Researching Surgeons for SRS

[jillian]

Hello,

So after doig some more research I've narrowed it down to 3 surgeons:
Dr. Brassard
Dr. Meltzer
Dr. Bowers

I've already contacted all 3 doctors for more info and stated my intentions for SRS. My therapist also confirmed yesterday in an apt that he would supply the letter in January.

Has anyone had experience with Dr. Meltzer? He comes highly recommended also however he does use a 2-stage vaginaplasty and labiaplasty procedure. What are the pros and cons to this approach? Honestly having two surgeries doesn't sound particularly appealing.

-Jillian

[tinkerbell]

Has anyone had experience with Dr. Meltzer?
-Jillian

I had my SRS with Dr. Meltzer last January.  What would you like to know, Jillian?  Feel free to PM me, I will be more than glad to answer your questions. 

Has anyone had experience with Dr. Meltzer? He comes highly recommended also however he does use a 2-stage vaginaplasty and labiaplasty procedure. What are the pros and cons to this approach?
-Jillian

  What is the advantage of a two stage procedure.  I must admit that I didn't give the two stage much thought.
Steph

This is basically done to prevent damage to the blood supply which can result in loss of sensation of the neo-vagina .  As you kitties know, when GRS is performed, the skin/tissue from the scrotum and/or grafts is used to create the labia. As long as the front edges of this skin is left in place, the blood supply will not be compromised; nevertheless by doing this, the surgeons have to leave the new labia majora parallel to each other  After the neo-vagina heals, the blood supply normalizes, and it is riskless to bring the labia together over the clitoris and create a normal appearance.  As I said previously, the pre-labiaplasty results are excellent so far, and I am sure that as time passes, it will be even better, but I just wanted to know your opinion.  If I decide to have this extra procedure in the future, it will basically be for cosmetic purposes and nothing else IMO.  I think Robyn had surgery with Dr. M as well, so I am hoping that she responds to this thread.

My question is, Who looks that close at your crotch to see if you are passable down there?

Exactly.  And even if someone does  >, that person hopefully knows about your history.  LOL



Graphic photos

Dr. Meltzer's vaginoplasty results (Pre-labiaplasty)

Dr. Meltzer's vaginoplasty results (Post-labiaplasty)

tink

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[Berliegh]

I have been living Full time for many years and would also eventually like to have GRS. Are there any good genital surgeons in Europe?

[tinkerbell]

I have been living Full time for many years and would also eventually like to have GRS. Are there any good genital surgeons in Europe?

I believe there are many, Berliegh, but one of the best SRS surgeons in the UK is
Mr. James Bellringer.  This is his website:

http://www.bellringers.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/

And here are some pictures of his work:

Graphic photos

http://www.annelawrence.com/bellringer0705.html

http://www.annelawrence.com/bellringer0104.html

Please keep in mind that the photo from 2004 was taken only eleven days after SRS; hence, the neo-vagina hasn't healed completely yet.

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[Berliegh]

I believe there are many, Berliegh, but one of the best SRS surgeons in the UK is
Mr. James Bellringer.  This is his website:

http://www.bellringers.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/

And here are some pictures of his work:

Graphic photos

http://www.annelawrence.com/bellringer0705.html

http://www.annelawrence.com/bellringer0104.html

Please keep in mind that the photo from 2004 was taken only eleven days after SRS; hence, the neo-vagina hasn't healed completely yet.

tink

No thanks, see my earlier post on another GRS thread regarding U.K NHS patients....

Can someone give me details of surgeons in Europe (not the U.K) please.....

Posted on: September 08, 2007, 06:20:06 AMI guess Europe is a blank spot then?

Posted on: September 09, 2007, 03:35:04 AMNo banana on this one......I guess it's thailand or the U.S then?

[Butterfly]

No banana on this one......I guess it's thailand or the U.S then?

~laugh~ not too many surgeons in Europe Berliegh except for the ones already mentioned.  There's one in Belgium, not very famous though.  No after GRS piccies either.  Most of us Europeans go to Thailand, Canada or the States.

[Berliegh]

No banana on this one......I guess it's thailand or the U.S then?

~laugh~ not too many surgeons in Europe Berliegh except for the ones already mentioned.  There's one in Belgium, not very famous though.  No after GRS piccies either.  Most of us Europeans go to Thailand, Canada or the States.

Only one was mentioned in the U.K who doesn't have a great reputation. The U.S and Thailand do seem to be better equipped for this type of surgery..

[tinkerbell]

There's one in Belgium

Dr. Michel Seghers retired in 2001.

See this link. (you can also click on the links within this link to have an idea of what his work looked like)

Were you referring to him, Butterfly?  But yes, Berliegh, I think that your best options are Thailand, Canada or the United States.

tink

[jillian]

Hello Berliegh,

Cute name! Have you considered Dr. Brassard for your surgery? He works out of Montreal and comes highly recommended.

It is interesting that there are not more surgeons in the UK for SRS. I've always thought of Europe and the UK as being fairly progressive sexually. What has been your experience?

-Jillian

No banana on this one......I guess it's thailand or the U.S then?

~laugh~ not too many surgeons in Europe Berliegh except for the ones already mentioned.  There's one in Belgium, not very famous though.  No after GRS piccies either.  Most of us Europeans go to Thailand, Canada or the States.

Only one was mentioned in the U.K who doesn't have a great reputation. The U.S and Thailand do seem to be better equipped for this type of surgery..

[Berliegh]

Hello Berliegh,

Cute name! Have you considered Dr. Brassard for your surgery? He works out of Montreal and comes highly recommended.

It is interesting that there are not more surgeons in the UK for SRS. I've always thought of Europe and the UK as being fairly progressive sexually. What has been your experience?

-Jillian

Jillian, The U.K is very behind in all things related to Gender Dysphoria especially surgical proceedure's and basiic techical help. Countries like the U.S.A, Brazil Holland, Germany and Thialand are 20 years ahead of the U.K.....

Another double edged sword is the NHS which is in the victorian ages as  regards to Transsexuals, they don't have any kind of treatment program, technical staff or any kind of timescale. But then again private healthcare in the U.K isn't much better.... 

[Caroline]

Only one was mentioned in the U.K who doesn't have a great reputation. The U.S and Thailand do seem to be better equipped for this type of surgery..

Can I ask what bad things you've heard about James Bellringer?  As far as I have heard, both him and Phil Thomas (who were both trained by Mike Royle who revolutionised SRS techniques in the UK) are very highly regarded.  The only other SRS surgeon in the UK now is Tim Terry.  There used to be a number of surgeons with bad reputations but AFAIK none of them are still about.

All 3 do private work so your negative NHS experiences shouldn't figure into this.

[Berliegh]

Only one was mentioned in the U.K who doesn't have a great reputation. The U.S and Thailand do seem to be better equipped for this type of surgery..

Can I ask what bad things you've heard about James Bellringer?  As far as I have heard, both him and Phil Thomas (who were both trained by Mike Royle who revolutionised SRS techniques in the UK) are very highly regarded.  The only other SRS surgeon in the UK now is Tim Terry.  There used to be a number of surgeons with bad reputations but AFAIK none of them are still about.

All 3 do private work so your negative NHS experiences shouldn't figure into this.

Ok, if you want the nitty gritty facts......the people who have had poor surgery through Mr Bellringer are people I have actually met, not hearsay or something I've read........I'm not going to mention their names but here is the information..

One patient I met complained that they had 14 operations to try and put the original operation right and they still were not finished. Two other patients I knew ended up with complications resulting in very serious infections. I've also seen various patients complaining to the London GIC about their operations......
These were all NHS patients but Mr Bellringer's private work may be different.
I don't have any data or info on his private work but I have met him and I wasn't impressed.....

[Caroline]

One patient I met complained that they had 14 operations to try and put the original operation right and they still were not finished. Two other patients I knew ended up with complications resulting in very serious infections. I've also seen various patients complaining to the London GIC about their operations......
These were all NHS patients but Mr Bellringer's private work may be different.
I don't have any data or info on his private work but I have met him and I wasn't impressed.....

Could the infections be blamed on the hospital rather than the surgeon?  I intend to see Bellringer private (I've met him too) and really would rather have it done in a private hospital.  I feel really sorry for your friend that had 14 ops though, that's terrible luck.

I think you can find stories like this about all surgeons but at least if it goes wrong here the legal situation is better than somewhere like Thailand...

[Berliegh]

One patient I met complained that they had 14 operations to try and put the original operation right and they still were not finished. Two other patients I knew ended up with complications resulting in very serious infections. I've also seen various patients complaining to the London GIC about their operations......
These were all NHS patients but Mr Bellringer's private work may be different.
I don't have any data or info on his private work but I have met him and I wasn't impressed.....

Could the infections be blamed on the hospital rather than the surgeon?  I intend to see Bellringer private (I've met him too) and really would rather have it done in a private hospital.  I feel really sorry for your friend that had 14 ops though, that's terrible luck.

I think you can find stories like this about all surgeons but at least if it goes wrong here the legal situation is better than somewhere like Thailand...

I met Mr Bellringer in different circumstances in 2004 as a witness at a panel meeting at Charing Cross GIC and he was brought in as an 'expert' as they don't have any technical staff at CX GIC. The discussion was about one patients lack of fat distribution but Mr Bellringer was unable to grasp what it meant. Of the five people from Charing Cross GIC present (including two urologists)  only Richard Green seemed to know the simple analogy of what the patient was talking about.....

His Private work may be better than his NHS work but he didn't seem very educated when it came to gender issue's..