While en route, I had decided that I wanted to add rhinoplasty to my shopping list of procedures I wanted accomplished on this trip. It would cost an additional $4,000.00 for that, but my clients told me that they would deposit a sum much greater than that into my account the day I arrived. I decided to call and check on the status of my account before I set off to the hospital and the orientation. I suppose that it good that I did, as I was told that they were not going to deposit any money, as they had decided to postpone opening bids for two weeks. No amount of reasoning, pleading would convince them to go ahead and pay me at this time, they steadfastly refused. I didn’t know what to do, and my appointment was to be in 2 hours. I changed, freshened up a little and set off down the street to catch the J Church Line to the hospital. I was told that it was 3 blocks from the stop to the hospital, and as I began the trek I learned that the blocks in San Francisco are three times longer than in any other city, and wouldn’t you know it, everybody was out looking at me, and they were all set to rob me blind. At least that is what I thought, and I somehow made it safely to the office.
I was led to an Exam Room, and after a bit, Dr. O’s associate, Mira, came to ask if I was wearing a wig, which was sweet because I know she knew I was, but at her request, I removed it so she could take the obligatory before photos. Then I was sent to another Room to await the Doctor. Upon his arrival, I asked if he would add my nose work to the schedule of work to be done tomorrow, and he carefully explained that he does the nose and forehead bossing procedures together, and no amount of promising to never have my forehead done would convince him to do my nose. Eventually I accepted that I would have to come back later for this work, and so I scheduled a later visit on December 4th. We agreed to the following procedures:
Lip lift: the proportions of the female face are such that the lips are closer to the nose in the female face, and it is lifted at the center, rather than straight across as in a man’s face. An incision is made under the nose and the lips repositioned properly, and then stitched in place. The lips would be swollen for a while.
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Jaw tapering: the male jaw is squarer than the woman’s, and the muscle along the jaw is to be reduced, and the angle of the bone is to be tapered. An incision is made inside the mouth at the bottom of the lower gums to access these areas. There is a chance that the muscle could be damaged, resulting in the loss of feeling there. There could be bruising in this area after surgery, and some pain similar to having a root canal on all your lower teeth.
Chin setback and tapering: The male chin is generally wide and vertically high, while the female chin tends to be more pointed, narrow, and vertically shorter. It was also necessary to move my chin back as well as tapering it. This work is also accessed through the mouth, with bruising in the area expected, numbness and swelling lasting up to 3 months
Tracheal shave: women don’t have an Adam’s Apple, the upper end of the thyroid cartilage, Dr. Ousterhout performs this procedure by making an incision under the neck in a crease to access this cartilage rather than over the cartilage as other surgeons do. There is a change in the voice temporarily. The higher notes will not be available, and the volume is lowered. Bruising and swelling are to be expected in this area.
I was to be at the hospital the following morning at 6:00 AM, and luckily, they arranged for a taxi to bring me, which was wonderful, as I did not relish that walk to the hospital so early in the morning. Mira then sent me to the hospital to check in so I could just waltz in the next day and go to pre-op. I took this time to explain to Mira and the hospital that I had a new name, and I had them change all the paper work to my legal new name Allison Diane, and I was on my way. All I had to do was wait until the next day.
I found my way back to the J Church Line stop, and home. When I arrived, my roommates greeted me, one was a policeman, who had been to Dr.Ousterhout for an earlier procedure, and had returned for some additional work, and was living full time as a woman. Another was living full time as a woman, working as a hairdresser who had come to Dr. O to correct some botched surgery performed on her face by another Plastic Surgeon, another was a couple from England, who had come for the complete facial feminization treatment. After we visited a while, I mentioned I wanted Pizza, and those that could walk 4 or 5 blocks to the business district nearby. No one even took a second look at us as we went about our business. I really love this town. After dinner we strolled along visiting and window-shopping, no one made special notice of us the entire evening, other than the normal politeness people in public have for on another. When we got home, it was bedtime for me, I had to get up at 5:00, in 5 hours.
Next: Oh my God, It’s Happening
