I had touched on this in my blog some but I'm unsure of the best time for me to schedule a top surgery consultation with Dr. Garramone.  I'm not trying to schedule top surgery anytime soon, but I would like to see what exactly he could do for me concerning his "Mansculpture" (and if I would even qualify) and get my price quoted for that and top surgery so I know how much exactly I need to save up.  I'm hoping to have top surgery within the next year or two.  I'm debating if I should get the consultation now, even though I don't have all the money yet or if I should wait until I have all of the money first.

I'm in the process of getting my license so I can try and find a job, but aside from that, I'm not currently working or in school so I'm thinking now would be a great time to get my top surgery consultation while I have the time.  Plus, it could help me feel like I'm moving along in my transition, and it could give me a "price lock" so I won't have to worry about paying a higher price if the top surgery price goes up.  However, I'm a little concerned that Dr. Garramone's consultation could have an "expiration" date and if I don't get top surgery within a certain amount of time then I would have to get another one. 

However, if I wait until I have a little over the ballpark range all of the money, I could pay everything off on the spot and get a surgery date at the same time.  Plus, my therapist said she would write my letter of reccomendation to him when I have all of the money up, but that is going to take a while.  I don't know if the consultation before the letter would be considered "void" though.  Also, there is that chance that his price could go up within that waiting period.  On top of that, I feel like in a way that I'm just being stagnant in my transition and that things aren't moving along for me if I went this route.

Any thoughts on what may be the best thing for me to do in this situation?

Also for any guys who went to Dr. Garramone, but couldn't set a date immediately, do you know if he has a consultation expiration date?  That is my biggest concern.

I got a consultation in July, and my date is early Jan. So I can say with confidence that you can schedule six months out

And when you do set a date, there is a down payment of 500 I think to lock it in, but the rest isn't due until two weeks out from the actual surgery.

I definitely understand the motivation of wanting to take that step (consult) to feel like one's transition is moving forward. I was ok to wait for a bit, I just really needed a date - something to keep me hopeful.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do

I almost wonder how important the phone consult really is? Though I am pretty sure he requires it. He gets a LOT of info in a very short amt. of time. And he gives you info (lots of it I knew as it's on his webpage). But you can actually *schedule* a year out. And there is no requirement to schedule. If you scheduled, there are many things that need to be done within a month. And of course, you need to think about if you schedule that far in advance that if you're flying in you need to get your ticket early, so you aren't paying some crazy air fare. If you want to go to New Beginnings, they also fill up very fast.

The consult is very preliminary, and I think a lot of people have them and don't end up using the surgeon they did the phone consult with, so I almost consider it a "sale's tactic", but you can ask the office and they are very helpful. You usually get the consult first, before any other thing. They probably start making a file as soon as they get the pictures (of your chesticles), but I wouldn't send the therapist letter before the consult. He will ask if you have a therapist who would write the letter.

He does crazy nos. of surgeries, way under what I thought. (Some guy asked him, it can be up to 400 a year.) But it is not as crazy to get in as you might think. I scheduled 2 1/2 months out, but there are people who schedule only a month out, depending. Certain months are more booked up than others coinciding with typical vacation days, for instance. I was like "dear goddess, no spring break in Fort Lauderdale".

I did a video of the phone consult here. I don't know if this will insert the video or not, so I have more info on the page so you might click so you are on youtube.




--Jay

Quote from: ford on August 20, 2013, 10:34:54 PM
I got a consultation in July, and my date is early Jan. So I can say with confidence that you can schedule six months out

And when you do set a date, there is a down payment of 500 I think to lock it in, but the rest isn't due until two weeks out from the actual surgery.

I definitely understand the motivation of wanting to take that step (consult) to feel like one's transition is moving forward. I was ok to wait for a bit, I just really needed a date - something to keep me hopeful.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do

Thanks ford.   I really want to feel like I'm moving foward with my transition so I can keep my morale up.  I'm wondering if I could pay the $500 deposit without scheduling an actual date for top surgery.  That would be awesome. 

Quote from: aleon515 on August 21, 2013, 11:08:42 AM
I almost wonder how important the phone consult really is? Though I am pretty sure he requires it. He gets a LOT of info in a very short amt. of time. And he gives you info (lots of it I knew as it's on his webpage). But you can actually *schedule* a year out. And there is no requirement to schedule. If you scheduled, there are many things that need to be done within a month. And of course, you need to think about if you schedule that far in advance that if you're flying in you need to get your ticket early, so you aren't paying some crazy air fare. If you want to go to New Beginnings, they also fill up very fast.

The consult is very preliminary, and I think a lot of people have them and don't end up using the surgeon they did the phone consult with, so I almost consider it a "sale's tactic", but you can ask the office and they are very helpful. You usually get the consult first, before any other thing. They probably start making a file as soon as they get the pictures (of your chesticles), but I wouldn't send the therapist letter before the consult. He will ask if you have a therapist who would write the letter.

He does crazy nos. of surgeries, way under what I thought. (Some guy asked him, it can be up to 400 a year.) But it is not as crazy to get in as you might think. I scheduled 2 1/2 months out, but there are people who schedule only a month out, depending. Certain months are more booked up than others coinciding with typical vacation days, for instance. I was like "dear goddess, no spring break in Fort Lauderdale".

I did a video of the phone consult here. I don't know if this will insert the video or not, so I have more info on the page so you might click so you are on youtube.




--Jay

Thank you for the information Jay!  I'm happy to know that there is no urgency in scheduling a surgery date.  I would really like to have all or most of my cash before I do that.  You make a great point about traveling.  I plan on going to New Beginninings too so I need to make sure they will have a room available then.



Needless to say I'm still undecided in how to approach this though.  I hope I can make a decision soon. 

I'm pretty sure that the $500 is to hold your date. You can't get it back barring some sort of calamity. So I don't think they'd take the $500 without an actual surgery date.

I think the farthest out you can schedule is 1 year. The $500 does go towards your surgery. You can pay on that, so that you can pay towards the amt of the surgery, if you want it out of your hands (I am pretty sure of that one, but not positive).


--Jay

Quote from: aleon515 on August 21, 2013, 11:21:22 PM
I'm pretty sure that the $500 is to hold your date. You can't get it back barring some sort of calamity. So I don't think they'd take the $500 without an actual surgery date.

I think the farthest out you can schedule is 1 year. The $500 does go towards your surgery. You can pay on that, so that you can pay towards the amt of the surgery, if you want it out of your hands (I am pretty sure of that one, but not positive).


--Jay

After looking back at his website it says the $500 comes with the surgery date.  Aww that's a bummer.    Looks like I'll be holding off on that for a while.

You could pull it aside and put it in a little savings account. That way you don't spend it. I don't know do people have these anymore?

--Jay

Quote from: aleon515 on August 22, 2013, 05:46:11 PM
You could pull it aside and put it in a little savings account. That way you don't spend it. I don't know do people have these anymore?

--Jay

I thought about putting my top surgery savings in a CD, but I'm not sure how banking works in general as I've never had a bank account before.

Quote from: Malachite on August 22, 2013, 05:53:11 PM
I thought about putting my top surgery savings in a CD, but I'm not sure how banking works in general as I've never had a bank account before.

A credit union would be most cool, but you can go into a local (not like Bank America) and talk to the nice people. You have to certain amt of money to open a CD or money market acct.. I think you might be thinking of a money market. A money market is good for so many months and then gets a certain amt of interest, but it's better than a savings acct. in terms of interest. You could also look into something like a emergency funds, Christmas, or vacation savings. They don't have to know it's not for either. I don't think you declare what it's for. I think you would buy a CD for so much, not sure you actually put anything into it, and I think the cheapest ones might be like $2500. But don't listen to me, go to the bank.

You wouldn't have to say what you are saving for but you can ask for their advice in a general way:  I need to save money for something, I want to put aside a certain amt each month (week, whatever), what's my best bet? They will likely be helpful. At my bank, I went and asked about loans and they actually told me to do a home equity loan (not with their bank!)

Here's a little article explaining some of this: http://www.thesimpledollar.com/personal-finance-101-money-market-accounts-versus-normal-savings-accounts/

another one here: http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/money-market-vs-savings-accounts/


--Jay

Quote from: aleon515 on August 22, 2013, 10:25:27 PM

A credit union would be most cool, but you can go into a local (not like Bank America) and talk to the nice people. You have to certain amt of money to open a CD or money market acct.. I think you might be thinking of a money market. A money market is good for so many months and then gets a certain amt of interest, but it's better than a savings acct. in terms of interest. You could also look into something like a emergency funds, Christmas, or vacation savings. They don't have to know it's not for either. I don't think you declare what it's for. I think you would buy a CD for so much, not sure you actually put anything into it, and I think the cheapest ones might be like $2500. But don't listen to me, go to the bank.

You wouldn't have to say what you are saving for but you can ask for their advice in a general way:  I need to save money for something, I want to put aside a certain amt each month (week, whatever), what's my best bet? They will likely be helpful. At my bank, I went and asked about loans and they actually told me to do a home equity loan (not with their bank!)

Here's a little article explaining some of this: http://www.thesimpledollar.com/personal-finance-101-money-market-accounts-versus-normal-savings-accounts/

another one here: http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/money-market-vs-savings-accounts/


--Jay

Thanks for the links, Jay.  I have to admit, though, some of the information flew over my head but hopefully I can eventually find a bank that would suit my interest.  A credit union seems like a good way to go, but I will have to do some bank-shopping.

Quote from: Malachite on August 23, 2013, 04:43:13 PM
Thanks for the links, Jay.  I have to admit, though, some of the information flew over my head but hopefully I can eventually find a bank that would suit my interest.  A credit union seems like a good way to go, but I will have to do some bank-shopping.

Credit unions will have a bit better terms. Personally I wanted a bank that wasn't involved in collapsing the economy, but really if you walk in and they are helpful that's a good one for you. You aren't going to make a lot of money on $500. Don't even try. I think at this stage it's more someone who can help you out. I think the idea is to take it out so it isn't really easy to spend.

--Jay

Quote from: aleon515 on August 23, 2013, 10:25:06 PM
Credit unions will have a bit better terms. Personally I wanted a bank that wasn't involved in collapsing the economy, but really if you walk in and they are helpful that's a good one for you. You aren't going to make a lot of money on $500. Don't even try. I think at this stage it's more someone who can help you out. I think the idea is to take it out so it isn't really easy to spend.

--Jay

My mom has a credit union so I may go to the one she has.  Hers has some interesting features but I suppose I'll find a bank that's the best for my situation in all due time I suppose.

Quote from: aleon515 on August 22, 2013, 05:46:11 PM
You could pull it aside and put it in a little savings account. That way you don't spend it. I don't know do people have these anymore?

--Jay

Just remember with most savings accounts you have to have a balance of like $200-300 at all times or they charge you a fee every month. Something to be aware of.

My credit union has a minimum balance of fifty bucks and never used to charge a fee if you stayed above that. I don't know whether they charge a fee now, but the minimum is still fifty.

Quote from: Arch on August 26, 2013, 11:22:46 PM
My credit union has a minimum balance of fifty bucks and never used to charge a fee if you stayed above that. I don't know whether they charge a fee now, but the minimum is still fifty.

Yeah that's right. They really have nice deals if you want to do an acct there. Sometimes there's a "joining fee". For me it was a one time membership in an animal welfare organization. It was something like $25 but that was a few years ago. The interest on such an acct isn't that great but it is a safe place to keep it.

There are minimum balances, but I don't think most credit unions or banks have a fee if you close out the acct. I'm not sure re: that, but you can check. There are things like vacation savings or somethign, and that might be an option. It's a vacation (forever) from the chesticles.

--Jay

I wouldn't mind having a minimum balance of like $500 or less.  However, I'm still unsure if I should go ahead and get my top surgery consultation now or if I should wait until I have all of the money up first. That is my main concern at the moment.  Anyone have any suggestions or advice on when I should get the consult done?

Quote from: Malachite on August 29, 2013, 04:32:42 PM
I wouldn't mind having a minimum balance of like $500 or less.  However, I'm still unsure if I should go ahead and get my top surgery consultation now or if I should wait until I have all of the money up first. That is my main concern at the moment.  Anyone have any suggestions or advice on when I should get the consult done?

I had mine last December (before I booked my date. I didn't book my date until May) and I'm having top surgery this coming February. I don't think it really matters. My surgeon quoted me a price and said it was good for a year. She didn't have prices up online. I don't know who you plan on going with, but do you have a regular income? What I'm doing is taking my monthly income and seeing how much I can put away a month and then seeing how long it would take me. Based on that I made my date with some wiggle room incase something happened and I couldn't put exactly that much away each month. Thats how I went about it.

Quote from: Malachite on August 29, 2013, 04:32:42 PM
I wouldn't mind having a minimum balance of like $500 or less.  However, I'm still unsure if I should go ahead and get my top surgery consultation now or if I should wait until I have all of the money up first. That is my main concern at the moment.  Anyone have any suggestions or advice on when I should get the consult done?

A phone consult now would be ok. I would wait til you are within a couple months of having all the money for more than that in case something wild comes up and uses all your funds.

It actually doesn't matter when you do it, AFAIK. YOu might keep it within 6 months so he would still have the files. You could also ask them. I am certain that at some point they throw the files out. YOu have to send photos of your chest, which was a nasty thing. But he deals with it sensitively.

--Jay

Quote from: Darrin Scott on August 29, 2013, 08:17:25 PM
I had mine last December (before I booked my date. I didn't book my date until May) and I'm having top surgery this coming February. I don't think it really matters. My surgeon quoted me a price and said it was good for a year. She didn't have prices up online. I don't know who you plan on going with, but do you have a regular income? What I'm doing is taking my monthly income and seeing how much I can put away a month and then seeing how long it would take me. Based on that I made my date with some wiggle room incase something happened and I couldn't put exactly that much away each month. Thats how I went about it.

I plan on going to Dr. Garramone.  I don't have a regular income at this moment but I'm taking driving lessons in in order to get a job (the place I want to apply at requires a driver's license).

Quote from: LordKAT on August 29, 2013, 08:20:57 PM
A phone consult now would be ok. I would wait til you are within a couple months of having all the money for more than that in case something wild comes up and uses all your funds.

How much money would you reccomend me putting away for a rainey day?

Quote from: aleon515 on August 29, 2013, 10:15:11 PM
It actually doesn't matter when you do it, AFAIK. YOu might keep it within 6 months so he would still have the files. You could also ask them. I am certain that at some point they throw the files out. YOu have to send photos of your chest, which was a nasty thing. But he deals with it sensitively.

--Jay

I wonder if I could email Dr. Garramone first without having to schedule a top surgery consultation.