total cost

[Krististeph]

I apologize for the vagueness of this question, and please feel free to clarify any points you wish, but in either your experience or hearsay, what is the total cost of full MtF reassignment?

Please include cost of all hormones, therapy, surgery, electrolysis/laser, cosmetic surgery....

but not clothing, please.

On the higher end I estimated about $80,000, on the lower end perhaps $40,000.

do you agree?
were there any 'hidden' costs?
cost of lost time at work?

Thank you all so much for considering my question.

kristi

[Frances]

This question is often asked on this forum. It varies from one person to the next, and according to health insurance programs. Hair removal cost me about $20,000, mandatory therapy cost me $15,000 (to get free SRS), HRT is about $400 a year these days. SRS was covered. I have not had any other plastic surgery. I would like to fix my hairline a bit (it should be about $5,000). $40,000 sounds about right in my case.

[Aprilrain]

If you need FFS that is between $30k-$50k SRS is $18,500-$32000 ish, hair removal anywhere from $10k-$20 k, breast augmentation about $7000, therapy just depends on how much they charge and how often and for how long you go, hormones are cheep, not worth worrying about.

[celeste26]

With the change in medicare, there will be many more of those expenses covered with co pays. Not sure yet about the SRS but I am optimistic. That figure of $20k for electrolysis seems very high but each face is unique and some locations are more expensive than others. I pay $50/hour, so multiply that by however many hours it takes but others pay more per hour.

[stefan37]

I have over 300+ hours at a cost over 21 grand. I still need more hours

[Inna]

as a TV MasterCard Commercial add used to say: PRICELESS :facepalm:

[celeste26]

Stefan where I go that 300 hours would only cost $15000. There is also a huge difference between beards. In my case I could go nearly 2 days without a shave and that was prior to electro. I know others who can hardly go a whole day without shaving again.

[Krististeph]

Thanks for the clarification Celeste! Unfortunately, my beard after two days is considered a less-than-lethal weapon: I used to torture my nieces and nephews with 'chin rubs' instead of 'indian burns'... yet my freaking head hair is too fine to hold any real kind of style... :-(

I dream of whipping up a home-made electrolosis unit, the electronics are simple, even with robust safety built in... proper use is the real issue. thanks for the info!!!

[LeaP]

On electro: When I hit the 50 hour mark, my tech brightly announced "we're about a quarter done!" ... At that point, $3250. Projected, then, $13,000. She said in the beginning that my facial hair density was a little below average.

[stefan37]

Techs are horribly unreliable when predicting total completion time. It is an endless process. We are an Electrologists ATM.

[LeaP]

Yup, there's a reason I always get first dibs on cancellations.

[Annaliese]

20 years using tweezers, priceless

[celeste26]

Electrolysis is vital for someone trying to go 24/7. it helps out tremendously for the self image and what others see when they look at us. The pain though is torturous and something that removes those who really dont want to transition.

It is easy to go 24/7 without surgery, but very hard without the electrolysis, (it also tends to make you look younger.)

[mikiSJ]

Celeste

I believe the current guidance for Medicare is that SRS will be covered if 'medically necessary'. They need to sort out what 'medically necessary' means/

[Nicole Erin]

20 years using tweezers, priceless

Same here but only 5 years. Also use an epilator first then just tweeze the obvious crap that the epilator didn't get. Makes things go way faster if you epilate first.
Besides tweezing facial hair tends to make them grow back white so it covers really easy.
If it costs the same as a new car and takes years (if ever) to complete, is there really any point in electro?

Might really want to think of FFS would be worth it. It does help some but does not perform miracles.

[whowhatwhen]

So far...
~20 hours of electro @$60/hour $1200
~6 facial laser sessions @$170/session $1020
Earlier full body laser package $900
Therapist @$100/session x2 per month for 2 years $2000 roughly but probably lower

So it looks to be roughly around $5120 so far excluding hormones which are $free and $30 per month.
FFS Would be nice but is a total pipedream unless I win at least 3 lotteries.

[NavyM2F_WAM]

I really hope I can have some insurance that will cover this stuff. I have a good bit of money saved up, but not that much.

[stefan37]

Insurance in the US will not cover any facial hair removal or ffs which is considered cosmetic. Depending on your policy, they may cover all or part of
SRS. Transition is an expensive process.

[GabbiSophia]

So far...
~20 hours of electro @$60/hour $1200
~6 facial laser sessions @$170/session $1020
Earlier full body laser package $900
Therapist @$100/session x2 per month for 2 years $2000 roughly but probably lower

So it looks to be roughly around $5120 so far excluding hormones which are $free and $30 per month.
FFS Would be nice but is a total pipedream unless I win at least 3 lotteries.


holy cow only 120 a session ... damn I am getting robbed. What is the avg would we say? I may have to shop around yet again

[Angela Campbell]

well lets see...

142 hrs (so far) of electro at $45 per ....$6390
facial surgery $10,000
legal fees $2100
new wardrobe $1000 (Conservative estimate)
therapy $1120
Dr visits (mostly covered) $80
hormones $1092

so far $21,782



still to go is a lifetime of hormones, SRS, likely another 100 hrs of electro, so I am not even halfway there yet.


ps. I didn't include nails every few weeks, hairdressers, makeup and such as that isn't a transition cost but just the stuff a girl needs.

[LeaP]

Insurance in the US will not cover ... ffs which is considered cosmetic. ...

A few do. I ran into one girl who worked for Google. They covered it.

[Michelle.M]

Depending on what your insurance covers, and depending on what procedures you need or want, your costs will vary. Here's my tally:

Electrolysis (still ongoing) 15,797.85
Airfare-Gas-Travel 4,244.35
Hotels 1,211.64
Incidentals 1,631.00
GRS 19,963.84
FFS 20,053.00
BA 6,100.00
TUMMY TUCK 8,991.00
Voice, Makeup,
Deportment Training 975.00
Therapy 1,505.00
Personal Care 2,651.50
Medical & Prescriptions 3,844.25
Wigs / Hair Systems 5,675.00
Clothing 11,021.00

TOTAL 103,664.43

Clothing was so high due to all of the wardrobe mistakes I made. Would have been cheaper to hire an image consultant to take me shopping.

[whowhatwhen]

holy cow only 120 a session ... damn I am getting robbed. What is the avg would we say? I may have to shop around yet again

I can only handle one hour of electro per session which is good because I could only afford to go once per week.
Luckily I started laser again and there's still more that can be zapped :)

I save on my wardrobe by being incredibly plain and wearing whatever stuff I already have.
Skirts? Dresses? Nope! I'm happy in just a t-shirt and shorts :)

I do tend to buy brightly coloured purses though...