Breast Augmentation with a "normal" plastic surgeon

[Marie]

So, I've been on hormones for about 3 years now.  Had my SRS about 1.5 years ago, and now.... it's time for boobs.

I setup an appointment with a highly recommended surgeon but, I have found he has never performed a BA on a transsexual before.  Tell me some horror stories and talk me out of it or tell me it's no big deal and not to worry.  But please have an opinion based on a real life experience I'm not really interested in theories.

I'm in the Philadelphia area if anybody wants to rec a surgeon to me.

[jamie nicole]

I can offer a real horror story....but it's only what happened to me.  I had initial BA a few years ago and went with saline.  Everything was fine for the first few months then a capsular contraction set in on the right side.  I was given advice to lie on something hard to help expand the capsule, and I did (on my floor).  Something popped in the right side and it soften up only to eventually harden up again.  Rather than doing a capsulectomy, the surgeon decided to remove it........much to my disapproval because he "thought" an infection set in.  I was 110% asymptomatic of any infection.
So, 6 months after intial surgery I relunctantly agreed to removal.  4 months later, I was under the knife again for re-implantation.  1 1/2 months later on New Years weekend, I noticed a small "fishing line" like substance protruding from the incision site.....a "spitting suture" which the surgeon denied.  A day later it fell out leaving a small 2-3mm size hole and exposing the implant.  I was taken back into the OR where a piece of Alloderm was used to "try" and close the hole.  Once the sutures were removed, a larger hole was present.  The Alloderm was exposed and I was instructed to keep it moist with anti biotic ointment which I did.  After 3 1/2 months of this hole still being left open, I developed first a yeast infection, then a fungal infection and then a bacterial infection.  As a result of the infection, the entire scar tissue from the incision began to break down and large holes along it.  Needless to say, the surgeon was fired.
I went to the ER after taking 2 finals and ended up staying for 6 days.  Because the tissue was so necrotic, the on call surgeon simply popped it out without surgery.  I ended up receiving antibiotics and antifungal meds thru my IV the entire 6 days.
I had severe necrosis just under the areola which resulted in the tissue being cut away leaving my right breast rather defromed and my nipple pointing towards my feet.
I was just in Bangkok with Dr. Saran and he was rather amazed at the previous surgeons incompetence.  I went 14 months with only 1 implant in the left breast!!
I had him remove the one on the left and elected to go with Mentor's memory gel implants.  Dr. Saran removed alot of scar tissue from the right breast and did a wonderful job in fixing it. 
This is only my story and I can only offer advice based on my experience...........stick with a surgeon that has experience in MTF's.

[Marie]

Did the surgeon blame the issue on you being transsexual?

[Lisbeth]

I don't know why being a transsexual should make any difference for BA. You've got real boobs after all. But that being said, BA is a scary proposition.

[jamie nicole]

naturally, the surgeon did blame me but never came right and provided any reason.  I do know that he had 0 experience with MTF's.
If you ask a plastic surgeon who the 3 best surgeons in the world are, he/she will only be able to provide you 1 answer........themselves!! lol

[Marie]

Not as scary as SRS

[Caith]

Before my wife's BA eight years ago, she had MUCH smaller breasts than I've developed with two years of HRT.  If they could insert 650 cc saline implants for her, there is absolutely NO REASON being transsexual should make any difference for a competent and professional cosmetic surgeon.  Women with smaller breasts have successful BA surgery, and trans-women who have grown natural breasts from HRT are absolutely no different.  Any surgeon who claims it's a problem is describing their own personal bias, not the reality of your physiology.

Now, there are some important "finesse" points that should be considered when working with transsexuals, but they relate to the relative differences in the size and breadth of the male rib cage.  Again, an experienced professional surgeon should know these things.