Geri asks, "What percentage of transgenders decide to have surgery - facial and/or reassignment (Is that the appropriate term?)?

So let’s start here; some definitions I like. Gender is what’s between your ears and sex is what’s between your legs. And I for one think by definition the true transgender desires surgery of some sort – face or genital or other. However, is very expensive and whereas most all want it few can pay the price. Here are some numbers to consider. SF’s population is about 800,000 and whereas the national average for trans folks in any given population is about 1% I think SF being the gender/sex deviant, alternative life-style accepting place it is I think the trans population may be 3% or higher. So we have 24,000 or more trans folks moving about the city but my guess is only about 10% of them come up with the necessary funds for any kind of surgery. That would translate to about 2400 surgeries on this SF population. While the mind has transitioned the body cries out for work by specialized plastic surgeons demanding cash up front almost always without the help of any insurance. Hormones are cheap. Genital surgery is $25,000 and higher. A very depressing exercise is to make a list of the financial costs. Start with electrolysis which is never ending, align your psyche with a gender specialist therapist for years of pricey fifty minute sessions, add some hormones, shop a few facial reconstruction plastic surgeons and then get quotes from a couple of gender reassignment surgeons. You can purchase a great house in many cities or certainly bring home a great new “ride” for less. Oh … did I mention throwing out all your drab, male clothing and setting sail on the rough, uncharted for you waters of makeup, new underwear, separates, colors, fabrics, jewelry, hair, nails, necklines, hemlines, panty lines and restroom lines? But it is so worth it if … you are truly a transgender!