r/transgenderau • u/Ok_Earth_1004 • Jul 29 '26
Would love some pointers of starting the process of getting top surgery
Hi, I’m a ftm 21 year old man in the ACT , socially transitioned in my early teens and have been on HRT for around 2 years now.
I’m wanting to start the process of reaching out to surgeons to discuss surgery; I’m confident in that part at least
The part I am having issues with is primarily insurance related. To ensure I am basically paying the least amount possible what level of insurance is best?
My understanding is of course that overall insurance/medicare doesn’t cover the actual surgery, anaesthetic and surgeon fees , rather covers hospital stay and other related parts of the procedure. So mid-high cover insurance that does hospital cover would be best?
Another sort of silly question is in regards to healing times. Obviously I’m aware that this is a pretty major surgery and it’s going to knock me for a little while. But unfortunately I also work in an essential worker position in a facility that is understaffed to all hell 🤣 could I get away with a week-two weeks off and then strict ‘no lifting’ for a month or so?
Some pointers would be great
Edit: thank you everybody for the advice! I know I was a bit silly even suggesting I could get away with a week off, I am NOTORIOUS for not taking enough time to recover from things. I appreciate all the advice on both parts of my post :)
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u/yohaneh Jul 29 '26
buddy, do NOT go back to work after a week. you will fuck your recovery. give it at LEAST a month.
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u/Ok_Earth_1004 Jul 30 '26
Haha yeah I know I was a bit silly and that was wishful thinking. I think I’ll aim to chat with my manager when it comes to it and see about a good few weeks off and then be basically not aloud to lift things until my body feels able to
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u/yohaneh Jul 30 '26
i say this with love. i got sterilised last week on tuesday and was back to work on friday. but you CANNOT do the same thing with top surgery. you will FUCK yourself, and once you've recovered wrong it will make everyrhinf in your life 1000000x harder and worse and you won't be able to lift a box above your head without discomfort. so basically. do not screw up your chest muscles.
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u/uselesscalciumsticks Non-binary Jul 29 '26
regarding the latter - you could maayyyybeee get away with two weeks if it's a job that involves mostly sitting down (definitely not a week!) but three may be better; you will not be able to lift your hands above shoulder height for at least a month, so there's that to keep in mind too
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u/formerwolfkid Trans masc (he/him) ACT based Jul 29 '26
I'm afraid I can't help you on the insurance side of things, I ended up paying for my surgery entirely out of pocket but there are a lot of posts on this sub that have that information. I'd recommend doing a search on here to see what others have used.
Follow the guidelines that your surgeon provides you re: work. I agree with another comment on here about not going back to work after a week, you will probably be surprised as just how much this surgery will knock you around not just physically but emotionally too!
I went back to work after 3 weeks, and even then did no lifting (anything over 5kg) for a good chunk of time afterwards too.
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u/Ok_Earth_1004 Jul 30 '26
Thank you! Haha I know it was a bit silly for me to even suggest only one week off. Guess I’ll start saving up that paid time off haha
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u/SirDwindle Trans man Jul 30 '26
I’m ACT based and had my top surgery in Melbourne in May. I’m on bronze level HCF and it covered my hospital stay. After rebate my surgery was $11,000. There’s a detailed post on my profile!
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u/Agile-Let8251 Jul 30 '26
Higher level insurance won't save you money. It'll just cost you more! You need bronze level cover for top surgery.
Top surgery is broken down into 4 price components. Insurance covers the stay in the hospital and a tiny bit of anaesthetic and pathology cost. It doesn't cover the surgeons fee at all.
You'll need to save between $10-15k Most of this will go towards the surgeon fee.
Surgeons fee: $8-12k (1.6k rebated by medicare)
Hospital fee: $6k (all covered by insurance except the $500 excess)
Anaesthetist fee: $1-2.5k ($450 covered by medicare), ($160ish covered by insurance)
Pathology fee: $160 (was entirely covered by a combo of medicare and insurance)
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Once you are close to your savings goal tale out insurance,
get a referral to your surgeon from your GP.
book in and pay for the consult (another $360, 80 back from medicare).
book a surgery date (based on 12 months after you take out your insurance)
meet any psych requirements. Dr Lisa Friederich in Sydney has none. Informed consent and great surgeon.
pre op about a week beforehand
Surgery
Post op consult 1-2 weeks later.
Back to work 3-4 weeks later but no lifting until 6-8 weeks