Hello! I am Wilbur. I'm a trans youth in southern USA.

Before I begin, I want to break down the costs of the travel and surgeries I'm going for/what surgeons have told me I need, i do not want you to think I'm a scam, cause I'm the 180° of that.

I have received offers/estimates from cosmetic surgeon's both inside and international.

Just Incase of possible harassment to the surgeons involved, I do not want to share names!

USA: a local surgeon in Houston TX said it would be around 50k, this would include rhinoplasty, jaw, chin implant + neck lift(not including post-op housing/care)

India: I received a direct estimate from a cosmetic surgeon in new Delhi, I was told that I needed:

Vaser liposuction 360 (face and body), Mastectomy, Rhinoplasty, which, with post-op care included is only 8k.

Thailand:

I received one offer from a clinic saying that only for my face, would be 18k (which includes post-op care, dressing, paid meals and drinks in a luxury environment.)

I received another for my face for only 5k, which it did not say if it included post-op care.

I received my final offer only for mastectomy. They want me to send photos to give me a full price for face and body.

The cost of mastectomy would've varied depending on the technique. But highest would've been almost 6k. (I was not told if this covered post-op care either.)

Travel:

The average trip outside the US is expensive.

Round trip's for international travel can cost 900-1200$ (current cost as of May 2026)

This does NOT include the price of Passports, gas or fee's.

Average cost of gas here in Texas (Atleast Northern texas.) is 5$ga/ almost reaching 6$.

Fee's are variable.

Passport:

The average Passport is almost 200$.

(Less than if you take out the expedited shipping that cuts it from 6weeks to 2-3)

You have to pay for the passport itself, which is 30$ (130$ if you want the book)

And you have to pay a 35$ fee for the execution/application for the facility.

I currently (UPDATE: as of May 24th I am unemployed) work at a supercenter in my small town, but they cut me down from full-time to part-time so I couldn't access company insurance, and I barely make enough to pay for my hormones and gender-affirmative services.

I have received letters of support from medical and mental services, but my insurance has been blocked from funding my gender affirming care by the state laws. Paying for private insurance is a no-go due to tightening funds, higher costs of basic living and having to pay nearly 200$mo/ for hormone service and medicine.

I take care of my grandmother, who is rapidly losing her eyesight and balance as of May. She can't stand on her own without an intense fear of falling.

I've had to put in my 2 weeks at my job as I've faced discrimination against both my identity and medical history. I've tried to get accomodations for my injuries/illnesses but all claims have been denied by the third party system they use as I do not qualify for it