Leo's Top Surgery

Hello hello! I'm Leo and I'm a queer transgender man looking to raise funds for what would be, to me, gender-confirming top surgery.

After going through complications and cancellations with my previous surgery plans, I am now looking to continue with the procedure privately within the UK, which will in total cost me around £7,500-for which I am attempting to fundraise a portion of. After running a small business last year, I have managed to save for most of the procedure myself but due to being a full-time student living in London coming from a single parent background already funding gender-affirming HRT, it is unrealistic for me to raise all of this money independently, even within the next few years.

I would be over the moon and forever grateful for any donations made so thank you in advance for sharing and donating, if you can.

Since coming out in 2016, I feel I have watched the public healthcare access for transgender youth in the UK both improve and fall apart in such a short period. After 2 and a half years, in a desperate attempt to alleviate my growing dysphoria and discomfort with my body that was becoming life-threatening, I made the decision to access medical intervention for my transition privately. Despite this, I am still on NHS waiting lists that take years and so, due to past experiences, I have made the decision to access top surgery privately, too.

Being on testosterone has changed my life for the best, and I have reached a point where I feel my physical and mental expression somewhat matches for the first time since I became aware of gender itself. However, this has also, as many transgender men experience, increased my dysphoria and discomfort towards my chest/breasts. For me, 'top' surgery (removal of breasts and formation of a more 'masculine' chest) would be a final step in my transition and gender-affirmation and would allow me to fully present and feel comfortable day-to-day. Not only would it be life-changing mentally, but it would allow me to sunbathe, swim, wear clothes without having to tightly compress my chest, and overall be able to look at myself in the mirror and feel my physical presentation finally matches how I have always felt within myself. Overall, after a long journey of discomfort filled with ups and downs, receiving this surgery that I've dreamed of since just 13 would allow me to live comfortably and confidently.

This procedure truly will be life-changing for me, and honestly anything helps whether its donations or shares. I will hopefully be able to begin selling my art this summer as a way to give back, but this is just the beginning. Thank you so much for reading, donating, and sharing! (:

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