Information on surgeons, please.

[Hazumu]

I've found comparison shopping to be complicated.  The big reason I attended California Dreamin' was there were three GRS surgeons presenting there.  I got a lot of information about THEIR techniques.

But I also got from them what could be considered to be FUD, or Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt.  Such as using urethral mucosa to form the meatus (one surgeon loved it, another said it was bad.)  Such as how 'some' Thai surgeons get maximum coverage from scrotal tissue by punching a bunch of slits into it and then stretching it like a mesh -- but the problem is, SCAR tissue forms in the holes inbetween, and scar tissue STICKS to itself.

So I discussed this with my therapist.  She gave me the 'homework' assignment of researching SRS horror stories.  I said I'd already googled the term and all the variations I could think of, but didn't come up with all that much.  She said, try again.  I did.  Still, paltry results (and I think I'm pretty darned good at teasing information out of the 'net with Google...)

So, if you've already found sites with good first person accounts of the good -- but more importantly the bad -- could you please post the links here?

I wanna' get an 'A' in my assignment 

Thank you;

Karen

[Valerie53143]

Here is one SRS horror story.

http://p218.ezboard.com/Jackies-in-Miami-/fthetransgenderboardsfrm21.showMessage?topicID=73.topic

[Butterfly]

Hi Karen, Im in the same situation as yours.  Most of the horror stories Ive heard and read about are from Thailand and Singapore.  Im from the Netherlands but plan to have my GRS in America or Canada.  Im debating between Dr. Brassard (in Canada) and Dr. Bowers (in America} since both of them utilize the one stage vaginoplasty procedure which I am interested in.

B

[cindianna_jones]

Pretty scary stuff ain't it?  That's ultimately why I went to Biber. When I was asking around, I heard nothing bad about his work. And he had been doing it longer and had done more than anyone else.  We didn't have the internet back then. So I had to seek out and find people then living in stealth to ask.  Now, that was pretty hard to do and I didn't find very many that I could talk to.

But in the end, even with the best surgeon, some of it will depend on how you heal.  I was paranoid about being able to void AND control it. The first time I was able to actually urinate on my own was a huge defining moment in my life. Fortunately, it was only a few days after my surgery that they took out the catheter and let me have a go at it.

My best to you Karen. It's one of the most difficult decisions to make.

Cindi

[seldom]

I would like a list of US licensed doctors.  So far I found 8 (with 5 being well known entities, one being inconsistent (and that is being kind), and one being a complete mystery.)

So far the ones I know are:
Brassard (he is in Montreal, but he does have a US license)
Nguyen
Bowers
Meltzer
Alter
Greenwald (mystery)
Reed (inconsistent, source of SRS horror stories in North America)
Foerster (Mostly does FtM patients and is well known for it, but does do MtF SRS as well, again unknown with regards to that. No website.)

Here is a list of surgeons who do work on transgender patients, but only a handful do MtF SRS, but as I am investigating I am finding more US surgeons.  The problem is only a few have websites.  http://www.intersexualite.org/Surgeon.html

The thing is I need to know the US licensed MtF SRS doctors.  Not for now, but the future.  So the post did help me do some research. 

These five are known entities in the US and Canada.  They are consistent with their results and are the source of the fewest horror stories (if any).  They are also expensive. 

Brassard (he is in Montreal, but he does have a US license)
Nguyen
Bowers
Meltzer
Alter

[Dennis]

I have never heard of Foerster and I'm FTM and have researched it extensively. When I did chest surgery, I figured I'd pay more, it was my one shot, and I wanted the best I could get, given the limitations of my own body's reactions to surgery, but money was not in the equation.

I'm not near making a decision about lower surgery, but I will not go with someone who charges less just because of that. I'll wait and get what I want, with the most experience and skill I can get. Then if it does screw up, it's a bad luck day or my own body's healing.

Dennis

[katia]

partly i relied on personal accounts from friends and people that i know.  i also did plenty of research on my own and chose dr. bowers.  my grs is scheduled for august of this year.  why did i choose dr. bowers? particularly because of her expertise, her reputation within the tg community, the costs involved, the type of operation she performs, and, very important detail here, the fact that we live in the same state.

[seldom]

I have never heard of Foerster and I'm FTM and have researched it extensively. When I did chest surgery, I figured I'd pay more, it was my one shot, and I wanted the best I could get, given the limitations of my own body's reactions to surgery, but money was not in the equation.

I'm not near making a decision about lower surgery, but I will not go with someone who charges less just because of that. I'll wait and get what I want, with the most experience and skill I can get. Then if it does screw up, it's a bad luck day or my own body's healing.

Dennis

Thats the funny thing, I did hear about him from my FtM friends in the midwest.  The thing is online information on this doctor is very limited. It is one of those doctors who relies on word of mouth and not a website.   The thing is, he is one of the few doctors that does bottum surgery for FtM, so it is bound to get him somewhat known at least regionally.  MtF he is a lesser known. 

[Melissa]

Such as how 'some' Thai surgeons get maximum coverage from scrotal tissue by punching a bunch of slits into it and then stretching it like a mesh -- but the problem is, SCAR tissue forms in the holes inbetween, and scar tissue STICKS to itself.

This is specifically a Dr. Suporn technique and with regular dialation during the formation of scar tissue in the healing process, there is no reason for it to stick to itself.

[Hazumu]

So far the ones I know are:
Brassard (he is in Montreal, but he does have a US license)
Nguyen
Bowers
Meltzer
Alter
Greenwald (mystery)
Reed (inconsistent, source of SRS horror stories in North America)
Foerster (Mostly does FtM patients and is well known for it, but does do MtF SRS as well, again unknown with regards to that. No website.)

At California Dreamin' I sat through a seminar by Dr. Peter Davis  He says he has a website that he hasn't done anything to.  He does a two-stage procedure like Meltzer.  I don't think he's cracked 100 SRS procedures yet.

Karen

[LynnER]

So far with my own research I havnt gotten very much info on very many surgeons... but I have made my choice for the op...  its Bowers or not at all at this point...  I havnt heard any horror stories what so ever about her...  and Ive heard from quite a few people that were elated with her results so..... yeah... dosnt really help your homework but...

[Melissa]

There are, naturally, many other factors you have to consider (i.e, costs, distance, recovery time, etc)  Personally I did not want to travel to the end of the world for my SRS due to potential complications which may arise during the healing process.  If you take into consideration the differences in costs, you will realize that the overall grand total is only a few thousand dollars (I actually found out that there was an average of only 5K among US, Canadian and Thai surgeons).

For me, I'm probably saving around $7000-$8000 by going to Thailand.  If you were to choose one of the pricier Thai surgeons, then I would be inclined to agree with you.

  Yes, surgery in Thailand is cheaper; however, you have to consider everything else (i.e, room and board after surgery, plane tickets, and, who knows, what else may happen) IMO

Additionally, other expenses might include a passport, possibly faxing documents internationally, and international wire transfer fees.  Also, hotel (approx $25/night) and food is cheaper in Thailand compared to the US.  Additionally, many Thai surgeons perform 1 stage procedures, where as many US surgeons opt for 2 stage procedures (which would require multiple trips).  I think both the US and Thai surgeons have their strong points and I have good opinions of several North American surgeons as well as some of the Thai ones.

[seldom]

There are, naturally, many other factors you have to consider (i.e, costs, distance, recovery time, etc)  Personally I did not want to travel to the end of the world for my SRS due to potential complications which may arise during the healing process.  If you take into consideration the differences in costs, you will realize that the overall grand total is only a few thousand dollars (I actually found out that there was an average of only 5K among US, Canadian and Thai surgeons).

For me, I'm probably saving around $7000-$8000 by going to Thailand.  If you were to choose one of the pricier Thai surgeons, then I would be inclined to agree with you.

  Yes, surgery in Thailand is cheaper; however, you have to consider everything else (i.e, room and board after surgery, plane tickets, and, who knows, what else may happen) IMO

Additionally, other expenses might include a passport, possibly faxing documents internationally, and international wire transfer fees.  Also, hotel (approx $25/night) and food is cheaper in Thailand compared to the US.  Additionally, many Thai surgeons perform 1 stage procedures, where as many US surgeons opt for 2 stage procedures (which would require multiple trips).  I think both the US and Thai surgeons have their strong points and I have good opinions of several North American surgeons as well as some of the Thai ones.

There is a risk factor with Thailand though that does not exist in North America.  The cost savings is there compared to the the top five North American doctors (which not all are two stage, Brassard and Bowers are both one).  In addition there is traveling significant distances after undergoing major invasive surgery.  On top of that Thailand is a developing country and not all Thai doctors are reputable, one has to be careful.  In the US it is clear...don't go to Dr. Reed.  Thats it.  For some people the risks of Thailand are not worth the cost savings and they believe thier body is worth the extra money, afterall you have to live with the changes the rest of your life. 

There are risks no matter what though, it is major surgery.  For me I have to pay the extra cost for a North American doctor, it is the only way I can change my birth certificate (I was born in Illinois, they only allow the change if the surgeon is licensed in the US).  Changing every document is very important to me.  Otherwise some Thai doctors would be on my radar. 

 

[Jonie]

Hi Karen,
You could try "ask.com" and search for bad results for srs surgery.

[Melissa]

There is a risk factor with Thailand though that does not exist in North America.  The cost savings is there compared to the the top five North American doctors (which not all are two stage, Brassard and Bowers are both one).  In addition there is traveling significant distances after undergoing major invasive surgery.  On top of that Thailand is a developing country and not all Thai doctors are reputable, one has to be careful.  In the US it is clear...don't go to Dr. Reed.  Thats it.  For some people the risks of Thailand are not worth the cost savings and they believe thier body is worth the extra money, afterall you have to live with the changes the rest of your life. 

Yes and usually IF you need any additional revisions done, it would only cost a plane ticket/food/hotel.  That would probably be about $1000 if you know where to shop.   You are also right that not all surgeons are reputable and I would strongly recommend researching your surgeon.  That goes for any US surgeon as well.  If you can actually talk to somebody (perhaps through a support group) who went to the surgeon you are interested in, all the better.  With the surgeon I have chosen, I have talked to many patients and have only found 1 person who was dissatisfied and that was because she didn't like the size of her labia.  Everybody else has been really happy and has gone back multiple times for various other surgeries.  Not only have I talked to many people, my girlfriend also went to the same surgeon for SRS and lets just say I've examined the results very carefully and closely in person quite a few times.

[jeri]

i personally met 3 GRS surgeons before i decided on dr. menard in canada. he is the senior physician at in montreal, and dr. brassard (the junior partner) is supposed to be every bit as good. they are both charming. the care at their facility, both before and after surgery, i can only describe as superb. i also considered dr. bowers, because as a ts woman she was very empathetic to my concerns. in the end though, i decided on dr. menard because he truly pioneered the one step vaginaplasty. all he thinks about is how to make a better vagina. seriously. added to that, no electroysis required in the genital area, literally thousands of successful operations, and excellent results reported in depth and functionality, cosmetic appearance, and sensation from several of my personal friends - the decision made itself. one surgeon had her vaginoplasty performed by a physician in the south west, and was absolutely not happy with the results of her two stage surgery. i have never regretted my choice, and i am extremely pleased with the results. in fact, i consider my GRS to have been the least troublesome of all the surgeries i had performed in transition. having GRS was the best decision i ever made...when i woke up after surgery, i felt as if God had answered a prayer i had gone to sleep with since childhood.  just the same, don't take any single person's word or advice on this subject. research, research, research. speak personally or in private to patients from all of the available surgeons. make your very OWN very informed decision. corrections on surgeries are often more complicated than the initial surgery. whatever your decision, i am hoping that all of you will be very happy with your choice.   

[Rashelle]

     Like Jeri said above research research research. And you will then find bad result stories for all the DR's including the US ones. I chose Thailand because in my opinion they're results were better then the US and Canadian at the time, with less numbers of horror stories. Based on my own research. Same country but still a continents distance away from home is even worse on hotel costs then staying in a Thai hotel.   
     Note I'm playing the devils advocate here due to it seems to me like I hear a lot of downplaying the non US surgeons. Informed choice.
Rashelle

[gothique11]

I'm going to Montreal (Dr. Bassard or Dr Menard) for my SRS sometime spring-ish or summer-ish 2008. I'm going there because they are good, and my province pays for the surgery there. I hear Meltzer is good, too (I have a friend going to Meltzer in July). Most of the post-op people I know here have gone to montreal and I haven't run into anyone with any problems, and everyone has said the results were great.

[Steph]

This probably one one the most important decisions that you will have to make Karen and while it is a prudent idea to get others opinions and thoughts on this topic the choice is ultimately yours as you well know.

There is also the inherent need to be up-beat about those surgeons we ourselves have chosen or have had surgery with.  That being said my choice came down to two - Bowers and Brassard.  Both have excellent reps and more importantly their results are phenomenal.

As you know I chose Brassard and although you have probably read my write up on my experience in my blog I would just add that I had no regrets and I would and plan to return for further surgeries (possible BA).

Just my thoughts.

Steph

[cindianna_jones]

you have probably read my write up on my experience in my blog I would just add that I had no regrets and I would and plan to return for further surgeries (possible BA).

I agree with you Steph. Your results are exceptional.

Cindi