Hello, for those who don’t know me, I’m Thalia or Thali (no pronouns/it/they).

I’ve been aware of my identity in one way or another since kindergarten, and one thing has always been certain to me: I can’t live comfortably in a body that dictates my gender expression.

I’ve struggled with chest dysphoria for over 15 years, and I made it my goal to restart my life before turning 30.

Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned. I ended up with a surgeon who didn’t understand my needs, despite me communicating them clearly.

What was removed was the bare minimum, leaving me with essentially the same chest volume, only reshaped.

As a result, I no longer trust returning to the same surgeon, and a free revision was never offered either.

To be transparent, I originally requested a non-flat top surgery, meaning I wanted only a minimal amount of tissue left.

What I know now is that I won’t move forward with anyone who isn’t genuinely experienced with trans surgeries and informed about different identities, regardless of promises made.

Right now, my family isn’t able to support me financially or emotionally for a second time. Mentally and emotionally, this experience has been incredibly difficult, especially dealing with the feeling of having “tried and failed.”

I don’t have a large network, so even sharing this helps more than you know. And if you’re able to donate, no matter the amount, it genuinely helps keep things moving forward.

Once I’m through this and financially stable again, I’d love to give back however I can.

For now, thank you for reading and for any support at all.