AJs TOPPY CHOPPY (top surgery fundraiser)

**edit** thanks to people’s amazing efforts of helping my raise funds through charity tattoo flash days, I am now over 3/4 of the way to my savings goal! Providing I can keep up the momentum of fundraising, I will be able to book a surgery date soon! (Hopefully will be able to get the big chop by going abroad in February 2025! :D )

Hi I’m AJ, I’m a trans masculine tattooist from the Brighton/Eastbourne area and my pronouns are he/they . This fund is for my top surgery, which will really help my mental and physical health.

Its a huge amount of money and I will never be able to achieve this on my own, I will be working hard to save towards this goal over the next few years by hosting tattoo flash days, and other fundraising means. Currently I bind my chest, which isn’t good for my ribs and chest to do long term, especially with the hours I work meaning I am sometimes in my binder for 15 hours a day making it near impossible to stick to safe binding rules.

I am on the waiting list for nhs gender identity clinic but judging by the current wait times it will be around 5+ years before I get a first appointment and a further 18+ months to jump through hoops to get top surgery. Starting testosterone has improved my confidence and mental health amazingly I feel more aligned with my body and like I’m becoming who I’m meant to be. Continuing to take testosterone and having Top surgery would really help with dysphoria, avoid getting misgendered as often, and make me feel confident to go swimming more often! (One of my favourite activities)

The kindly donated money will go towards the costs associated with top surgery. Any support is amazing! Sharing is massively appreciated even if you can’t donate. I appreciate you!️‍

travelling abroad for top surgery would cost around £5,000 so this is something I am considering, as I would have to wait considerably less time to save that amount.