FFS with Dr. Bart on Aug.26.14

[Dash]

Dash!, it is getting easier and easier definitiely! But still having to keep on top of the painkillers! The strap around the chin and head and the one on the nose make pressure that adds to the pain a little bit.

Like Donna says, I'm looking forward to 2 weeks from now when it's all coming together for me but 4th day down and things still healing along well each day seems to have me feeling better and brighter. I'm not sure I mentioned my first post op yday, but that went great, Dr Bart also was very pleased and happy with how it's all coming along and said that apparently the TV show is almost a done deal now, so I reassured him that I'm ok with that as previously said. As someone said, hopefully he won't be raising his prices after that.

Glad that there aren't hiccups on the recovery front, Carly. I think you'll be an awesome candidate to promote his skills on the televison show. Braver than me about it though, I'd be so anxious. ; )

It makes me feel so good and warm just to know my posts may help anyone with preparations and expectations. That is the reason I am sharing my FFS journey here... And like Julia said, you always have us! I saw your ticker and it says your FFS is coming up 2 months from now, I can see why you must be starting to get nervous and excited. Julia is kinda right about try gain some weight as funny as that sounds lol x

Your posts have definitely helped me. I've just booked an appointment for the end of october to get FFS with Dr. Van de Ven (the surgical alterations that I'm getting are almost the same as your's). So yeah, your posts have been in an invaluable resource while I'm mentally and practically preparing myself for the trip to Antwerp. I'm glad that you're not sugar coating what the recovery period takes out of you, because some people say they breeze through it. I guess the milage varies from person to person.

Anyway, hope everything continues to improve and that you're feeling well enough to go for that drive and see more of Antwerp. : )

If you don't mind, I may have a some questions to ask you via PM in a few days time?

[calicarly]

Final Postop Day 8

Today was a busy day, we had to pack up and leave the studio apartment, go for the final postop with Dr Bart and fly home.

The postop went smoothly. The staples on the scalp incision came off (ouch), the stents in my nostrils came out (double ouch !) and so did the stitches that needed to come off (ouchie!). Dr Bart is very pleased with the progression of my nose, so he suggested that I can now forget about the pressure pad on it and leave it off which is great news!, I am still bruised enough so that I wore my big wasp sunglasses at the airport and the flight. I am completely worm out from the day but also happy to be home sweet home. Our kittens greeted us happily and have been extra loving.

I'm still on painkillers but the overall discomfort is settling down much more after the stitches, staples and particularly the stents having been removed...  Eyeballs still have some blood on outer corners so still some of the zombie look there lingering and the bruising from the chin lipo is still very marked. Yesterday and today are the first days I feel some short lived bursts of energy followed by being exhausted. But I hadn't felt energetic at all for a whole week. I'm being able to eat soft solids with care no problem now.
I am very happy with Dr Bart. He provided extra painkillers when I needed them, he was thorough at all the check ups, he had a laugh with me and my bf all while being focused, I just can't complain.

I am looking forward to tonight's sleep witn my nose free of stents and pressure as I had been having to breath through my mouth at night the past week which really messed around with my sleep and gave me a dry mouth. With the pressure bandage pulling my jaw closed I had to use a straw to be able to keep airway flow some nights, y'all can imagine!

I took some pics today to show you gals, i still look like I was attacked or something, I may upload them in the morning. And the swelling on my jawline is so much you can't yet see the work, my bf keeps saying that I have this really different look when he looks at me in profile or 3/4 and that he can at times see what's slowly starting to reveal itself.

Carly x

[Shantel]

Bless your sweet heart honey, don't rush anything for our sakes, post when you're truly ready and feeling good about it. Glad all went well, your BF sounds like a real gem!

[Julia-Madrid]

Pictures, pictures!!  Even if the butterfly's wings are still looking a bit squiffy....



Besos!

[calicarly]

Day 11

Dash! That's great news about booking your surgery with Dr Bart. He will do his best for you as he has done for me I am sure.

Here is a piccy of my progress so far. I went out yday to court to support someone dear to me. And that's where I was at when I took the pic.

Lots of progress! Only some more to go in the bruising department and then the bloody eyeballs then it's all about the chin and jaw swelling. Only one more week of the pressure bandage and I will be taking some pics with makeup on and everything



Mwah x

Carly

PS. There you go Julia!! I was adding the pic as your post appeared lol. Hugs darlin'

[alena]

Hi Carly,

That's good progress you're making. The forehead area already looks smoother. I hope it keeps getting better!

[Julia-Madrid]

Carly, you're doing splendidly.  Behind the bruising I can see that you're going to look spectacular.

Xxx
J

[shedevilcanada]

wow Carly, great recovery, love the results so far, when all the swelling go down you will look stunning

keep those pics coming :-)

[Dash]

Day 11

Dash! That's great news about booking your surgery with Dr Bart. He will do his best for you as he has done for me I am sure.

Here is a piccy of my progress so far. I went out yday to court to support someone dear to me. And that's where I was at when I took the pic.

Lots of progress! Only some more to go in the bruising department and then the bloody eyeballs then it's all about the chin and jaw swelling. Only one more week of the pressure bandage and I will be taking some pics with makeup on and everything

Thanks for the kind words, Carly. I can't wait as I really do feel this operation (I'm getting almost the exact same as you) has the potential to improve my confidence and well being hugely when it comes to living my life day to day.

You're healing nicely and I can already see really good improvements are coming through. : )

Jealous of your braiding though. I'm rubbish at it. : P

[calicarly]

I hope you ladies are right we'll see what keeps developing and revealing...

I do hope Ffs yields the results you want and more Dash. Don't forget to update us here on the site if you can here and there when it all happens . Have you started booking your stay and flights there and back?

So are you having forehead, jaw/chin, nose Hun?

Feeling much better and can eat a lot of soft solids now, I am regaining much more control of my lower lip and some more sensation, bruising on the eyes still on the way out slowly, I think I can feel the endotines under the scalp sometimes cause I get some real sharp pains here and there on certain few points. Having a lot less painkillers now, saw my uncle tonight finally and he says to me... So, is that lip gonna come back to normal so you don't look like you've had a stroke or what? (In a funny tone) I busted out laughing !! Gotta love him. It does make weird shapes the more I regain sensation there. Keep getting pins and needles on the chin and lower lip more everyday. Nose looking good to me even tho it is very swollen I am loving the profile already, chin's re shaping is very noticeable now, jaw too swollen still. Chin lipo looks good too but still lotsa bruising there. Still wearing head band and I do think it's beneficial. Stitches in my mouth pretty healed up now, that's one part that healed up very fast. I am so eager for my results ! But I think I will see a lot more of the new face within the next week. The swelling on the jaw is going down more significantly now each day.

Still get tired easily I was doing some cleaning while alone at home and I think it got too energetic and I could really feel that, it made me nauseous and I felt seriously out of breath. I seriously am glad for all the girls who can get up and out of Bed one week later looking great with almost all their healing behind them but I'm thinking it's good that I can share my slow healing process for those girls who might have it like me and I'm sure it can cheer up the ones who have it faster and easier than me.  2 weeks since surgery tomorrow! And still bruised. There was a girl in the same apartment building where I stayed in Antwerp and she also had some huge bruising on her chest for some reason, but her bruising was progressing much faster than mine.

Right now I just keep watching my usual daytime TV wedding shows and Wendy Williams and things like that and I've been using my neck pillow a lot, I'm glad I still had it, I've been using it to sleep at night too.

Sure I don't look great right now with how slow my healing has been, but to me it's not about being the prettiest girl either, it's just about finally ridding myself of the poisoning effects T had on my face during my teenage years, And even like this I'm feeling a kind of relief already when I look in the mirror. It's a relief with an added feel of excitement right behind it.

Let's keep on keepin' on...

Carly xoxo

[Julia-Madrid]

Dear Carly

You had a lot done and need to try take it easy.   But if you're able to do a bit of house cleaning I think you're doing pretty well.

Aaaargh, the darn endotines!  It's now six weeks since my FFS and one of the endotines still hurts, but mainly at night for some bizzare reason.  And your lips will get better, although it's annoying not to have the feedback when eating.  I took to positioning my iPhone on the table at the correct angle, to be able to start the camera app and check whether I had food on my face.   See the narcissistic lady who looks like a hamster constantly checking herself out, oh well...

I flew to London last week to try get my female passport.  An absolute disaster!  Between Passport Office documentation, and what in hindsight was total and utter disinformation when I called their helpdesk to get clarity and arrange the appointment ("Yes, you'll need a psychologist's letter"), and then a full day and two trips to the PO in London, first being told "yes" and then being told "no, not quite", it was a miserable day.  You nearly saw Julia bawling her little eyes out in Victoria station.  Truly, although superficially it appears sound, the PO's handling of us is abysmal, and it need not be so - they just need clear written guidelines both externally and interally.  I'm psyching myself up for Round Two! 

Besos
Julia

   

[Dash]

I hope you ladies are right we'll see what keeps developing and revealing...

I do hope Ffs yields the results you want and more Dash. Don't forget to update us here on the site if you can here and there when it all happens . Have you started booking your stay and flights there and back?

So are you having forehead, jaw/chin, nose Hun?

Forehead/brow lift, jaw/chin, nose, lipofiling of the upper lip and fat excision underneath the chin. So yeah, pretty much the same,  : )

Currently sorting out bloodwork and an x-ray whilst waiting for my passport to arrive. As soon as it does, flights and accommodation will be sorted. It's all starting to feel much more real than it did a few weeks ago. : )

Feeling much better and can eat a lot of soft solids now, I am regaining much more control of my lower lip and some more sensation, bruising on the eyes still on the way out slowly, I think I can feel the endotines under the scalp sometimes cause I get some real sharp pains here and there on certain few points. Having a lot less painkillers now, saw my uncle tonight finally and he says to me... So, is that lip gonna come back to normal so you don't look like you've had a stroke or what? (In a funny tone) I busted out laughing !! Gotta love him. It does make weird shapes the more I regain sensation there. Keep getting pins and needles on the chin and lower lip more everyday. Nose looking good to me even tho it is very swollen I am loving the profile already, chin's re shaping is very noticeable now, jaw too swollen still. Chin lipo looks good too but still lotsa bruising there. Still wearing head band and I do think it's beneficial. Stitches in my mouth pretty healed up now, that's one part that healed up very fast. I am so eager for my results ! But I think I will see a lot more of the new face within the next week. The swelling on the jaw is going down more significantly now each day.

Still get tired easily I was doing some cleaning while alone at home and I think it got too energetic and I could really feel that, it made me nauseous and I felt seriously out of breath. I seriously am glad for all the girls who can get up and out of Bed one week later looking great with almost all their healing behind them but I'm thinking it's good that I can share my slow healing process for those girls who might have it like me and I'm sure it can cheer up the ones who have it faster and easier than me.  2 weeks since surgery tomorrow! And still bruised. There was a girl in the same apartment building where I stayed in Antwerp and she also had some huge bruising on her chest for some reason, but her bruising was progressing much faster than mine.

Right now I just keep watching my usual daytime TV wedding shows and Wendy Williams and things like that and I've been using my neck pillow a lot, I'm glad I still had it, I've been using it to sleep at night too.

Sure I don't look great right now with how slow my healing has been, but to me it's not about being the prettiest girl either, it's just about finally ridding myself of the poisoning effects T had on my face during my teenage years, And even like this I'm feeling a kind of relief already when I look in the mirror. It's a relief with an added feel of excitement right behind it.

Absolutely. A large part of it for me is about self-correction and doing as much as possible to roll back some of the more detrimental effects of the all-cursed T. 

As your injuries start to clear up and heal, you must be able to be seeing more of the new (or how you believe you should have looked in the first place), you. It's good that you've got family and your partner there that you can have a joke with about it all because I'd imagine healing on one's own would be a wearying experience (so glad I have my mum and brother). Not looking forward how to learn to sleep on my back though as I've always done it on my front.

Anyways, hopefully the diminishment of your bruises speeds up and you gain your old energy back. It must be nice to see light at the end of the tunnel in getting back into the regular swing of things. x

[calicarly]

Forehead/brow lift, jaw/chin, nose, lipofiling of the upper lip and fat excision underneath the chin. So yeah, pretty much the same,  : )

Currently sorting out bloodwork and an x-ray whilst waiting for my passport to arrive. As soon as it does, flights and accommodation will be sorted. It's all starting to feel much more real than it did a few weeks ago. : )

Absolutely. A large part of it for me is about self-correction and doing as much as possible to roll back some of the more detrimental effects of the all-cursed T. 

As your injuries start to clear up and heal, you must be able to be seeing more of the new (or how you believe you should have looked in the first place), you. It's good that you've got family and your partner there that you can have a joke with about it all because I'd imagine healing on one's own would be a wearying experience (so glad I have my mum and brother). Not looking forward how to learn to sleep on my back though as I've always done it on my front.

Anyways, hopefully the diminishment of your bruises speeds up and you gain your old energy back. It must be nice to see light at the end of the tunnel in getting back into the regular swing of things. x

Wow Dash,

Basically the same procedures! apart from the upper lip lipo filling you are having... He took out quite a bit of fat from under my chin you know! I'm very happy with that!

Went online and found out about the bloody eyeballs, it can happen to some people when there is a mixture of blood thinners (which dr Bart gave me a shot of, the day before surgery) and from the trauma from the work near the eyes (nose and possibly from the work on the orbital rims). It's finally healing, it can take up to 4 weeks to heal on many people so if it's gone anytime before that, I'll be happy. But at this point I might as well wait till the head band is off for good next Tuesday to show you ladies my first after pics. I am getting really excited for my results! Still get in pain when I wake up in the mornings and after dinner (from chewing) my Dr (GP) gave me some low strength cocodamol to keep me going while that keeps happening (he is a wonderful GP) he also looked at my forehead incision out of curiosity and he said it looks like an extremely well done job, which is great to hear from him!

Dear Carly

You had a lot done and need to try take it easy.   But if you're able to do a bit of house cleaning I think you're doing pretty well.

Aaaargh, the darn endotines!  It's now six weeks since my FFS and one of the endotines still hurts, but mainly at night for some bizzare reason.  And your lips will get better, although it's annoying not to have the feedback when eating.  I took to positioning my iPhone on the table at the correct angle, to be able to start the camera app and check whether I had food on my face.   See the narcissistic lady who looks like a hamster constantly checking herself out, oh well...

I flew to London last week to try get my female passport.  An absolute disaster!  Between Passport Office documentation, and what in hindsight was total and utter disinformation when I called their helpdesk to get clarity and arrange the appointment ("Yes, you'll need a psychologist's letter"), and then a full day and two trips to the PO in London, first being told "yes" and then being told "no, not quite", it was a miserable day.  You nearly saw Julia bawling her little eyes out in Victoria station.  Truly, although superficially it appears sound, the PO's handling of us is abysmal, and it need not be so - they just need clear written guidelines both externally and interally.  I'm psyching myself up for Round Two! 

Besos
Julia

   

Julia,

That's a bummer! I don't understand why they would give you a hard time, although I'm sure as soon as you bring them proof of your transition in Spain (that letter they asked and whatever else protocol they follow in Spain) they won't be able to say no then.

Let us know what they say on your next trip there to fix it, I hope it will all go smoothly next time. I am cheering you from here. My stuff was taken care of a while back but I think it was handled in a very individual manner due to the fact that it got all taken care of at the same time as my residency papers In Britain. I am cheering you from here girl!

Hugs lovelies

Carly x x

[Julia-Madrid]

Julia,

That's a bummer! I don't understand why they would give you a hard time, although I'm sure as soon as you bring them proof of your transition in Spain (that letter they asked and whatever else protocol they follow in Spain) they won't be able to say no then.

Let us know what they say on your next trip there to fix it, I hope it will all go smoothly next time. I am cheering you from here. My stuff was taken care of a while back but I think it was handled in a very individual manner due to the fact that it got all taken care of at the same time as my residency papers In Britain. I am cheering you from here girl!

Hi Carly

Actually, it's quite complicated.  Formal legal recognition of a gender change in Spain requires you to have been on hormones for 2 years, or until you turn up with your lower bits in their new configuration. But the UK passport office in theory only requests "a letter from your doctor or medical consultant confirming that your change of gender is likely to be permanent", and it appears that psychologists don't count! I mean, what is a "medical consultant" exactly?   This is bizarre, considering that the WPATH guidelines specifically state two letters from separate psychologists prior to GRS, so if anyone knows our stability and intent it's our psychologist.  Oh, and the one-day passport change doesn't exist for gender changes - that needs a full week, but nobody tells you this!

Anyhow, we knew that we would find hurdles in our paths; mine are just complicated by living in Spain, but I  shall get there, as our in house GP has now agreed to provide me such letters

Sorry to hear that you still have bloody eyes; they are rather exotic and might allow you to be an extra in some Doctor Who episode - a Transylvanian transgender vampire or something!  .  I have read about this and I am sure it will clear up soon (the vampirism I mean).  Until then it's dark glasses in the supermarket, so I guess it's liveable if not quite the effect you want.  Countdown to getting the headband off, and of course you know the mantra - photos, photos, we want photos!

Yours with gradually reducing hamster jowls, squeak!
A/J

[marie]

Hi ladies!
I had a meeting with Dr Bart las week in Antwerp, and really enjoyed that first contact.. he is a kind person, open to listen the particular story of each individual, I felt he is simply human.. About the work to be done on me, he estimated that forehead rework essentially will consist in shaving the eyebrow bones and shifting the brows up ... this is good news of course compared to the scary type III reconstruction... also my hairline will drop down one centimeter, he said, another good thing..
Then, my nose too needs work, and he will refine and narrow the main line and make the wings closer and lower by adding some cartilage from my ears at their bottom... crazy techniques...
The cheeks will be filled with my own fat, he checked I had some to provide....:-))
Finally, he estimated nothing has to be done on my jaw and chin, good news too...
The clinic is brand new and staff are so kind... all this is excellent to me, I thought once to go for MDM, but now I believe I will give up on that side, and go for Dr Bart... I live in north east of France, it it 4 hours of train to get to Antwerp...

My schedule will be likely by mid March,2015..I will open a post then ....

Cheers

Marie

[Donna Elvira]

Hi ladies!
I had a meeting with Dr Bart las week in Antwerp, and really enjoyed that first contact.. he is a kind person, open to listen the particular story of each individual, I felt he is simply human.. About the work to be done on me, he estimated that forehead rework essentially will consist in shaving the eyebrow bones and shifting the brows up ... this is good news of course compared to the scary type III reconstruction... also my hairline will drop down one centimeter, he said, another good thing..
Then, my nose too needs work, and he will refine and narrow the main line and make the wings closer and lower by adding some cartilage from my ears at their bottom... crazy techniques...
The cheeks will be filled with my own fat, he checked I had some to provide....:-))
Finally, he estimated nothing has to be done on my jaw and chin, good news too...
The clinic is brand new and staff are so kind... all this is excellent to me, I thought once to go for MDM, but now I believe I will give up on that side, and go for Dr Bart... I live in north east of France, it it 4 hours of train to get to Antwerp...

My schedule will be likely by mid March,2015..I will open a post then ....

Cheers

Marie

Bonjour Marie
J'habite également le nord-est de la France et suis une ancienne patiente, très satisfaite, de Dr VdV.  Si tu as des questions et étant donné l'ampleur de ma propre chirurgie qui a inclus quasiment toutes les procédures envisageables sauf la réduction de la pomme d'Adam, n'hésite pas à m'envoyer un PM (message personnel)
Bises
Donna

[marie]

... n'hésite pas à m'envoyer un PM (message personnel)...

Done ! 

[kira21 ♡♡♡]

I am booked in for a few things with Dr. B in Jan :-D

[calicarly]

Hello lovelies!

Sorry I haven't been around a whole lot I did a lot of running around this week and had to get back to the office mid week also, I am extremely excited now I have been playing with some make up a couple of times but I am just waiting maybe 2 or 3 more days to take pics cause my eyes need clearing up a tiny bit more. The bruising on the skin has finally cleared up now completely and the pain in my jaw and chin is still somewhat present so I am still taking the prescription low dose pain killers my Dr gave me (mainly in the mornings) the headband that compresses the chin is off since this last Wednesday too.

I am booked in for a few things with Dr. B in Jan :-D

Hi Kira!

That's awesome Hun! I think I saw a thread of yours here in the forums. You'll find Dr Bart is a really caring Doctor and he cares for his patients so I'm sure you will be in good hands! What are you having done ? ...

Hi ladies!
I had a meeting with Dr Bart las week in Antwerp, and really enjoyed that first contact.. he is a kind person, open to listen the particular story of each individual, I felt he is simply human.. About the work to be done on me, he estimated that forehead rework essentially will consist in shaving the eyebrow bones and shifting the brows up ... this is good news of course compared to the scary type III reconstruction... also my hairline will drop down one centimeter, he said, another good thing..
Then, my nose too needs work, and he will refine and narrow the main line and make the wings closer and lower by adding some cartilage from my ears at their bottom... crazy techniques...
The cheeks will be filled with my own fat, he checked I had some to provide....:-))
Finally, he estimated nothing has to be done on my jaw and chin, good news too...
The clinic is brand new and staff are so kind... all this is excellent to me, I thought once to go for MDM, but now I believe I will give up on that side, and go for Dr Bart... I live in north east of France, it it 4 hours of train to get to Antwerp...

My schedule will be likely by mid March,2015..I will open a post then ....

Cheers

Marie

Marie,

That's really good news that you could get away without work on your chin and jaw, I'm sure that will mean a lot lower cost for your procedures!! Please share with us what happens! All the best!

Hi Carly

Actually, it's quite complicated.  Formal legal recognition of a gender change in Spain requires you to have been on hormones for 2 years, or until you turn up with your lower bits in their new configuration. But the UK passport office in theory only requests "a letter from your doctor or medical consultant confirming that your change of gender is likely to be permanent", and it appears that psychologists don't count! I mean, what is a "medical consultant" exactly?   This is bizarre, considering that the WPATH guidelines specifically state two letters from separate psychologists prior to GRS, so if anyone knows our stability and intent it's our psychologist.  Oh, and the one-day passport change doesn't exist for gender changes - that needs a full week, but nobody tells you this!

Anyhow, we knew that we would find hurdles in our paths; mine are just complicated by living in Spain, but I  shall get there, as our in house GP has now agreed to provide me such letters

Sorry to hear that you still have bloody eyes; they are rather exotic and might allow you to be an extra in some Doctor Who episode - a Transylvanian transgender vampire or something!  .  I have read about this and I am sure it will clear up soon (the vampirism I mean).  Until then it's dark glasses in the supermarket, so I guess it's liveable if not quite the effect you want.  Countdown to getting the headband off, and of course you know the mantra - photos, photos, we want photos!

Yours with gradually reducing hamster jowls, squeak!
A/J

Haha!! Julia, I love how you describe the jaw swelling. Hamster jowls is definitely what it looks like. They are reducing tho so that's good! So does that mean you may be able to get away with a letter from your Dr saying your gender change is likely permanent? I hope so!


Carly x

[alena]

Hi Carly,

I was just wondering how you were doing today. I received my reminder to see Dr Bart (next Saturday) this morning and you sprang to mind. I hope all is going well with your recovery. It's amazing how time flies sometimes, you've had your FFS and I've been on hormones for over two months!