Quinn's Top Surgery & Recovery

UPDATE: Hey y’all! It’s finally done and I’m past the toughest part. Surgery was a few weeks ago and went great. Recovery has been difficult with a couple complications in the form of unexpected bleeds that went unnoticed. Unfortunately, those bleeds pushed my recovery back quite a bit but I’m slowly moving past that. I still have to keep movement to an extreme minimum to avoid reopening the bleeds and to stay on the right track for the rest of my recovery. Thank you to all of you who have helped - I can’t explain how incredible I feel to be in this body. While I still have a long way to go, I finally see the person that I have dreamt of for so long. I am so much happier than I ever expected I could be. Just for kicks, here is a picture of me in my first regular shirt since surgery. I can’t wait to get back to my walks, workouts, and jobs. I’ve still got another 5 weeks before I can return to all that but it’s a lot to look forward to!

Hi! My name is Quinn. I am a 28 year old transgender man, and I am raising money for the biggest and final step of my transition - Top Surgery. Transitioning has been a long and difficult road, but after hours of research, several consultations, and multiple failed attempts, I have finally been able to schedule this life-changing surgery for May 29th, 2024.

I have spent the last 4 years working on my mental and physical health in order to be ready for this step. I came out as a trans man in the summer of 2019, and started medically transitioning with testosterone in the summer of 2020. With the love and support of my family, friends, community, and especially my partner, I have been lucky enough to have a happy, safe, and healthy experience in my transition. While I knew something was different about me since I was a kindergartner, I did not have the words or knowledge to label what I was experiencing. Finally, at the age of 20, I figured out I was in the deep depths of gender dysphoria and acquired my first chest binder which provided me with so much comfort and gender euphoria. I knew I was on the right track. I have been binding my chest ever since - almost a decade! While this seems like a hack that should be simple enough, it is something that is all-consuming for me. Every movement and glimpse of my reflection serves as a painful reminder of the parts that do not match how I feel as a person - I constantly have to readjust my chest in my binder and have to restrict my movement to avoid any slips. While I use a body-safe binder, it still causes me immense pain in my skin, ribs, back, breasts, and shoulders. Binding also greatly increases my risk of breast cancer which runs on both sides of my family.

I am indescribably excited for this surgery as it means no more daily physical or mental pain stemming from my chest. Top surgery will allow me to exercise freely, breathe comfortably, wear clothes that fit properly, and free my brain from constantly focusing on my chest and the relentless discomfort. This gender affirming care will help improve my overall physical and mental well-being.

Any and every contribution to my top surgery fund carries so much significance for me. I am truly grateful for anything that you may be able to give.

Onward,

Q