- L
My name is Alexander Wood, I'm 17 years old and I have been identifying as male since 2016, I've had many set backs in my transition but thankfully was able to start full HRT in February 2020. As part of my transition into the male gender I believe top surgery is essential. Top surgery involves the partial removal and reconstruction of the chest in order to have a more biologically masculine appearance. There are many types of surgery but I am most likely looking at Double Incision surgery, this is a short 2-3 hour surgery but the effects it would have on my transition, mental health, body image and happiness are immeasurable.
The NHS waiting list for top surgery is set at anywhere from 3 years (from initial referral to the adult GIDS team) to 5 years, and I simply cannot wait that long, I plan to go to university and live my life to the absolute fullest I possibly can and to me and my family and friends, that means surgery.
My mental health has always been a struggle but I have been steadily improving since August after a very tricky 4 months in a psychiatric hospital. Now that I'm committed fully to recovery my next steps are to finally feel comfortable in my own skin. Not only would surgery have an astronomical effect on my mental health, the results would also be heavily matched by the physical effects. In order to function on a day to day basis I wear a tight chest binder from the moment I get up to the moment I go to bed, this is usually anywhere from 12-18 hours a day; 7 days a week, 365 days a year. This has severely restricted my lung capacity over the last 4 years and makes every day feel like a literal up hill struggle, (try to imagine wearing a corset every day or wearing a swimming suit that's 3x too small).
I have a consultation with Dr Kneeshaw in Hull later on this year (COVID-19 willing), the initial consultation fee is £165 and then a 10% deposit of £769 on the full surgery price (£7690) with later installments to be paid monthly via direct debit. The initial target of £1000 will go directly towards the consultation, deposit and travel fees to get to the appointments.
Any donation, no matter how small would be hugely appreciated and if you can't donate then just sharing this would be enough. Thank you for taking the time to read this, Alex :)
The NHS waiting list for top surgery is set at anywhere from 3 years (from initial referral to the adult GIDS team) to 5 years, and I simply cannot wait that long, I plan to go to university and live my life to the absolute fullest I possibly can and to me and my family and friends, that means surgery.
My mental health has always been a struggle but I have been steadily improving since August after a very tricky 4 months in a psychiatric hospital. Now that I'm committed fully to recovery my next steps are to finally feel comfortable in my own skin. Not only would surgery have an astronomical effect on my mental health, the results would also be heavily matched by the physical effects. In order to function on a day to day basis I wear a tight chest binder from the moment I get up to the moment I go to bed, this is usually anywhere from 12-18 hours a day; 7 days a week, 365 days a year. This has severely restricted my lung capacity over the last 4 years and makes every day feel like a literal up hill struggle, (try to imagine wearing a corset every day or wearing a swimming suit that's 3x too small).
I have a consultation with Dr Kneeshaw in Hull later on this year (COVID-19 willing), the initial consultation fee is £165 and then a 10% deposit of £769 on the full surgery price (£7690) with later installments to be paid monthly via direct debit. The initial target of £1000 will go directly towards the consultation, deposit and travel fees to get to the appointments.
Any donation, no matter how small would be hugely appreciated and if you can't donate then just sharing this would be enough. Thank you for taking the time to read this, Alex :)
Organizer and beneficiary
Janet Wood
Beneficiary