Opinions please

[Al James]

I am soon having the first stage radial arm phalloplasty done down in London. I have put of making the decision of whether I want the urethral lengthening done until later- apparently I can decide at anytime before the third stage. But what do you fellows think? My heart says yes - I want to be able to stand to pee but my head says don't be stupid there is far too much that can go wrong. After all - I'm the only one who ever sees me going to the toilet and I've been doing it this way for 40 years so will it really make a difference? Then there's the fact that as a friend so delicately put it- I'm not going to be one or the other down there- which actually hurt me that she could say that. I really don't know which to follow- my head or my heart

[mm]

I can see you questioning just what you should do.  This decision is still years away for me, but it seems to me that the dr are becoming much better with the procedure and I hear of many more successes then failures.  You can have a problem like Make_It_Good had but the final results are great.  I surely want to be able to stand to pee in the end as Make_It_Good does makes life much easier as I am outside many times where there is no restroom nearby and the guys just walk behind a tree and go.  Also that is how normal guy pee.  As of now I am going to go it; it is your decision Al James, there is a risk as with any surgery.

[Al James]

The one thing I imagine every time I picture my future life is just bein able to stand there to pee. I know there's risks with all surgery just as there's a risk every time you cross a road lol. But nothing ventured nothing gained eh? I'm pretty sure that if I don't have it then I'm going to spend the rest of my life wishing I'd had the courage to just go for it an have it done. If I've come this far I might as well go all the way and just keep my fingers crossed

[Make_It_Good]

Good for you Al.
  I truly hope that things DO go well and smoothly for you. The surgeons on the London team are so skilled, I cant fault them there. And I guess we are fortunate aswell in the sense that if we were to suffer from complications, the NHS is there not only for the initial surgeries, but also any further help we may need.
  It was looking like Id need a follow up op (thankfully I didn't), and if that was to happen, atleast we know we don't have to worry about being able to afford the extra care.
   Do you have a good GP/nurse that you see?
My nurses are amazing (I highly praise them and claim that they are some of the best support throughout my transition) and they were great with helping with aftercare and dealing with complications. The surgeons, you are able to contact through the nurse they have, but aren't to hand all the time. So it is good if you have other links ready.

Mm, I always read your posts regarding phalloplasty etc and I honestly wish that if I could make the surgery happen for you, I would I really hope you get to where you want to be.

[Al James]

I have a brilliant nurse at the local surgery I would trust her with anything. I'm pretty sure she'll agree to doing my post op care. Not long to wait now just under two weeks. Thank you for your posts I always feel better once I've read them

[szikha]

Well first of all iam appolgize for my bad English. Iam from Europe.

in Belgium there is one stage phalloplasty. That include : making the phallus, total urethal lengting, scrotoplasty (no implants) , colpectomy , glansplasty. The second stage after few months ( i guess 6 months ) you can have erectile /ball inplants but there is one BUT : you must have some sensation in your penis. If not: no erectile

So since they do it in one stage you have no choice ( so to speak). Advice from me to you: yes do it.  Why? Because if you don't you will be still thinking about it and even feel dysforic about it. I know one guy who had phallo without urethra lenging and he is 'missing' something, so at the end he went for the operation.

About the complications, yes there is a (big) risk to get them. That is because making an urthra is hard and it is even harder in a new penis like a phallo. The urethra is then 90% longer. So there can be many risk with it. But don't worry. All problems can be solved. NOTE: i speak from experience from UZ Gent Belgium!

To be honest, i had a hard time you know. I had (many) complications and that made me sad, lonely and even some regret! One day i couldnt pee and that was the hardest and painfull day in my whole live and i would never experience that again ever!

Now i can pee good. Well since i have private problems (not trans related and has nothing to do with the new phallo or urethra) i still need some operations. i have some kind of kidney dease because of an accident. So my penis makes it a little bit harder. Well i can't explan it in English

If i where you i would go for it. Just close your eyes and i know for sure everything will be oké Be sure you go to and experience hospital WITH ALSO an good urologic team though!

Good luck