Getting FFS on Jan 3!

[JenniferMint]

I called Dr. Spiegel's receptionist in Boston earlier today. My surgery date for FFS is going to be on January 3! I will remain in Boston for a week afterwards for aftercare.

I'm getting forehead contouring with scalp advancement and browlift ($7300), rhinoplasty ($4200), trachea shave ($2500), laser skin resurfacing ($2500), upper eyes ($2500) with a $1500 discount. Then $2500 operating room fee and $1375 anesthesia fee. The total cost comes out to $21,375. Ouch... SRS in Thailand would cost less! But since everyone's going to be seeing my face, I guess I have to pay the price. Dr. Spiegel is the surgeon that seemed most impressive to me overall, with Dr. Ousterhout being better for patients needing extensive forehead work (I don't) and more expensive.

I'm excited! Right now I can't pass as a girl unless I put on my wig and breast forms, and I still worry about getting read. I'm hoping that after FFS I can relax more when out en femme and stop worrying.

I'm paying this using a debit card that gives 1% cash back, so I will be getting a $213.75 rebate.

[AmberTG]

Well, that's a big chunk of change! I could never come up with that kind of money.

[Courtneygurl]

Wow! Girl, do you really need that much work? Just wondering, but is your goal to become a woman, or the most-perfect-woman-possible? I could think of better things to do with a chunk of that money - like SRS! Plenty of women have ugly noses. Is laser skin resurfacing really necessary?

[suzy]

jennifer,

I have no idea what FFS is but if doing that much surgery and medical stuff is what your heart craves...and it will make you happier. then you go girl! Life is too short to wish you had on your death bed!

Keep us informed as you progress! I will be prayiong for a speedy and successful recovery!!:love:

[Teresa Amina]

I hope you're getting the "drop dead gorgeous" guarantee! Make sure you get some before, during, and after pictures to share with us here

[Stephenie S]

$21,375 seems like a lot until you think about the fact that many of us spend that much and more on a car every few years with out blinking an eye. A car imediately starts to depreciate and after several years is worth next to nothing. How long will FFS last? Perhaps a bit longer than that.

Good luck dear.

Steph

[CaptLex]

Good for you, Jennifer! Hope everything goes smoothly. :hugs:

[JenniferMint]

Wow! Girl, do you really need that much work? Just wondering, but is your goal to become a woman, or the most-perfect-woman-possible? I could think of better things to do with a chunk of that money - like SRS! Plenty of women have ugly noses. Is laser skin resurfacing really necessary?

The rhinoplasty is for looking female, although the "laser skin resurfacing ($2500), upper eyes ($2500)" isn't. I wanted the laser skin resurfacing because I have a bunch of acne scars from my testosterone-filled days and it bothers me. I miss when I had smooth skin. And yes, I don't just want to look like a girl, I want to look like a cute girl.

I'd actually rate looking pretty as more important than having SRS. Almost no one is going to see my genitalia (and I don't have a desire to have sex with men), but everyone will see my face.

BTW as far as FFS goes, I think I'm actually paying less than most people who get FFS do (scary thought!). I don't need any work done on my lips and chin, and I don't need radical forehead work either.

[Sharon]

Good for you, Jennifer, and I have faith that everything will go well and that you'll be happy with the results. :happy:

[Calliope]

I'd actually rate looking pretty as more important than having SRS. Almost no one is going to see my genitalia (and I don't have a desire to have sex with men), but everyone will see my face.



I think your reasoning is right on. And, of 'everyone' seeing your face, there's always you - and a world of mirrored windows and doors.

Very good luck to ya!

Hope you'll post an avatar after your recovery ... or will you ask for donations?

[PennyAnne]

You are quite right in believing that you are not at all being overcharged for the work you are having done.
Mine was done at Mass General by Dr Wern, who at the time was in the US on a sabaatical from Tel Aviv. As I recall, after all was said and done, the bill came to about $40,000....and that was nearly ten years ago.
Don't be too disapointed when you first see the results. Give things time to settle in. I'm sure you will be more than happy with the results abter 6 weeks or so
Penny

[Katrina]

Jennifer,
Good luck! I have heard that FFS gives you the most bang for your buck in terms of transitioning - as not many people see your genitals but everybody sees your face. That sounds like you got a reasonably good price.

[billie17042]

it's worth it for the rebate alone !

[cindianna_jones]

YEAH! Good for you! you go girl.

You want it, you've got the money... more power to you.

I've seen what this can do for so many of the girls and it is quite astonishing.

Cindi

[MJ]

jennifer,

I have no idea what FFS is but if doing that much surgery and medical stuff is what your heart craves...and it will make you happier. then you go girl! Life is too short to wish you had on your death bed!

Keep us informed as you progress! I will be prayiong for a speedy and successful recovery!!:love:

that would be facial femmanizing surgery and the price hurts .. who said it was easy being a woman... i may go and see him myself wow do i need a lot of work :eek: .any way jennifer good luck keep us informed
hugs marissa

[cindianna_jones]

And whatever you do, make sure to let uncle Sam help cover some of the bill at tax time. Take the medical deductions for all of it. You can even deduct minimal travel expenses to go see doctor wonderful. Check out the tax laws to see what you need to make a case and do it.

Cindi

[Wendi {LI NY}]

jennifer, It was worth every penny for my ffs. and things are come in every nice at 7 weeks post-op . I can go out and not be bother by people ,like before. Darn , even NYC cabbies say where to , Miss? Yes ,it is costly ,but worth every penny .. hugs,Wendi:D
ps. here are a few before and after ,Dr Spiegel is a doll!

[MarieTS]

Jennifer, I'm curious... did the surgeon require a sexual therapist/psychiatry consult prior to agreeing to do your FFS, or was he able to schedule the operation without it? I know it's required for SRS, but not sure about FFS.
Thanks,

[JenniferMint]

Jennifer, I'm curious... did the surgeon require a sexual therapist/psychiatry consult prior to agreeing to do your FFS, or was he able to schedule the operation without it? I know it's required for SRS, but not sure about FFS.
Thanks,

No, he didn't require any psych letters! FFS surgeons usually don't require letters, especially not the major ones such as Dr. Spiegel.


My transition has been pretty self-directed in all. I had a bilateral orchiectomy from Dr. Murray Kimmel [1], I started HRT by buying it from online pharmacies [2], and now I'm getting FFS. If I some day decide to get SRS (maybe I won't), I might do it in Thailand.

I have never needed a gatekeeper's permission with anything I've done so far. But I have had to pay everything out of pocket, of course.

[1] Dr. Murray Kimmel in Philadelphia, PA is the only doctor in US/Canada who will perform bilateral orchiectomies without a psych letter, as far as I know.

[2] After buying HRT online and taking it for a while, I went to a doctor/therapist experienced in TS issues and asked him to monitor my health. I saw him every couple weeks. A few months later he started prescribing for me. I really twisted his arm on this, though---usually he would be slow to prescribe HRT, but he ended up doing it for me earlier since I had already had an orchiectomy and was taking HRT on my own.

[marisa]

what is a bilateral orchiectomy? ok, srs does require a gatekeepers approval,this i know. is there anything else that needs permission to do?
jennifer, i wish you all the best on jan 3.
marisa.

[joanlynn28]

Ouch, I am glad and grateful that I don't have to have FFS, my facial features are feminine enough. Anyway a aquintance of mine is back in Boston right now, was scheduled to have her FFS last Friday. She went with a friend, and I can't wait to see how it all went when she returns and heals all up. So I will get to she Dr. Spiegal's work first hand.

[JenniferMint]

what is a bilateral orchiectomy? ok, srs does require a gatekeepers approval,this i know. is there anything else that needs permission to do?

Bilateral orchiectomy means removal of both testicles. It has the same hormonal benefits of SRS, and thus is a good idea for someone who might not get SRS within a few years.

The following things require a gatekeeper's approval:
- HRT (unless you order your hormones from an online pharmacy, or find some lenient doctor)
- bilateral orchiectomy (unless you goto e.g. Dr. Kimmel, Thailand, or o-r-r.com)
- SRS (unless you go to some Thailand doctors; btw Dr. Suporn claims to follow the SoC but will reportedly waive it if you seem well-adjusted as a female)

Things that don't require a gatekeeper's approval: FFS, breast augmentation, electrolysis/laser hair removal, shaving your legs, growing your hair out, buying women's clothing :)


jennifer, i wish you all the best on jan 3.

Thanks!