A question that we are asked by some prospective patients considering gender affirming top surgery is whether they must have a letter from their therapist prior to scheduling their consultation with me.
In case you don’t know what this letter is, it is an official documentation by your therapist or other approved mental health provider stating that you have gender dysphoria, have been successfully living full time in your identified gender and are mentally competent to make related decisions.
For more information on who can write the letter see
Update on “What Letters Do You Need For Scheduling Your FTM/FTN Top Surgery?”
To find a therapist, the reasons for the letter and what it must document, see Obtaining a Therapist Letter for FTM or FTN Top Surgery.
It turns out that the overwhelming majority of patients who contact our office seeking top surgery have either seen or are scheduled to be seen by a therapist. Many initially started seeing a therapist in order to address their anxiety, depression, ADHD or other psychological problems. Ultimately, gender concerns came out. Many others sought therapy and counseling in order to explore and deal with their gender issues.
Some of these individuals already had letters written by their therapists in support of their desire for top surgery. Others were in the process of obtaining their letter. Many had not yet reached that point.
A very small minority had not even seen any therapist at the time of their call.
Regardless of whether or not a letter has been written, is in the process of being written or is not even on the radar, it is our policy to see patients in consultation who are considering top surgery.
Again, we WILL see patients who are seeking a consultation for top surgery whether or not they have their letter.
Your consultation is a very invaluable informational session that should absolutely help you in your gender based journey and we want to make sure that you get that opportunity.
Of course, if you ultimately want to surgically proceed with top surgery and it has been determined that this is an appropriate choice for you, a letter from your therapist will be needed before your surgery can be scheduled and then done.
If you have any additional questions regarding issues related to the letter from your therapist or would like to schedule a consultation with me for possible top surgery, you can contact our office, the Arizona Center for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, at (480) 451-3000 or online here.
Steven H. Turkeltaub, M.D. P.C.
Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona
