FFS low budget

[Charlotte_Ringwood]

I've been spending some time working through quotes and reviews to settle on where I can get FFS on a low budget. I've settled to a couple of options- was a 3rd but saw shady feedback on them.

My options:
Dr. Lazaro Cardenas. Seems to have a decent amount of good reviews with a few not so good ones. Need to decide if this is just statistics eg there will always be complications with surgery as not risk free.
Does have experience in FFS.

Dr Mehmet Comert (Turkey). Not typically known for FFS but does specifically mention Transgender FFS on their website. European board registered and gets praised for being a really nice guy, listening and results. He also sounded competent describing type 3 frontoplasty using plates and screws to reattach.

So it's between one with lots of experience in FFS but a few bad reviews. Or a closer option to UK who has great results in rhinoplasty, face-lift, eyebrow lifts etc but not sure how much forehead work he does.

I'm getting type 3 frontoplasty, forehead reduction, eyebrow lift, blepharoplasty and rhinoplasty for reference. Budget is £11000.

Thanks...any thoughts appreciated.

[Charlotte_Ringwood]

Well I'm taking a leap of faith and booking work with Dr Mehmet Comert. He gets great praise for being kind and listening. I also saw a research paper he's named in regrading type 3 forehead modelling so that helps reassure me.

So next year I'll get ffs probably in March. Excited but scary. It's unfortunate though that soon LGBTQ+ rights in Turkey could be getting worse. It is normally worse for residents rather than visitors, but it's sad for all the LGBTQ+ people who live there.

[Lori Dee ✅]

It is normally worse for residents rather than visitors, but it's sad for all the LGBTQ+ people who live there.

That's so true. First, they attack the citizens, then they go after the doctors and surgeons who provide services. We are seeing that here in the U.S..
Healthcare providers do not want to lose government funding, so they bend a knee.

[Charlotte_Ringwood]

Well deposit paid and flights booked. Getting FFS in Istanbul on 9th March 26. I will feedback how it all works out, which will hopefully be positive!!

I'd never really considered visiting Istanbul before, but have a couple of days before to explore and try the food. I love Turkish food and have a very soft spot for Turkish delight which I will definitely be getting!

I have found a LGBTQ+ friendly hotel too.

Charlotte 😻

[Courtney G]

Congratulations on committing to the surgery! I spent a couple of months in Istanbul years ago, working as a musician. Colorful place.

I had a consult with Cardenas about 2 years ago. He seemed to know his stuff, but I now live in a U.S. state that requires insurance coverage for gender-affirming procedures so I'm hoping to go that route.

I have a consult at Penn in Philadelphia in a couple of weeks with Dr Samir Shakir.

It seems that many of the surgeons have scant information posted, with relatively few posting before/after photos. I think they're trying to avoid creating expectations and comparisons but it's pretty unnerving. Also, there are many surgeons (such as Skakir) who are specialists in facial reconstruction  but don't really mention gender-affirming procedures. Is is because FFS is solidly in the minority of procedures out there or maybe because they're trying to avoid controversy these days? In the U.S. right now, a surgeon who performs FFS will be accused of "mutilation" and "encouraging the mentally ill" by those on the MAGA right.

[Charlotte_Ringwood]

Congratulations on committing to the surgery! I spent a couple of months in Istanbul years ago, working as a musician. Colorful place.

I had a consult with Cardenas about 2 years ago. He seemed to know his stuff, but I now live in a U.S. state that requires insurance coverage for gender-affirming procedures so I'm hoping to go that route.

I have a consult at Penn in Philadelphia in a couple of weeks with Dr Samir Shakir.

It seems that many of the surgeons have scant information posted, with relatively few posting before/after photos. I think they're trying to avoid creating expectations and comparisons but it's pretty unnerving. Also, there are many surgeons (such as Skakir) who are specialists in facial reconstruction  but don't really mention gender-affirming procedures. Is is because FFS is solidly in the minority of procedures out there or maybe because they're trying to avoid controversy these days? In the U.S. right now, a surgeon who performs FFS will be accused of "mutilation" and "encouraging the mentally ill" by those on the MAGA right.

Oh I also got a quote from Dr Cardenas, but unfortunately he is now a lot more expensive at nearly double the cost. I think all the popular surgeons for ffs have put prices up due to demand. Even to pay £12k I'm going into debt that'll take 8 years minimum to clear so more was never an option. Also it's a very long flight from the UK adding £2k for me and my partner.

I hope your consultation in a couple of weeks goes ok. Be good if you can finally get the surgery you'd like. It sounds like everything is tense in the US now because of the political climate. It's getting worse here too as we basically end up following for some reason. I just hope it all comes to an end sometime soon.

Charlotte 😻