there are niches for everyone within sex work. the “ideal” has changed a lot over the last twenty years. especially in portland, there is a larger variety of bodies on show. i would suggest that you take a moment to think about what success would look like for you. is that being able to pay your bills and put a little aside? is that saving for school? is that money to travel? to work enough to pay your bills and volunteer the rest of your time?
success looks different for everyone and if you’re interested longevity or maintaining healthy work/life balance, do not compare your success to others - perceived or otherwise. i also would not listen to friends opinions who are not in the industry - imo, sex workers (and especially nb post top surgery) are the only people in the position to give you true advice on this. everything else is going to be civilians (non-swers) thoughts and opinions.
the customers who pay sex workers are generally cis heterosexual men. and that group generally hasn’t done a lot of work breaking down and analyzing their own attractions & beauty standards they hold to the objects of their desire. there will be clients for you post top surgery, but yes, probably less than if you opted to wait and work a year or two and then had surgery.
do what feels right for you. as someone who took what clients wanted into consideration for nearly a decade (implants, stopped getting tattooed, traditional hair colors, gym, tan, designer goods) the most free i’ve felt has been to radically alter my appearance in line with what makes me happy. i lost clients. i don’t care, i feel more at home in my body now, and that was very important to me at this point in my career.
best of luck! dm if you’d like other local resources.