Not sure who to choose

[Layn]

Hi all!
Recently i've started looking for SRS surgeons and while i used to be sure where i'll do it, i wasn't sure who. You see, i live in germany and insurance or the state or whatever (honestly i don't understand german health care that well, i just know it works) will pay for my SRS... in germany.
During my research i kept hearing that if money isn't an issue they'd probably go to Suporn. When i talked about it with my parents, apparently money isn't a problem! (i guess there must be a limit, although what they saw of Suporns prices they didn't think it was too expensive).
So i find myself not having to pay for SRS no matter where i'll go (and i do realize how lucky i am!), but in the case of Thailand (or anywhere else but germany) the money would have to come from my parents and i wouldn't like doing that to them.... then again i probably should get the best result i can get at the first try!

Now german surgeons are not bad, but compared with the results i see from Suporn... well they don't look that real, more clearly the result of some extensive surgery (then again i admittedly don't have much experience on how your average vagina looks like). Also scars are a bit of an issue it seems. Not to mention that the bad results are pretty bad. From what i understood it even happened that one of the best SRS surgeons in germany assured a patient that it would be her doing the surgery. Later on the results were pretty horrendous, the patients vagina was literally crooked! It turned out that despite all assurances it ended up being someone else doing the surgery. And things like that apparently aren't uncommon. I can't say which technique they use (probably penile inversion?) but they ALWAYS need a second surgery to correct and finalize things.
I don't know, i'm a bit scared of the german surgeons now, but there are quite a few satisfied women, and it would be better on my parents bank account.

On the other hand i could try to go to a more safer choice somewhere around the world (so far i had Suporn being suggested) and be more certain that it'll end up good. (not to mention that his technique seems to give better results than others when you are circumcised). My parents said they'd pay for it, and that they'd come with me.
In a way i'd imagine it would also be easier for my parents. While the whole process in germany is in german (which they sorta understand), at least with Suporn it's supposed to be in english (which they are fluent in). I imagine they will want to be involved.

Do you think it is really worth paying all that money for it when you could also probably get decent results for free? Does anyone know anything about the german surgeons? (i'd ask on german forums, but i haven't really felt as safe there as on susans...). Am i just looking for someone to tell me that it's alright to take my parents money?

[MariaMx]

In my opinion, yes, it is worth it. I could have had my srs in Norway for free but I knew nothing about the surgeon and I would be her first patient flying solo so I declined and went to Suporn instead. Sure it cost all, was a long travel and a long road to recovery but I am very glad I went to him instead of the woman talking about how deep she would dig the hole in my crotch.


Not only is Suporn among the very best but the patient care positively excellent. I've had 3 surgeries (FFS, SRS and BA) with Suporn and each time was a truly memorable experience. I wish I could go again but there's noting more to do.

[cindianna_jones]

It sounds like you are free to make your choice. It is an enviable position. Get the best you can. You are fortunate indeed to have understanding parents. Make sure to return that in some way when you are done. Good luck to you, no matter what you decide.

[Ms. OBrien CVT]

If they are willing to pay, discuss your choice with them and make it a family decision.  And like Cindi said go for the best result.

[Layn]

wow thanks so much for the replys! (see? i love the susans community!)

Yeah, my parents used to be really skeptical and against me transitioning, but they and the whole extended family have been supportive when they noticed how much happier i was.
I was going about the whole SRS thing on my own, but when my mother asked me if she could do anything to alleviate the pressure on me (i've had quite a lot to do lately...) eventually i remembered that i can actually share my worries with them! So now we have all been looking at surgeons and experiences. Although it's weird thinking that my parents are looking at Neo-Vaginas and considering which one would be the best for me
We'll continue discussing it, but since we live in different countries it's a bit more difficult to talk about things. Thankfully there's Skype

Bella, you say that the recovery takes much longer. Does it interfere in any way with your regular life? i was thinking on doing the surgery after my bachelor project but before the internship i have to do to complete my bachelors. I'd take half a year off for that. I imagined that would be enough Time to have everything healed and i wouldn't have to worry about anything about my Neo-Vagina (weird word, even though accurate )  by then. It wouldn't be so good if it wasn't fully healed and i guess it would be pretty uncomfortable to have to dilate there!

Something i forgot to ask before, how is aftercare? One thing that makes surgery in germany interesting is that if i have some worry or something isn't right, i can just drive up to them and ask them directly. Abroad would be much more difficult to get back there and generally get into contact with the surgeon i imagine. At least i remember reading a post on here once where they called about some problem, but they didn't even get through to the surgeon, getting forever blocked at the reception. However if i stay the month or so that i've read about, i imagine by then every problem there can be, will have come up? It's really one of my and my parents worry, the support i might need later on.

[Layn]

*phew* i hope i don't take that long to recover!
mhm i hope nothing bigger comes up that the doctors here wouldn't be able to handle. At least it does sound good for the time i'll be there. Any way it still all sounds better than what i hear from surgeons around here (maybe i'm being too hard, but it did seem a recurring theme that patients weren't taken care of that well afterwards)
I've been reading up on other surgeons and it really seems hard to choose. Not the way as it is in germany where i don't really trust any of them, but more that they all seem really good. The thing that worries me the most is that im circumcised and as such some techniques may be worse than others (which was stupidstupidstupid. it was for some health reasons, but honestly i could have avoided it... i've been avoiding telling my parents that results may be worse with circumcision)

There's something else i've been thinking about (although it fits better in a different category). I could do a bit of FFS there. At least do something about my jawline/chin which always bothers me so much. There's also the matter of my nose which i'd like to do something about, but it actually developed the way it did because somehow my nose sucks at breathing. I should probably visit a doctor who can help me with that before doing anything cosmetic with it.

[MariaMx]

Though recovery is long I managed to drag myself back to work the day after I came home. I really wished I could have taken some more time off but it was just not possible. After about 3 months things started to get better and dilation became much easier.


Suporn requires you stay for 30 days after your surgery in case you shouldn't heal right or have any sort of complications.

[Diane Elizabeth]

   Money is the root of my "evil"..... The deciding factor most likely.  What kind of costs are involved?  Surgery as well as incidental costs.  It can't be cheap to fly there and stay in a hotel for a month.

[GendrKweer]

Sorry, lying here in the dark unable to sleep, I typed a long page and it deleted itself as I hit send. Nice.... so to be blunter (sorry)

15,700 USD surgery. 20% down to secure surgery date. Prices rising by 10percent by october i think, write to sophie and check.
Hotel: 50 dollars a night. Do the full 20 nights; you'll have less chances of going home with complications (not that a lot of us do, but stilll)
Air tix from eu to bkk, via qatar air (the BEST airline in the world, trust me): 900 USD return
InternetL 100 usd for one month unlimited
extra bed at hospital: 15 per night for your partner or guest. THere is a curtain, but they WIIL see and hear things they may not want to.
Foood at hotel: room service 8 dollars per entree. Cheap options around the streets, but you will need at least two weeks to really enjoy that i'd think.
Laundry 20 bucks per load. Pricey i know

Everything else is included, from dilators, to bed pads, to pantie liners to paper towels, airport transport, internet at the clinic, alarm clock (seriously, for dilating), a heap of medicines and pain pills of course.... great great great how they take care of you.

Anyway, hope that helps!

[mintra]

Sorry, lying here in the dark unable to sleep, I typed a long page and it deleted itself as I hit send. Nice.... so to be blunter (sorry)

15,700 USD surgery. 20% down to secure surgery date. Prices rising by 10percent by october i think, write to sophie and check.
Hotel: 50 dollars a night. Do the full 20 nights; you'll have less chances of going home with complications (not that a lot of us do, but stilll)
Air tix from eu to bkk, via qatar air (the BEST airline in the world, trust me): 900 USD return
InternetL 100 usd for one month unlimited
extra bed at hospital: 15 per night for your partner or guest. THere is a curtain, but they WIIL see and hear things they may not want to.
Foood at hotel: room service 8 dollars per entree. Cheap options around the streets, but you will need at least two weeks to really enjoy that i'd think.
Laundry 20 bucks per load. Pricey i know

Everything else is included, from dilators, to bed pads, to pantie liners to paper towels, airport transport, internet at the clinic, alarm clock (seriously, for dilating), a heap of medicines and pain pills of course.... great great great how they take care of you.

Anyway, hope that helps!

Oh my lord! I thought hotel room and meals would be included in the package. That's really expensive.

[GendrKweer]

Oh my lord! I thought hotel room and meals would be included in the package. That's really expensive.

Well, think of the lifetime of joy you'll have! 

Seriously, 2100 bucks extra would do it... (500 hotel; 300 food; 200 extras; 1000 plane fare; 100 internet)

15700 surgery.

17800 dollars total. Still a good five k cheaper than some US based surgeons, no?

[mintra]

I would have chosen Dr. Suporn myself if I could afford him. I have seen the result with my own eyes and the pleasure my friends described was really amazing. However, my surgeon Dr. Greechart at Yanhee did wonderful job as well. Enjoy your recovery in Thailand darling.

[GendrKweer]

Thank you Mintra! I surely shall try to do just that.

[Layn]

oh it's good to have the costs laid out like that. thanks!
personally i'm veering away from Suporn, due to a few things i've read. I should start a list of pros and cons, maybe then the research wont feel as daunting.

How long in advance should i make an appointment, considering i'd like to have my SRS in about a year and i'd still like to do more research before i comit to one specific surgeon?

[GendrKweer]

oh it's good to have the costs laid out like that. thanks!
personally i'm veering away from Suporn, due to a few things i've read. I should start a list of pros and cons, maybe then the research wont feel as daunting.

How long in advance should i make an appointment, considering i'd like to have my SRS in about a year and i'd still like to do more research before i comit to one specific surgeon?

No sweat. I don't think docs like it when that happens, but hey, I didnt sign a nondisclosure as far as i know! According to his schedule, you would need to book suporn about 6 months out. Frankly, beware the surgeon who tells you they can fit you in within a few weeks, etc. The good ones are solidly booked for a good reason....

If you have any specific questions about the suporn experience with him, PM me any time. All I can keep saying is that two + weeks postop, I am still freaking stunned at how full service this place is, how gentle, how kind, how competent. And I am so grateful I came here. Good luck!