Contemplating SRS in early 2014

[Jennygirl]

So, I've been working my butt off (harder than I ever, really), and I realized that I could probably afford to do SRS in early 2014. Initially I was saving to do another surgery, but not I am not really seeing it as that important when compared.

I started hormones in December of 2012 and went full time around Feb this year, so I guess this whole time I thought of it as this thing I really want to do- just way in the distance. But now I'm like, why wait? I am ready for it, and I feel mega held back [sexually speaking] because am finding more and more that I do not prefer anal pleasure.

Another very crucial aspect for me is the feminizing effect of removing the testes. I have read time and time again that people sometimes get very noticeable changes following SRS. I would rather see what SRS would change "naturally" before having some kind of body contouring surgery.

It all just seems to make sense to me now.

I have a few questions, though... Who would you say is the best doctor for sexual sensation? I hear Suporn is the best for that but maybe doesn't have the best aesthetic? And do you think I would be doing it too soon? Personally I feel fine about it but I wanna know what y'all think

[Cindy]

That's great news! I'm hoping the same!

As far as I can gather every woman feels their surgeon did the best job! With the exception of the butchers of course. I have a very close friend who has just been converted by Christine McGinn, another girl I see fairly often who was a Suporn girl early this year and is very happy. Calico had Chettawunga(? spelling) in Thailand and is very happy. Girls also rave about Bowers and Brassard.

From what I gather is the USA/Canadian surgeons have far better after care compared to the Thai's, were you are in a hotel room with a mobile phone, and you really need a friend with you to help.

I have heard more negatives about the Thai surgeons than about the USA/Canadians. I think that is more to do with the post op care and the difficulty in getting consults post surgery.

[Jennygirl]

That's great news! I'm hoping the same!

As far as I can gather every woman feels their surgeon did the best job! With the exception of the butchers of course. I have a very close friend who has just been converted by Christine McGinn, another girl I see fairly often who was a Suporn girl early this year and is very happy. Calico had Chettawunga(? spelling) in Thailand and is very happy. Girls also rave about Bowers and Brassard.

From what I gather is the USA/Canadian surgeons have far better after care compared to the Thai's, were you are in a hotel room with a mobile phone, and you really need a friend with you to help.

I have heard more negatives about the Thai surgeons than about the USA/Canadians. I think that is more to do with the post op care and the difficulty in getting consults post surgery.

Thanks for the info, Cindy

I'm super excited- you must be, too!

I do worry about having a surgery in a place so far away. Is the need for a post op consult something to expect? I keep perusing photos and procedure details and I keep coming back to Suporn.

[Cindy]

Well I know Calico did, pm her and ask her experience in Thailand, at lest she can let you know what it was like there.

I think she was emailing photos for follow up consults.

Suporn has a good reputation though. But I did hear that he can try too talk you into other procedures if you have the look of money!

[Susan T]

The medical care from any of the major Thai surgeons is superb. I had my surgery through PAI at the Piyavate hospital and the facilities were outstanding. As for aftercare, after my discharge the sent a car to my hotel every other day for my check ups. If you have surgery with Chet or Suporn they will send the nurse to your hotel. It often seems to me when reading these threads that people believe that Suporn is the only Thai surgeon of note. He is not. Neither does he have the largest SRS clinic or best facilities, although they are still first rate.

[ZoeM]

Join me in August with McGinn?

(Unless there's someone better in which case I'd love to hear about it)

[Jamiep]

Hey Beautiful Jenny, I know Meghan Andrews here at Susans has a blog & she considered a Doctor in your area in California as you both live in LA and follow up wouldn't be too far away for you. She decided on Brassard in Montreal, I am sure she left with a positive feeling for the SRS & after care which is in some cottages on the grounds. More privacy & you can take a support person with you. If you decided I would suggest a date that is in the summer. Winters can be cold & they get a lot of snow there. You could pm Meghan.

I had relatives there I used to visit. Currently have a friend that got transferred from my city of Toronto to Montreal. Last November I met TessaM that I contacted through Susans (not a member now), she had SRS end of May with Doctor Brassard, she lives in a burb of Montreal. I am going to visit my friend for a few days next week & hope to see Tessa one night  to catch up on things. I will ask her how she feels about her experience.

You sound ready for SRS instead of the other operation you were alluding to. I think you are making the right decision. Happy for you.
Cheers
Jamie

[Jenna Marie]

Congrats and good luck! How exciting to move it up.

I also went to Brassard, and can attest that at least his top results are *very* sensate - I could feel everything from the minute I woke up, and was orgasmic by 3 weeks. Which is not to say that Suporn is worse; I bet all the best surgeons are good. But a datapoint that Brassard can do the job fine.

[Jamie Marie]

Well Bowers and McGinn have been through it themselves and are both highly skilled surgeons with both aesthetics and function. After many years I've decided on McGinn. I'm early in my cocoon stages but have tried to hold it off for a very long time. I've been researching every aspect and SRS surgeon since the millennia. Oh dammit i'm getting old. Oh well as long as people still thing I'm 10+ years younger. I get carded constantly and probably will after 50. Fine by me I suppose.

Have you watched Trans the Movie? Christine was selected as flight surgeon for NASA before quitting the NAVY to make herself happy, to be herself. The clinic she opened Papillon Center in New Hope, Penn is kinda out of the way but I would rather have an expert 6hrs away if complications arise.

I'm unfortunately financial strapped so it will be '15 or '16 for me but still the acceleration of feminizing is due to the lack of natural high testosterone and no longer having to suppress it.

Whatever choice you make I know that it will be well thought out.

Jamie

[Jennygirl]

Thank you for all the lovely replies! Sorry I haven't had time to respond until now... VERY busy at the moment!

I really appreciate all the recommendations so so much. I just spent a good hour and a half looking everything up and I'm getting really excited for the future! But also I'm a bit more confused about who will be the best for me because there are so many options and seemingly so many considerations with each one. This is going to be a hard decision. Thanks again for your help on the matter

[makinmagic]

I am having a consultation with McGinn on Sept 9th! Have no idea how long before the surgery, I wish it was on Sept 10th )
People are saying amazing things about Thai surgeons, but my main concern is the possibility of complications. What if it DOES happen to me? What am I gonna do? catch a next plane to Thailand? No way. And also, I don't have an ability to leave my work for 30 days. That's why McGinn is my first choice - only 2 weeks stay in PA, 5-6 hour drive from where I live and relatively affordable.

[Jennygirl]

I am having a consultation with McGinn on Sept 9th! Have no idea how long before the surgery, I wish it was on Sept 10th )
People are saying amazing things about Thai surgeons, but my main concern is the possibility of complications. What if it DOES happen to me? What am I gonna do? catch a next plane to Thailand? No way. And also, I don't have an ability to leave my work for 30 days. That's why McGinn is my first choice - only 2 weeks stay in PA, 5-6 hour drive from where I live and relatively affordable.

Yeah the long flight to Thailand is not high on my list of things I want to do unless it's for fun travel!

I am probably going to check into Brassard a little bit more, even though it would still be quite a long flight for me

[Cindy]

I wish there were local surgeons in Australia, I have reservations over the Thais and the USA is too far and too expensive.

Not too happy about the situation. I'm ready but........

[Jennygirl]

I wish there were local surgeons in Australia, I have reservations over the Thais and the USA is too far and too expensive.

Not too happy about the situation. I'm ready but........

On an off topic note... Wow, I love your new avatar Cindy

[Cindy]

On an off topic note... Wow, I love your new avatar Cindy

Thank you Sis

It was taken last Friday in my driveway. I suppose it is obvious that I'm not in hiding!!

[Jennygirl]

Thank you Sis

It was taken last Friday in my driveway. I suppose it is obvious that I'm not in hiding!!

Your pride has always been an inspiration to me. Also, I just noticed the license plate Very nice touch!!

[Cindy]

Your pride has always been an inspiration to me. Also, I just noticed the license plate Very nice touch!!

Thank you again. I have to admit that when I was trying to be a guy I hid away from life. I'm proud of being me. I think all trans*people should be proud. We face incredible problems and we all struggle, cry and fight just to be accepted as human beings.

I'm never going to hide again. I walk proudly being me. And everyone can know it!!!!

What I found so amazing is young people (at work) coming to me and thanking me, because they were gay or lesbian or Bi or whatever and had been to afraid to come out as themselves, but now they feel OK to do so because Cindy has come out so publicly.

That heals a lot of past pain.

Sorry for hijacking your thread Sis!!!

[marilyn]

Good luck! I'm going to Brassard this month.. also wondering about post op changes.. I'm switching to patch for estrogen and then of course no more anti androgens.. yay!

[Jennygirl]

What I found so amazing is young people (at work) coming to me and thanking me, because they were gay or lesbian or Bi or whatever and had been to afraid to come out as themselves, but now they feel OK to do so because Cindy has come out so publicly.

That heals a lot of past pain.

Sorry for hijacking your thread Sis!!!

Don't worry about the hijacking, It's great to read about your positive experiences with others

Good luck! I'm going to Brassard this month.. also wondering about post op changes.. I'm switching to patch for estrogen and then of course no more anti androgens.. yay!

As time goes on and I do more research, I am warming up to Brassard more and more. Not just because of the shorter flight, but because of the the recovery and technique. I've read nothing but good things about Brassard, yet a split of either VERY good or not about Suporn results due to the increased invasiveness of his technique. It's still a very tricky decision because I do like the sensation aspects of Suporn's procedure (namely the "chonburi gland"), but my gut is starting to tell me Brassard.

Sensation is kind of a huge deal for me.. the main reason I am doing this is because having a penis is personally holding me back from what I consider for myself a complete sex life. I have always been very orgasmic, and HRT hasn't changed that a bit- so, I don't feel that I have too much to worry about with either one in that regard because both seem to have great sensation results. Even if Brassard doesn't save as many nerve endings as Suporn, I don't think it's going to matter for me much.

I am eager to hear how things go Thinking good thoughts for you and wishing you a speedy recovery!

[TaoRaven]

having a penis is personally holding me back from what I consider for myself a complete sex life.

Story of my LIFE. Seriously, this thing has caused me decades of misery and confusion...lol.

Anyway, I am leaning heavily toward Suporn myself. The technique may be more invasive, and take longer to heal, but the results are amazing. It just seems to me that he is creating the genitals from scratch, as a form of art, rather than just turning things inside out and stuffing them back in (obviously there's more to penile inversion than this, but you get my meaning).

This will of course still be a couple years down the road for me, but I feel that the results, and the authenticity of his work will make the cost and the travel worth the investment.

Whomever you decide on, I wish you the absolute best!