Topic: Aesthetics.

[CosmicJoke]

Hi everyone. This is a question primarily related to MtF vaginoplasty. I have seen an episode of I am Jazz before where she is extremely fixated on having a "pretty" result. I personally have never undergone this procedure but I was wondering from others here; When it comes to undergoing this surgery how concerned should you be with the aesthetic part of it?

[pamelatransuk]

I had MDV last June but whether I chose vaginoplasty or MDV, the answer is "most important indeed" and certainly necessary to reduce Dysphoria and make you truly feel a woman. To me, this definitely ranks above sensation/orgasm.

Hugs

Pamela xx

[Rakel]

Way back when the first vaginoplasties were done, the results were not very life like. This was back in the 1960's. It was not until the 1970's that penile inversion became the standard procedure, but even then the asethetics were not as good as they are today. In the 1980's, Dr Schrang and Dr Bowers were some of the first surgeons to emphasize asethetics as a routine desirable result. Others have followed and today, many surgeons have results that are nearly identical to cis vaginas.

It takes a skilled surgeon to give adequate depth, clitoral sensation and good asethetics. Not every surgeon can do this consistantly.

It is my opinion that all three qualities of adequate depth, clitoral sensation and good asethetics are necessary for a satisfactory result.

[SarahEL]

For me, how it looked was not that big a factor.. the GD was from how it used to look... basically, anything other than that (dangly bits) and I would of been 'cured'..

As it is, I got a really good surgeon.. I got a really good result.. and it is as close to cis-natural as you can get (ask my boyfriend!) ... and it has only been nearly 3 months post op...

[AnonyMs]

You should be as concerned about as much as you care. If you (and any potential partners) don’t care what it looks like then don’t worry about it. And there’s a lot more surgeons to choose from that way. Unfortunately for Jazz she ended up with major complications and scarring.

Complications are something everyone should be concerned with as it can cause endless problems, permanently compromised results, years of searching for someone who can fix it, and at the end of the day maybe you can’t.

[davina61]

I had same doc as Sarah , had to go to my GP to check bleeding/soreness out (granulation) and both the doc and nurse said it looked natural .

[Mandy M]

It's worth adding to this is that there is incredible variety of vaginas in the cis-female world. I've never seen two that look the same, and I'm ashamed to say that I have seen a lot: huge variations in everything from size to labia to clitoris to position. They are literally ALL different.

If you google the The Great Wall of Vaginas you will see what I mean. Great artistic work and powerful message by the way.

One thing that I have to reject is Rakel's comment about adequate depth. That's her opinion which is right for her. It should not be considered a requirement for a satisfactory result for you or indeed anyone else. There are plenty of women who have gone through minimal depth vaginoplasty who feel that it is exactly right for them and who don't want the faff of having to dilate, especially when the majority of those surgeries do not replicate self-lubricating cis vaginas. This is all the more the case if (like me) you are not attracted to men or penises.

Go with what works for you and then be confident.

xx

[pamelatransuk]

One thing that I have to reject is Rakel's comment about adequate depth. That's her opinion which is right for her. It should not be considered a requirement for a satisfactory result for you or indeed anyone else. There are plenty of women who have gone through minimal depth vaginoplasty who feel that it is exactly right for them and who don't want the faff of having to dilate, especially when the majority of those surgeries do not replicate self-lubricating cis vaginas. This is all the more the case if (like me) you are not attracted to men or penises.

Go with what works for you and then be confident.

xx

Precisely, Mandy or as I would say "not attracted to men or penises or body hair".

MDV and Aesthetics are what matters to me. No dilation thanks.

Please, CJ, simply choose what matters for you as it is a major operation and only you can decide.

Hugs

Pamela xx

[Dorit]

I would think that most surgeons can give a result that in the end is indistinguishable from a CIS vagina.  Mine is!  I have a friend who is a 30 years veteran midwife.  She said she has probably seen 10,000 vaginas, but never a SRS surgery. So I kindly offered.   She was amazed, she said that if she had not known me personally she would have thought I was born female.   And by the way, I had an MDV. 

[Devlyn]

Hi everyone. This is a question primarily related to MtF vaginoplasty. I have seen an episode of I am Jazz before where she is extremely fixated on having a "pretty" result. I personally have never undergone this procedure but I was wondering from others here; When it comes to undergoing this surgery how concerned should you be with the aesthetic part of it?

Everyone's priorities are different, after the obvious first couple:

1. Come off the operating table alive.
2. Heal without complications; ability to urinate, no fistulas, no infection, no necrosis.

The other areas are where people's priorities start to diverge. Some want a certain look. Some want depth. Some want sensation and the ability to orgasm. Only you know what you really desire from the surgery/surgeries.

[Rakel]

Ladies,

I am sorry that my comments about "adequate depth" was taken as excluding MDV. I have always thought that adequate is acceptable for whatever we desired.

If MDV is your choice, then MDV is just as adequate and any other vaginal depth.

Take care. 

[pamelatransuk]

Thank you Rakel and I promise you no offence taken.

Have a good day.

Hugs

Pamela xx

[Allie Jayne]

I'm with Mandy M! My primary dysphoria trigger was knowing those bits were there (even though they had atrophied and receded inside) and getting rid of them mattered most. I am not planning a sexual partner, so I am the only one who sees my lady parts, and to be honest, I really don't look at them other than regular cleaning. I looked at the wall of vaginas as I had not seen many in my life, and the variation in those cis women made me confident I wouldn't look out of place.

My gynecologist manages my hormones, and he was keen to see me post op (it was a little awkward as he also had a medical student with him!) He commented that the surgeon had great skill, and he was very impressed with my outcome. This made me feel good, but I wasn't holding my breath.

Hugs,

Allie

[SarahEL]

Depth really is a personal choice..
and choosing MDV straight off, I would think, would take considerable thought.

For me, regardless of my choice in partner.. a 'fully functioning' genitals was always going to be necessary.
It is not unheard of for someone to have regrets about having MDV and then wanting to have full sexual relations with a man. By the time this happens, some of the best options for enhancing the depth have been lost.
My surgeon was quick to inform me that, in his opinion, you require at least 14cm of depth to have a comfortable sex life with an average sized man. I am sure there are 'work arounds' for cases where that is not the dimensions.. but for me (and as I said, this is very personal) I did not want to risk losing all the options.

Dilation is not that bad in all honesty.. and what's the worst that happens if you don't dilate.. you end up with MDV, sort of?