So i'm five months on T this month and the discussion on top surgery has been brought up a few times by my therapist and by the endocrinologist. It's about time to start doing research, maybe get a consult date set up (my therapist said that one of his other patients is only 6 months on T and already has a date for surgery set for just after his one year mark), so i figured i would start here.

Is there a directory of surgeons available to search by state? Anyone have any personal recommendations?

I've googled it, of course, but i would like some suggestions by other FtM. I'm hoping to stay in state (i live in NY) so i don't have to worry about airfare and travel (and if i need any revisions or if there are any emergencies i would like the surgeon to at least be close by). But if there is a surgeon out of state that would be a better option considering i do have other medical concerns (see below) then i would be open to travel - maybe make it into a vacation of sorts, lol.

One name that has popped up a few times is Dr Kalnoki at the Quatela Center for Plastic Surgery. It's within reasonable distance to me, so that's top on my list. But i wouldn't mind having a few names to discuss next session - i'm also going to discuss it with my hematologist and see if she has any suggestions (i have a genetic clotting disorder so i have to go to her before i can have any surgeries - she did not rule them out, though, so i'm assuming it's just to be cautious.... and it's another reason i would consider traveling.)

I still have to get my name changed, but that's in the works for the next month or two. I figured it wouldn't hurt to get started compiling names and/or getting consults for this as i'm looking at a date for next year (my therapist said i could technically have surgery any time after my one year on T mark but that puts us into September/October this year, which means i would be out of work for Thanksgiving and likely Christmas if it where to happen - i'm a dog groomer and those are considered part of the "busy season" so i don't see myself doing that!)

Thanks in advance!

Here is a list of NY surgeons I found online. http://www.topsurgery.net/states/new-york.htm
I went to Dr. Medalie in Cleveland, OH to have my top surgery a few years ago. I was living in upstate NY at that time and took the bus to and from Cleveland because I did not have a car, and it was a easy enough trip. At that time I only knew one surgeon in NY but his price was relatively higher and I did not like his results very much either, so I choose to go out of state and very happy with the whole process--surgery, recovery, trip, cost etc. Now as many more surgeons are trained to perform this surgery, it looks like there are quite a few for you to compare.

It usually takes most people less than a month to regain full range of motion, so even if you schedule your surgery around sept/oct, you are very likely to be able to go back to work before thanksgiving. However, it seems weird that your therapist said you could go to surgery after 1 year of T, because the surgery is not related to T. People go to the surgery after years of T or no T at all, whenever they are ready for it.

Thanks, this helps!

Yeah, i don't know what the one-year-wait thing is but he's mentioned it a few times since i started seeing him so i've been under the impression that it's just something that most surgeons are looking for? It doesn't really matter, i guess, because i'm not in any rush. I still have to do the name change, gender marker change, and am still working with my parents and family on this whole thing. Surgery hasn't even been brought up with them, they're totally going to freak out. And like i said, I also have to get clearance from my hematologist (likely not going to be a problem).

Timeline: i'm hoping to get in to see the hematologist by Spring and get that clearance, have my letters in hand at that point from everyone i need (endocrinologist, therapist, hematologist), get in to consult with one or two surgeons by Summer, have something scheduled for January/February 2019. Rough goals, there!

I'm just looking for names at this point, maybe some examples of their work, experiences others might have had, etc. I'll be asking the hematologist for suggestions as well, and my endocrinologist suggested calling my insurance to ask them who they covered......

Re: the healing.....

I've heard some people are back to "normal" within a month, others it takes longer. I'm looking at the double incision so i know my healing time will be longer than, say, if i had keyhole. I'm not going to push myself or corner myself when it comes to healing, so i'm timing it (hopefully) so that i can have however many weeks off i need and then i can ease back into work. As a dog groomer i'm on my feet ALL day (literally), there is a lot of heavy lifting (some dogs will not get on the table - i've lifted dogs up to 50lbs before with no help), lots of maneuvering of my arms (you should see the positions we find ourselves in), bending, blocking dogs with my upper body, etc etc.