SRS surgeon look

[Cahya]

Okay, I am a young TS woman (18, 8 months on HRT) and about to start the SRS search.
Well, I guess I rather have, but have gotten bogged down.
It seems that every time I find a surgeon that sounds great, I stumble across a horror story, and am wondering if I should mark a surgeon off because of one or two horror stories?

Surgeons I am really looking into:
Suporn
Chettawut
Brassard
McGinn
Meltzer

Can anyone maybe help with information on them?  Personal stories, things over heard, ideas how criteria with which to narrow my search further?

[victoria n]

   Meltzer is supposed to be excellent. The man is brilliant. Hope you have lots of $$$$ or good insurance
Brassard is very good. Mcginn her post op results look very good.
From personal experience I  would  avoid Chettawut. He is not a very good surgeon. You are better off staying home. Suporn is probably much better. however He's had to do some revisions.They use the non inversion technique that  supposedly gives more depth than PI. Their work does not look close to genetic.
Where ever you go get perineum electrolysis.
I would also talk to your gender counselor about perhaps, post op adjustment period. The possibility of
down the road  problems like depression or regret. Brassard and Meltzer  mentioned something about regret. or the fact SRS is elective surgery.
There are all sorts of options like non-op. half and half, changing your gender id on documents from M to F
of course  you know about the Susan's home page  check out mtf surgeons if you really want to go crazy.

[Katie]

The odds are good that any one of the doctors you specified will make you happy. Some cost more than others. You will get replies from people here that have an opinion that have not had SRS. Ummmm ok that's just silly.

I had SRS and have talked with many women that have had SRS. All were pleased.

I refuse to endorse any one doctor which is another thing I think is silly (especially when someone who is pre-op does).

Pick one of the doctors and your likely to be happy.

Katie

[Joanna Dark]

   Meltzer is supposed to be excellent. The man is brilliant. Hope you have lots of $$$$ or good insurance
Brassard is very good. Mcginn her post op results look very good.
From personal experience I  would  avoid Chettawut. He is not a very good surgeon. You are better off staying home. Suporn is probably much better. however He's had to do some revisions.They use the non inversion technique that  supposedly gives more depth than PI. Their work does not look close to genetic.
Where ever you go get perineum electrolysis.
I would also talk to your gender counselor about perhaps, post op adjustment period. The possibility of
down the road  problems like depression or regret. Brassard and Meltzer  mentioned something about regret. or the fact SRS is elective surgery.
There are all sorts of options like non-op. half and half, changing your gender id on documents from M to F
of course  you know about the Susan's home page  check out mtf surgeons if you really want to go crazy.

The rate of regret in long-term post-op studies is so small as to not even be worth mentioning. There is way more regret in knee replacements and rotator cuff surgery then SRS.

[sassymotif]

Okay, I am a young TS woman (18, 8 months on HRT) and about to start the SRS search.
Well, I guess I rather have, but have gotten bogged down.
It seems that every time I find a surgeon that sounds great, I stumble across a horror story, and am wondering if I should mark a surgeon off because of one or two horror stories?

Surgeons I am really looking into:
Suporn
Chettawut
Brassard
McGinn
Meltzer

Can anyone maybe help with information on them?  Personal stories, things over heard, ideas how criteria with which to narrow my search further?

Cahya - you might take a look at Jan's you tube video:  "Sex Change Soldier" - I believe her surgeon is Supporn - he did her FFS, breasts and SRS and she seems quite satisfied - she looks great too"    Good luck, Sassy

[Flan]

The problem with asking opinions are those who had surgery with someone in the list will either be happy with the choice or not happy, and that those who were happy will defend their choice to a fault even though I can probably find a case for any one in the list where their surgery didn't go well (from the surgery itself or an aftercare complication).

Half the choice is a trust thing and the other half is in the amount and quality of aftercare that is needed. Only you know your body so aftercare depends on your health and ability (or lack of) care you'll be able to do for yourself post op. So if there is a chance of needing a revision, then somebody closer to you physically would be better than the supposedly perfect surgeon who is on the other side of the planet (and who by all means isn't perfect).

[mrs izzy]

You could pick anyone from that list and also add maybe like Reed, Leis and Bowers etc. I think it comes down more how much work are you will in to put into your SRS/GRS/GCS now days more then the surgeon? The surgeons on the list do the more modern single stage type of MTF bottom surgery. Some offer more in aftercare before you are on your own. Some have been pioneers in the field and some are new. But i feel it comes down to what you put into the aftercare that makes these surgeries succesful. Everyone is there own person and heal in a different way.

For me mine was done by Dr Brassard in Montreal. I came to see him back in 2005 for a personal one on one interview with him. Yes i put my surgeon through a interview process and he was on my short list. Dr McGinn was at the time doing her residency with Dr Leis and was there when i had my Brests done. McGinn and Bowers where tied for 2nd on my list and would have came down to a coin toss if i went that way.

I am happy and at the 4 month mark. For me i have put all my effort into my aftercare and so far not a major problem. When you think you are ready come up with a list and start asking the doctors the questions you have. But remember you are going to have to put a lot of effort and time in aftercare in the first 6 months after.

Lots of luck
Izzy

[calico]

  From personal experience I  would  avoid Chettawut. He is not a very good surgeon. You are better off staying home. Suporn is probably much better. however He's had to do some revisions.They use the non inversion technique that  supposedly gives more depth than PI. Their work does not look close to genetic.

I would disagree with you on this and so would my dr and my bf who doesn't know that I'm transgendered.

if you are speaking because of your personal experience, I'm sorry you feel this way, but stating it the way you have stated it not only slams the surgeon but to me it feels as though you are slamming all the success stories involving them, I am personally offended.

The problem with asking opinions are those who had surgery with someone in the list will either be happy with the choice or not happy, and that those who were happy will defend their choice to a fault even though I can probably find a case for any one in the list where their surgery didn't go well (from the surgery itself or an aftercare complication).

flan is right here and I agree, before deciding to go with whomever you choose be sure you are aware and understand the risk, and possibility of complication.
my recommendation is to talk with the surgeons and get to know them, and go with whomever you are most comfortable with,  success and failure stories are like grains of sand, read them but don't expect your results to be the same.

[Cahya]

Thank you so much for all the information, and I have to say I agree with all of you, there is not much way to ask for opinions.  For those saying Dr Chet is bad, I have read a lot on all of them, I see a lot of excellent stories for all of them, and a handful of bad for all of them.  For Chet, I see more good than bad though, so I wonder why you say he is bad? 

Honestly, I think this is the hardest choice I will ever make, and the worst part is, I think I can not go wrong.  They are all professionals and thus all can mess up, a bad day, what ever... it is more a choice of method (I  personally prefer the Thai method, from all I have read and seen) But others say the Thai method is not genetic...explain? 

[Katie]

I am going to add one more thing that I always find funny about the whole doctor thing. Most trans gals will need facial surgery and since the face is what the world sees I would say that if someone was to be picky about doctors it would be for your facial surgery. But hey thats my 2 cents, I am just a lowly post op girl what do I know......

Oh and in my previous post you notice I didnt endorse my doctor, even though he is on the list. I just know that all the doctors on that list will very likely do a good job. simple as that.

Katie

[Jamie D]

Cahya, I would strongly suggest you take a look at the SRS board

Here ---> https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/board,50.0.html

Lots of discussions there.

[Teela Renee]

My roomie sour skiddlez had her SRS done by Dr. Reed and thats who Im having do mine.

[Jenna Marie]

I'm another who thinks all the best surgeons do a great job on a good day (and there's never any guarantees about a bad day, for GRS or any other specialty).

FWIW, I went with Brassard; no horror stories from me, the people in residence at the time with me, or a couple of friends who've gone after. But I'm sure there *are* complaints out there; every surgeon has them. (As for the results, it passed flawlessly after a pants-off exam for a nasty GI bug in the ER, when I was also coughing so much my voice sounded awful. And my GP says it'll look fine internally too once the last scar tissue fades.)

As for criteria, if it helps, my approach was to choose and then rate the major "features" : I wanted sensation, then appearance, then functionality [lubrication, etc.], then depth. And that's exactly what I got with Brassard, but someone who prioritized depth higher should look more carefully elsewhere, for example, because he typically offers 5.5" and then uses the remaining tissue to enhance the external aesthetics.

I didn't need FFS, so no idea how to shop for those surgeons.