I'm getting a double mastectomy
I am a transman who has also experienced significant breast pain and swelling since I first began budding around 11/12 years old.
Yesterday I went to meet with a plastic surgeon for the first time, and I was considering writing about my experience to help other people who may be considering top surgery.
Part 1:
You may need a referral to have office visits covered my insurance. While gender confirmation surgery is considered cosmetic by most insurances and is NOT covered, the consultations may be under a referral to a "specialist"
Going to a breast health specialist, OB-GYN, or an endocrinologist ahead of time (most of which are covered by insurance with or without referrals for AFABs) for blood work and imaging can save you a lot of time. The plastic surgeon may want breast imaging (such as an ultrasound) to screen for any other potential issues, and will want prolactin and thyroid bloodwork done before considering putting you under the knife. Because surgeons are so hard to get appointments with, you want as many ducks in a row as possible beforehand.
Come out to as many of your medical professionals as you can as soon as you can. They'll want to know how long you've been discussing surgery and gender incongruence with your doctors.
You'll need a therapist. You'll need to have been seeing one for awhile, and the surgeon will want to talk to them and get your records.
Your surgeon will want to know about your support system. Are your friends, family, therapist, coworkers supportive of your identity? Are they available to help you through post-surgery dysphoria? Do you have people you feel safe talking to if you're in a bad place?
You will need to wear a very tight medical binder for a few weeks after surgery. For some people with sensory issues and anxiety, that can feel constricting and claustrophobic.
I'll write more later, I want to kinda vomit everything out that I can so I'm sorry it's a mess. Yesterday was big and long and scary so I'm low on spoonage.
