I've been wanting either Spiegel or Facial Team however I think you have single-handedly sold me on DiMaggio plus his affordability. How much was the cost for your procedures? I know that Argentine currency is about 14x less than that of US currency but am still curious. I have about $2,400 saved up so far which converts to $34k in Argentina I think and intend to save more before I really consider FFS likely next year.

https://goo.gl/photos/9WnPSLTtBzrH8Jmj9 (https://goo.gl/photos/9WnPSLTtBzrH8Jmj9)

Sorry, I haven't been on here. I had an issue with my Laptop.  It's feeling like it wants to work today so I'm on here. Hahah

I was NOT trying to bump my thread to promote DiMaggio. Just catching up.

Anyway, thank you for the kind comments.  I am very happy. 

The only issue I have had, is that I had some swelling (duh)  behind one of my eyes. It caused my eyes to not be visually aligned. It's nothing that you can see on me, it's just when I see out of my eyes, it looks a little funky.
It was so frustrating to me, but as DiMaggio said, things will go down in time. It's not at 100% YET, but def a lot better now.

Other than that, I've been getting a lot of attention. I'm so incredibly shy though, that I don't know how to deal with it, and it makes me a little uncomfortable.  I'm not happy with my body, and stuff, but yeah, it's different in a good way.  I pass now without worry. And my job has me all over the globe, and I've been left alone, without issues ANYWHERE I go.  Even bathrooms (yes, I've been to the South)! I do get the occasional..."How tall are you?"  I just say 5'12.  ;) 

I feel so free in many ways. And I feel blessed, I had the means to do all this.

In regards to the cost...I think for me at least, it was less about cost and more about who would do the best job on my face.  The cost is always important, but I had to ask, "Would this Doctor do a good (or great job)?"  While my face isn't perfect (and neither are any Cis chicks), I am satisfied.  Now, if only the 6 to 8 months of healing would happen sooner, since I promised Dr. DiMaggio, I wouldn't complain, until most of my healing was done. Lol

I'm not getting anything for free, or being paid to say this, I am happy that I chose Dr. DiMaggio.  Even when I was scared with things (I had an infection, swelling and bruising he had to flush out with injections) . He made sure I was always well taken care of.  At this time, I have no complaints. 

If I do, YOU WILL hear from me.  Lol

HUGS TO ALL OF YOU--AND THANKS for your support!!

If you have any questions, please message me. I'll do my best to contact you.

Cheers! ;D
Karma Girl

5 weeks to go here.

Just curious how you dealt with your nose whether you gave the Dr guidance with photos or just closed your eyes, hoped and woke up a few hours later.

Dami

Heya.. Well.. Dr. Dimaggio does seem to have some great talents. It seems to me that there are so few options in FFS surgeons anywhere in the world, but thankfully they are there, whereas when I was younger they were not. One thing I really love about their website, there are a huge number of natural before and after photos..

Some comments were made about Argentina was better for westerners to get their FFS, but that would also be true with the USA, Canada and the UK.

I have a short list of FFS doctors, and to my surprise those who I thought were top notch, after research, seem to have some hidden history (horror stories), which are only revealed by their past patients. I realise that FFS is a very very specialised area of surgery. Even the best surgeons might have some issues.. But I really do believe they all have their patients well-being at heart and probably feel just as bad about their failures, as their patients would. After all, its their reputation on the line...

Argentina seems to be the most affordable locations for FFS. But they also provide some of the most stunning results. Karma Girl, you look beautiful, no doubting your surgery was a success..

May I ask, what was the total cost..???  Where there any negatives. I can see there are many positives.. Anything unexpected and any surprises.??

Quote from: confused_very on July 28, 2016, 06:43:21 AM
5 weeks to go here.

Just curious how you dealt with your nose whether you gave the Dr guidance with photos or just closed your eyes, hoped and woke up a few hours later.

Dami

I went ahead and answered your PM. 

I had discussed ALL MY OPTIONS.  It's very important that you communicate what your desired needs are.  But, at the same time remember that most of us have really bad Facial Dysphoria as well, and that can hinder your ability to make  certain "geometrical decisions".  He's very good at figuring out what works best with your facial  dimensions. 

I'm sure he would explain to you what would work, or what wouldn't with your face.  I never found him trying to upsell me.  And the way he explains things is amazing.  As I said before he can be a little intimidating for some, but he's a pussycat.  He'll do his best for you.  I mean, I was concerned at some swelling and we called him, and wthin a few hours, he was racing in his motorcycle to come and see me at the apartment we rented and see what was wrong. He even had another doctor meet up with him at the gate!  I mean, what doc would do that?  And let me just add, I can sometimes be very tough to deal with. I don't keep my mouth shut. 

Never keep things to your self.  Always communicate your intent with him and his staff.  It's your FACE!

Hope this helps.

Cheers!

Quote from: Tess2016 on August 13, 2016, 03:19:57 AM
Heya.. Well.. Dr. Dimaggio does seem to have some great talents. It seems to me that there are so few options in FFS surgeons anywhere in the world, but thankfully they are there, whereas when I was younger they were not. One thing I really love about their website, there are a huge number of natural before and after photos..

Some comments were made about Argentina was better for westerners to get their FFS, but that would also be true with the USA, Canada and the UK.

I have a short list of FFS doctors, and to my surprise those who I thought were top notch, after research, seem to have some hidden history (horror stories), which are only revealed by their past patients. I realise that FFS is a very very specialised area of surgery. Even the best surgeons might have some issues.. But I really do believe they all have their patients well-being at heart and probably feel just as bad about their failures, as their patients would. After all, its their reputation on the line...

Argentina seems to be the most affordable locations for FFS. But they also provide some of the most stunning results. Karma Girl, you look beautiful, no doubting your surgery was a success..

May I ask, what was the total cost..???  Where there any negatives. I can see there are many positives.. Anything unexpected and any surprises.??

I understand your concern.  But here's what I say in regards to "horror stories".

Yes, ANYTHING can go wrong with these surgeries. Anyone that tells you it's a piece of cake is lying to you.  Think about it.   You are allowing someone to take your face, open your scalp up, mess with your orbital rim areas, your brow, nose etc.  It's MAJOR surgery!  Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.  Will there be problems?  Most of the time, there won't be. BUT, there is that small percentage that will have to deal with bad situations. Most of the time, it's not the Doctor's fault. It's your body's fault and the way it deals with the Op.

I remember reading about someone that had issues with their jaw or something. What they didn't tell you was that they already had issues with their jaws and hadn't told him ahead of time. This of course, caused some issues for both Dr. DiMaggio and the patient. 

So I recommend you telling the doctor ANY ISSUES you already have.
And in regards to what people say--really examine what they are claiming.  I've found that there are always several stories involved. 

Again, people like me, that have really really bad facial dysphoria, can sometimes never feel 100% satisfied. There will always be something that needs to me corrected. Through therapy, I've learned to deal with it and keep myself from going overboard with these surgeries.  It'll take around 6 to 8 months to really see the semi-final look of your face.


SO here's honesty for ya...
The op kicked my ass.  I wasn't in the best of shape.  After the surgery, I had to deal with some Sciatic issues.  These were not his fault. This was because I didn't take his advice and trained and lost some weight.

Then, one of my eyes was taking it's time to heal. You know that muscle around the orbital rim area.  This again was NOT his fault. Thankfully, it's much better. I had my eyes checked (yesterday as a matter of fact) and slowly but surely, it's getting back to the way it was before.

And this I say to everyone on here--This is really a big operation, where anything can go wrong.  I'm not saying this to scare anyone. I say it because a lot of us that have gone through this want to just show the before and afters and not share how tough this op can be on you.  Maybe it's better for the "youngsters" in the group. ;P

Dr. DiMaggio is very aggressive with his faces, but his results are amazing. Just look at his website. He's also trained a lot of doctors that NOW perform FFS in Argentina.

I would say that most of my friends were in awe of his work. They were sooo afraid I was going to look like a Barbie, or like I have " had work done". My own family doctor was impressed!   

Now, I'm not saying that I'm any different than anyone on here who's had FFS. Or that my face is better than anyones...I would say that most doctors are very knowledgeable when it comes to FFS. It's really a matter of what you prefer.  Me personally, I was just looking to create my "female twin".  I wanted it to look natural.

I was rarely clocked before, but when I did get "clocked" it was sooooo depressing!  Now, I NEVER get clocked.  I do get the occasional "My you are tall!" or a few whistles here and there...but I never get clocked. 

As far as cost goes, I think it was around $18,500.00 US? Maybe a little more, give or take.  We were smart enough to book our apartment for a month and some days.  I loved having an apartment there.  That was around $999 a month ( you can most definitely find cheaper apartments there). I would not recommend getting a hotel or motel.  Too expensive. Food was cheap too. Look into Air B&B.

It's a very beautiful city.  I never expected it to be so beautiful.  ALSO remember that there on the other side of the equator, so if it's winter here in the U.S. it's Summer there. Lol   I went in May, so it was starting to get really chilly.  That's also during a time where people get sick...I did, and it didn't help my healing process out. Lol

And when it comes to cost, I would not try to think too much about "the bargain" you might be getting.  Look at their work...ask questions, and really think about your final decision. DO NOT RUSH INTO THINGS. I see too many people looking for "bargains" only to get FFS and then STILL not being happy with the results.  And remember too, that even the more expensive ones are not always the best.  I live in L.A.  there is a reason why I went all the way down to Argentina...it wasn't because of the "deal" I got. It was because of his work. It was just an added plus that it wasn't as expensive as some of the U.S. Doctors.

My Disclaimer:  No doctor is perfect. But, you should find one that is perfect for you. 

I am not paid to come on here, nor am I trying to promote Dr. DiMaggio (ie, I get no money or special deals with him for coming on here). I'm just letting you know things from my perspective.  If I encountered ANY issues or future issues, I know I can email him and get an answer right away. Ximena, his assistant is impeccable and so wonderful too!

I hope this helps a little. Feel free to PM me.

Hugs!

KarmaGirl, that's great!

I have consulted with MDM and i am very pleased with his assessments of my particular case.

KarmaGirl you look fabulous. You're naturally very feminine looking and I use the word 'natural' because you just look like a cis female: a very beautiful one. Many congratulations!

I find the decisions on where to go for FFS so hard. I had my orchiectomy under Dr Sutin at PAI and they were so superb that I really want to go back there. It's the old adage about sticking with people you know. Here's what I'm intending to have first time:

1. Lower hairline and brow lift (probably not orbital rim this time as Dr Sutin didn't really think I needed it too much)

2. Full Facial Lift FFL

3. Tipplasty and Arrplasty (but not full rhinoplasty)

and probably 4. chin shave

Cost c. $14,000 which seems pretty good to me. Throw in that I already have a flight to Bangkok that I booked a while back but ... well ... should I be considering Argentina?!

I think you should consult several doctors and take several opinions into consideration in order to decide what is the best for your face. I think that the Argentinean doctors are very good option for FFS worth of considering.

The thing is, PAI were so fantastic with stage 1 of my SRS that going anywhere else would feel like betrayal. I love them :)

Quote from: Richenda on August 26, 2016, 11:03:23 AM
The thing is, PAI were so fantastic with stage 1 of my SRS that going anywhere else would feel like betrayal. I love them :)

I think you should go with the Doctor that YOU feel will give you the best results. If this Dr. you are talking about has proven to you that he or she can pull off the type of face you want, then you should stick with him. Loyalty is appreciated I'm sure, but in the end, it's about YOUR face... the one that shall be with you til the end (and that will hopefully be a long time). If you think you can live with that-- PERFECT...if there are ANY doubts, then think about someone else.

Again, I'm not out to convince anyone about who to do their FFS. I'm just sharing what I feel and know.

I'm very happy with my results !  And THANKS, SO MUCH for your lovely and kind words!  :)

Quote from: clawdeenwolf on August 24, 2016, 08:28:49 PM
KarmaGirl, that's great!

I have consulted with MDM and i am very pleased with his assessments of my particular case.

Oh Wonderful!  Say Hi next time you chat with hi, for me.

Keep us posted!

  One thing I'm glad I never had to see in my surgery was the left-over 'scraps'.  <Shudder>  I don't think I could have stomached it, but I commend you for posting it because it's important for all prospective clients to understand the seriousness and reality of what they will be going through.  How quickly and well did the incisions in front of your ears heal?  My incisions thankfully ended above the ear within the hair.

Quote from: KarmaGirl on August 26, 2016, 06:38:34 PM
I think you should go with the Doctor that YOU feel will give you the best results. If this Dr. you are talking about has proven to you that he or she can pull off the type of face you want, then you should stick with him. Loyalty is appreciated I'm sure, but in the end, it's about YOUR face... the one that shall be with you til the end (and that will hopefully be a long time). If you think you can live with that-- PERFECT...if there are ANY doubts, then think about someone else.

Again, I'm not out to convince anyone about who to do their FFS. I'm just sharing what I feel and know.

I'm very happy with my results !  And THANKS, SO MUCH for your lovely and kind words!  :)

They're very good points. Someone I admire had the most fabulous work done by PAI and I've seen the before and after in the flesh: very much the kind of approach to the FFS that I would like. Actually, in general I'd say PAI is known worldwide for its aesthetic work even more than its GRS? Every time I have been in the clinic there has been a constant stream of western clients with lots of cis females. I do trust them to do a fine job. But I'm definitely not against looking elsewhere for other high standards. And, after all, look at how stunning you are. I'd love to come through my FFS looking half as lovely.

Quote from: Violet Bloom on August 26, 2016, 07:12:13 PM
  One thing I'm glad I never had to see in my surgery was the left-over 'scraps'.  <Shudder>  I don't think I could have stomached it, but I commend you for posting it because it's important for all prospective clients to understand the seriousness and reality of what they will be going through.  How quickly and well did the incisions in front of your ears heal?  My incisions thankfully ended above the ear within the hair.

I'll post pics later. Wait till you see how my face was lowered to my upper lips LOL!

But remember I had a MID LIFT--that's why you see that. But yeah, my op for that part was on May 9th, and as of today, they are most def fading quickly. There is a ointment that he gave me that I forget to put on at night. But that and some vitamin E creams will do the trick.  I was worried about those scars at first, but after a few weeks I chilled with that issue.
Great Questions!! I hope I was able to answer well.

Quote from: Richenda on August 26, 2016, 10:25:10 PM
They're very good points. Someone I admire had the most fabulous work done by PAI and I've seen the before and after in the flesh: very much the kind of approach to the FFS that I would like. Actually, in general I'd say PAI is known worldwide for its aesthetic work even more than its GRS? Every time I have been in the clinic there has been a constant stream of western clients with lots of cis females. I do trust them to do a fine job. But I'm definitely not against looking elsewhere for other high standards. And, after all, look at how stunning you are. I'd love to come through my FFS looking half as lovely.

Fantastic! It seems you have already made your choice. I look forward to reading your own thread on your experience! Keep us posted!  Thanks for the wonderful words (I'm still shy when it comes to that ) Hugs!

Really great speech about doctors and complications. Thanks for being real. It is often to go either way along the scale and be EXTRA-worried about complications and reading horror stories........or being extra ignorant and happy and reading all the amazing great stories with no negativity.

The truth is somewhere in the middle for most of us, I feel like. Hoping to find that middle ground for my own op in November.

Oh and you of course look great! =)

Quote from: Debra on August 27, 2016, 02:48:36 PM
Really great speech about doctors and complications. Thanks for being real. It is often to go either way along the scale and be EXTRA-worried about complications and reading horror stories........or being extra ignorant and happy and reading all the amazing great stories with no negativity.

The truth is somewhere in the middle for most of us, I feel like. Hoping to find that middle ground for my own op in November.

Oh and you of course look great! =)

You are so sweet! Thank you.  I just want to make sure that people know that this is really a serious surgery.  And like most, you may encounter issues.  Everyone heals differently. And the better in shape you are the more comfortable your op will go, including your recovery. 

Plus, I think it's very very important to remember that some of us have a very distorted perspective when it comes to our faces. I'm the first to admit I have really bad facial dysphoria.  I can see EVERY little nook and cranny and imperfection.  There are times when I STILL don't see the difference! But, I check out my before and afters and even look at the old male me (YUCK), and then I realize that "Oh yeah, now I see it!".

The other issue I see on here with some of our wonderful sisters is they can sometimes have very high expectations about what they are going to look like.  When FFS doesn't come out the way they see it in their minds, they get very disappointed and depressed. You have to be realistic.  Look at what you are starting off with.

I've seen some girls become addicted to these ops. If I didn't have the best people around me, I would be one of those people.  There will always be something you want to add or change. Just make sure you have someone you can trust with helping you "see" if you really need that change or not. I know, it's hard for some of us (me included).   

Honestly, I would really recommend girls letting their hormones do the change first.  I waited and I'm very glad I did!  Maybe I'll post my Vin Diesel Look alike pics! Hahaha...or not.  I was your typical Alpha Male, shaved head, I as a big guy  too (245 lbs) and no one every messed around with me.  But, after being on hormones since late Sept of 2010, there have been alot of changes to my face and of course body.  So, be PATIENT!  But that's just me.  I COMPLETELY understand how important and LIFE CHANGING FFS can be and if you feel you need it yesterday, no one should judge you for it. I just feel that your face really does change significantly on hormones. And for those that can't afford it right now, it will give you a chance to save for it while you let the hormones work their magic.

Hope this helps,
KG

Your results are really really nice! You look great!

May I PM you?

Quote from: KarmaGirl on August 30, 2016, 10:20:55 AM
You are so sweet! Thank you.  I just want to make sure that people know that this is really a serious surgery.  And like most, you may encounter issues.  Everyone heals differently. And the better in shape you are the more comfortable your op will go, including your recovery. 

Plus, I think it's very very important to remember that some of us have a very distorted perspective when it comes to our faces. I'm the first to admit I have really bad facial dysphoria.  I can see EVERY little nook and cranny and imperfection.  There are times when I STILL don't see the difference! But, I check out my before and afters and even look at the old male me (YUCK), and then I realize that "Oh yeah, now I see it!".

The other issue I see on here with some of our wonderful sisters is they can sometimes have very high expectations about what they are going to look like.  When FFS doesn't come out the way they see it in their minds, they get very disappointed and depressed. You have to be realistic.  Look at what you are starting off with.

I've seen some girls become addicted to these ops. If I didn't have the best people around me, I would be one of those people.  There will always be something you want to add or change. Just make sure you have someone you can trust with helping you "see" if you really need that change or not. I know, it's hard for some of us (me included).   

Honestly, I would really recommend girls letting their hormones do the change first.  I waited and I'm very glad I did!  Maybe I'll post my Vin Diesel Look alike pics! Hahaha...or not.  I was your typical Alpha Male, shaved head, I as a big guy  too (245 lbs) and no one every messed around with me.  But, after being on hormones since late Sept of 2010, there have been alot of changes to my face and of course body.  So, be PATIENT!  But that's just me.  I COMPLETELY understand how important and LIFE CHANGING FFS can be and if you feel you need it yesterday, no one should judge you for it. I just feel that your face really does change significantly on hormones. And for those that can't afford it right now, it will give you a chance to save for it while you let the hormones work their magic.

Hope this helps,
KG

Yeah I totally agree on all of this =) I waited 5 years myself....didn't think I'd ever do FFS but here I go.

Quote from: Debra on August 30, 2016, 08:56:51 PM
Yeah I totally agree on all of this =) I waited 5 years myself....didn't think I'd ever do FFS but here I go.

Yep, in your case it might be just a tweak or fine tuning what hormones gave ya!  Lucky girl! ;)

Quote from: KarmaGirl on September 01, 2016, 04:11:46 PM
Yep, in your case it might be just a tweak or fine tuning what hormones gave ya!  Lucky girl! ;)

Yeah exactly. :) Just forehead and nose this round. We'll see in a few years if I want to fix my 'ultra-weak' chin or not....less about feminization at that point and more about beautification/normalization.

As I promised, I would tell you all the good and the bad when and if it were to happen.

1) My eye seems like it's getting better, but I still see a little out of whack. I was told by two ophthalmologist that it is due to the surgery...the trauma, not the surgeons skills.
   
I DO NOT blame Dr. DiMaggio for this. I understood the risks going into it.  I'm told that it if it doesn't get better (and it has) I may have to get some surgery done. It would be covered by my insurance and it's not a big deal according to the eye doctors. STILL, it sucks.

2) I cannot tell you how important it is for you girls to be in good shape before getting your FFS done.  I had a little belly (love handles or whatever they're calling it) and being under anaesthesia  your body obviously is just dead weight.  Well, apparently I messed up a disk possibly.  It's causing a heap of Sciatica and leg issues.  Again, not Dr. Dimaggio's fault.

So, please think about preparing your body before you get FFS.  It will save you from a lot of discomfort later.

3) Keep using the lotions and creams for your scars.  So important to keep that up.  You don't want the scars to get red and stay that way. Use Vitamin E cream too and ALWAYS use sun block.

Just my two cents.

seconded. i am low to mid 20's BMI and walk almost religiously every day for 5+km and i am still feeling being knocked around substantially, especially the second time, which surgically wise, was much less invasive and demanding. but the emotional and wellbeing toll just compounds so much.
You had 2 surgeries also,  and i am guessing the second took so much more energy to recover from than the first for you as both yours were invasive.

The other thing is whether you are mentally prepared and healthy as well, because you WON'T look crash hot afterwards and you need to prepare yourself for that mirror experience which IS NOT your final result but you have to live with it for the time being. You most likely WILL have to face the world while you recover so you also need to prepare for that period also....and if you are in a foreign country where you don't speak the national language, have some pre-prepared phrases ready when the locals motion to your face as though asking what had happened to you. Politeness and graciousness are all you have at that point.

Beautiful! Very intense pictures.. you healed amazingly!  :icon_flower:

Quote from: confused_very on September 16, 2016, 12:48:58 PM
seconded. i am low to mid 20's BMI and walk almost religiously every day for 5+km and i am still feeling being knocked around substantially, especially the second time, which surgically wise, was much less invasive and demanding. but the emotional and wellbeing toll just compounds so much.
You had 2 surgeries also,  and i am guessing the second took so much more energy to recover from than the first for you as both yours were invasive.

The other thing is whether you are mentally prepared and healthy as well, because you WON'T look crash hot afterwards and you need to prepare yourself for that mirror experience which IS NOT your final result but you have to live with it for the time being. You most likely WILL have to face the world while you recover so you also need to prepare for that period also....and if you are in a foreign country where you don't speak the national language, have some pre-prepared phrases ready when the locals motion to your face as though asking what had happened to you. Politeness and graciousness are all you have at that point.

DITTO!!!


..and thank you AoifeJ for your kind words. Very sweet of you to take the time.  HUGS!

So so much truth above about getting fit for surgery. If you have the time in the build up girls I'd thoroughly recommend working out a bit. It helps in all sorts of ways: it makes for safer surgery.

Sounds about right.....re: getting fit.

I'm pretty fit already, I workout daily and eat fairly healthy. Normal BMI.

Been eating out too much lately though so probably will cut that out in October since surgery is in November.

I'm late to this thread, but you look great Karma Girl! I especially like the profile picture of June 9. Your forehead and nose look so beautiful! :)

Sounds like good advice on the fitness thing and I am working on it by running every day. I remember just walking up and down the hall after GRS. It's amazing what general anesthesia and a couple of days in bed will do to you.

Besides, waiting for FFS is hard! This gives me a positive thing that I can do to help my recovery right now.

Si am late to the thread too.  You look amazing in your pics. The bone was neat to see. I am very happy for you. You do look younger too.

Thanks for all the kind comments!!! Very sweet of you to take the time.   

I'm finally seeing some of the all around swelling go down.  That's when you really start to see the results.  I know it's probably my Facial Dysphoria playing with me, but I still feel like my nose it not the size I want to see...but, I ALSO know that alot of that is the swelling since noses (depending on the op) tend to take longer time to heal. I'm also considering getting a lip lift.  I got a little bit done but I wanted it to be a little more open ( I know, I'm terrible).  My wife wants me to also wait on that.

When I contacted Dr. DiMaggio he said for me not to worry.  He wants me to wait the 8 months first then we can SKYPE in case I feel I might need any revisions which he said he would do for free if need be.  I'm glad he's willing to back up his work.  But he also told me that he would be very honest with me if he felt it was more of my FD playing tricks or not. He said that he along with my wife would chat about things with me, to make sure it's what I really need.
SO FAR, I'm not really needing anything.  The tip of my nose bugs me still, but again, it's the way I see things. 
My ear area is healing well.
And my eye issue seems to be going well...slowly but surely ( I was sooo worried about that!).

As I have mentioned, I'll keep posting things as I continue to heal.  I will also answer whatever questions I can from all of you via PM or on here.  Again, I don't work for or promote Dr DiMaggio.  So feel free to ask whatever.

Thanks again for all your support ladies. 

Hi everyone!  I thought I would pop in here and let you know as I promised how things have gone with my FFS since MAY 2016. (PLEASE refer to the first post on this thread to see the results of my FFS). ;D

So as we reach the 6-month mark this is what has transpired both GOOD, AND NOT SO GOOD.

Before I go on, I have to say that Dr. DiMaggio has been more than amazing with me.  Admittedly, I have some pretty bad Facial Dysphoria (FD). So, I cannot say if some of what I feel is amplified by that.

So let's start with the NOT SO GOOD...

I am STILL having some issues with my Left eye.  When I chatted with Dr. DiMaggio, he told me that he did not think it had anything to do with his Op.  But, "my truth" is that I have NEVER had ANY problems with my eyes...ever.  This started right when I woke up too. I was told that eventually, it would settle...it still hasn't a 100%.

Now, do I blame Dr. DiMaggio? No, because I really don't' know if he had anything to do with that to this day. Could it be the way my body took the whole op?  When I went to the Eye doctor, I was told that my eye was slightly shifted to the side, BUT it was almost nothing. However, that nothing makes me see double if I look up high and sometimes messes with my depth perception.  My eyes are very important as I work in the film industry.

Again, Dr DiMaggio has ALWAYS answered my questions and has gone out of his way to try and find answers for me and any theories . 

For a minute, we thought I had MS.   :(  This is because there can be some eye issues and I had some excruciating sciatica. At this time, the MRI shows that I do not have MS.  So that is ruled out.

My theory is that maybe in the process my eye suffered a bit of Trauma and it's not healing well or hasn't yet.  I have seen only a small improvement.  My eye doctor has told me that I can get that operated on easily and it's not such a big deal since the eye has only moved a tiny bit.  I'm currently looking into it.

Right now there is a small dip right below my chin.  It is getting better, and the more I massage it the better it gets. Again, I contacted doctor DiMaggio and he was the one to tell me to massage it aggressively and it's worked.  It's not nearly as bad as it looked.  And when I compare my Chunky Fat face to what I have now...let's just say it is a deep improvement.
The left side of the mid face lift is ok, but the scar on that side is still looking Meh.  The right side is starting to disappear.  I'm not too worried about it, since I know I have so many alternatives that will help that look better.


The tip of my nose is finally going down.  Would I like it to be smaller...let's hope it goes down a bit more. Again, not worried.

When I swallow, it feels like it's grinding slightly on something.  Have any of you with Trache shaves experienced this? I'm going to see an ENT for this.  I'm not sure if it is because I am still a little swollen there or what. I've been massaging it as much as I can and it has helped a bit. I wonder if it's related to any potential scar tissue?
When I talked to my Family Doctor he said it was not a big deal either if they needed to go in briefly to take care of that...but I don't think I wanna get worked on for a long while.  My allergies are pretty bad and they were sure it was adding to the effect.

So, do I blame Dr. DiMaggio? NO.  I know that everyone has their own way of healing. Some do better than others.  And the truth is, our faces are not granite or clay...you can't just cut here and paste there.  There will always be some imperfections.

AND NOW FOR THE GOOD THINGS...

I have regained feeling almost everywhere. My left ear is almost done with that (since I had the mid lift). I don't hurt anywhere. My face looks happy instead of droopy and sad. Most people think I'm 15 to 20 years younger and the other day I was carded! Not bad for someone middle aged.

Okay, so I'm going to really open up here so bare with me.
I have REALLY REALLY BAD Facial Dysphoria (FD). My FD can really affect me some days. I've been able to hold back since I know it's really my problem.  I'll look at my face and go " Urgh! my nose still is too big"...or something like that.  I thought it would get better and it has thanks to my FFS. But it's still a bit of a battle.  Luckily my wife is understanding, she is my voice of reason.

There are days, like some CIS women, that I feel unattractive and yucky.

Yesterday was one of those yucky days.  But that changed as I got out of my house and went to the store to buy a few things. Before I went out, I took some time to pay attention to my makeup (I'm still learning a few things about this art form) and I was satisfied.  I went to the store and was just shopping for a bike seat when a man approached me and told me he thought I as very beautiful.  Now, I have to let you know, I do not agree with him. I just feel lucky the world sees me as I should be--a woman.  He went on to chat with me about how he came to the U.S. from Italy and that he was living in Malibu BLAH BLAH BLAH.
I was probably not really paying too much attention to him because I was stuck in my mind thinking things like "Oh, is he going to realize I am trans?"  "I hope my voice sounds okay?"  "Thank God I put on makeup".  At the end of the conversation, he wanted my number and then I woke up. I NEVER ever anticipated a "can I get your number"!  Plus, I'm married and I am so incredibly in love with my wife of 12 years and we are even getting married again so I can experience what it feels like to go through that! SO I feel blessed in that sense.
For me, it was just so validating from the perspective of being treated as a woman.  I know, I should not care, but I do --somedays more than others. And I'm working on that and the FD. So it was nice. Then a few hours later, the same thing happened to me!

My life has really changed for the best.  FFS was that one thing that I needed to place me right over that edge.  My friends have especially loved the changes too. My BFF said she thinks the changes have made an impact on the way I am perceived.  Even my wife's friends said, they couldn't believe how great my face looks--and that they would never imagine me being a guy!  In fact, they have been more than special with me.

Where I am now...

My face is really starting to (finally) look the way I wanted it to be. I'm glad I didn't get the bigger cheek implants too. It would have made my eyes look more deeply inset. My chin was chopped off a bit and originally I didn't want to get my chin done but Dr. DiMaggio went ahead and worked on it and he was right. Def made a difference overall.
The Mid lift made a huge difference too. I now have a chin, and no fat under it. HOORAY! Was it worth the pain...yes. ;)

So overall I can say that now that I have seen my 6-month results I am happy. Yes, I'm freaking bothered by the other issues, but all in all, I'm doing fine. So I'll give Dr. DiMaggio a "A".  I didn't give him a A+ since I have those hiccups I mentioned above and none of those issues were there before.  Would I go again? Sure. Although I'm not sure about returning to Argentina, not because it wasn't a beautiful city, but just because it's a LOOONNNGGG haul and if I want revisions it's going to cost the same to get there, and I'd rather not put my body through that so soon. Maybe in a  year or two. If I had to do revisions, I'd maybe find someone local (if I trusted someone).  I'm not saying this because of Dr. DiMaggio, I'm just saying that for me, that  trip kicked my butt. The revisions, if I do decide to have them, would be soooo tiny that it wouldn't be worth going and spending all that money for traveling and such. Now, if he moves to New York (he's been working with University of Columbia), I may pay him a visit!

I don't want any of you to deter from seeing him. Again, I don't blame him (at this point LOL). But, like with anything you will always have your pros and cons.  My Pros at this point, out weight the cons by a lot. He did a great job overall.

I see too many girls on here with such high expectations.  I can tell you that most of your expectations (or all for the lucky) will be met.  Just be aware of the reality of the situation. FFS is some serious stuff.  You will be under for more than a few hours. Be as healthy as you can be before you get it done. Make sure you know exactly what you want done! Don't leave the Doctors guessing. Concretely tell them "THIS IS WHAT I WANT!" 

And also, be patient with the results.  I know it's easier said than done.  Don't panic.  Enjoy the ride and rediscover yourself.

I hope this helps those of you contemplating on getting FFS.
HUGS!
KG

Thanks so much for your post! Such a positive outlook despite some negative events. And feeling validated is always a good thing too. So happy for you!

I'm almost 3 weeks post and definitely discouraged with how slow the swelling is in coming down....I still have a bruiser under my right eye too, not to mention the hairline scar and bumpiness just below it.

It's good to hear about 6 months results at this point =)

Quote from: KarmaGirl on November 22, 2016, 08:27:27 PM
When I swallow, it feels like it's grinding slightly on something.  Have any of you with Trache shaves experienced this?

I had my trach shave back in 2011 with Marci Bowers (got GCS with it) and never experienced that sensation , just wanted to chip that in for you.

Pretty pre and post op surgery but prettier post op... But I must say I agree with you not needing d lower face surgery.... Just my opinion I prefer the before chin and jaw but overall beautiful!!!!

Wow KG, I really love these no holds barred posts from people that don't try and ->-bleeped-<- and sugar coat. Really appreciate this level of honesty and integrity.

You look super cute in your profile and so young, I had no idea you were middle aged you're totally working it!

Would be lovely to see how you're looking now you feel your face has settled and developed but completely respect your privacy.

All the very best.

xx

Hi KG!

I really love your posts. It is good to get an honest an open perspective.

I'm sorry to hear about the complications with your eye. Hopefully there will be a fairly easy fix for it.

I'm definitely reading with interest about how you are continuing to see changes. At six-weeks post-op myself, my nose seems very large for my new face. I hope that it shrinks a little over the next 6+ months.


 

Quote from: CallApril on November 23, 2016, 05:32:23 AM
Wow KG, I really love these no holds barred posts from people that don't try and ->-bleeped-<- and sugar coat. Really appreciate this level of honesty and integrity.

You look super cute in your profile and so young, I had no idea you were middle aged you're totally working it!

Would be lovely to see how you're looking now you feel your face has settled and developed but completely respect your privacy.

All the very best.

xx

I think people have to understand that it is INTENSE Surgery. And things can always happen.  You just hope it doesn't happen to you. My eye is doing better, but not as fast as I would like it to go and the surgery to correct it is minimal. We are talking millimeters when it comes to that.  But yeah, it can be a little frustrating when I am trying to frame a shot and I'm seeing a little double at certain angles.
I just want the girls getting their FFS to know that they should really make sure they are in good health and also know that this is major surgery.

And once again, thank you for the kind comments. I'll try to post more recent pics in a bit.

Quote from: KarmaGirl on November 26, 2016, 03:16:34 PM
My eye is doing better, but not as fast as I would like it to go and the surgery to correct it is minimal. We are talking millimeters when it comes to that.  But yeah, it can be a little frustrating when I am trying to frame a shot and I'm seeing a little double at certain angles.
I just want the girls getting their FFS to know that they should really make sure they are in good health and also know that this is major surgery.

Great to hear that you're doing better and this is the kind of insight that makes your posts so valuable.

I think it would be easy to get swept up in the euphoria or post-surgery emotions and see things through the rose tinted glasses.

I find your journey very inspiring so thanks once again for sharing.

Quote from: CallApril on November 28, 2016, 09:57:08 AM
Great to hear that you're doing better and this is the kind of insight that makes your posts so valuable.

I think it would be easy to get swept up in the euphoria or post-surgery emotions and see things through the rose tinted glasses.

I find your journey very inspiring so thanks once again for sharing.

Thanks so much for those kind words. 

I went to my Family Practitioner and we reviewed my face. He said all the scars were doing very well.  He said he still saw my nose a little swollen, but based on other nose jobs, he thought I should NOT worry about it since noses (the tips) tend to take some time to heal...even up to a year and a half.
We then talked about my eye issue again, and he thought that the op to fix it wasn't a biggie. I'd be in and out and able to work in a day or two! So YAY! He was telling me that it's not too far off, but when you are seeing through them and little goes a long way.
I'll be going to see an ENT. He'll be checking my throat (we think I might have a little scar tissue that might be rubbing around). My Doctor thinks it's probably my allergies drying my throat at night. He's not worried at all about that, but he thinks it's still a good idea to get an ENT involved to check on that and to see if I have a deviated septum that is causing me to breath through my mouth at night.  So it's good to know that the throat issues are not related to the operation.

Some of you asked me if I would see Dr. DiMaggio again? Yes, I would (if it was my first time...I think I'm just too tired to return all the way down there at this point IF I HAD TO..but I don't think I do. It has nothing to do with his skills). 
He gave me a long talk about ALLLL the issues that can happen in an extreme surgery like I (and many of you) had.  I think the work he did around my eyes is really good.  They pop now.  I have not been clocked (that I know of LOL) and I continue to pass without problems.

I am so confident now. I was becoming slightly agoraphobic and depressed. Now, I can walk out and not even worry about make-up! I get a "Miss" or a "Ma'am" out of most. I walk into the women's restrooms without worry (but I still get a little nervous when they talk to me in there LOL).  It's a whole new world for me in some ways. I NEVER worry about whether they can tell I'm trans or anything like that.  I just go about my day as any woman would. Sometimes, it hits me
I feel sooo blessed to be able to live the life I have wanted since I was 3.

DiMaggio's work has also turned the clock back for me.  Most think I'm in my early to mid 30's! I'm middle-aged so that's a HUGE bonus for me (although I need to tell you that the MIDLIFT hurt for a long while. But, it was worth it). 

So all-in-all, I'm not worried about things if my friend and family doctor isn't either.

I think those of you contemplating FFS should really do your research.  Of course, there are a lot of cheerleaders here. And most of us will cheer for our doctors.  I am not here to cheer for anyone but YOU all!  You don't have to go for Dr. DiMaggio. You have to go with who you think will be the best for your face. And that would mean you all have done your research. You've compared notes, you shared your concerns etc etc. It's up to YOU to pick who you think is best for YOUR face. I felt that Dr DiMaggio was the best for MY face.
And again, I will tell you THIS IS MAJOR SURGERY! Make sure you know what you are getting yourself into. Ask and ask and ask! There are a lot of qualified FFS Surgeons out there. 

I was thinking of maybe posted a few pointers on prepping for FFS.  I wish I had listened to some of you.  I think my excitement clouded my mind a bit and I didn't ask as many questions as I should have on prepping and healing.

If you have any others concerns or questions, I am here for you.

HUGS!
KG

p.s.  I'm going to be posting more recent pics soon and also some "WAY BEFORE Transition pics" because I think I haven't been fair in some respects by not posting my Guy pics. Lol  It will give those of you just starting your journey an idea of what HRT will and can do to your face before FFS.  - XOXO

Karmagirl, at which moment (what week/month) did you see the (close to) final result? or at which week/month were you satisfied?

Quote from: 2cherry on December 04, 2016, 06:53:18 AM
Karmagirl, at which moment (what week/month) did you see the (close to) final result? or at which week/month were you satisfied?

Well, to be honest with you, it was less about what I saw and more about what others seemed to be seeing. Does that make any sense (LOL)? Ok, so maybe a little bit of what I saw too.

Before my FFS, I was rarely Clocked.  I practiced my voice (that was a little tough for me) and my female gestures (not hard for me or most I think).  My body had developed curves as well, and that was a plus in some respects.  What good is my face if I sound like a Greek sailor right?  So the whole package helped me out.However, 4 years later I was in San Francisco with my spouse for business, and we were eating out and I saw this woman looking at me. I later overheard her say something like "Is that a man?".  Her husband scanned the room and replied, "maybe".  Now, this is something that had happened around the time that Jenner had come out and it seemed like people were just scanning for Transfolk all over. And it's also SF, where there are more than a couple of us.  That had NEVER happened to me before.  I actually walked up to them and complimented them on their adorable baby.  Once they heard me talking, I think it threw a wrench in their hypothesis! They were really nice.  Admittedly, I went home depressed.  And that's when I thought " I think I DO need FFS to get me past that little hump".

I can tell you that I really don't have ANY issues anymore. Dr. Dim and also Facial Team had said I really didn't need a lot of help--Just fine tuning a few things since they thought HRT had done a great job in Feminizing my face. My friends (who can be BRUTALLY HONEST with me), were also very happy.  They had seen a few pics of people with FFS and they were not always impressed with the results (I showed them tons of FFS websites). But, after a few weeks, when the swelling went down a bit, they were relieved with what they saw.  They were afraid that my face would look to "Plastic" and different.

It's been since May of 2016.  And I do miss some of the puffiness...only because it concealed some micro lines on my face and all. Now that the swelling had gone down, I'm STILL happy. I mean, will I pick on my face? Sure, we always see imperfections...like I said before FFS can only do so much.  There are soooo many parameters involved--like your health, skin, how well you heal etc etc.  We're not Clay, or Granite where we can sculpt away things so easily. Each person's body handles things differently. I know that sometimes we tend to want to blame the doctors for things that don't turn up exactly as we wanted. This is not to negate what others have said in regards to mistakes that have occurred.  Again, it's about researching who you think is best for YOU.

And now the short version (lol)...

I think by the 6-month mark, you will see most of the changes you were looking for.

When I see Doctors doing videos of their patients right after the surgery, I don't think it's fair.  How can you say you're happy when your face is so swollen? And things might happen in-between that amount of time. That's why I told Dr. Dimmagio that I would not film or write any testimonials until I thought most of the results were in.

However, when it comes to my nose, it may take up to a year.  The nose tends to heal a little slower when it comes to FFS/Nose jobs.  I promised my Family Doctor that I would not do anything to my nose until a year from now. Meaning; if I didn't like the end result, I would go for revisions (my nose still looks swollen a bit).  But who wants to do revisions?  They can be a pain. But sometimes, we do have to fine tune things. 
And the truth (for me) is, if I don't get any revisions, I'll STILL be happy.  I feel like I don't have to worry anymore and be "On Guard". I don't have thoughts of "Do they think I am Trans or whatever?" 

FFS has truly been life changing for me.  I can go into bathrooms without fear of being clocked. I can have conversations with people without thinking "Do they think I am trans?". I recently came out to a few, and they could not believe it.  I showed them my Guy pics and their jaw dropped.  Not that I do that with most, but I thought that I could add to a semi-negative conversation about Transfolk they were having, and turn it into something more positive. They had no idea.

I think that FFS is not necessarily needed for everyone. And I think, that if you are happy and healthy mentally and physically with what you see, then maybe it's not really for you.  If you are not passing but feel good about yourself, then why get it. 
We were really blessed since my spouse had done well that year, and that was the ONLY way and reason I was able to afford FFS.  I really wasn't counting on it. Although, I did think about it.

And there are times when I think if society was kinder and more accepting of Transfolk would we even think about FFS? I think that people who have Facial Dysphoria like me are constantly fighting with ourselves in regards to that.

We (Transfolk), need to learn that it's a journey that starts from within, not the other way around. You can change all you want on the outside, but if you are not feeling it on the inside, you can spend thousands of dollars and never be satisfied. 

Sorry, I probably wrote a little too much here. 

Maybe by Wednesday, I'll post a condensed visual version of my journey from Guy to Gal.   

I hope this helps,
HUGS
KG

Hi Karmagirl, yes, that helps a lot!

Right now my chin and jaw is still swollen (4 weeks post-op), and I was getting a little impatient. It looks like I have to be way more patient...

QuoteWell, to be honest with you, it was less about what I saw and more about what others seemed to be seeing. Does that make any sense (LOL)? Ok, so maybe a little bit of what I saw too.

Before my FFS, I was rarely Clocked.  I practiced my voice (that was a little tough for me) and my female gestures (not hard for me or most I think).  My body had developed curves as well, and that was a plus in some respects.  What good is my face if I sound like a Greek sailor right?  So the whole package helped me out.However, 4 years later I was in San Francisco with my spouse for business, and we were eating out and I saw this woman looking at me. I later overheard her say something like "Is that a man?".  Her husband scanned the room and replied, "maybe".  Now, this is something that had happened around the time that Jenner had come out and it seemed like people were just scanning for Transfolk all over. And it's also SF, where there are more than a couple of us.  That had NEVER happened to me before.  I actually walked up to them and complimented them on their adorable baby.  Once they heard me talking, I think it threw a wrench in their hypothesis! They were really nice.  Admittedly, I went home depressed.  And that's when I thought " I think I DO need FFS to get me past that little hump".

I can tell you that I really don't have ANY issues anymore. Dr. Dim and also Facial Team had said I really didn't need a lot of help--Just fine tuning a few things since they thought HRT had done a great job in Feminizing my face. My friends (who can be BRUTALLY HONEST with me), were also very happy.  They had seen a few pics of people with FFS and they were not always impressed with the results (I showed them tons of FFS websites). But, after a few weeks, when the swelling went down a bit, they were relieved with what they saw.  They were afraid that my face would look to "Plastic" and different.

It's been since May of 2016.  And I do miss some of the puffiness...only because it concealed some micro lines on my face and all. Now that the swelling had gone down, I'm STILL happy. I mean, will I pick on my face? Sure, we always see imperfections...like I said before FFS can only do so much.  There are soooo many parameters involved--like your health, skin, how well you heal etc etc.  We're not Clay, or Granite where we can sculpt away things so easily. Each person's body handles things differently. I know that sometimes we tend to want to blame the doctors for things that don't turn up exactly as we wanted. This is not to negate what others have said in regards to mistakes that have occurred.  Again, it's about researching who you think is best for YOU.

And now the short version (lol)...

I think by the 6-month mark, you will see most of the changes you were looking for.

When I see Doctors doing videos of their patients right after the surgery, I don't think it's fair.  How can you say you're happy when your face is so swollen? And things might happen in-between that amount of time. That's why I told Dr. Dimmagio that I would not film or write any testimonials until I thought most of the results were in.

However, when it comes to my nose, it may take up to a year.  The nose tends to heal a little slower when it comes to FFS/Nose jobs.  I promised my Family Doctor that I would not do anything to my nose until a year from now. Meaning; if I didn't like the end result, I would go for revisions (my nose still looks swollen a bit).  But who wants to do revisions?  They can be a pain. But sometimes, we do have to fine tune things. 
And the truth (for me) is, if I don't get any revisions, I'll STILL be happy.  I feel like I don't have to worry anymore and be "On Guard". I don't have thoughts of "Do they think I am Trans or whatever?" 

FFS has truly been life changing for me.  I can go into bathrooms without fear of being clocked. I can have conversations with people without thinking "Do they think I am trans?". I recently came out to a few, and they could not believe it.  I showed them my Guy pics and their jaw dropped.  Not that I do that with most, but I thought that I could add to a semi-negative conversation about Transfolk they were having, and turn it into something more positive. They had no idea.

I think that FFS is not necessarily needed for everyone. And I think, that if you are happy and healthy mentally and physically with what you see, then maybe it's not really for you.  If you are not passing but feel good about yourself, then why get it. 
We were really blessed since my spouse had done well that year, and that was the ONLY way and reason I was able to afford FFS.  I really wasn't counting on it. Although, I did think about it.

And there are times when I think if society was kinder and more accepting of Transfolk would we even think about FFS? I think that people who have Facial Dysphoria like me are constantly fighting with ourselves in regards to that.

We (Transfolk), need to learn that it's a journey that starts from within, not the other way around. You can change all you want on the outside, but if you are not feeling it on the inside, you can spend thousands of dollars and never be satisfied. 

Sorry, I probably wrote a little too much here. 

Maybe by Wednesday, I'll post a condensed visual version of my journey from Guy to Gal.   

I hope this helps,
HUGS
KG

Quote from: KarmaGirl on December 01, 2016, 02:55:09 PM
Thanks so much for those kind words.

Karma Girl, hey you :) I'm just saying hi, I try to log in once a year or so and post a few messages so hey! I hope you are doing well, you look great and your smile is infectious :) Meghan

I initionally planned to see DMD for my FFS since my face is so masculine and i'll need major bony work, but the plane ride has seemingly stopped me from seeing him. I'm deathly afraid of flying.

Wow, that is absolutely amazing! 

Hi KarmaGirl

Thanks so much for sharing your experience. You look fantastic!
I have a few questions for you, if you don't mind, and you could PM me with any responses if you'd rather.

1) How tall are you?
2) How much weight did you lose during your transition? I think you said you were 240 lbs at one point?
3) How old were you when you had your FFS with DiMaggio?

I ask because I believe I'm a similar age (mid-40's), height (6'), and frame size (medium). I'm just looking for a little inspiration, given how well you've done (and not without at lot of hard work and pain, no doubt).

I've had two consultations with Dr. Z in Chicago, who recommended basically the same procedures you had done (including the mid-face lift), although Z doesn't do Type III. I now plan to contact MDM for his opinion.
Thanks!

- Taylor

MDM has been posting some amazing results of his fb page

https://www.facebook.com/mdm.marcelodimaggio/?fref=ts

Hello Everyone!!

If I miss ANYTHING let me know! Lol

First, thank you again for the kind comments--- Megs thanks for the smile comment! Believe it or not, I wish I had a smile like yours!

In regards to questions about weight and height and age, I try to stay away from too much personal info online, or via PM's.  I'm sure you gals know why.  So, I'll be a little vague... I'm over 5'11 (lol) and darn it, I forgot I posted my weight (so ya got me there), but yes, I am middle-aged, and yes, I was a little over weight for this op.  But Gosh did I realllllyyyy want this operation!! So, knowing what I had to deal with, I went ahead and did it! 

Again, I would recommend that ANYONE of ANY AGE, should get into shape!! Remember it's all dead weight once you are under. AND DO NOT LIE about your weight either.  IF you do, they might not give you enough anesthesia in the Op!! I had a friend lie about her weight and boy did she "literally" have a rude awakening.

In regards to the plane flight...just think about how you are going to look AFTER your trip! Or take a "happy pill" that your doc can give you before the flight. Can you say XANAX?   ;)  Argentina is soooo much fun too!

I hate long plane flights, but in the end it has def been worth it!  I can't tell you how much my life has changed for the better. And like I mentioned before, I can sometimes get comments like "Girl you are tall!" But I never get, you are a man...or is that a guy...not anymore ( I got clocked in San Francisco around a year ago).  It's such a relief that I can just be me without worry, or distress. I don't think about it the way I did before "Do they know?  Do they realize I'm Trans?" I'm free of that. 

I guess what makes me happy too is that DiMaggio's way is simply to take what you have (okay I should not say simply because he really can get quite aggressive with his technique as in my case) and make it feminine, rather than make you into a Barbie Doll.  If that's what you want, I don't think he would be for you.  He even said " I'm not a miracle worker...I work with what I have to give you the NATURAL results you get".  And for all the BS I heard about him  around the net, I really appreciated that comment.
So is my face perfect?...nope.  I don't think anyone's face is really perfect, but my face is perfect for me.  Like I mentioned, I wasn't looking for a cookie cutter effect too.  There are a few Doctors that I researched and after a while, I was able to tell certain faces were done by a certain doctor(s). That is not really a bad thing, I just didn't want that for me.  I'm sure there are a lot of people that might think DiMaggio is not for them.  And that's okay too.

So research research research!!! 

2Cherry :  YES! Be patient!!! We can be patient together!  Don't expect to see ANY FINAL RESULTS until your face (and everyone's healing process is different) has calmed down.  My friend said the other night, " Everytime I see you, your face looks different".  Kinda made me feel unsure by his comment and he explained " It's just that you went from a swollen face to a pretty girl! It's amazing!"  Whew, for a moment I thought he was going to say something negative.  And yes, that made me feel good.   

I have to tell you, that I was your typical Alpha Male, with shaved head, pumped up, and manly.  No one screwed with me. I thought I will NEVER look like a woman. I must be crazy! How's this going to look? I remember one Halloween my wife and I went as a Cowboy and Bar Prostitute!  (and yeah, I was the prostitute) We won the costuming contest! But when I look at that pic, I'm like what the hell was I thinking...I looked hideous! You could tell I was a man. My face hadn't really changed too much with HRT because I had just started too. I remember thinking that there was no way, I would ever "pass" .  I actually was very depressed for several months after that.

I didn't have the finances to get FFS at the beginning. So I had no choice but to deal with my HRT. After almost 4 years or so, finally started noticing that I was being gendered as a woman.  However, my voice at the time needed a lot of help. I practiced and practiced and got some help.  But occasionally, I'd get stares of confusion.  Eventually, the HRT changed my face and gave me my moms curves. I'm not some skinny stick, but I'm like my sister and mom, and if life was different, I may have been born from the very beginning that way if I was Cis-Gender.


I'm here for any of your girls no matter who you pick! Ask me anything and I'll do my best...just do not ask me to pick your FFS doctor...just absorb, and make up your own minds. 






-------------------------------------------------
My DISCLAIMER:   I DO NOT WORK for Dr. DiMaggio, nor have I taken any payments or credits of any sort from him or his staff. I do not get ANYTHING from him other than medical advice concerning my own FFS. It is up to YOU to decide who is best for YOU.
Although, you are welcomed to let him know Karma Girl sent you. (or not) 

Hey KarmaGirl-

Did you know that MDM will be in LA from 02-05FEB? That's where you're based, right?. Anyway,  he's in LA attending the WPATH conference.I've contacted his office about an consultation, and it looks like he'll be seeing prospective patients at his hotel. His office asked me to share this info. See except from that email below:

Hello Taylor. You can contact us  the last week of january and we can send you date and time of the consultation. But yes we can see you on 3th or 4th, we dont know yet time and place, probably will be MDM hotel. By the way if you want to share this opportunity with others to meet MDM in person, you can do that. Please use our email address to contact us.
Thank you. Keep in contact.

MDM & Team
www.mdmsurgery.com
www.facebook.com/mdm.marcelodimaggio
info@mdmsurgery.com
dimaggiomd@gmail.com
www.sanatoriofinochietto.com


2016-12-28 18:25 GMT-03:00 Taylor Hansen <twh705@gmail.com>:

Thank you Karmagirl for posting your FFS journey with MDM and congratulation on your superb results. I saw your pics on MDM Facebook page and your transformation is pretty amazing.

I am considering MDM for my round two FFS due to his aggressive work and natural results but afraid of traveling outside the U.S.

Quote from: Violet Bloom on August 26, 2016, 07:12:13 PM
  One thing I'm glad I never had to see in my surgery was the left-over 'scraps'.  <Shudder>  I don't think I could have stomached it, but I commend you for posting it because it's important for all prospective clients to understand the seriousness and reality of what they will be going through.  How quickly and well did the incisions in front of your ears heal?  My incisions thankfully ended above the ear within the hair.

When I saw that picture, I actually started sobbing and shaking, it is so drastic a thing to NEED to have done to one's self, but I know, I know so deeply, and truthfully, that without such a drastic effort, I will not ever be who I was meant to be.

Yes, I have been convinced for a long time that MDM was the best option for my face, too.

Just need to find the money, Brassard tapped me out, ha!

Hi KarmaGirl

I thought of another question, if you don't mind:
I will understand that Dr. MDM removes the sinus mucosa when performing Type 3. Other surgeons may leave it in place. I can see value to both approaches, given what I've read. So have you had any sinus issues as a result?

Thanks!

-Taylor

Karmagirl-

Darn it, I also meant to ask about the silicone cheek implants Dr.MDM uses. Did he offer lipofilling of your cheeks as an option instead? Any issues with your implants, infection, etc? I guess there's no worry about re-absorption with silicone. Is the life of the implants thought by MDM to be indefinite (as opposed to, say, breast implants)?

Thanks!

-Taylor

Hi Everyone!
I'm sorry I haven't been on here to post in a while.  I've been trying to get my life back up and running.  Lot's of great things happening in my life, but that's for another thread.

So, it will be a year on May 9th.  What has been going on with my healing process.  As I told you all, I would be as honest as I can.

Let's start with the not so good parts...

1) As I posted originally, I had some issues with my left eye.  Dr. Dim, wasn't sure why.  There are a few theories.  I might have some scar tissue around my eye from the surgery that is causing my eye to see slightly higher than the right. It's almost nothing, but when you are talking about the eyes, inches could be yards!  I'm looking into getting that taken care of.  Again, not sure who's at fault.  But, it's costing me to get this taken care of.  The Why's don't bother me, I just want this resolved because it can drive me a little loony.

2) I had some scar tissue develop around where my adams apple was worked on.  I was lucky to have insurance pay for my visit to the ENT Doctor. If not I would have had to pay over $1000.00   The Doctor thinks he can take care of it with some steriodal injections.  I can now swallow ok...but I might look into that.

3) The swelling has gone down considerably. I can notice a few little bumps here and there. My home doctor GP, suggested we wait some more time, since he thinks it just has to settle some more before thinking about doing anything with that. I agreed.   Also, I met up with someone from Susans and we compared work. She had gone back to Argentina with another Dr. there and she had some of her forehead redone. She took a look at me and said I was fine.  (Remember my Facial Dysphoria is terrible, so I need other peoples eye to help me out).

4) There is a small indention under my chin.  I had a doctor look at it and he said that he too wanted me to wait and see after the full year was up.  He thought a fat injection would do well for that. So I'm not that worried.  I know that I heal much slower than most.

5) The scar from the Mid face list that is behind my left ear did not heal well.  Again, it could be my body and the way it heals. Some doctors say that.  Each person's body heals differently. Still, I hate that I have to pack on the make up. I may do some laser work on the scar since that's probably going to help that.

Scars are a very funny thing, so I can't really blame Dr. Dim for that. I've seen others that have had the same op and they healed well. So don't get too scared over this, just be prepared in case your body responds this way.

6) Once you heal a bit and the inflammation goes down, you really see what all that work went to. I kinda liked it when I was slightly swollen! LOL  It lessened any fine lines.  But, I found that an injection of Collegen and fat can help those areas out.

7) I wish I had asked for the lip lift. 

Other than the above, I'm doing incredibly well. 

AND NOW FOR THE GOOD!!!

1)  I now have NO PROBLEM passing! Wow, it really made a HUGE difference in the way people perceive me! I do get "You are tall!" occasionally, but it's all good.  I don't like guys, but I have had a lot of guys ask for my number.  That just adds a bit the whole validation deal. Lol    Women, seem to connect better with me as well.  It's a whole new world!

2) Even when people know I'm trans, they can't believe it.  And then I show my before shots and they faint. Lol

3) I know a few of you are afraid of going into bathrooms and such. I haven't had any issues with that.

4) People see my wife and I as a Lesbian couple.  They'll ask me if I carried the baby!

5) I'm never nervous about people getting too close to my face or thinking they'll "discover" me.

6) My best friends said if I wasn't with my wife he'd date me! Hahahaha...never. But hey! It was nice.

7) My electrolysis lady, thought he did a great job. She sees a lot of trans folk out here and she's seen a lot of issues with a lot of people.  She said my issues were simple to fix.

8) My face looks thinner all around and when I compared it to my before shots (because sometimes my Facial Dysphoria is so bad I need to compare LOL) I can see a huge difference!

9) I'm glad I got the orbital part done around my eyes because it makes a HUGE difference.  I don't look tired anymore and people compliment my eyes.

--------------

Again my disclaimer:

I have really bad Facial Dysphoria!  Really bad.  It's gotten much much better.

All people heal differently! Some better than others. You can ONLY do your BEST to pick the right doctor for YOU! 

I've seen most doctors on here have issues with patients, not only mine.  Sometimes, you have to just DO IT. Just understand that your body isn't like everyone's out there. You can only research so much.

ALSO: Dr. Dimaggio was kind enough to invite some of "his girls" out to dinner out here in L.A. He took a look at my face there and then even had me meet him at the University where he was giving a lecture, and told me that he loved my face but he understood if I wanted to have some changes made.  I would only pay for getting down there (again) and also the hospital fees, but he wouldn't charge me a dime to make ANY changes.  He also said that he'd like me to wait a bit because a lot can change within a year or two. 

So I don't feel too bad about my healing process, and it's nice to know that if I need anything worked on I can just go back.
That being said, the operations kicked my butt.  Probably my midlift more than anything. The rest was okay to deal with .


------------
IF I were to grade my FFS with Dr. Dimaggio I think I would give him

For bedside manner and care before and after. He was amazing! And so were his staff!=A+

For my own FFS (regardless of my healing) I would give him= A-  had I not had any issues with my eyes I would have given him an  A+    -- Just being honest.

Would I recommend him to you all?  Of course.  I have seen his amazing work on me and others and I like that his faces look natural.  I could have gone to a gazillion Doctors in my area, but I didn't feel at that time that any of them offered what I was looking for. 

So again, I think you all have to research as much as you can and take a look at the faces your Doctors have worked on and then make a decision.

-------------Some more questions???

To answer the question about the cheek implants...

I could have gone with bigger implants but as two or three doctors pointed out, the way my eyes are, it would have made them look more tunneled in.   So we went with sm to med size silicone implants. I have had no issues with this.  I had a friend get fat injections (with a famous doc out here in L.A.) put in but after a while it started to look lumpy on her. 
I'm happy with the implants I have.

Do you need to lose weight for the op? 

Well, if you got a belly or are a little overweight I would suggest you lose some because once they put you under, your whole body just flops down on that op table.  Things can shift and move around. And it seems one of my discs did. I've been getting Physical Therapy and it's helped and I'm also trying to lose more weight...still.  Lol  SO GET IN SHAPE!!!!

Hope this helps all of you wondering about stuff.

Best to you all!

Hi KarmaGirl! Thank you for these posts.

I am considering MDM for FFS and although no other surgeon suggested a face lift of any kind during the 6 other consultations I did, Dr. DiMaggio brought it up with me. I'm 37 and have no sagging skin or anything under my chin like you had, I have no signs of jowls etc, but I do have volume loss and flatness in my under eye and upper cheek area and visible tear troughs. I'm not quite 9 months on HRT, so it's hard to say how much is aging vs being somewhat early on HRT still. My BMI is 20 and I'm quite healthy. I will be getting jaw and chin contouring work done and will do cheek implants whether I do the facelift or not.

Do you feel like the face lift was worth it? How are your scars now? I don't like the idea of more scars but my dysphoria is telling me to just get everything done that was suggested all at once, assuming the risks are not too great.

Help :)

I wonder about the face lift and some other things too. I also had several consultations so far - sadly only 2 face to face yet. Most of them are in agreement of the procedures that would benefit me - mainly hairline, forehead, nose chin/jaw and lip lift. However two exceptions to that were PAI who basically recommended only small bone shaving at the forehead and chin and diMaggio who gave me a whopping list of probably around a dozen procedures (including cheek implants, lifting,...) stretched over two full day surgeries! Last time I sent him pictures, about 2 years ago he was in agreement with the other ones and suggested the same 5 procedures basically.
I wonder what has changed - either I changed so much to the negative in that time, or he changed his recommendation behaviour. My first suspicion was that he may try to sell more surgeries. Or did he somehow change his philosophy and believes that even those women coming to him that already "pass" well still need a lot of procedures to really be happy?

I hear you anjaq. I don't see how I need a facelift. Honestly, I think he was a bit over zealous in trying to sell procedures. The list that was sent to me originally didn't include a facelift but then during our 2 hour consult he started suggesting it. In the end I decided to go with someone else.

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I think his long list that he sent me was all kind of optinal - something to pick and choose from, but if I want to find out what procedures I should get all by myself, I do not need to ask a surgeon at this point. I know the procedures available, the key would be to know which of them are making sense and for that I would like a surgeon to use his expertise.
I can however indeed imagine that I may need a neck lift, especially after having chin and jaw work done, since the tissue will probably sag afterwards :( - so I guess one could as well do it at the same time and be done with it, but in any case doing this in addition to FFS will result in two surgery dates - either within a week distance or with more time between as other surgeons would do it.

Moderator Edit: References to a deleted post were removed

I haven't had any work done yet, but he was my first choice and he seemed very pleasant when i sent him my pics for evaluation. I've heard other stories where he commented on people in Spanish ect...but what can you do?

Moderator Edit: Removed reference to a deleted post.

I met MDM for a consult in L.A. 4 months ago. He said "I can't make you look like a girl". He went on to say that I was too "big" ( I'm 6' 0" tall), and that I'm not a good candidate, due to the size of my head, width of my face, etc.  I did appreciate his honesty, although the other FFS surgeons I met made no such comments. To his credit, MDM still spent almost an hour answering my questions. He seemed like a nice guy, but just not interested in my case.

I too picked Dr. Rossi, however a scheduling error on their end meant that I couldn't go for the surgery (I had even bought my plane ticket) and I have yet to re-schedule.
Thanks.

- Taylor

Moderator Edit: Removed reference to deleted post

I'm not trying to bash Dr. MDM. I still think he's a great surgeon, although perhaps with a larger ego. Maybe he prefers not to work on large, broad transwomen, I can't say for sure. He did, in fact, give me a quote, but explained his low expectations for the outcome. I believed that he was being honest, but since I felt that I might not get his best effort, I decided to meet with additional surgeons.

- Taylor

Moderator Edit: Removed reference to deleted post

Hi Everyone! Wow, it looks like this thread is on fire. LOL

I've been dealing with a nasty virus for a few weeks so I haven't had the time to peek in here.

First off, I am soooo sorry some of you have had issues with your FFS assessments.  I know that it's a HUGE step for you, and there are ALWAYS concerns and yeah it can be very scary. Those were certainly not the issues I had with Dr. DiMaggio, nor was I ever aware of this type of thing going on when it came to his practice. So I can only comment on my own experiences (and I have right on this thread).

I think I've been very fair when it came to my own assessment of his work and practices. If you go back a few pages, you can see what I mean.

In regards to what others say that have worked for him, I really can't say much because, in all fairness, I don't know nor was I ever concerned with their working or personal relationships.  I was only concerned with my FFS and whatever results I wanted to have.  I always take those things with a grain of salt. Besides, who wants to get caught up in all that drama?

I know that it can be very disheartening to hear comments like those that have been posted on this thread ( I haven't scoured the Forum for more). Again, I was NOT there in person when these comments were made so I will try to remain as neutral as I can. However, I can attest that some FFS surgeons (that I interviewed) can sometimes be a bit cocky and arrogant, and some, unfortunately, will feed you more than a few "darlings, Honeys, and beautiful" in hopes you'll sign up with them. I think most of us are smart enough to figure that out.

I will also tell you that some of us that were pre-FFS-op (and I would include myself on this) expect to come out of surgery with these very high expectations. In fact, when I used a few photos of women (models, actresses etc) I liked faces on, I was told, "Um, no...realistically your bone structure can't give you the results you want." This was at the beginning of my FFS journey when I was interviewing most FFS doctors. However, I did get a few that said, " I can't give you those faces, but what I can give you is a female version of you."  My first response was "What the heck does that mean?" I couldn't really imagine a female version of my face! I had no way of really knowing...and that was really disheartening as well. So I get what you ladies are saying to a certain degree.  I think for me it was mostly NOT knowing what I would end up looking like especially after that!

As I started to interview more doctors ( Facial Team, Dr. Ousterhuat, and others and then finally Dr. DI), I started to realize that I may not look like a model, but I'll probably look like my female twin, I began to be ok with that. I had spoken to another doctor ( he shall remain nameless) that promised me all sorts of things and told me how he could create this face that would light up a room when I would walk in.  When I took a look of his work, I was not impressed with the plastic looking expressions. You could tell they had work done. I wanted to just look as natural as I could at this point. So I passed on him (plus, he kept calling me sweetie, and stuff and that just turned me off).

When I had a consult with Dr. Ousterhaut, Facial Team and eventually Dr. DiMaggio, they ALL told me almost the same thing about what I needed or didn't need. That's when I started to see a positive pattern. That's when I began to trust them a bit more. All of them told me my type III forehead would be a challenge, but once it was worked on it would make a difference. They also told me I had a lot of fat under my chin, and I would probably want lipo, and a lift, especially after the chin reduction since the skin, would just droop down after the face had settled. Honestly, I had never thought of that. I was looking at my nose and forehead mostly. And yes, I too thought they were initially trying to up-sell me. It's okay to be guarded and careful. Don't let anyone tell you not to be.  It's your freakin' face, and it's not like you can just keep getting it fixed if it doesn't work out. Sure, simple revisions should be done if need be, but to continuously get work done might cause more problems for you in the end.  Our bodies aren't cut out for all that. At least mine isn't. So getting it "right" the first time is important certainly.

I settled on Dr. DiMaggio because I thought he would be just as aggressive as Dr. Ousterhaut ( Dr. O was already getting ready to retire and I didn't really feel comfy with his protege'). After looking at Dr. DiM's FFS work I thought he was the best fit for me ( AGAIN...the best fit for ME). Plus, I was being told by Dr. O that my face would cost $49,500 or so to get done!!! Yikes.  I wasn't ready for that total either. lol   My FFS with Dr. DiMaggio cost me less than half of that, and I am happy with the results! Sure, there will always be a few things that I would want to get done here and there, but I am also aware that my Facial Dysphoria is pretty bad and I can't trust that. Luckily, my wife and friends are there to help me out with their love and honesty.

As far as my FFS goes, it's made a HUGE difference! My face has continued to change here and there a little more than a year later.  It's not as plump/swollen as it was and you can see a little more of my age lines here and there, but I am happy. I'm also very tall too 6'2. And yes, I get people telling me the obvious "You are tall!" But, I don't get, "Are you a man?" Even if people find out ( because I share my story with them), they always seem to be shocked that I was ever in my "male form".

So my advice on what others say or gossip about here is --stay away from it, and concentrate on getting the facts from the doctors. If you are NOT happy with the answers you are getting then, by all means, look for another Doctor that will.  Ask those of us that have gone through the process if need be, about our experiences and see if that matches with your own expectations.  YOU are the ONLY one that can make that call. 

I hope the above helps a bit. 

And with that, I'm going to ask as a courtesy to my thread that you start another one to discuss any issues not associated to my original posts.  ;)

Peace and HUGS Everyone!

I had a bit similar experience with a local GRS surgeon who is considered the best in germany - he told me that what was done in that aspect to me 15 years ago is in his opinion beyond repair and I should get a therapy to deal with it. This was incredibly blunt, so some of the surgeons around seem to be good in their techniques and procedures and surgery but not so great in how to talk to people ...

Sounds like he may have a certain goal with his surgeries - make a trans woman look cis. Which is a good thing. Sad thing is that if he thinks he cannot reach that goal with someone, he seems inclined to not want to do the work?
I feel remembered a bit about Harry Benjamin. He wrote in his trans-stone-age-time book that he basically only treated trans women who came to him who had a fair chance of totally "passing" after treatments. I think that was why he originally invented the "real life test". Trans women who would never pass (in a time when the only treatments were hormones and GRS, mabe some not very advanced liquid silicone breast implants) were discouraged of even trying. But of course that was in a time when being a non passing trans woman meant most likely to never get a job, becoming homeless and maybe dying from all of this. Times have changed.

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