This might be a stupid question but as I've seen girls' stories about going in for bottom surgery, it seems in almost every case they had an initial consultation and then the actual surgery wasn't performed until a year or more later. My question is why is that?  Are there waiting lists due to low supply of capable doctors and high enough demand for this service?  Is it to allow time to get the one year RLE? Is there something else about the process I don't know about that it just takes this long?

I'm pre-op but I'm looking at options for SRS within a year. Some people I think wait for funding, but there is also a lot of waiting for the insurance to get approved if the surgery is covered, long waiting lists, etc. Sometimes people do schedule  when they just start their RLE but since it takes some time to get all the documentation they might give some leeway for that too.

The surgeons wait lists vary from a few months to about 3 years (Marci Bowers). Maybe longer for some European surgeons.

Quote from: lisawb on March 03, 2017, 10:04:01 AM
This might be a stupid question but as I've seen girls' stories about going in for bottom surgery, it seems in almost every case they had an initial consultation and then the actual surgery wasn't performed until a year or more later. My question is why is that?  Are there waiting lists due to low supply of capable doctors and high enough demand for this service?  Is it to allow time to get the one year RLE? Is there something else about the process I don't know about that it just takes this long?

I contacted Marci last month regarding a small revision.  I already have had GRS.  I was told she is booking one year out right now.  So, it is not due to RLE or anything else, it is just that there are that many lined up waiting for GRS and so few reliable and renowned surgeons in the US/Canada.  Brassard does 300 a year.  He operates a few days a week, and takes a couple months off in the summers.  It is just how booked they are.  Often times, though, you can get on the list, then if there is a cancellation you can get moved up.  Food for thought.

Yes, there usually is a waiting list. Brassard's was only about 3-4 months when I contacted him, though (and then I asked to book a couple months later than their earliest dates, to accommodate work).

Awesome, thanks ladies that is very helpful.  I've got a long way to go before I'm ready to make that decision, but I am looking ahead.  Assuming I'm able to stay at my job and our insurance doesn't change drastically, my surgery will be covered but of course I have to go through the full approval process (Documented RLE, Letters from 2 Mental Health Professionals and an MD, etc.).

I'm a planner by nature, so even though I'm not even close to a decision yet on GRS, I am thinking ahead. I know many of us are excited and can get impatient with the process, trying to get through it as fast as possible.  I'm the same way.  For me, much of it stems from the fact that I'm about to enter my 40's and have just started on transition.  Right now, as I look at GRS, if I'm going to go through with it and get myself truly aligned to my gender, I'd want to be able to make use of my authentic parts   I guess for me right now I'm kind of testing whether my expectations are realistic or not.   So anyway, babbling over, I appreciate the info.