welcome! this is a place for me to share all the resources and tips i gathered in preparing for my top surgery. i got my chest changed on april 22nd, 2026 :)

my name is ginger! i'm a 28-year-old trans person in nyc with a "fuck around and find out" outlook on my gender transition. i'm just trying shit and seeing what feels good. i've been on and off testosterone gel of different doses since february 2023.

i saw dr. lisa schneider of rowe plastic surgery for a non-flat top surgery, or "bilateral breast reduction," with double incision. i did not keep my nipples—i left them in new jersey! my primary reasoning for the surgery was sensory issues, as well as seeking greater gender euphoria. dr. schneider gave me so much freedom in deciding what my new chest could look like: not just size and shape, but scar location too. other surgeons would not work with me due to insurance and/or my high bmi, but dr. schneider didn't mention my weight even once. i would definitely recommend dr. schneider to anyone (especially fellow fat people!!!) looking for a chest surgery of any kind (reduction, revision, or augmentation, gender-affirming or otherwise).

i did a shit ton of research in preparing for my recent chest change. here is a list of things i did pre-op to make my recovering process easier:

• made a spreadsheet with timelines, shopping list, questions for the surgeon/nurse, and to-do lists
• got bloodwork done for clearance from my PCP
• researched reference photos on reddit to make sure my surgeon and i were on the same page about desired outcomes
• had a surgery-specific session with my herbalist, Finn Oakes, who sent me tinctures and scar salve
• took private Pilates lessons with Sofia Engelman of Queer Body Pilates to help with post-op mobility
• started a low-sodium diet (with cooking help!) 1-2 weeks before surgery
• resumed therapy sessions
• got massages to ease anxiety and body pain
• went to my local piercing studio and got support taking all my piercings out and installing glass retainers for surgery
• adjusted my medication regimen: switched from smoking weed to edibles and tinctures only, stopped taking my adderall 5-7 days pre-op, and started taking arnica 4x/day 2 weeks pre-op
• went on a (virtual) shopping spree: got supplies for the recovery period based on lots of research, got button-down shirts to wear during recovery, and got a few new shirts to look forward to wearing once i'm healed!
• bought automated cat feeders and got the cats used to the new routine in advance of surgery
• got my hair cut and colored to make sure i would feel like myself while recovering
• got my nails done, but made sure i kept my two index fingers bare (as instructed by my surgical team)
• collected resources and information from various subreddits and random websites and pdfs i found online
• designed custom stickers to celebrate the occasion
• made a list of tv shows i might want to watch during recovery
• filled up pill organizers with my medications for the first week of post-op recovery
• reached out for support and planned for people to come over to provide in-person support with medication tracking, eating, bathing, emotional support, etc.
• asked members of my community for kind words of encouragement the day before surgery to help with my anxieties
• scheduled post-op manual lympathic drainage massages in advance

i'll give more info about the specific resources i found, subreddits i perused, people whose services i enlisted, and any other helpful links i came across soon.

thanks for checking out my site!