A fundraising campaign has gathered almost $5,000 for his surgery

Uncomfortable with his appearance, he has booked chest reconstruction

A Melbourne transmasculine teenager who crowdfunded his own chest reconstruction is also playing an important role in the city's youth trans and gender diverse community.

Erik Ly was 14 when he began identifying as transmasculine, part of a story which has not always been easy.

But his crowdfunding success - something that often does not succeed for others in his position - is another step towards being more comfortable in his own body, he told Daily Mail Australia.

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Erik Ly has raised more than $4000 for a chest reconstruction using a crowdfunding campaign

With the help of 88 generous people, Erik's effort to crowdfund $6000 of the $9000 required for the surgery reached $4,370 before it closed on Friday evening.

The $9000 procedure included costs for the surgeon, anaesthetic, hospital equipment and accommodation, requiring $6000 by mid-October to make the surgery a reality.

He intended to meet the rest of the costs himself.

'I was really overwhelmed... I feel really, really grateful that everyone is supporting me,' he said.

Erik is also the secretary for a social support and advocacy group for trans/gender diverse youth

Unlike many trans or gender diverse people who did not succeed in raising the funding necessary for reconstructive surgery, Erik was lucky to receive support from a large number of his connections, he said.

Those were made in his work with community organisations and support groups, trying to raise the awareness of gender diversity.

Although this story is Erik's, he wants to highlight that it is not just about him.

He is the secretary for Ygender, a social support and advocacy group for trans/gender diverse youths.

Erik's chest reconstruction surgery is booked in for December

'Trans and gender diverse people are just like everyone else.

'Perhaps some needs are a little different [but] we need support from the community.'

For example, making assumption's about someone's personal pronouns may seem insignificant, but could become an issue for someone being represented as something they were not.

The wider community had a poor mental health record, contributed to by daily discrimination, Erik said.

Erik suffers from dysphoria - a state of unease or discomfort, particularly in one's body

Reconstructive surgery posed a bigger boundary due to the cost, he said.

An inability to have surgery and therefore a body a person could identify with had a huge impact on people.

He hoped such services would become widely available.

'These life-saving reconstructive surgeries that trans and gender diverse people may need as a part of their transition should be covered by Medicare, and should be performed in public hospitals. We deserve access to adequate healthcare like everyone else does.'

On a personal level, Erik has been suffering from dysphoria, a result of his body not reflecting who he is.

Dysphoria is a state of unease or discomfort, particularly in one's body, he said.

Erik hopes reconstructive surgery for trans and gender diverse people will become available through public healthcare

He wore a binder to help flatten his chest, but it was a temporary solution.

'I’m still being restricted from many activities that most people would take it for granted.'

Earlier in 2015, Erik consulted with a doctor in Melbourne and booked in for surgery in early December.

He wrote on his fundraiser the surgery had been his dream since age 12.

His emotions were a mix of excitement, fear, nervousness and happiness.

'Most importantly, I can’t wait until I can see more of myself reflected in the mirror.

'I just want to be myself.'