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Dr Brassard experience sought ...

Started by JourneyingSam, February 22, 2014, 10:15:22 AM

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JourneyingSam

Dr Brassard has floated to the top of my short (very) list for GRS surgeons.

I am in discussion with one of his patients to learn from her experience ... I very much appreciate this.

Please drop me a message if you would also be willing to share your experience ... I would be extremely grateful!

Sam x
The journey is the reward - Taoist Proverb
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divineintervention

Would you be able to share the information via PM to me as well? I am looking to have my surgery in June.

Thanks - would really appreciate it!
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Zumbagirl

My surgery was 11 years ago so whatever I say is probably not relevant anymore. I you want to know what life is like 10 years after, then I can help :)
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JourneyingSam

Thank you very much to the two girls who have replied via PM ... I very much appreciate hearing your experience ... it is helping me make my decision.

If there are any other Dr Brassard patients or those with experience of Dr Brassard patients I would really appreciate hearing from you too!

<hugs>
Sam x
The journey is the reward - Taoist Proverb
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Jenna Marie

divineintervention : I only just saw this. I'm someone who PM'd her, and I'm happy to state publicly as well (PM was by the OP's request). :)

reposting more or less the gist of my PM, with some edits to make it comprehensible with the OP's text removed :

In fact, I had essentially full sensation - clitoral, labial, and internal vaginal - from the moment I woke up from surgery. This was a downside during the initial days, as you can imagine, although the pain wasn't all that bad.


Yes, I am easily orgasmic. It took a bit of effort to relearn my body, but my first orgasm was 3 weeks post-op in a dream, so clearly the nerves all worked fine and it was my brain getting in the way!

Not sure about prostate sensation. I didn't ever experiment with prostate stimulation pre-op, so I wouldn't necessarily recognize it post-op. I do have an area of highly erogenous sensation in roughly the equivalent spot to the "G-spot," which I have been told is likely the prostate.

I am fully sensate inside my vagina. Again, not orgasmic from vaginal stimulation alone, but it's NICE.

Never any numbness, either.

In fact, the pain was less and ended faster than I'd expected. It was still probably 3-4 months before I wasn't a *little* sore after a long day, but less than a month before I was almost 100% pain-free.


Yes, I have labia majora which are aesthetically correct and properly located. Mine are pretty puffy, but I also had tremendous, ridiculous swelling right after (even the nurses were shocked), so I'm not convinced it's all gone away YET.

Ditto the labia minora. They're fairly small, but that's not atypical.

Yes, I have both a fully (extremely!) sensitive clitoris and hood. Incidentally, both the clitoral hood and labia minora have the inner portion lined with leftover urethra, which is mucosal tissue that is light pink and moist just as in cis women, a detail I appreciate.

Yes, my urethra is correctly positioned and functional. It's just barely distinguishable from the vaginal opening (ie, directly above), which matches what I see in my wife and on anatomical diagrams. There were some issues with spraying early on because of the severe swelling, but everything works fine now.

My vaginal opening is also correctly placed and looks normal.


I did not do hair removal, and have had no hair regrowth except in areas where I would expect it (pubis, outside of the labia majora).


I'm going to repost Brassard's schedule from the informational packet he sends patients. Right now, I'm doing twice weekly for 15-minute sessions with the largest dilator, tapering down slowly to once a week. He leaves the "tapering" period up to the patient, and I'm going more slowly than many.

BRASSARD'S OWN INFO  FOLLOWS :
Post operative dilation and douching instructions

Dilations

Healing after a vaginoplasty lasts one year.  Keep in mind that the
success of this surgery depends on maintaining the length, girth and
depth of your new vagina.  To achieve this, you need a set of 4
dilators and respect the instructions below. Do not stop dilations
without advising your surgeon.  Stopping dilations will cause the loss
of the vaginal canal and is irreversible without further surgery (skin
grafts or bowel transposition).

Relaxing

Relaxing is the key step.  It will make dilations much easier.  Taking
ten slow deep breaths before beginning is one good way to get rid of
tension.

Angle

After you have localized the vaginal opening with a mirror, insertion
should be made for the 2 first inches with a slightly downwards 15°
angle.  Do not go directly towards the rectum.  After that the angle
should be corrected so that the dilator becomes almost parallel to the
bed while trying to aim at the navel.

Pressure

Insertion should always be gentle and slow.  When the dilator is
inside the vagina for the entire length, apply constant not forceful
pressure.  Gaining depth by applying more pressure is not advised.

Dilation instructions

Wash your hands

The first day of your dilations, the attending nurse will show you
every step of the process.

-       Hold dilator #1 like a pen

-       Apply about one teaspoon of lubricant gel on the tip of the dilator

-       Insert at a slight downward angle for the 2 first inches

-       Leave dilator inside 5 minutes; remove slowly

-       Repeat with dilator #2 for 15 minutes

The second day of dilation can be more difficult because of swelling
that sets inside the vagina during the night. It is perfectly normal.
Be patient.

You should gently and frequently wipe out the gel that is coming out
at the bottom of the vagina.

Wait 3 months before having intercourse.



DILATION SCHEDULE

At the residence

You should dilate 4 times per day.

Day of traveling

You should at least dilate once before leaving the residence.  If you
have time, dilate more that once before your departure.  Even if you
have a long day of traveling and you cannot dilate for hours, you
should plan on doing at least one dilation when you arrive at home.
Please be active on the plane.  Walk as much as you can.

Home

Resume your schedule as soon as possible.

At home, you should dilate 4 times per day with, #1, #2 for 5, 15
minutes for one month.

Dilate 3 times per day with #1, #2, #3 for 5, 10, 15 minutes for two months.

Dilate twice a day with #2, #3, #4, for 5, 10, 15 minutes for 3 months

Dilate once a day with #3, #4, for 5, 15 minutes for 6 months.

Slowly increase the interval of time between each dilation until you
reach one dilation per week with #4, for 15 minutes for the rest of
your life.

If you have difficulties with a bigger size dilator, wait before you
are comfortable with this one before using a bigger size.  You can go
back to a smaller size and increase the frequency for a few days.


CARE FOR DILATORS

Wash the dilators after each use with non-abrasive antibacterial soap
in warm water and dry thoroughly.  Do not wash them in the dishwasher
or clean with alcohol.  This could damage them.

While at the convalescence home, the dilators are kept in Hibitane,
Dexidin 4 or  Hiciclens 4  to find in pharmacy.  25ml of solution in
one gallon of demineralised water) Use one or the other solution.
After 2 months, store them in a clean and dry place between dilations.

In two months, stop: vaginal douche, soaking your dilators and sitz bath.

The Polysporin cream is for 10 days.

Maintain at least 2 hours intervals between dilations (from the time
you finish one and the time you do another one, 2 hours minimum.

[End of surgeons' own info]



5" of depth as far as I can determine. I'm content with that. I started with 5.5" but that half inch may have been swelling for all I know.

No serious complications aside from one stitch that pulled out early but healed cleanly. I did have a reccurring soreness and a need to massage/stretch the scar tissue around 3 months post-op, which I've been told is normal for any surgery (not just GRS).

I did have a devil of a time with the catheter, though. Again, bladder spasms are harmless and common, but that was AWFUL. I was so glad to see that go.
   

He offers free revisions for the first year but I was happy. It's quirky/not identical to other vulva I've seen, but hey, that's normal!

As a final note, I also do self-lubricate somewhat, and can "squirt" at orgasm on occasion. (But I have a female partner; my experience with penetrative sex does not involve men, if that matters.) All in all, I'm very satisfied.
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mrs izzy

divineintervention sorry you where lost in the middle post. This is some of the info i offered to the OP. Hope it does help some.


Dr Brassard and Dr. Belanger work together so it could be hard to have a total bad day. But can happen for sure.

Dr B does many, many girls and boys from all around the world and i feel on of the top in his field.

Yes anything can happen on the table. There is no guarantees in life but you have to weigh the good with the possible bad.
I feel many want to blame things on there surgen but any major complications that are under the surgeons control will happen on the table or with in a few hours after in recovery. Anything after that are things that can happen and do but has to be taken care of by the patient. That is what aftercare is about. You need to put a lot of time in, a lot.

For me i went in it with normal expectations. I did not expect more then what i know is possible. It can never be the natural grown vagina but all i expected was something that would look and could act as one.

Yes it has Sensation. More coming each week and month as things heal, YES big O. It is not the same as before and takes a lot, lot to get it there, not every attempt can close the deal. Inside well it feels i guess what inside would feel like natural. Each month brings it own new understanding.

Appearance. Everything is there. I do wish there was more inner labia but i guess i had less material to work with? Question i will ask when i go for my 1 year checkup. Yes there is a hood and all the parts are where they need to be.

Depth Dr. Brassard always does between 5 1/2" and 6" You get a set of 4 vaginal GRS dilators in your welcome kit.

Dr. B uses the shaft skin and uretha to line the inner labia. Very little is used inside unless you are well afforded. Inside is the scrotal split skin. If there is not enough they will use donor skin from inside the thighs.

No problem with hair (what my husband says). They do hair killing on the donor skin and as i said not much of the shaft is used inside so what hair that is there lends nice to a natural apperance.

Dilations and after care schedule. Here is what the schedule is at the residence and home. Dilations are a life long thing.
A TYPICAL DAY SCHEDULE first month and after from your stay at the Montreal residence.

8am                      Breakfast                                                                       
9am                      Shower and vaginal douche
1030am                 1st dilation
               #1, #2 for 5, 15 minutes.
Noon                      Lunch
130pm                   2nd dilation
               #1, #2 for 5, 15 minutes
3pm                        1st sitz bath
4pm                        3rd dilation
               #1, #2 for 5, 15 minutes
530pm                     Supper
Evening                 2nd sits bath
                              4th dilation
               #1, #2 for 5, 15 minutes
Before bedtime: Vaginal douche

At home, you should dilate 4 times per day with, #1, #2 for 5, 15 minutes for one month.
Dilate 3 times per day with #1, #2, #3 for 5, 10, 15 minutes for two months.
Dilate twice a day with #2, #3, #4, for 5, 10, 15 minutes for 3 months
Dilate once a day with #3, #4, for 5, 15 minutes for 6 months.
Slowly increase the interval of time between each dilation until you reach one dilation per week with #4, for 15 minutes for the rest of your life.
If you have difficulties with a bigger size dilator, wait before you are comfortable with this one before using a bigger size.  You can go back to a smaller size and increase the frequency for a few days.

Hope it helps some. I wish i could say that you will not have any troubles or complicatons. I wish i could but it is surgery and they do use knifes.

Hugs
Isabell
Mrs. Izzy
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"Those who matter will never judge, this is my given path to walk in life and you have no right to judge"

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