Deciding to move forward with a top procedure is a big step and understanding the costs of FTM Top Surgery is essential. So, it is important to research the procedure or surgery beforehand thoroughly. This also means going in-depth when it comes to cost and additional expenses. In general, you should expect to pay anywhere from $3,500 to $9,000+ for FTM top surgery. Of course, this is just for the actual surgery itself; there are many other expenses to factor into the total cost like travel, recovery-related bills, medical costs (follow-up visits, pain medications, etc.) so on.

General FTM Top Surgery Cost

As briefly mentioned, a typical FTM top procedure can easily cost you $10,000 and up. That said, this gender affirming surgery involves a certain level of expertise, which generally means you are going to be paying top dollar for this medical procedure. The good news is that you may be able to find a board-certified surgeon in your area that specializes in FTM top surgery that your insurance may cover. If you have any questions about the cost or financing options associated with top procedures, you should consult a surgeon.

Does Insurance Cover Any of It?

If you can find reputable top surgeons, who are willing to work with your insurance company to cover all or a portion of your surgery, you may be able to breathe a sigh of relief. Keeping that in mind, often, it is your medical insurance company that may trip you up here. Currently, not all insurance companies offer transgender health/medical insurance, which means you may have to pay out-of-pocket for the cost of your FTM top surgery. Though, there has been broader coverage thanks to Medicare, Medicaid, and a select few medical care insurance companies, mainly private. Note, you might also want to check into available surgery loans if you are denied medical coverage.

Plastic Surgery Consultations

You should also expect to pay a pretty penny to see a plastic surgery consultant before your surgery. Again, if your insurance covers these types of visits, then you do not have to worry about additional costs. Nevertheless, it is important to discuss which particular method or technique your surgeon will likely employ during the procedure itself during your consultation. This matters in terms of cost because more complex processes like the double incision top surgery take longer. This particular procedure tends to be more labor-intensive than the other top surgery techniques. In this procedure, the nipple is removed, and free nipple grafts are positioned to give the chest a more masculine look or appearance.

Board-Certified Surgeon’s Fee

Along those same lines, you can expect the fee for your surgeon to vary. The price for a top surgery specialist is different in just about every location. For instance, you can expect to pay $8,000 to $12,000 for a double incision top surgery by one of California's top surgeons. Yet, in New York, FTM top surgery specialist may cost approximately $7,100.

Operating room and Anesthesia Fees

In addition to varying surgeon fees, you can expect to pay for the operating room, the anesthesiologist fees, facility expenses, medical tests, pathology fees (for breast tissue biopsy and cancer screening), and more. You will need to also add other top surgery related items to the total amount, like your post-operative costs. Notable post-operative items include a chest compression vest, medications, chest tape, gauze, and scar care--just to name a few.

Travel Costs of FTM Top Surgery

Besides the expenses mentioned above, you may have to also add travel and lodging to the cost of FTM Top Surgery. For many people, the right top surgery care is simply not available where they live. As a result, they must travel to other cities or states to receive the proper care and access top surgery specialists.

Recovery Costs

Once your top surgery is complete, the real work begins. Of course, recovery times vary depending on the chosen method or technique. For example, if you have the keyhole top surgery, your overall recovery time will likely be shorter. Through a small incision, breast tissue is removed, and then the nipple incision is closed. Here, both the nipple and areola are left pretty much intact, leaving you with a small scar near your nipple or mid-part of your chest. That said, after two weeks, you should notice a decrease in chest swelling, and you should have nipple sensation. At this time, you should be able to go back to work and your vacation time likely covered your absence. For the other two chest surgery methods, you can expect to be down for longer. As a result, you will probably need to set aside some additional funds to cover the time you missed at work and to afford other expenses.

Follow-up appointments

While recovering from your chest or gender-affirming surgery, you can expect to have a few follow-up appointments. More than likely, you will be charged a co-pay for your follow-ups, but the cost should be minimal or small, especially if you have good insurance. Note, due to COVID-19, your follow-up appointments might be done virtually if possible. Typically, virtual appointments are inexpensive and can help you save on travel cost for your FTM Top Surgery.