Liam's Top Surgery Fund

Hello! First of all, thank you for taking a look at my fundraiser!

For those who have stumbled upon this campaign randomly, my name is Liam and I am a transgender man (female to male) fundraising to get FTM top surgery. First let me start with the cost breakdown of this opportunity before getting into my story:

Costs:

The surgeon that I have decided to go with is Dr. Gallagher in Miami, FL, who has fantastic results and uses a drain-free technique that will help make recovery much easier and less painful. Unfortunately, she is not covered by insurance, meaning that I will have to pay out of pocket for this surgery.

• Masculoplasty (top surgery) - $11,500
  
• Pathology fee - $150
  
• Post-op meds & scar care - $200
  
• Tummy tuck - $3,000
  
• Travel & lodge - $2150

           - hotel $1450

           - food $500 ($28 per person [wife and me] per day for 8 days)

           - gas $200 (6 fill ups, ~$35 per fill)

Email exchange with the office for proof of costs:

The option of having a tummy tuck during surgery is a big deal for me because I have loose skin from losing 80lbs which causes some irritation. While I’m already under anesthesia, my surgeon can remove some of this loose skin which will also result in a much straighter, more masculine figure. This means not having to go through a separate surgery to have this skin removed, which is much less stress on my body and quite frankly, my wallet.

I will need to remain in Miami for 7 days for my post-op appointment and will have to split up the long drive into two days coming back to give my body some rest from being in the car, meaning a total of 9 days for this trip.

The grand total for this surgery will be $17,000. Those who know me know that I struggle with asking for help, especially when it comes to finances. But I've come to accept that I need help. I have managed to save $6,000 so far to go specifically toward this fund over the past couple of years and will be able to save $1,000 more over the next few months, but it's not enough. I wanted to be able to save up for this and pay for it on my own, but realistically in order to do that I would have to wait years before I can afford it, which would take a huge toll on my mental health as every day having to live as a man with a female chest is a struggle. So I’ve made a goal of $10,500, with the $500 being added to cover fees taken out.

What can this surgery do for me?

Having breasts causes me a great deal of dysphoria on a daily basis, which translates into anxiety and depression for me. I started wearing a binder over 3 years ago, and it immediately changed my life and made me feel a lot less stressed and anxious. However, binding can only do so much. At the end of the day, my chest still keeps me from doing things, such as wearing certain clothes, going shirtless at the beach, running at the park without uncomfortable bouncing, and feeling at home in my own body.

I wear a binder for 10 hours a day, sometimes longer. This is considered unsafe as it is recommended to wear a binder for no longer than 8 hours a day because doing so breaks down tissue and can cause breathing problems, back pain, and skin irritation. But not binding while out in public is not an option for me, and my work schedule means that I have to bind for this long.

I have also tried tape as a form of binding, which is less stressful on my ribs, but removing the tape even safely and patiently, ends up ripping my skin a bit which can be very painful. At the end of the day, both forms of binding cause me some discomfort and sometimes pain daily, but it is something that I have had to do every day for the past 3 years and something that I will continue to have to do until I can get this surgery.

For me, getting top surgery means that I will be able to experience more comfort. It means that my clothing options won't be so limited depending on fabrics that may be too clingy or tight, accentuating my chest. And most importantly, it means that I will feel more at peace and confident in my body, resulting in much less dysphoria and a significantly better quality of life.

If you've made it this far, thank you so much for taking the time to read my story! I appreciate EVERY donation, no matter how big or small. Thank you so much!