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What is top surgery?
Ana Luz Crespi/Stocksy/Johner Images/Sophie Mayanne/Getty Images/Amanda K Bailey
Will my insurance cover top surgery?
(you’re free to see if Medicaid in your state covers transition-related carehere.)
As of 2014, Medicare covers medical transition-related surgery.
What if I dont have health insurance?
Not everyone seeking top surgery has insurance or can get their carrier to cover their surgery.
Does my top surgery need to be approved in some way?
Lets get into it.
Others may not have access to health care providers at all, let alone affirming ones.
How do I find a good surgeon?
Of course, everyones situation will be a little different when it comes to finding the right surgeon.
); and whether its difficult to get an appointment or get the front desk folks on the phone.
Online groups (try searching Facebook, Reddit, etc.
with terms like top surgery, ftm top surgery, non-binary top surgery, etc.)
What should I talk to my surgeon about?
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) has a handylist of questionsto ask prospective top surgeons.
Give it a read before your consultations and write down any questions that apply to you.
Be sure to get a sense of how they handle concerns after hours, too.
That way he can quickly take a look and determine if the patient should be seen in person.
Dr. Liebman recommends his patients take two weeks off of work.
From there, continue to take it pretty easy for another couple of weeks.
I ask my patients to commit to one month of downtime after surgery, Dr. Liebman says.
To me, downtime just means a conscious and intentional change in your routine.
Most people can expect to return to their normal activities unrestricted after about six weeks, Dr. Schechter says.
Your surgeon might recommend other options like rideshares or having a friend drive you.
Lots of surgeons use drains to help with proper healing after top surgery.
During the procedure, the surgeon will place two tubes, one in each incision site.
Most surgeons also recommend people wear compression garments after top surgery to reduce swelling during recovery.
If not, there are also medical manufacturers who make specific post-operative garments.
Whether youll need to wear a binder after surgery and for how long will depend on your surgeons guidance.
Keep in mind that post-surgery binders are looser and gentler than binding intended to flatten the chest.
(And, of course, your surgeon will be able to make recommendations, too.)