Gender Affirming Surgery | 4 Red Flags When Choosing a Surgeon!

[@Andy-qi3ij]

I swear whenever I’m researching a portion of my transition, the appropriate video appears in my feed within days. Thank you for another great video!

[@DRZPHD]

You are most welcome.

[@jwenting]

Looking where I live, it's pretty much take this one clinic or don't bother. Not only does the insurance determine which doctor you'll get, the number of doctors available is limited to only 3-4 nationwide... Waiting lists can run into years as a result, and that's after you get approval for surgery at all which also takes years (insurance companies usually require at least 2 years of living en-femme full time too allow surgery, as do most hospitals, which is higher than the 1 year legal requirement.

[@DRZPHD]

I am so sorry to hear of your challenges.

[@jwenting]

@@DRZPHD it's not just transgender care either, it's our entire medical system that works along those lines. Like last year I nearly died because by law my doctor wasn't allowed to prescribe me the medication I needed to get my diabetes under control Only after a near death episode was she given clearance to prescribe it...

[@darklightmotion5534]

youre underrated

[@DRZPHD]

Appreciate that.

[@donaldhollingsworth3875]

Thank you for a another great video. I would never have thought about these red flags to research and/or ask about. Are there any other red flags for gender reassignment surgery which you might be able to do another video about. I have learned so much from watching your video's compared to talking to my gender therapist. I also love the fact that you look at and/or respond to as many comments that you can.

[@DRZPHD]

Hi Donna. Thanks. I respond to all comments unless they are hateful, which I simply ignore. This are the biggest 4 red flags. If you are thinking of surgery, this blog I wrote may be of benefit to you: drzphd.com/trans-feminine-blog-1/consumer-guide-to-gender-affirming-surgery-jrw29

[@fabdealmeida4008]

Hi Dr Z! I’m so glad to watch your vídeos! It’s help me a lot... Really Thank you!!!

[@DRZPHD]

Thank you and I am glad you find it helpful! Feel free to let me know if there is a topic you want to hear about!

[@davefisher1840]

Great advice!!!

[@monicaperez2843]

Dr. Z, sadly, a few years ago, a surgeon was at a gender conference, and he pressured attendees with a 10% discount if they arranged their surgery before the conference was over. A lovely lady had her GRS surgery the very next day, on Monday, along with extensive feminization surgery. She was not given time to properly fast (she ate and drank at the gender conference until Sunday night). Tragically, she choked and died as a result during the surgery. Obviously, he was not invited back. Please do not allow yourself to be rushed into making a decision about surgery. Get a second opinion, and even a third opinion!

[@DRZPHD]

This is unfortunate. No body should first and foremost solicit clients in such a way. Second opinion or even third is something I highly advise.

[@lindsaybelderson7735]

The doctor holds all the cards and names their price.

[@DRZPHD]

I am sorry to hear that. Many doctors are open to discussing patient goals and expectations.

[@jwenting]

@@DRZPHD depends on where you are, sadly. Here e.g. health ministry regulations and insurance company policies (which are linked through our national healthcare system) dictate what doctors are even allowed to do, and how many of each procedure they're allowed to perform per year (which can result in you getting a choice of either a different procedure or being put on a waiting list which can delay treatment by several years). As a result even the doctors are often not in control, and have to resort to either sub-optimal treatment or deny treatment if that sub-optimal treatment isn't appropriate for the patient. And this isn't just for "elective procedures" (which transgender surgeries are largely considered to be here) but for life saving operations like heart surgery as well, and for prescription medication. E.g. my physician and the pharmacy both agreed that I needed a specific medication for my diabetes, but health ministry regulations forbade them to give it to me because it was deemed too expensive. As a result I nearly ended up dead from a rapid series of hyperglycemic incidents, ending up with my blood glucose at 5 times the maximum level considered pre-diabetic, a level high enough to put one in a coma if it lasts for more than a few minutes. It wasn't until that scenario persisted for a month that they were allowed to prescribe the medication I should have received several months earlier already. My parents had similar experiences with different medications.