What did you ask your surgeon to help decide if they were "The One"?

[JourneyingSam]

Dr Brassard is top of my list for GRS surgery.  I have submitted sufficient documentation to be able to arrange a consultation with his colleague Dr Belanger  tomorrow (Via Skype as I am UK based) and would like to make the most of this opportunity to find out as much as I can to help me decide if they are the surgeons for me.

What questions have you asked (or wish you'd asked) before having your GRS done?

Sam x

[mrs izzy]

It comes down to what questions you have.

For me i knew so many girls that have had SRS with Dr. Brassard (and i have meet him personaly number of time) i really had nothing i wished to ask. My consult was just to check my material  they could use.

If you have any other questions you could always just send them to Suzanne and they will be happy to answer them at any time.

Isabell

[Nicolette]

Sam, all my questions were answered simply reading here and elsewhere on the Internet. Eventually, the only question I had left was about depth. I was on HRT for 19 years before SRS, so had some shrinkage. He said I was in the grey area, but said he and Belanger would do their best. I refused a skin graft, if it came to that. The depth I got was very satisfactory. I also tried not to influence him in any way in regards to aesthetics. Having not a single clue about vulva aesthetics, I thought it was best to leave it up to him.

[Jenna Marie]

Like Nicolette, I had done enough research that I didn't have any major questions when the time came. Except "how much money." However, in the spirit of the question if perhaps not the letter, I set about to find out things like what specific technique the surgeon uses, how sensitive/orgasmic patients are, how close to natal aesthetics are, what the percentage of serious complications (=fistula, etc.) are, what kind of depth is typical, what the *minor* complications can be, and what the aftercare and dilation regimen is like.

[JourneyingSam]

Thank you all!

I had my Skype consultation with Dr Bélanger and felt very comfortable with it.  I'd sent a huge list of questions through and much to my delight we went through most of them, with some followup to follow via email.

So ... surgeon selection is complete .... now to get the WPATH letters out of my GIC ...

Sam x

Questions were as follows ...

Procedure
Which surgeon(s) will be performing the procedure?
What is their experience with these procedures? (Number of procedures performed)
What are the details of the procedure you perform?
What (if any) are the "unique" or "special" elements you use that are different to other surgeons?
What factors affect post-op:
• Sensation
• Appearance
• Depth

Pre-op preparation
Do I need to stop (or reduce) oestrogen prior to the op? If so when?
What is your view on genital hair removal?
How do you assess the donor material and determine if scrotal or other donor tissue is required?

Procedure aims
Do you aim for a sensate clitoris?
Do you aim for a clitor hood?
Do you aim for a sensate "g-spot" (Prostate based?)
Do you aim for "natural" anatomical positions and appearance of:
• Labia majora
• Labia minori
• Clitiris
• Cliteral hood
• Urethra
• Vaginal entrance
What percentage of patients do you achieve these aims with?

Procedure Results
What percentage of patients are left with (and how long does it take):
• A sensate clitoris?
• A sensate "g-spot"?
• A sensate vagina?
• Sensate labia?
• Ability to achieve clitoral orgasm?
• Ability to achieve "g-spot" orgasm?
• Ability to urinate "normally"?
What is the frequency of hair regrowth inside and how is it addressed?
How do I get access to post-operative photographs showing a selection of your best and worst outcomes?

Procedure complications
What are the common complications (and frequency of these) your patients experience?
What are the worst case complications (and frequency of these) your patients experience?
Does the cost of the procedure/aftercare include extra days if there are immediate complications? Does the cost of the procedure include any revision of unsatisfactory outcomes?
How do you address "revisions"?
What are the common revisions required (and frequency of these)?
What are the worst case revisions required (and frequency of these)?

[Gigi_J]

Hi Sam,

I'm Gigi, a pre-op ts gal based in England and havent been on these forums very long...nice to meet yooooooou...

Very interesting thread as Dr. Brassard is one of the two main surgeons I'm considering for my SRS (which I'd like to book within the year).

When you have a moment, would you mind sharing with us the answers you got to all those questions you asked Dr. Bellanger? Would be a great read and be very helpful if you could.

Thanks and I hope everything's progressing well in terms of gettign yourself booked up now you've made your choice to go to Dr. Brassard!

Gigi

[dejan160]

I am sorry to go off topic but Gigi you are so beautiful. You look like a super model with a porn star charm

[Gigi_J]

I am sorry to go off topic but Gigi you are so beautiful. You look like a super model with a porn star charm

LOL 'Angelized' - you're too kind and I'm flattered I'm normally a Brunette though..I do wonder if you'd have added the 'porn star charm' had I not added that element of sluttiness with the blonde

[Madison (kiara jamie)]

i know you have made your decision to go to brassard but i just wanted to say something first

for the past year i have been assuming that i would go to dr brassard since i live in canada and my govt healthcare will pay for it, but after joining the trans-surgery results yahoo group i have been looking at the results from brassard, and i have to admit that they are not the most natal looking, i find dr brassards technique has a lack of differentiation between the minora and majora labia's, and in the pictures i have seen most don't seem like they even have labia minora, im assuming it would yield better results if a labiaplasty revision was done but i haven't seen any convincing results from brassard, and now i have been debating not even getting srs with brassard even though it is free and local, and instead going to suporn since he has more natal looking aesthetics,

i know its not easy getting pictures of post op mtf  results but i think since you only have one chance to do this surgery you should atleast make sure your making the best decision you can

[dejan160]

LOL 'Angelized' - you're too kind and I'm flattered I'm normally a Brunette though..I do wonder if you'd have added the 'porn star charm' had I not added that element of sluttiness with the blonde

If I ever regret cutting off my penis, it would be you )

[Jill F]

I'm just having an orchi for now, but my question was, "Do you take plastic?"

He's a well known SRS surgeon anyway.