Gender-affirming surgery, such as female-to-male (FTM) top surgery, has been known to improve and save lives, experts say. However, not all medical insurance companies cover gender-affirming procedures, and some patients may not have access to insurance or the funds to undergo gender-affirming care. To combat this, Javad Sajan, MD, founder of Seattle-based Allure Esthetic, has created a program to offer pro-bono top surgery to qualifying patients under the poverty line.
According to Consumer Reports, 1 in 5 transgender people report being denied medical care. Allure Esthetic aims to provide care in the form of surgery to transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming individuals. Along with this, patients may not get a say in who their provider is or have long wait times to undergo care.
“Many patients on state-subsidized programs have to wait years to get this life-saving surgery. Through this program, we offer these patients a chance to have the freedom of choosing their provider and undergoing the surgery in a timely manner,” Sajan says.
Allure Esthetic knows that surgery is not accessible to everyone, Sajan adds. Yet, as a procedure that reduces gender dysphoria, they created this pro bono program in an effort to perform life-saving care for individuals who may not be able to afford or seek gender-affirming surgery, he says.
To apply for the pro-bono top surgery program, the patient will need to contact the Allure Esthetic office. The application will involve submitting a personal statement, a medical history, financial statements, and photos of the surgical area. From there, Sajan and the review team will review to identify good surgical candidates and evaluate each applicant’s unique needs.
