Happy to have a flat chest, but do not like the grafting technique

The gatekeeping process all transgender patients need to go through at Mayo Clinic before being allowed to even meet with a surgeon is expensive and harmful. I was originally denied surgery by their "care team" of endocrinologists and social workers on the grounds of "not being on testosterone long enough." Thankfully, I'm a nurse and have read the WPATH guidelines front to back, so I was able to advocate for myself and have the decision reversed.

I had a double-incision mastectomy with free nipple grafts with Dr. Martinez in November 2018. Dr. Martinez himself was kind and worked really hard on my top surgery.

However, I was consistently called "she" and my legal/birth name by all staff (from the plastic surgery team, to the medical photographers, to the nurses when I was in recovery). I was very happy to have a flat chest, but I do not like the grafting technique Dr. Martinez used on my nipples (it looks like my nipples are sitting on *top* of my skin, not at the same level as the rest of the skin). I also did not like the dog ears under each arm. I sought a revision with Dr. Tracy Kayan in June 2021 and am much happier now with the results.

Overall, I do not recommend getting transgender-related surgery at Mayo Clinic because of their gatekeeping and general transphobic staff. If this is the only place you can go because of insurance, the social workers (Nicole and Katy) will be your best allies and advocates, so I recommend connecting with them early in the process. If you are denied surgery by their gatekeeping "care team," reach out to the social workers and ask them to connect you with the PFAC (Patient and Family Advisory Council).