#dr rockmore

[phaymos]

4th of July

I'll be 10 months post op. Which feels FUCKIN WILD and also totally normal to say. I'll try to make some kind of update then

[lone-shark]

Please excuse the fact that I haven't had a shape up in weeks. Today was my first post op appointment and I finally got to see what my chest looks like without the drains and and (most of) the bandages of. There are no words to express how I feel. I'm sure you can see the joy in my eyes. I've waited so long for this moment. Spent countless hours on YouTube and instagram looking at all of the folks who have gone through this step before desperately wishing I could be in their shoes and now my moment finally came. I'm overjoyed with my results I think my chest looks great. 2017 just keeps coming with the blessings. Shoutouts to Dr. Rockmore! He did an amazing job. Thank you to everyone who has checked up on me it means so much. This body has been a prison for so long and the only word to describe how I feel now is liberated. I have things to look forward to now. And if you would've told me that I could feel this sense of joy 12 years ago I wouldn't have believed you. Anyway here's to 2017 and shirtless summers and lots of douchey instagram pics. ☺️🎉🍾 #wepoppinthebiggestbottles

[lilrookie]

top surgery consult with dr. rockmore

so I had my first consultation for top surgery today (Thursday, march 9, 2017)! it was with doctor Jeffrey rockmore in Albany, new york, and it really couldn't have gone any better.

we drove up to his clinic, called the plastic surgery group, and the facilities were gorgeous, and it was super easy to find. the women working at the desk were very organized and got us all ready right away, I did my paperwork online in advance so I didn't have to while I was there.

the entire staff was very polite and considerate and used the right pronouns for me the whole time, as well as the right terms to talk about top surgery.

dr Rockmore himself was very nice, charismatic, and showed a lot of knowledge about top surgery (he said he has been doing top surgery for about 4 years and has done hundreds or more). he went over the different procedures he does with my parents and I and we were able to ask him any questions we had. he also went over what my experience would be like post op.

then I changed into a gown and he quickly examined me (and I mean quickly, he obviously has great knowledge concerning the right way to work with trans people who experience dysphoria, and made the examination as quick and nonintrusive as possible) and said I would be needing a double incision. then a nurse came in to take photos for my before and after. that was quick and painless too, and she was super polite as well.

then we were able to ask follow-up questions, rockmore was super receptive and willing to answer any questions my parents or I had. after that, we met with his secretary to discuss the financial and scheduling side of things, which was also super easy and great! Liz was very nice, and they said it would be no problem to schedule my surgery for the beginning of the summer.

overall I'm super happy with my experience with Dr Rockmore and if anyone actually reads this and has any questions about dr. rockmore, or top surgery in general, id love to help.

[phaymos]

Day 31 post op

This past weekend was 1 month post op, I should say some stuff!

So, hm let's start with my terrifying nipples.. They're not terrifying anymore! They're pink! My right one was already pretty much 100% pink about a week ago, but my left nipple is like 98% pink now too which is super cool. They're mostly looking like real nipples, and not like bloody, scabby, creatures of Satan. As far as sensation goes, I can kind of feel them?? They were so so so very hypersensitive, and still kind of are but less so. Everything on Earth hurt them and felt like they were being ripped off. A mild gust of wind. A butterfly kiss. I mean honestly I felt like someone was sharpening a pencil inside of my nipple all day. Now it's only every so often. But anyway, I think when I touch them I can actually feel them a tiny bit? Still too soon to tell, but we'll see. I guess I should still be putting Vaseline on them daily, but really even when I don't, they don't dry out and they're super soft.

I can't totally put on normal shirts at this point. There's a little bit of discomfort when getting it over my head, but if I put it on the right way, I can mostly avoid that. On the subject, my range of motion is still not 100%. I mean I can pretty much move around freely and do almost everything, but I can't reach above my head.. Which is a little weird because about a week ago I did it a few times and felt totally fine. I can still do it now, but it feels like my body is being ripped in half so.. Let's wait on that a while longer. Luckily my girlfriend doesn't mind grabbing things for me me things on high shelves 😬

My incisions are 99% scab free, which is awesome because they're also starting to look kind of dark pinkish and I'd really like to start using some of the scar stuff I bought for them. Not that I mind having scars, I mean if they never 100% disappear I'm sure I'll be fine, but it would be great if they didn't look red and angry forever yanno.

OH. JESUS CHRIST. The weirdest thing is happening to me by the way. I don't know if it's even surgery related, but honestly it must be, I haven't done anything else out of the ordinary?? Right around the end of my left incision, near my armpit, it feels like there's...... String??? Running vertically down my ribs. We thought maybe it was some stitches that moved around? But first of all, it's going straight down, like a completely straight line. Second of all, it's like... Easily 4 inches worth of "string". Plus I went to a walk in clinic where they were able to do some xrays, and they said everything looks normal (not that I totally and completely trust them). But the next step is to contact my surgeon and ask if he knows what might be up. There's no sign of infection or anything at all and it doesn't hurt when I touch it. Though it hurts when I stretch that side of my body. It's so weird. I touch my ribs with my fingers and I can just feel this thin wormlike thing on the inside of my body. Uhh.... Anybody???? Know what this is??

There's still some soreness in parts of my chest, only if it's touched. And there are still some spots that are clearly swollen or have some fluid left in them or something. Incision lines still look a liiiiiittle wrinkly too, but that goes away more everyday.

I think that's about it. All in all, still VERY satisfied with how I look. I wish the swelling would go down, but other than that I'm happy af. I got dressed in front of my open window last night and didn't feel like I needed to cover up (though I did forget for a moment). OH and speaking of, ever since I've been able to actually touch my chest, I keep forgetting I don't have boobs lmao. Like other night, I went to grab one for some reason and was just like.... 😮😮😮. Wild. It's like something's missing but not in a bad way yanno. Like being poor for a long time then all of a sudden having money and forgetting you don't have to eat ramen every night anymore. I'm feelin' it. And now that it's getting colder (kind of) I can wear long sleeve shirts... I didn't get to do that all last fall/winter. I felt so uncomfortable. I just wore a t-shirt and a hoodie everyday. Like 90% of my clothes haven't been utilized and I'm looking forward to actually wearing my clothes that I like.

Okay. I think that's all. Sorry I haven't updated in so long, I really can't even explain how hectic things have been. We moved, like 3 times basically from house to house to house to house and spent the entire weekend shopping for house stuff, setting things up, cleaning, packing, moving blah blah blah. But now I'm in my new apartment, almost totally moved in, right up the street from my girlfriend, just like we wanted. Feels real good 👌

Uh, if I missed anything or anyone has specific questions feel free to ask!

[lone-shark]

Thursday I had my top surgery consultation with Dr. Jeffrey Rockmore in Albany. Last year I had medicaid and I trie to get my surgery with Dr. Paul Weiss here in Manhattan but medicaid denied my preauthorization. This year I’m under Cigna through my job. From what I’ve been able to gather through their thoroughly misinformed associates you only need to submit one letter of support from a mental health professional. The surgeon’s office is in the process of submitting all of that for my preauthorization now. 

They were able to schedule me for surgery on February 8th. Since I was burned last year by insurance it still doesn’t feel real yet. I don’t want to get my hopes up if my insurance denies me again. I was even hesitant to post about it here but I’m trying to stay positive. Fingers crossed everything goes right. February 8th will be the day. I can’t believe it. A year plus of binding might be over in a few short weeks. No more chronically sore upper back. No more neck and trap pain. Here’s to better posture and standing taller and straighter in 2017!

[phaymos]

What surgeon are you going to?

I’m going to Dr. Jeffrey Rockmore in Albany, NY!

[phaymos]

While I’m thinking of it.. A few things I forgot to note in my initial post about my top surgery consultation,

If you plan on having top surgery, please be aware the doctor WILL need to look at and possibly touch your chest. Whether you go in person or consult via email/video chat, this is necessary because it’s really the first chance they’ll get to see what they’re working with. It’s also how they’ll decide which procedure is best for you. I imagine that part matters a bit more for people with less tissue. Personally, I knew I’d be getting double incision cause well.. My boobs are huge and saggy. Also my nipples/areolae are very low and very large. Not to mention I actually prefer to get double incision so, double win.

He also had a woman (Nurse? Secretary?) take a few “before” pictures. One of my face, and a few of my chest from various angles. Again, not sure if that’s always done, but be prepared at least to be shirtless and binderless in front of at LEAST your surgeon.

He gave me a go ahead to take a Xanax (anti anxiety pill) before surgery. I was a bit surprised by that because any other procedure I’ve had, they tell you not to take any of your regular meds the day of? I’m not really sure if that’s something that’s just generally okay to do with top surgery, or if my doctor just gave me the thumbs up for a specific reason? So, best to just ask your own surgeon if that’s something you’re concerned about. The anesthesiologist will put something to relax you in your IV (so I’m told) but I’ve gone under general anaesthesia twice before and both times all I can remember from before I fell asleep was having a near panic attack. Luckily, the sleepy part happens SO QUICKLY, it’s really a non issue. I just personally feel more comfy knowing I’ll have something to do to handle my pre op anxiety.

Okay, NOW I think that’s all. Original post with more information can be found here, if you’re interested.

[transbrotherhood]

Does anyone know if Dr. Rockmore in NY takes insurance?

This states he accepts several types of insurance, they are listed here

If any followers have more information or experience with him add it in