Hi all, I am new on this forum and I hope I can find some people that would like to give me some information about top surgery in the UK.
I am actually doing this for my brother Zack, I'd like to help out with his problem, he has Gender Dysphoria, means he was born as the wrong gender, in the body of a girl.
But I call him my brother because that's how I always saw him and accepted, he's going through a rough depression at the moment, and I'd like to help him, I know i can't do much but I'm doing whatever it takes
I was wondering if anyone could give me information on how to get a double mastectomy in the UK, like good doctors and all.
I know he can get it by the NHS for free, but the waiting is too long, and my brother Zack can't cope with waiting anymore, so I know he could get it private, It costs more but yeh, I'm also wondering how long he would have to wait when he makes an appointment for a private treatment, what the price would be, and what doctor would be good to give the treatment.
I would really appreciate information for this, because all I want to do is help my brother and give him good news so I can see him smile again :)
You do understand that Zach will have to be 18 first I hope.
i understand that, im glad he will be 18 soon thou, in the beginning of july :), i just hope he won't have to wait much longer when he is 18
There are a number of points to start at.
This is one: http://www.transsexualclinic.co.uk/ (http://www.transsexualclinic.co.uk/)
I will urge you or your brother to contact them, perhaps by email, explaing the problems and asking for advice.
I will also suggest you both concentrate on what it is you want rather than any emotional problems you may be experiencing.
It is your life. It is your body. You want to live your life this way and you should have the right to decide that for yourself.
Having said that, this will be the first step on a long road. Take care. Stay focused. Keep posting here for support, advice and to tell the rest of us how you are getting on.
Try Dai Davies in London maybe. I think the wait is about two months from scheduling. I know a couple of guys who have gone to him for their chest surgery, I think it costs about £5500. Good luck to you and Zack and congratulations on being such a support for your brother.
Thank you guys for the information and support, i rly appriciate it :)
I'm going to look into it right now, and i'll let yu guys know if anything has been planned, if there is more information i could use, please tell me :)
Thank you again guys! ;D
Quote from: spacial on April 29, 2010, 10:13:14 AM
There are a number of points to start at.
This is one: http://www.transsexualclinic.co.uk/ (http://www.transsexualclinic.co.uk/)
I will urge you or your brother to contact them, perhaps by email, explaing the problems and asking for advice.
I will also suggest you both concentrate on what it is you want rather than any emotional problems you may be experiencing.
It is your life. It is your body. You want to live your life this way and you should have the right to decide that for yourself.
Having said that, this will be the first step on a long road. Take care. Stay focused. Keep posting here for support, advice and to tell the rest of us how you are getting on.
Spacial, I don't know if you're aware of this, but on checking out that link you posted...
QuoteThe Albany Gender Identity Clinic provides a wide range of medical treatments and counselling for male to female Transsexuals, Transgendered and Tranvestites with complete discretion.
That isn't gonna be much help to us blokes. But otherwise good points :)
But anyway, back on track; how much has been done about this already? Has Zack contacted his GP or been assessed, for instance? There's a few hoops we have to jump through before we can even think about planning surgery, the mastectomy just being one of them. He will also have needed to be on hormone treatment for at least a year.
You both need to do some good, long research on gender dysphoria so you know what to expect. The wiki here is very informative, and there's also a few useful links I discovered in my own research:
http://ftm.org.uk/ (http://ftm.org.uk/) - geared specifically towards FTMs in the UK - although information may be dated
http://www.ftmguide.org/ (http://www.ftmguide.org/) - loads of useful information and tips on various aspects of FTM living
http://www.ftmpassingtips.com/index.html (http://www.ftmpassingtips.com/index.html) - info on how to pass as male, including reviews on different gear
Good luck :)
Thanks for the sites; I'm going to look into it now :)
He had his name changed to Zack in September 2009, but still he does not have his ID with his changed name and changed gender from F to M, but that will get sorted soon enough, It's more important that he feels good about himself first.
My brother has already been to a psychiatrist a couple of times, also to sort out a fund to get his testosterones paid by the NHS, but last week he went to see the psychiatrist again and since then I've never seen him so depressed, Zack and me are separated but still I try to give him help in distance, he didn't want to talk about what he said, but it's obviously bad so I'm not sure but I think the bad news was that he didn't get the fund or something.
So that's why I was thinking as first step he could get a Double Mastectomy. I think it will be better to get that as a private treatment, because he has been waiting long enough and knowing the NHS they would let him wait even longer.
Nemo - not every area states that the patient has to be on T for a year before top surgery. I know some do but it has never been mentioned in my PCT.
Seth - It really depends on your area as to the whole wait list times for the NHS. It's a bit of a postcode lottery. Even so, if someone's dysphoria is bad, any wait is too long.
Maybe you could look into going to see a private psych if the NHS one isn't working out? Although as mentioned before, I don't think anything can move forward until Zack is 18.
Quote from: Tay on April 30, 2010, 01:50:16 PM
Nemo - not every area states that the patient has to be on T for a year before top surgery. I know some do but it has never been mentioned in my PCT.
Yeah, I know some are more flexible than others, but that's the info I got back. Whereabouts are you, then?
Seth: Yeah, fair enough, I see why you're looking into surgery now in that case. Still, as others have said, he'll still have to wait for his birthday before anything else can happen.
I understand he haves to be 18, but its only 2 months away, I just wan't to plan things ahead and make sure that there is something that can be done, because for once, I want my brother to hear good news, and not other dissapointments :)
Quote from: Nemo on April 30, 2010, 11:42:29 AM
Spacial, I don't know if you're aware of this, but on checking out that link you posted...That isn't gonna be much help to us blokes. But otherwise good points :)
I didn't notice that. Really sorry. :embarrassed:
But in any case, I was attempting to point them is the direction. I've heard of the Albany Clinic and hopefully they would direct them to somewhere reputable.
However, I should have checked it more carefully. I hope this hasn't caused too many problems.
Of course it hasn't caused any problems, don't worry
I really appreciate every help I get, also I appreciate all the support :)
Nemo - I am based in Devon, my clinic is in Newton Abbott, soon moving to Exeter.
Seth - Zack would need a psychiatrist's letter stating he is mentally ready for surgery before he would be able to make a date, even privately. I tried a while ago to pay out of pocket for surgery and still needed a psych's approval. Couldn't afford it anyway, just desperate I suppose!
If for whatever reason he can't get the psychs letter it may be worth considering a reduction. All though it won't give him totally the chest he's looking for it could be the best interim stage