Cost of VFS?

[BlueJaye]

My wife has been throwing a lot of questions at me as she learns more about transitioning and what options are out there. For many this I can contact my insurance carrier and get prices. However, for things like voice therapy, voice surgery, and cosmetic surgeries that aren't covered by insurance I need prices.

I'm hoping to do well without voice surgery, but am wondering how much it costs if I end up believing it to be necessary.

[NatalieRene]

I would suggest looking into voice training first.

[gracefulhat]

From what I've read maybe $7,000 with tracheal shave

[BlueJaye]

I would suggest looking into voice training first.

Oh definitely! This is more to satisfy my wife's curiosity. I hate unnecessary surgeries and wouldn't do it unless I felt it was needed. My wife is just full of questions.

[NatalieRene]

Oh definitely! This is more to satisfy my wife's curiosity. I hate unnecessary surgeries and wouldn't do it unless I felt it was needed. My wife is just full of questions.

Oh ok I understand. I'm fairly sure everything said and done with the acomindations and the surgery VFS would be around $10,000. I also believe you could deduct it in your tax return, "I know I did for my GCS.

[Ellement_of_Freedom]

I'm having Feminisation Laryngoplasty with Dr Thomas in Portland, Oregon. It includes a superior chondrolaryngoplasty. It's costing around $10k USD.

[ChrissyRyan]

I think I will keep singing songs to help achieve a nice female voice and to avoid this surgery.

See NatalieRene's voice thread.

Chrissy

[Margarine]

I'm having Feminisation Laryngoplasty with Dr Thomas in Portland, Oregon. It includes a superior chondrolaryngoplasty. It's costing around $10k USD.

10K is correct I am scheduled for 03/11/2019
have new consult on Monday, it was a choice between GCS and VFS in 2018. I am working with my therapist and a few other to see if we can get insurance to budge on paying for it.

[BlueJaye]

10K is correct I am scheduled for 03/11/2019
have new consult on Monday, it was a choice between GCS and VFS in 2018. I am working with my therapist and a few other to see if we can get insurance to budge on paying for it.

Are there insurance carriers out there that pay for it?

[Margarine]

Are there insurance carriers out there that pay for it?

I am not sure, however, Kaiser Washington did not cover BA until August 2018. Need to start some place and most journey's start with a step, some being thrown overboard or pushed out of a plane.

[HollyKay]

My wife has been throwing a lot of questions at me as she learns more about transitioning and what options are out there. For many this I can contact my insurance carrier and get prices. However, for things like voice therapy, voice surgery, and cosmetic surgeries that aren't covered by insurance I need prices.

I'm hoping to do well without voice surgery, but am wondering how much it costs if I end up believing it to be necessary.

Hi BlueJaye,

I recently had VFS with Dr. Spiegel in Boston at the start of October 2018. The total cost to me was $9970 USD, Plus: flight, prescriptions, food, and hotel.  I also went through vocal training with a speech pathologist for 8 monthly sessions.  I learned enough to speak short sentences very well. It was longer conversations where I had trouble. Because of this, I decided that pitch elevation surgery was vital to my mental wellbeing.  I used to really struggle with my vocal dysphoria. I understand why folks here on Susan's warn people about surgery, but truthfully, it has changed my life for the better. I never get misgendered anymore. I am fortunate to have the yucky phrase "passing privilege". I would encourage you to seek out voice training on your journey to VFS. Words of advice, Pay for a leading voice surgeon. Dr. Spiegel is actually a Board Certified Otolaryngologist. He is usually only known for his FFS procedures. I will say that my experience with him, his staff, and Boston Medical Center.....My results are fabulous, and when I went into the packed medical center, it felt like I was the only person there. I hope this helps you. Best, Holly.

[Linde]

I think I will keep singing songs to help achieve a nice female voice and to avoid this surgery.

See NatalieRene's voice thread.

Chrissy

As a person who had to deal with post surgical infections, I can tell you that anything is good that prevents somebody from cutting a hole into your intact skin!

[Complete]

Hi BlueJaye,

I recently had VFS with Dr. Spiegel in Boston at the start of October 2018. The total cost to me was $9970 USD, Plus: flight, prescriptions, food, and hotel.  I also went through vocal training with a speech pathologist for 8 monthly sessions.  I learned enough to speak short sentences very well. It was longer conversations where I had trouble. Because of this, I decided that pitch elevation surgery was vital to my mental wellbeing.  I used to really struggle with my vocal dysphoria. I understand why folks here on Susan's warn people about surgery, but truthfully, it has changed my life for the better. I never get misgendered anymore. I am fortunate to have the yucky phrase "passing privilege". I would encourage you to seek out voice training on your journey to VFS. Words of advice, Pay for a leading voice surgeon. Dr. Spiegel is actually a Board Certified Otolaryngologist. He is usually only known for his FFS procedures. I will say that my experience with him, his staff, and Boston Medical Center.....My results are fabulous, and when I went into the packed medical center, it felt like I was the only person there. I hope this helps you. Best, Holly.

I am very interested in learning more about your results.  It has been about 3-4 months since your surgery and l am hoping to learn what kind of qualatatve results you have noticed.

[HollyKay]

I am very interested in learning more about your results.  It has been about 3-4 months since your surgery and l am hoping to learn what kind of qualatatve results you have noticed.
[/quotxe]

I have been doing voice recordings several times a day since I could talk after surgery. I started with a range of 110 to 140Hz. I have a graph of my recordings that shows the gradual increase a few weeks after surgery where my new "average low" post-op was at 160Hz, and my "average high" was 180Hz. 

After 13 weeks, my new "average low" is 180 to 190Hz, and I am consistently without effort hitting an "overall average" of 200 to 220Hz.  I go as high as 280Hz with some inflection, but it sounds very natural because they are inflection spikes and not held for any length of time.

[Complete]

Thank you.  That is very helpful and useful information. ☺