Any comments about Dr Brassard?

[selma]

My partner just had SRS with Dr B.

I would agree with some of the comment here that the facility is of top quality and there seem to be few complaints. It seems like most people are really happy with the outcome of the surgery.

There are standard procedures that at Dr B's that I think people could and can take issue with, both patients and visitors alike. In outlining some of these am I in no way trying to suggest the facility is bad or whatnot.

1) Some nurses have a curt turn of phrase in english which can lead to mis-communication (and it sounds like they are rude... but they are not)
2)The front office (i.e. mainly Suzanne) is highly disorganised and hard to communicate with quickly and easily.
3) Not everything you will need is listed on the information sheets
4) Don't expect (especially as a support person) to be told anything in advanced. Ask, ask, ask...
5) The accommodation at Laval (the Gite de Marigot- the one you stay at first and your guests are invited to stay at) is not close to anything much. Visiting hours are limited so it is better to stay closer to Montreal and just use the highly efficient public transport system to get around. There is bus (69 west from Henri Bourassa metro station) that stops directly out the front of the clinic.
5) There is no privacy for patients. Nurses, cleaners, other patients etc generally have full view of you in all states.
6) Visiting hours are really limited (2-8) and while this may seem like enough time there is no comfortable or private place to visit patients all of time. You may need to compete with other patients for limited couch space and there are strict schedules for dinner etc. Some visitors can be made to feel exceptionally uncomfortable and "little" whilst others are offered tea etc. It seems dependant on the nurse around at the time (personally I was told really rudely to leave by a nurse and I didn't want to visit again... it was horrible- she made me cry!)
7) You won't see much of the doctors
There is free wifi, lots of good food and plenty of company with other patients. You will have someone to share your experiences with.
9) There is no therapist, counsellor, liason officer or any outside support. The nurses are busy and won't necessarily have time to help you with emotional or pysch problems.
10) You are at a hospital (clinical, nurses who see with lots of patients, impersonal etc) and l dealing with a major operation. The two are kind of juxtaposed...

If you are flying from Australia use Air New Zealand. On the return trip you can fly through LAX and from LAX to Auckland there is a sleeper couch option. It costs more but you will get to lay down. It's worth it for 14hours.

s.

[toomuchkitty]

Would someone please tell me if you have to make two trips to Brassard? I live in  Vegas and I was wondering if you have to go to Canada twice once for consult and the other for surgery? Or can you go for a consult first then shortly after have your surgery? I am just curious as how people do it especially if you live far and have to travel.

[Jenna Marie]

I did not have to make two trips, and I live about five hours away but in the US - I said I didn't want to travel that much, and they told me it was OK. I had my "consult" the morning of my surgery instead, and it worked out fine.

[Sosophia]

there are possibilitys of no privacy with brassard ? because i m a little agoraphobic and need some loneliness and i m considering going with him for surgery

[Jenna Marie]

I think all of the hospital rooms are doubles, but you're only in there for 2 days and there are curtains you can pull. I think that's typical for hospitals in general. The residence does have some single rooms, and I imagine if you have a medical need you could request one (I got a single by random luck myself).

[Wynternight]

I've settled on Brassard for my SRS, if I ever get to that point. The money is lacking and not looking better in the future. 

[divineintervention]

I had my surgery with Dr. B in June - no complications during the time of recovery but now have a fused Labia minora and no clit hood... plus dealing with some nerve sensitivity issues (am rethinking my decision at the time to pick Montreal over somewhere closer where I was ... like London)

Just thought you should know! - I personally feel like his results have not been as smooth as when he was working alone (and not in a pair)

[Wynternight]

I had my surgery with Dr. B in June - no complications during the time of recovery but now have a fused Labia minora and no clit hood... plus dealing with some nerve sensitivity issues (am rethinking my decision at the time to pick Montreal over somewhere closer where I was ... like London)

Just thought you should know! - I personally feel like his results have not been as smooth as when he was working alone (and not in a pair)

Will he do revisions for you at no cost?

[Jenna Marie]

(Brassard does offer free revisions for the first year. Also, though I have no idea if it's the case here, my clit hood didn't settle down into actually "hooding" - as opposed to being just sort of a flap of flesh in the general vicinity - for quite some time, until the swelling in the whole area went down enough for things to end up where they were supposed to be.)

[divineintervention]

Yes - it was said that he does offer revisions after a year: I hope he sticks to it because as far as communication goes, it has been difficult for me to reach the surgeons (the nurses are rather responsive though)

Edit: I now know of 2 other people (aside from myself) that have a fused inner labia. One of them has zero sensitivity in her clitoris region. Just a heads up... Dr. B did see her and advised her to stimulate the area whilst promising a revision after a year.

[ainsley]

...
2)The front office (i.e. mainly Suzanne) is highly disorganised and hard to communicate with quickly and easily.
...

I have experienced this so far just trying to get my SRS scheduled.  Can anyone tell me how the process went for submitting paperwork and getting a surgery date?  I have submitted both recommendation letters, the letter detailing my hormones, my photo and the medical history form.  Suzanne then asked me to submit the medical history form.  I told her I already had and resubmitted it along with all of the other documents again (because I am quite retentive and have copies or originals of everything).  She then tells me they had two files on me, one with my 'last name, first name' & one with my 'middle name last name, first name'.  I told her the correct format, and she merely replied with 'ok'.  No word of what is next, if I need to send anything else, what is happening or ANYTHING.  Ugh!   Quite frustrating.

[mrs izzy]

I have experienced this so far just trying to get my SRS scheduled.  Can anyone tell me how the process went for submitting paperwork and getting a surgery date?  I have submitted both recommendation letters, the letter detailing my hormones, my photo and the medical history form.  Suzanne then asked me to submit the medical history form.  I told her I already had and resubmitted it along with all of the other documents again (because I am quite retentive and have copies or originals of everything).  She then tells me they had two files on me, one with my 'last name, first name' & one with my 'middle name last name, first name'.  I told her the correct format, and she merely replied with 'ok'.  No word of what is next, if I need to send anything else, what is happening or ANYTHING.  Ugh!   Quite frustrating.

She will send a date and once you accept she will send confirmation and scripts for blood test, hiv test and ekg if needed. The blood test is 12hr fasting by the way.

It will come, and chance for something earlier if cancelation.

[ainsley]

Thank you for the quick reply.

I guess I will just be patient and wait.  Does she send the date via email or snail mail?

[Nicolette]

(Brassard does offer free revisions for the first year. Also, though I have no idea if it's the case here, my clit hood didn't settle down into actually "hooding" - as opposed to being just sort of a flap of flesh in the general vicinity - for quite some time, until the swelling in the whole area went down enough for things to end up where they were supposed to be.)

My clitoris structure is basically a tiny button buried and obscured inside a hole like structure. It's quite inaccessible, even 13 months on. It has either always been hooded or clearly doesn't need one. Brassard had very little material to play with, and presume material availability is one reason why some of us can vary quite considerably in look and structure.