Good news: I got the cost estimate from the FFS surgeon and my portion of the costs for this phase is estimated to be below US$2,000. The overall cost they're billing insurance for is $145k. Thank goodness for decent health insurance, and that I live in a state that mandates coverage for these procedures. With trans people under attack across the country and most significantly, at the highest level in government, I'm grateful we still have states' rights. Let's hope that holds, at least until November.
Speaking of insurance, I don't think I mentioned this in my blog, but I've been fighting my insurance company to get electrolysis visits approved. They're listed as covered by my plan and (again) mandated by the state I live in, but the insurance company denied the claims. I went back again and again to fight with them and I've been reimbursed for about half of the claims I submitted so far. This is really important because I suspect I'll be getting electro for the next 3 years or so, again assuming that my state doesn't change political party or something. As I understand it, it's not unusual to fight insurance for things they don't want to cover. They put up roadblocks to discourage a percentage of people who perhaps don't have the time or resources to fight them. I'm grateful that I've been able to power through on this one. Now that the pipeline is open, I should continue to get reimbursed for my visits.
I'm only 5 weeks from the surgery and I'm a little scared, for multiple reasons. I know it's going to be messy and painful. I'm concerned about the stitches in my mouth and having to eat through a straw for the first week or more. I'm concerned about the forehead scar and how quickly/much it will fade. I'm really concerned about how to explain this to people I know, both new folks from where I live now and family/friends from before. But most of all, I'm afraid that it won't "work", that I won't look female or worse, that something will go wrong and I'll be disfigured. I just don't feel that it's possible to fix the error that has me looking like a man. It seems too much to wish for.
Still, nothing could stop me. I'd probably empty my retirement account for this if I had to. I know many before me have, and I feel for them. But I NEED this to work, perhaps more than I've ever needed anything.
This first phase will be "structural" stuff, including reshaping my forehead, orbitals, chin and mandible (jaw). The second phase will essentially be a facelift+, which will include a repair of my botched nose job, lip lift, cheek implants and skin tightening. I suspect that will be 4 to 6 months out. I can't wait for that one.
I intend to mask up full time, starting about 10 days out from the surgery date. I can't afford to risk that and lose my place in line.
