Sol's Top Surgery

Hello

As you may know, I am in the process of transitioning to a gender expression that brings me more joy. This includes things like changing my pronouns and identifying as non-binary*. Some people choose hormone replacement therapy to help ease gender dysphoria*. At this point in my transition I don't believe this is right for me. However this has created a bit of an obstacle for me to get top surgery*.

I first started thinking about some form of breast removal in my early teens. I was physically uncomfortable with them, feeling like something unwanted had laid claim to my chest, like a parasite growing more over the years. I decided to ignore them and simply pretend they did not exist. At fifteen two friends took me bra shopping, which was a kind gesture but led me to experiencing a nightmarish scenario of having to acknowledge their existence. Soon afterwards I began exclusively wearing sports bras (glad to see them disappear a bit). During any physical activity I would wear two sports bras, one on top of the other. Although this was a positive experience in terms of liking what I looked like, it soon led to the end of any sports I did due to how difficult it was to breathe. During the pandemic I, like many others, thought a lot about what makes me happy and what doesn't. This ultimately led me to accepting that top surgery is something that will have an overwhelmingly positive impact on my life.

Currently in Ireland gender affirming surgery Is almost entirely inaccessible to me. I have reached out to TENI and the National Gender Services for support to no avail. I am on the waiting list for the public gender care system but the average waiting time is four to six years. For non-binary people such as myself surgery in Ireland is incredibly unlikely to be an option. This is due to the fact that surgeons require you to have a gender dysphoria diagnosis and to be on hormones for six months to a year. As I mentioned earlier I do not feel that going on hormone treatment is right for me.

So what does this mean for me?

I am forced to travel abroad for surgery. I must also do a key part of my recovery abroad as trans people are often refused aftercare in Ireland for a surgery they had abroad.

Cost list

Surgery: €5,900

Accommodation: €1000

Other costs:

Medication during recovery.

Plane tickets for two as I will need support during my recovery.

Living costs for the two months I will be incapable of working.

Although it is a scary procedure with a lengthy recovery, I believe this surgery is invaluable to my mental health and overall wellbeing. I can not tell you how much I look forward to living comfortably in my physical form for the first time since puberty. I promise that all donations will be used solely on this endeavor and that any unused funds will be donated to other fundraisers for gender affirming care.

I will be forever grateful for any support you can offer me in covering these costs.

Love

Soluna

*Top surgery: surgery performed on the chest as part of gender reassignment to remove breast tissue.

*Non-binary: an umbrella term for gender identities that are not solely male or female‍—‌identities that are outside the gender binary.

*Gender dysphoria: a term that describes a sense of unease that a person may have because of a mismatch between their biological sex and their gender identity.