Like A Fish

When I was little, I loved swimming. It was always so much fun. But after I realized I was trans, I didn't want to swim anymore. I'm tired of missing out on things I like/want to do. I'm sure there are more people like me out there. Realized you were trans, stopped swimming? Either way I'll give you some times so you no longer have to miss swimming.

Pre chest surgery: Obviously you aren't gonna wear a bikini or any of that stuff. But you can't exactly go shirtless either. Solution: surf shirts, rash guards, unitards, wetsuits, body suits, and/or swimvests. These are better than wearing t-shirts because they are designed to be worn in water and won't become heavy and water-logged (which can be extra bad for those with larger chests). You might need to bind in combination with one of these. On underworks, they have compression swimwear designed for FTMs that you might want to check out.

Some pools have rules against people wearing t-shirts or other "street clothes" in the pool. Check the rules of where you are going before you go. Many bio males keep their shirts on in the water due to sunburn or self-confidence issues. So no one will look at you and judge you (trust me, I've done it).

Packing: When swimming, your trunks tend to cling to your body. This clinging can show off your genital area. You might want to pack while swimming. Your packer needs to be able to be submerged in water without losing shape or taking on water. Most store-bought soft packers would be fine.

Some links for getting swimwear to cover your chest:

www.neosportusa.com

www.scuba.com

www.ftm.underworks.com

www.swimoutlet.com

www.diversdirect.com

Know any more links? Have more to add? Shoot me an email: TheAidenApocalypse@gmail.com

Binder Help

Let's face it, the economy is bad. And binders aren't exactly cheap. After transguys have their surgery, they don't need binders anymore. What do you think happens to those binders? There are sites that will help trans guys get the binders they need. After guys have their surgery, a lot of them donate them to programs that will recycle them and give them to guys that need them. After I have surgery, you can bet I'll be donating my binders. I wish I could have found these programs when I needed them.
I'll link it up for you guys.
http://inabind.transactiveonline.org/
http://www.thetransitionalmale.com/BBUB.html

The first link is for guys 21 and younger. The second is for 22 and up.

Any questions about the programs, ask the people in charge.

Some VIdeos

I have found a couple videos that I would like you to watch. They are FTM videos. I found them inspirational/beautiful and I hope you will too.

http://youtu.be/2xpf2aYbyWk


http://youtu.be/UHIhf7u6E00


And this video has good tips:

http://youtu.be/6HgkX--VZaQ

Therapist Surgery Letter

   I found this while searching on the internet. It has taken me a really long to find an example of what has to be in the letter for surgery. I thought it might save you guys some time if I shared it with you.


[Name, address, and phone number]

Dear [ Dr. Preforming Surgery]:

   [Patient name] is a [Patients appropriate age] year old female to male transgender individual who has established a longstanding and strong identity as male. He has been living as male consistently and on hormones since [date patient start HRT or social transition]. He has had [if any previous surgeries put here with dates if no other procedures remove this line]. He is now seeking [name of surgery] to aid in his complete medical transition.
   [Patient name] reports a prior history of anxiety which appears to have been in response to the stressors during his early stages of transitioning. He was entered into therapy in [date patient began therapy]. At this time, he presents with no apparent residual psychiatric symptoms and is quite stable. He intends to continue his therapy regime which he believes has been helpful.
   [Patient name] seems to have significant progress in his transitioning and seems very happy in his decision to be male. He has a strong support system that includes a loving partner and family. He has steady employment that provides his benefits and is attending school for his professional aspirations. His judgment appears sound and good. He has good knowledge of, and had the ability to follow to Standards of Care for surgery.
   I met with [Patient name] for an evaluation on [date of evaluation] . I have no hesitation in recommending him for the procedure he has requested. He meets and exceeds the criteria as set forth by the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association. If you need any more information or have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at [therapist phone number].

Sincerely,

[Therapist name], [qualifications]

The 3 Magic Steps

There are three general steps to transitioning: thearapy, hormone treatment, and surgery. I will outline the steps and how to go about them. I haven't gone through them yet, but I have a job and am saving every dollar for it.

1. Therapy:
   - You may be thinking to yourself "I don't need therapy, I already know everything I need to." WRONG! You can learn a lot through therapy, if you have a good therapist.
   - Now is the time to make sure this is what you really want. Some of the changes from Testosterone are permanent, so be 100% sure this is what you want before you move on to step 2.
   - This part won't be fun: calling to set up your appointment. You have to be brave and make the call. When they ask what you need to be seen for, you must tell them "Gender Dysphoria" or "Gender Issues."
   - Depending on the person, this step could take months or longer. It's life changing and shouldn't be taken lightly.
   - You may lose family. You may lose some gay friends if you are active in the gay community. You could lose your job. You could get harassed at school. The list never ends, but if you want to transition, just do it. Be strong.
   - You will face challenges. Be brave and face them head-on!
   - I will be posting more about therapy and therapists soon.


2. Testosterone Hormone Therapy:
   - I have posted a bit about testosterone on this blog. Please make sure to look at those posts.
   - Get the letter of recommendation for hormone therapy from your therapist. That letter will halp you get your prescription for testosterone.
   - Testosterone is a steroid; it's not to be played around with.
   - T is a safe drug when it is used under supervision and is controlled. So use the correct dosage and see your doctor as regularly as you are told to.
   - The changes take years, taking more will not make changes happen faster. You could end up really ill or dead.


3. Surgery:
   - Quite a few surgeons require you to have had hormone therapy before they will operate on you, but just as many don't require it.
   - If you were planning chest surgery first, you don't need to be on testosterone (in most cases) before surgery.
   - You need to have a letter from your therapist recommending you for surgery before a surgeon will operate on you.
   - You can read about the types of surgeries in my "Types Of Surgeries" post.


If I missed anything, send me an email. TheAidenApocalypse@gmail.com

Surgeons

I will be listing some of the top surgeons for FTM surgeries. I'll say what they will perform (top, bottm, etc.) and contact info. I might add some pictures too. I'll tell what I have heard about each surgeon (if I have heard anything). I hope this list will help you.

Dr. Beverly A. Fischer, M.D.
Advanced Center for Plastic Surgery
12205-12207 Tullamore Rd.
Timonium, MD 21093
0r
2 Colgate Dr.
Suite 101
Forest Hills, MD 21050
Ftm top surgery
I have seen a lot of her work in photo galleries. It seems to vary greatly. I have seen amazing/perfect surgeries, but I have also seen surgeries that I thought looked very poorly done. The best and worst surgery photos I have seen have come from her.
http://www.beverlyfischer.com/



Dr. Yvon Menard, M.D.
Dr. Pierre Brassard, M.D.,
1003 East Boulevard St. Joseph, Montreal,
Quebec, Canada H2J 1L2
Phalloplasty, Metoidioplasty, Clitoral Freeing Procedures, Mastectomy
http://www.grsmontreal.com/anglais.html





Daniel A. Medalie, MD
Assistant Professor of Plastic Surgery
Metrohealth Medical Center
Case Western Reserve University
http://www.clevelandplasticsurgery.com/transgender-surgery



 
Dr. Raphael
1600 Coit St 105
Plano, Tx 75075
Ftm top surgery




John G. Gregory, MD, FACS
Deaconess Institute of Sexual Medicine
6125 Clayton Ave., #141
St. Louis, MO 63139



Eugene A. Schrang, M.D., S.C., Theda Clark Regional Medical Center
125 E. Forest Avenue
Neenah, WI 54956
Ftm top surgery
I was considering going there because it's pretty close to home and he seems pretty skilled.




Dr. Kenneth L. Stein
414 N. Orleans, Suite 209
Chicago, IL 60610


Dr. Alan N. Wilson
Detroit Medical Center,
573 Fisher Theater Building,
Detroit, MI 48202





Dr. Marci Bowers
406 First National Bank Building
Trinidad, CO 81082.
Ftm bottom and Mtf surgeries
http://www.marcibowers.com/grs/gender.html


Dr. Gary Alter
435 N. Bedford Dr. Suite 300
Beverly Hills, CA, 90210
http://www.altermd.com/

           


Dr. RE Moulton-Barrett, MD
2070 Clinton Av, Alameda, CA 94611
http://moulton-barrett.com/



These are obviously not all of the surgeons available. I just wanted to give you some to start looking at and comparing.

Surgery Types

I will be discussing a few different types of surgery and will probably add more information later.

There are three general types of surgeries:
1. Chest reconstruction surgery (sometimes called top surgery or male chest contouring)
2. Hysterectomy and oophorectomy (removing the uterus and ovaries)
3. Genital reconstruction surgery (sometimes called bottom surgery)

Within the Chest reconstruction surgery group, there are two subgroups:
1. Double incision/Bilateral mastectomy
2. Keyhole/Peri-areolar incision

Double incision/Bilateral mastectomy:

• usually used for guys with larger chests (usually B or higher)
• two incisions are made across the breasts, right below the nipples
• the skin is peeled back and the fatty tissue is removed, using a scalpel
• the skin is then trimmed and put back over the chest

Pros:

- best method for guys with large chests
- muscle growth and hair growth can help hide scars
- resizing and placement of the nipples make the chest more masculine looking

Cons:

- huge scars
- little or no nipple sensation
- may require revision
- areas of numbness
- appearance of puckering along the scars

Keyhole/Peri-areolar:

• effective for individuals with small chests (cup A or smaller is preferred, but a lot of surgeons will do size B)
• incisions are made around the areola
• fatty tissue is "scooped" out
• areola might be sized down
• skin is pulled taut toward the incision
• the incision is closed

Pros:

- minimal scarring
- sensation in the nipples

Cons:

- nipple placement might not be ideal
- possibility of sagging skin
- chest may not appear completely flat
- may need revision
- risk of nipple loss

Genital reconstruction surgery:
1. Metoidioplasty
2. Centurion
3. Phalloplasty

Metoidioplasty:

• clitoris grows because of testosterone
• the ligament holding the clitoris is cut, bringing the clitoris forward
• it will look like a small penis
• scrotal implants may be available

Pros:

- unassisted erection when aroused
- natural looking
- no visible scars

Cons:

- too small for penetration
- sometimes the clitoris doesn't get big enough by using testosterone


Centurion:

• round ligaments are freed from the labia majora and brought together along the shaft of the clitoris
• it provides girth
• the extraction of the round ligaments leaves a pocket
• silicone scrotal implants are placed into the pocket
• a urethral extension is made by using a catheter, which will be removed when it is healed

Pros:

- natural looking
- erotically sensate penis
- unassisted erection
- no visible scars

Cons:

- too small for penetration
- sometimes clitoris doesn't get big enough by using testosterone

Phalloplasty:

• many different types
• Gillies: flap of abdominal skin is rolled into a tube to create a penis
• Suitcase handle: improvement on the Gillies, flap is attached to the abdomin for a few weeks for proper blood supply and then released to hang down
• Free tissue flap transfer: more recent and improved; a flap of skin is removed, nerves and blood vessels in tact, and transferred to the groin area
• MLD flap: skin is taken from the torso, under the arm; considered to produce the most realistic looking penis; more erotically sensate
• scrotoplasty: paired with the phalloplasty; labia majora hollowed out and silicone implants are inserted to create a scrotum

Pros:

- average-sized penis
- realistic looking
- can urinate through
- can engage in penetrative sex

Cons:

- multiple surgical visits
- may need revisions
- expensive
- scarring
- pain
- long time for recovery

Personally, I am planning to get peri-areolar chest surgery and the MLD phalloplasty. The chest surgery will leave little scarring and that's what I want (also I have a small chest). The MLD is the best bottom surgery available. The pros outweigh the cons for me.

Even though I told you what I want for myself, only you can decide what's best for you. Even if you choose not to have any surgery, you will always be a man. Think very seriously about all your options before you make the choice. Surgery is serious and can not be undone.

Exciting Order

I finally got the chance to order binders from underworks! I got a black one and a white one. Can't wait for them to get here! I'll post pictures when they arrive so you guys can see what they look like.
If you plan on ordering from underworks and want to save a little money, I have a discount code for you. Enter it to get 10% off your purchase. I saved 6 bucks! Code: under10

Binding: The Dos and Don'ts

Many transmen feel the need to bind their chests.
Binding can be a great way to flatten your chest; but it can also be a health risk. You need to be careful of the way you bind. If binding is done wrong, it can mess up your ribs.
Don't:
- Use an ace bandage. It is too easy for you to make it too tight. It can move your ribs inward. It can bruise the tissue around your ribs. You could cause permanent damage to your sides. That permanent damage could make a surgeon not want to operate on your chest (if you plan on having that done). Ace bandages can often make it difficult to breathe. They are made to tighten with movement, so every time you breathe, it gets tighter. Ace bandages can also make bumps and roll up, making you look weird anyway.
- Bind your chest for more than eight hours. It can start restricting your breathing. You could possibly pass out or damage your ribcage badly. (even if you own an actual binder)
- Avoid sleeping in your binder at all costs. You can badly mess up your back.
Do:
- If you can afford it, buy a chest binder. They can flatten out your chest and are a lot safer than an ace bandage. Make sure you get the right size by measuring your chest. I will post links to great sites to get these at the bottom of this post.
- Not all people can afford a chest binder. There is a cheaper way to bind. It might not give you the best results, but it's better than nothing. You can get a sports bra a size smaller than you wear. Put that on with one in your size over the top. Wear an undershirt and the shirt you want to wear for that day over thebras. This might not work in the summer because it will be too hot. This probably won't work if you have a large chest either.
- If you feel the need to use that ace bandage, you need to be very careful. Don't bind everyday. Don't make it as tight as possible. Try to leave it a little loose so you can still breathe and move pretty easily.

So to sum everything up: Actual binders are the best option. They are the safest for you. They give you the best bind.
Be careful if you use ace bandages.
Sports bras can be a decent option.

If you have a large chest, I am very sorry. I have no idea what to tell you. Chest binders are still going to be your best option. I honestly don't know another safe way for you guys to bind.

Great Binders:
http://ftm.underworks.com/
http://www.t-kingdom.com/
http://www.thesurgerystore.com/compression_garment/breast_binders.html

Underworks is probably the best site to get binders. Most people get them from there. When I get mine, I will show you some pictures.