UK NHS Top surgery waiting time

[caliyr]

Hello,

I've googled some and couldnt find an answer and I'm feeling quite down, so I came here for some answers as I have successfully got some previously on these forums.

I'm going back to the Gender Clinic in London in September, and I will be 3 months on Testosterone by then. They said I need to be 6 months on T before being able to be enlisted on the waiting list for the NHS top surgery.

Will they just give me another appointment half a year later and enlist me THEN or do you think they can enlist me 3 months later when I reach half a year? This concerns me a lot...

Has anyone had their surgery on this system lately? How long is the waiting list?

Thank you

[jonjon]

Can't say for London as I live up north. But if it helps, through nhs it took 11 months from my second opinion appt to the surgery date. My second opinion was also 11 months since I started T.

It's all going to depend on timescales in London Tbf, unfortunately I can't help you there. You may have a wait as long as mine was, if not longer. But stay positive 🙂 you will get there!!

[caliyr]

OK quick question just to clarify things. I've started T and the whole thing in another country and I have been living as male for like 5+ years now. I had to stop T due to a GP ->-bleeped-<-up but Im back on injections for 3 months now. Could you explain what these opinions are, who gives them and why? I've got like 20 pages on this already from different doctors from different cities in different countries, would that be enough?

[jonjon]

A second opinion is where your current gic will refer you to another gic so they can assess that you are ready for surgery. Like an outside opinion sort of. To get a second opinion first your current gic must be satisfied you are ready for the surgery, and this will be a visit just to have a chat to you about your expectations, how you feel, and what you want from the surgery itself. The second opinion will do the same and if both parties are happy that you are happy and in a good enough place both physically and emotionally then they will give you the go ahead. A second opinion is valid for up to 2yrs, and can count towards other surgeries involved in transition also. So when I requested my next step was lower surgery, they used the second opinion I had already had for my chest, for that, because my request was within that 2yr gap 🙂 which was very handy indeed!

[AdamMLP]

I'm not entirely sure what you're trying to ask sorry.

You need to be signed off by two people at Charing Cross before surgery, and you need to have been on T for 6 months. They won't accept foreign opinions because they may not follow the same standards that they do. It's needed so that people don't turn round and try to sue them if you later regret having surgery.