Transition: Surgical
Sadly, I think this is what most people think of when they think of transition. Here also is where things become the most diverse. Within the gender community there are those who don't want surgery, those who do, those who only want specific ones...the list goes on. In terms of the SOC there really is only one surgery and that is Sexual (or sometimes Gender) Reassignment Surgery (SRS/GRS). Or as I've always loving called it "the snip and tuck". Other possible surgeries range from facial feminization surgery to rib removal. Some are obviously more drastic then others. But here, money is king (or queen if you'd rather!).
So let me give you an example of how money talks:
- SRS
- Voice surgery (including a trachea shave)
- Breast Augmentation
- Hair removal
- 15-30,000 (or more depending where you go).
- 8,000 last time I checked.
- 8,000 (according to a girl I know).
- 10-20,000 for the face alone.
The surgical aspect of transition can cost upwards of 100,00 USD! It gets crazy expensive. Most of us spend more time wishing that we could have SRS, yet realize it will probably never happen.
In terms of the SOC you will usually require two letters here. One from a therapist whom you've spent a "considerable" amount of time seeing, and a psychologist. Again these letters are meant to keep anyone from doing this who has different (if similar) issues.