Gender-affirming surgeries for Imago patients available now!

It is with profound excitement and immense pride that I share these extraordinary news: after nearly a year of research, grueling negotiations, meticulous vetting, and confronting the bitter realities of the medical industry, Imago has forged a strategic partnership that opens the doors to a comprehensive range of gender-affirming surgeries and treatments for our members.

From the inception of Imago, it was evident to me that trans individuals required complementary services rooted in respect, compassion, and professional excellence, where no patient would feel like a commodity, but rather a person valued and prioritized. For many of us, trans individuals, it was critical for not merely our well-being – but being.

It is particularly gratifying to achieve this during Imago’s formative year, considering its relatively early stage of development and, most importantly, my “impossible” expectations regarding potential partner’s experience and professional proficiency, highest ethical standards, and flawless conduct in terms of trans-friendliness. When I founded Imago, designing the patient experience was the easiest of all. I simply sought to create what I, as a trans person, would like my own journey to be. It was equally crucial to me to be able to recommend a partner not only capable of delivering gender-affirming surgeries on the highest level of medical skill and artistic talent but also willing to make trans people feel safe, respected, and cared for.

Setting the bar “too high”

As I delved deeper into the medical industry, I was confronted with harsh realities. The sad truth is that healthcare, including trans healthcare, is too often reduced to a numbers game. Even more appalling than rapacious greed which characterises many medical “professionals” are incompetence masquerading as expertise, hubris, and egos inflated beyond reason. Many of them seem to have forgotten the Hippocratic Oath, instead driven by arrogance and self-interest, replacing evidence-based practices with dogma, superstition, and ego. The lows of this journey were plentiful – culminating in one prospective partner who cynically attempted to exploit and weaponize my own gender dysphoria to renegotiate terms already agreed upon – a chilling reminder of the predatory practices some deem acceptable. To call this discouraging would be an understatement; it was infuriating.

I share this behind-the-scenes account not to dishearten but to shed light on the challenges that defined this journey. The lengthy process wasn’t for lack of eager wannabe-partners – it was a matter of filtering out the unethical, the dishonest, and the inadequate. I rejected those who prioritized personal gain over patient care, and those unwilling to meet the standards that trans individuals deserve.

How I became a guinea pig

One challenge made the process especially intricate. Gender-affirming surgeries have the power to liberate someone from dysphoria, but when mishandled, they risk compounding it. Hence, I wrestled with a moral dilemma: How could I, in good conscience, being aware of the above, recommend a clinic without taking the risk myself? To ensure no compromise in quality, I decided to become the test case, subjecting myself to the very procedures I sought to make accessible to our community – a deliberate choice to intertwine my professional mission with my personal journey.

The psychology of this decision was layered. By tying my own aspirations and future to this endeavour, I ensured I would never settle for less than the highest standard. Many surgeons were willing to perform individual surgeries for trans patients (or: accept trans patients’ money), but building an ecosystem of trans-friendly practices and policies? That required a rare kind of dedication – and a partner willing to transcend conventional approaches. It tested my resolve. This decision was not without its emotional toll. Many times, I was tempted to separate my own transition from Imago's goals, to complete my journey privately and spare myself the exhausting complexities of securing an all-encompassing solution. But I knew this would leave the community – and myself – bereft of something far greater. I considered it a betrayal of my mission and principles. What fuelled me through moments of doubt was a righteous anger at the rotten system and its failures I was resolute to overcome, and determination to prove all the defeatists once again the “impossible” was, in fact, achievable.

It all paid off! Last month, I underwent a nine-hour surgery, paving a way for this partnership. I’m convinced I’ve made the right choice. But you will be able to draw your own conclusions once I share materials documenting the process and details clinics rarely decide to reveal.

More than a partnership

I am thrilled to announce, beginning 01.01.2025, Imago members will gain access to an extraordinary range of gender-affirming surgeries and related procedures, performed by some of the most talented and experienced surgeons in their respective fields. These surgeons, alongside their clinic, are committed to delivering care that far surpasses the standard typically available to trans patients (or, to be more precise: patients of any gender). But this partnership is not merely a transaction; it is a shared commitment to Imago’s mission. The clinic’s leadership has embraced our cause, and their collaboration will actively support the fight for the human rights of trans people. This is more than a partnership – it is an alliance. Together, we are paving the way for a brighter, more equitable future for trans healthcare.

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