How I decided to get top surgery — and how I actually scheduled it. Because honestly? That part felt just as overwhelming as the decision itself.
I’ve officially scheduled my top surgery. It’s happening in a little over a month, which is wild to say out loud. I’m excited, I’m nervous, and I’m definitely not hiding either of those feelings. Medical stuff makes me anxious, hospitals make me anxious, and surgery? Yeah, that’s a whole thing. But today isn’t really about the fear — it’s about the process and how I got here.
Watch the companion video here!
Why It Took Me Three Years to Decide
Top surgery wasn’t a quick decision for me. From the time I first learned it was even an option to the moment I actually scheduled it, about three years passed.
I needed that time. I wanted to be completely sure I wasn’t rushing into something or making a decision I’d regret later. Sitting with it, thinking about it, and revisiting the idea over and over again helped me realize that this wasn’t a phase or a passing thought — it was something I genuinely wanted and needed.
Once I reached that point of certainty, the next step was figuring out how to make it happen.
Choosing a Surgeon (and Trusting My Gut)
I chose to go with Dr. Garramone in Florida, near Fort Lauderdale. To be honest, I didn’t spend years comparing surgeons. I came across him early on, and his results really stood out to me.
What mattered most was consistency. His results are very “cookie-cutter” in the best way — you know what you’re getting. He does a high number of surgeries each year, has a low complication and revision rate, and clearly knows what he’s doing.
I’ll be having double incision surgery. I personally prefer the way those results look, especially when it comes to nipple placement and overall chest contour. I also like that the scars sit under the pectoral muscles, which helps them blend in more naturally.
At the end of the day, I chose him because I felt confident in his work — and confidence matters when you’re trusting someone with your body.
Reaching Out and Scheduling the Top Surgery Consult
Actually contacting the office was surprisingly simple. I went to the website, clicked the “Contact Us” button, and filled it out on a Friday. Since the office is closed on Fridays, weekends, and Sundays, I didn’t hear back until Monday — which was totally expected.
On Monday, they reached out and scheduled a top surgery consult. They only do consults on Mondays and Wednesdays, and since I have Mondays off, I booked it for the following week.
From first contact to the actual consultation, it was about a week. That felt pretty reasonable to me.
Sending Photos (The Most Awkward Part)
Before the consultation, I had to send photos of my chest. I won’t lie — this was nerve-wracking. Sending pictures of your chest to someone you’ve never met feels extremely weird, even when you know it’s for medical reasons.
But it’s necessary. The surgeon needs to know what they’re working with so they can tell you what procedure makes the most sense and what results to expect. Once I sent them in, there was nothing to do but wait.
The Phone Consultation: Quick but Reassuring
The top surgery consult call happened a couple of days later. I was told to expect the call anytime between noon and 5 p.m. Eastern Time. They ended up calling around 2:30, which wasn’t bad at all.
Talking to the surgeon was fast and to the point. He reviewed my photos, confirmed that double incision was the best option for my chest, and explained why other methods wouldn’t give the best result in my case.
Then came the medical questions — lots of them. Gender identity, support system, medical history, medications, family history, allergies, height, weight — all the standard stuff. It was thorough, but not uncomfortable.
The actual conversation with him took about five minutes. After that, I was on hold for around 15–20 minutes while they handled scheduling for people ahead of me. The entire call lasted about 30 minutes total.
It was very much a “get in, get it done” type of interaction — which I expected. He’s busy, and I didn’t need small talk. What mattered was that he was clear, confident, and professional.
Costs, Travel, and What to Expect
Here’s the basic breakdown I was given:
- Surgery fee: $8,000
- Hospital and anesthesia fee: $2,275
- Pathology fee: $300
- Outpatient procedure: Go home the same day
- 1 week check up: come back a week later to get the drains out
I’ll need a letter from a therapist or physician recommending surgery, plus medical clearance and lab work within 30 days of the surgery date.
Most patients travel in one or two days before surgery, have a pre-op appointment, undergo surgery the next day, and then stay in town for about a week. Around a week after surgery, there’s a follow-up appointment where drains are removed and you’re taught how to care for your chest.
All of this was laid out clearly, which helped calm some of my anxiety.
Scheduling the Date (and the Deposit)
After the consultation, I spoke with the scheduler. She was really nice, just clearly very busy and juggling a lot. There were no issues — just a bit of back-and-forth while checking availability.
To officially schedule the surgery, there’s a $1,000 deposit, which is good to know ahead of time.
Once that was done, it was real. Like… really real.
Final Thoughts: Nervous, Excited, and Ready
Overall, the entire experience went well. Talking to the surgeon was exciting and intimidating at the same time, especially since I hate phone calls. But it felt worth it.
I haven’t had the surgery yet, so I can’t speak to that part — but based on the consultation and scheduling process alone, I’d absolutely recommend at least looking into Dr. Garramone if you’re considering top surgery.
If you have questions, feel free to leave them in the comments. I’ll do my best to answer. And until next time — have a good day, week, month… however long it is until we cross paths again.
