Settling on a Bottom Surgery Procedure?

[King Malachite]

For the guys who want/had bottom surgery I wanted to know if any of yall have ever been indesicive about exactly what procedure you want/wanted.  For me during the last couple of years, my mind has been flip flopping on what bottom surgery procedure I wanted.  At first, I briefly wanted a phalloplasty, but that quickly changed to metoidioplasty for a while, and then briefly to a the centurion, then back to meta, and now it's back to a phalloplasty.  Now it's the question of where am I going to take the skin graft from and what type of erectile device will I use, or if I will even use one (which I probably will).

How often did you switch between your decisions of what bottom surgery procedure (and sub procedures) to choose from and what made you change your mind?  Were there certain functions of that bottom surgery that you initially wanted at the time, but are no longer your main priority in choosing?

I switched from wanting a metoidioplasty only to wanting a phalloplasty because I feel like a metoidioplasty may not be large enough for me personally.  Also, an unassisted erection, though small, was important to me at the time, but not so much now I don't think.  However, I'm not opposed to getting a metoidioplasty first to see if I that could work and if not then "upgrade" to the phalloplasty.

I don't know if this is a common thing among transguys or if it's just me since I am an indecisive person in general. I might change my mind several more times. At least I have a while to decide.

Your thoughts?

[LordKAT]

I've been pro and conning the options, but I have so far to go for any that meta may be the most I'll ever have a shot at.

[mangoslayer]

I originally wanted meta, but that was pre-t/early on T. It soon became apparent that that wasnt really going to be an option. I had almost no growth on T and was under an inch hard. No point in going with meta.
I wanted it because it I thought I'd lose all sensation** if I went with phallo.
Even if I had a good amout of growth I'd probably still have gone with phallo. The little bit of growth I did have made me really dysphoric. It didn't feel like a dick to me, it just felt like more noticable female genitals. I imagine meta would have done the same.
My priorities were: Having a dick, realistic looks, urethral lengthening, sensation, and being able to penetrate. Phallo has given me almost everything I needed, and once the process is completely done i'll have everything.
Choosing a donor site wasn't too too hard. It was between MLD and forearm for me. I liked that with MLD the scar was hidden but that was really it. I'd rather have better sensation and better looks (not that MLD looks bad, I just prefer how forearm looks), but have a big scar. I'm scarred up enough as is so it doesn't really matter. Plus I'm getting a sleeve tattoo.
It's not abnormal to be unsure of what you want, just make sure you're sure before you get it.


**I was early in transition and had read a lot of myths and misinformation about phalloplasty. Let me make it clear that you do NOT lose all sensation if you get phallo. 100% of post phalloplasty men can orgasm. Mine are actually much stronger post op. Like an average one now is better than the best ones I'd ever had before.

[sneakersjay]

Phallo was not really an option for me for a variety of reasons, two big ones being my age and finances.  I'm totally happy with my meta.  I can pee in urinals and outside, great sensation.  Sure, I'd love a bigger dick, but I've been with a few small dicked guys so it's not like every guy has a great sized dick.  Works for me.  If you start with a meta (for whatever reason) you can always get a phallo later if the meta is not enough for you.

But very happy and satisfied with my meta here.


Jay

[Adam (birkin)]

I initially wanted meta because I wanted natural erections, less cost, and less surgery.

But I haven't had much growth, for one - my shaft would probably hide inside my scrotum lol. I also was misinformed about phallo at first because of rumours and outdated info. Now that I know more about the procedure, I've more realistically weighed the pros and cons and I am really leaning towards a phalloplasty.

[Simon]

I've gone from telling myself I don't want/need it to seriously considering it in the last few months. What I'm planning on doing in the next few years is going to Dr. McGinn for a simple release procedure and then pumping after that heals for a few years while getting my finances in order to be able to afford either one. I like the size of the phallo (who doesn't?) but it's so invasive and I've heard that the erectile pump eventually has to be replaced if you get one. If I go with a meta I'm leaning towards the centurion for certain. I really just want the simple release to see what I've got to work with and then go from there.

[Aussie Jay]

I briefly considered having a meta in the beginning of my transition because I liked the idea of something natural etc but it was soon obvious to me that I will not be satisfied with anything other than a full sized phallus which is why it is phalloplasty for me. I have my consult in like 2 weeks with the Belgium team Can. Not. Wait.

[King Malachite]

Hey guys, I wanted to thank you all for your input.  I'm glad that I'm not the only one that changes their mind over time.  Of course, being the decisive person that I am, right now I have shifted my focus back to a metoidioplasty, but I still think a phalloplasty may be in my future as I just don't see myself getting decent amount of growth for me personally with a meta.

[Alex55]

I have been going back and forth with this question forever.  Today my dysphoria rages on outta control only because I went to the gym today and before I went, I had to put on my penis just in case I needed to go to the bathroom. 

I have been thinking a lot about having a phallo done.  But I have been on T for 15 months and have had significant downstairs growth, so now I think maybe a meta would do.  But the cost and the surgery for a phallo is just making me second guess it.  I would really like to penetrate and have sensation, even if it was small.  I just don't think I can do it with a meta.  I am not getting any younger, I turn 50 this year and I already went 40 something years to get where I am, I need, want to be complete!  I have had top surgery, but that is not enough for me, I feel like I am so not complete.   even looking in the mirror I can see the growth, but how much more would I really get from a meta?  So damn confusing.

[SX0877]

You are definitely not alone. I change my mind hourly.
Initially I thought I would want meta, but I have not had much growth with testosterone. So I am not confident that my size after surgery would be large enough for even STP.
As I prefer phalloplasty now, I am still struggling about whether I will go get a simple meta this while waiting for phalloplasty.

[GnomeKid]

originally I wasn't sure I wanted it, but that was before top surgery and T... In other words I had bigger fish to fry. 

Now that I'm boobless and bearded I'm starting to get the same sense of misery about my down-belows as I did my past transy issues.  I never really wanted Meta at all, and wouldn't say I'd much go through the bother for it.  Not saying its not a perfectly viable option for some, but I don't think I see enough difference between pre/post meta pictures for my taste.  I do now know that I want a phalloplasty 100% for sure.  I'd go under the knife tomorrow, and take from it what I could.

My desire for this goes in and out from its strongest and most infuriating mental consumption to something I'll maybe ponder once a day or week if I'm lucky.   

[Alex55]

So now I have changed my mind again...hahahaha..I had my consultation with Dr. Crane in July and decided to have the radial forearm phallo done.  I kept going back and forth between the ALT and the RFF.  Which is better sensation? some say the RFF is better.  I dunno.  The scar was a big thing for me, but I really don't mind that its going to be visible now.  My surgery date is July 2015.  So I probably will change my mind again.  So what do you guys think, ALT or RFF? Which would you prefer and why?

I have not seen glansplasty done on a ALT procedure.  Not sure why, maybe I just haven't found a site yet.  Dr. Crane updated his photos again and they all look really good.

[SWNID]

So now I have changed my mind again...hahahaha..I had my consultation with Dr. Crane in July and decided to have the radial forearm phallo done.  I kept going back and forth between the ALT and the RFF.  Which is better sensation? some say the RFF is better.  I dunno.  The scar was a big thing for me, but I really don't mind that its going to be visible now.  My surgery date is July 2015.  So I probably will change my mind again.  So what do you guys think, ALT or RFF? Which would you prefer and why?

I have not seen glansplasty done on a ALT procedure.  Not sure why, maybe I just haven't found a site yet.  Dr. Crane updated his photos again and they all look really good.

For Crane's ALT procedure, the glansplasty is usually done later, not during the first stage. It seems to have something to do thicker tissue/ less blood supply.
Crane told me RF usually has better sensation and appearance, maybe a easier recovery time.

[yaka]

Like you, I started with wanting a meta because I simply wanted a dick and it is cheaper and quicker. However, I switched to phallo as I want to be able to penetrate my partner without a prosthetic.

[OreSama]

For me, penetration and size aren't really that important...  The one thing that I do really want is to have unassisted erections so meta it is for me.  Of course, it's going to be a couple of years before I can get it so my opinion might change, but that's where I currently stand.

[King Malachite]

@Alex55 Dr. Crane is the doctor I want to get my phalloplasty done with.  I saw his results and was very impressed.  I plan to get the ALT procedure done, but honestly, I prefer the RF results.  Yeah Dr. Crane and others say that the forearm provides the best sensation.  Me personally though, I just can't deal with the large scar on my arm.  I really wish I could.  I'm hoping I can change my mind and get the RF procedure done as it would be an easier surgery to do on my body type (I would have to have an extra step added to the ALT procedure because of the extra fat I have on there), but the scar is a deal breaker for me and I don't see that changing.  If you can deal with the scar (which you already said you don't mind), then I say go for it.  I'm going for ALT because I do fear that with people slowly becoming more trans-knowledgeable, they might see the scar on my arm and be able to pinpoint that I had bottom surgery.  I don't want to wear sweaters all the time so I don't want people seeing that scar.  Plus, I look at my arms more than my legs.  I don't want to have to see that visual reminder that I had lower surgery done, and I may get a job one day that's more physical and I don't want to take that chance with my arms and not being able to function properly afterwards.

@yaka Yay I'm not alone! Lol.  I realized a phalloplasty was what I needed when I was with my girlfriend at the time.  We're no longer together, but the phalloplasty desire is still there for my next relationship.  I find that I want to be able to penetrate and I don't think a meta is going to cut it for me.

OreSame- At least that's the good thing about waiting to get lower surgery done: you get to actually sit down and think about what you really want from the procedure.

[AdamMLP]

I don't know about your surgeons, but in the UK ALT is only available for people with really skinny legs.

[Felix]

I've changed my opinions a lot on which specifics I want, but right now I hope to have meta with urethral hookup and testicular implants. Whatever I do, I want to eventually get to the point that my genitals could pass for normal to anyone caring for me if I end up in an old folks home someday.

[Bimmer Guy]

I've changed my opinions a lot on which specifics I want, but right now I hope to have meta with urethral hookup and testicular implants. Whatever I do, I want to eventually get to the point that my genitals could pass for normal to anyone caring for me if I end up in an old folks home someday.

Yes, I've thought about this too.  Discrimination sucks.  I worry I won't be cared for well.  This is a big fear for me.

[chiendelespace]

Thanks for the answers on that post.

In fact, I know one guy who have lost sensation with the phallo and another who had the pomp rejection several times.

My BIGGEST fear is to loose all my sensation with the phallo.