So, trying to dream of how much it'll cost to fund these two surgeries.  I don't think I'll need extensive FFS, but I could certainly use some forehead/nose work.  Trachea shave too.  SRS is on the wish list too.

What might be a good target amount to save for FFS and SRS?  $30K?  More like $50K?  Less?

Give or take a few grand, what sounds like a ballpark reasonable price tag these days?  (I guess I'm asking - without wanting to pry - if you'd care sharing what your bottom line looks like when all is said and done.)

Don't know if this is an inappropriate question or not, but it's been weighing on my mind recently.  There's a few older topics that deal with this, but have prices changed much over the years?

GRS cost me just under $20,000 US in 2012. (It was $18,050 CA but the exchange rate got me. I hear it's now $19K and change in Canadian dollars.)

I haven't had FFS but the general quotes I've seen seem to run higher than GRS, usually...

Overall, I'd say my transition cost me about $25,000 including GRS over the past 5 years, if that's what you were curious about; the remainder is laser, doctors, HRT, etc.

Quote from: Jenna Marie on October 19, 2014, 10:27:54 PM
Overall, I'd say my transition cost me about $25,000 including GRS over the past 5 years, if that's what you were curious about; the remainder is laser, doctors, HRT, etc.

Yes, in a round-about way that's what I was asking.  Thanks so much, and time to start saving I guess...

FFS + SRS?

I'd say $45,000.

Thanks Lauren.  From all my research, it seems like trying to sock away between $40K and $50K (!!!) would probably cover the lion's share of everything in 2014 prices.

Utterly frightening to think about, really, but not impossible.

Hi Brenda

It can get quite pricey, depending on where you go.  My view is taken from Europe.

Hair removal:  $15,000.  Depends if you can find someone cheap to do electro.  This is what it could cost in Spain because electro is not very common any more.  Might be cheaper in the US.

FFS:  $18,000 from a European surgeon

GRS:  $18,000 from a Thai surgeon

I don't think you'll get much change out of $50k if you do this with reputable specialists.

Ulp!  There go my savings!

Julia

Quote from: Julia-Madrid on October 20, 2014, 07:16:13 AMHair removal:  $15,000.

Forgot about the hair removal - huge oversight on my part, and thanks for adding it to the big-ticket shopping list.  Little point in spending $20,000 on a new face that's still prickly in the morning.

I guess that bumps the bill to at least $50,000...

Guess it really depends where you're from.  SRS is usually between 18k to 20k from my research in the United States.  FFS I haven't any idea on, my face is feminine enough even before HRT.  And yes, you'll want to get them stubbies zapped, if you got dark hair fair skin, laser may be best way to go.  I spent around $625 for 6 sessions for laser due to specials and coupons.  Some people say laser isn't forever, some people swear by it, just have to try and see if it works or not.

Yeah, Alexis is right about hair removal.  Laser is still not FDA-approved as a permanent measure, so for some of us it doesn't make the dark stuff stay away for good.  Only way is to try laser for 6-8 months and see how it goes.    I found that it didn't work, so rather than wasting time and money, I handed my wallet over and am doing electo. 

Trying the laser right now, but might have left it far too late - plenty of gray hairs which, while invisible to the eye once shaved and under makeup, certainly can be felt with fingertips after a few hours.  Hopefully the laser will get rid of some of the black hairs and make the final wallet damage caused by the electrolysis less painful.

I'm trying the chemical route with a script for vaniqa first. Laser is probably out for me as I'm dark skinned. Electro is expensive but I may not have a choice.

I have different priorities. As long as my face doesn't read male I'm good. I probably don't need FFS in that case. SRS I'm on the fence about. The idea of being a non op may work (or it may not).

Voice surgery is a must. I don't want to make an effort to sound female apart from training. I want to open my mouth and be unmistakeable. That right now is less than 10k but that may change?

If you live in the us. You should look into getting insurance. Even if it is just for time necessary for the surgery.  I have kaiser and they cover the genetial electro. Pay for travel to and from doctor and cover the surgery. If you do it all in the same calander year you would hit your maximum out of pocket expense. So for me if it took me the whole year, it would be 500$ a month premium plus the max out of pocket. My max out of pocket is 3k. So roughly 9k. But you have the added bonus of having healthcare. Just a thought. For me my work pays a large portion of the premium. So it will end up costing me 4800$ total.

-Liv

Quote from: Olivia-Anne on October 20, 2014, 04:55:32 PM
If you live in the us. You should look into getting insurance. Even if it is just for time necessary for the surgery.  I have kaiser and they cover the genetial electro. Pay for travel to and from doctor and cover the surgery. If you do it all in the same calander year you would hit your maximum out of pocket expense. So for me if it took me the whole year, it would be 500$ a month premium plus the max out of pocket. My max out of pocket is 3k. So roughly 9k. But you have the added bonus of having healthcare. Just a thought. For me my work pays a large portion of the premium. So it will end up costing me 4800$ total.

Wut?!?

There's actual policies which willingly and without barriers pay for this stuff?  Is this like a California thing?  For $4,800, I'd be tempted to have it done twice.

Some few insurance policies do...

My employer's didn't, and buying a second policy that did (while theoretically possible) would have cost me more than $20,000 per year, so it wasn't worth it. But some lucky people do find a company or a policy that covers everything.

(I can't really complain; my insurance paid for everything else medical, at least. Just specifically not bottom surgery.)

I've been gathering reports of Thai surgery costs, including 1 month in Bangkok, food, lodging, air fare for two, etc.

Given that almost all Thai surgeons, except Suporn, price GRS around $9000 US, give or take a few hundred, and other miscellaneous costs added in bring it to $14000-$15000 total.

Then FFS - again outside the US for moderate FFS would seem to be in the $9000-$16000 range typically and many of these international surgeons are quite good at what they do.

So going abroad from the US would seem to suggest $35,000 could do it, theoretically, though it might be tight. If you're going to stay in the US, I'd say $50,000 to $55,000.

Consider that GCS from US surgeons does not include lots of other expenses, so that $19,000 or so becomes almost $25,000 when air fare, lodging, and other expenses are added in and likewise for US FFS surgeons.

30k! Well it might be possible, I'm not sure. Personally, I've opted for the most reputable surgeon I can find locally for FFS, and Dr Brassard in Montreal for SRS and BA. The bill comes to almost $55k taking flights and accommodation for me and my travel companion into account.

Quote from: LizMarie on October 21, 2014, 01:50:58 AMSo going abroad from the US would seem to suggest $35,000 could do it, theoretically, though it might be tight. If you're going to stay in the US, I'd say $50,000 to $55,000.

Thanks, LizMarie.  I've no problem going abroad, other than the (slight?) risk that it'd be hard to obtain follow-up care if necessary.  But then again, as you've pointed out, it's hardly cheap to obtain treatment non-locally in the US, and follow-up care could well be as costly and inconvenient.

If it comes down to a choice of quality care overseas for 2/3 of the price of comparable US care, I think for me it'd be a no-brainer.  Plus I do love to travel.  A month in Thailand?  Honestly sounds like a sweet perk thrown in on top of the deal.

Quote from: SammyRose on October 21, 2014, 02:31:24 AM
30k! Well it might be possible, I'm not sure. Personally, I've opted for the most reputable surgeon I can find locally for FFS, and Dr Brassard in Montreal for SRS and BA. The bill comes to almost $55k taking flights and accommodation for me and my travel companion into account.

Good info, SammyRose, and thanks for sharing your research - seems like US/Canadian costs are settling around $50-55K in 2014.  Reputable docs would work well for me too, and I don't see myself wanting (or being able to) pay huge prices for the docs with the "best" reputations nationally or internationally; medical needs are so individual that the best doc for one person is only an average choice for another.  Provided the FFS surgeon can promise I'll wake up with my most male facial features diminished, and provided the SRS surgeon can promise that I'll wake up without that male feature, I'll be happy.  Passable is my goal, not beautiful, although beautiful would be nice too.