Hey, I've been a pretty active reader within this forum for some time now. But there seems to be a lack of answers as to this above stated topic, and I live on the Gold Coast. Situation is, I'm 19, been on T (Primoteston Depot 250) for almost 8 months now, and my GP and I are fighting like you wouldn't believe for me to find a surgeon for chest reconstruction surgery. I am in an awkward situation in which I am under an adult guardianship order until next August, due to being in foster care for most of my life and becoming mentally ill because of that. My adult guardian and Public Trust peoples don't want me to leave the Gold Coast to get my Top Surgery. What they say goes most of the time, unfortunately. No need to worry, I have retrieved the needed support letter from my gender psychiatrist, and he sees no reason of current to not support me getting top surgery, if you're Aussie, you know the whole deal with that. The issue is finding a surgeon. My GP has also spoken to the local surgery team on the Gold Coast in regard to my needs, and has since spoken to the surgeon that works in that area of the body. I have stated to her numerous times, that getting top surgery done by a surgeon who has never done it before makes me very uneasy. She keeps saying that because this surgeon knows about that area of the body very well, and as much as I hate to say it, breast cancer, there should be no issue. I have said well yeah, but you need to take into consideration that I am not a female, and that the things on my chest don't belong to me, and I am very uncomfortable with them, hence why top surgery is a must for me. I don't want a surgeon that will refer to my chest with female terms, or treat it with disrespect. I have a lot of chest dysphoria, no one ever looks at, yet alone touches, my chest, except me. My GP doesn't seem to understand where I am coming from, because she does everything on anatomy basis type thing. Obviously not very good for a transman like myself, which I have stated. Numerous times. I told her what I feel needs to be done to help me feel comfortable with my chest, and she looked at me strangely. I am well aware, that because of the small size of my chest to current (wouldn't know to be exact, but you can't really tell unless you look really closely, and the most give away attributes are the sizing of my areolas and nipples, more than my chest), that to re-size my areolas and nipples safely, I will most likely need to have it done in a revision. Nonetheless, it is a major priority of mine. She just thinks that as long as my chest is flat, I should be comfortable. I don't like her very much, because she is awful with most things, and not very educated in trans* health, and specifically transmasculine health. Anyways, best finish up my rant here, before I bore any of you, and get off the topic. Any advice would be highly appreciated, and thanks for reading.

Have you tried looking for a different GP? If you had a GP who was understanding and explained to your guardian that it's important you go to a surgeon who has experience, do you think then they would consider letting you leave the Gold Coast?
I had my surgery in Australia and when I was doing my research I didn't find any surgeons in the Gold Coast - it is quite a niche surgery.  At the end of the day, if you can't convince your guardian to let you go elsewhere for surgery, you need to decide what's more important - getting it done sooner with a surgeon who may not have experience in this area or waiting until you're independent and going to a surgeon of your choosing.

Trez 123, have you been in contact with Dr Gale Bearman from Brisbane's Gender Clinic? If you look her up (open Wednesdays only) and see her I think she may be very helpful. I was told I needed a letter from a psych to get chest surgery, but after seeing Dr Gale for 6 months she wrote me a letter of recommendation, without having to see a pysch. And maybe just not tell any of these doctors about your parental situation? Cheeky but, good cheeky, you know? 

Look her up, she's a very sweet woman. Very understanding. I know it's a bit of a drive up to Brisbane but it will definately be worth it. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the replies, I honestly wasn't expecting any response. Lol. As for my guardianship order, that may never be lifted, I'm just going for a review next year in August. Top surgery is far more important to me than getting a less restrictive guardianship situation. In terms of my GP, yes, I did and have spoken to other local GPs, none were willing to prescribe my T, yet alone manage me, and make sure my other trans* health needs are being met. Most simply just refused to treat me altogether. I have got a support letter from my gender psych, Dr. Morris Bersin, great psych, very experienced in this area etc. He wrote my T letter back in August last year. He's very happy so far. Yes, I have been in contact with Dr. Bearman, so has my GP, and nothing has of yet. My next GP appointment is on the 23rd of this month, she said that should give enough time for the surgeon she has contacted here, to get back to her in regard to whether they will accept the referral or not. Thanks again, Trez. And in regard to not telling my authorities about getting surgery, I can't, my Public Trust person has all of my money, therefore, I need to get a quote and give it to her in order to pay for my top surgery (If she approves, that is).

Ah so you won't have to pay out of pocket, the state pays?

Alexthecat:

No, I have to pay out of pocket, but my finances aren't managed by me, if that makes any sense? I don't have private health insurance, can't afford it. I am just under Medicare. I have saved 10 grand for top surgery, hoping it's enough :/

Mine was only $6500 but I only had an hour to travel and didn't need a hotel. I'm in the states.

Peri-areola costs more, doesn't it? Because of the higher risk of haemotomas and blood clots? That's what I've been told anyways, and I'm lucky to be a AA cup now, I was that pre-T (Not that I ever wore one, I'm just talking measurements). I barely have anything up there, the most things that give my chest away are the nipples and areolas, the sizing is too big, and they are lower than a cismale's. I can't find ANY current Aussie top surgery prices at all, so I'm lost in this respect as well. And the fact that I'll need to have my nipples and areolas re-sized in a revision automatically means the cost will be more anyways.

I had DI but he cut off the nipples and resized them in one go.

Yeah. That's how DI is done. Peri is done via a incision around the areola, and the tissue is then removed with a scalpel, and sometimes a but of liposuction. Because the incision is made around the areola, and that is a major blood supply, the nipple-areola complex can't be re-sized or re-positioned, it's too risky for the patient. Not unless it's done in a seperate operation.

Hey mate, I know it is a bit out of the way, but I am also in QLD and had my top surgery done as a gynecomastia op by Dr James Gaffield in Bundaberg. I was his first trans patient but he has done lots of severe gynecomastia ops and they are exactly the same operation. Very competent, and willing to listen to your concerns. Also quite cheap, I payed $3,700 out of pocket after medicare rebates and my bare bones health insurance. I was, however, legally male at the time so if you are not but are interested you might want to give their office a ring first to check they are OK with that.

I did look around for surgeons on the Gold Coast quite extensively but didn't find anyone I'd be comfortable trusting my chest with.

Best of luck mate