SRS with Andrew Ives in Melbourne Australia

[Sammym]

For the record, I never saw any Australian surgery results. However a long time ago when I was researching, I did have a couple of people mention depth as an issue. And well I was small before hrt.

Combine that with simple reasoning about experience gaps from doing relatively few of these procedures compared to other surgeons overseas, and it was enough to put me off. Oh also, it's more expensive here. Or was when the dollar wasn't so trashed.

My surgeon was Dr Brassard,  although Dr McGinn was a close runner-up. Very happy with my results and depth.

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[Ms Grace]

Hi Serenation, thanks for all the information so far. I'm in Melbourne, looking at what my options are. I've got friends that have had their SRS work done here and others in Thailand. Both camps say they're really happy with their work, but finding out what non-thai srs results look like has been really difficult! Chett and Suporn both have extremely detailed closeups available so you can judge what they're trying to do. As for what Andrew achieves though, there's very little I can see. Getting my surgery here would make things much easier in terms of work and medical cover, as well as peace of mind, but what the outcomes are is still a huge mystery.

How happy are you with the aesthetic outcome of your surgery?

Hi Tiny, welcome to the forum.
Andrew Ives does have post op pics available - but I believe you need to consult with him before they're made available.

[AnonyMs]

Hi Serenation, thanks for all the information so far. I'm in Melbourne, looking at what my options are. I've got friends that have had their SRS work done here and others in Thailand. Both camps say they're really happy with their work, but finding out what non-thai srs results look like has been really difficult! Chett and Suporn both have extremely detailed closeups available so you can judge what they're trying to do. As for what Andrew achieves though, there's very little I can see. Getting my surgery here would make things much easier in terms of work and medical cover, as well as peace of mind, but what the outcomes are is still a huge mystery.

How happy are you with the aesthetic outcome of your surgery?

As far as peace of mind goes, I'd be far happier in Thailand than Australia. There's an incredible number of positive stories about Suporn and Chett and very few negative ones. And the entire experience is positive not just the end result. And being in Australia there is no assurance of being safe. There's a apparently a surgeon here, and I don't know who it is (not Andy Ives though) who's really bad, and nothing is said. I suspect people are afraid of lawsuits, but I don't know. What recourse do you think you'd have in that case? What were those waivers you signed to get your surgery? Unless you're very wealthy good luck going though the courts.

The good thing about Thailand is if something bad happens you're going to hear about it, so of course you do hear every little thing (and the occasional big one).

I don't think you'll find out much about Andy Ives in comparison. Even though he apparently does quite a bit of surgery no one's posting much. Even if you hear about 10 cases its still a very small number. Its just something you need to accept.

I've also never managed to work out what it means if someone is happy with their result. I have the impression that a lot of people won't talk about negative results.

The best photo's for Suporn by far are not on his website. I assume you've found them by now. I don't know about Chett.

I basically don't trust people and especially doctors and surgeons. I trust nothing they say. I only trust what I can find out by other means, and I don't trust that either. I admit it does make life a bit difficult. At the end of the day I try to work out the risk of each choice. If I get SRS its going to be a matter of risk who its with, not trust. Sadly, there's no peace of mind for me.

[Cindy]

I think we all have to be a bit careful in talking about surgeons. Many practices have long ears and this site does not have the funds to argue in Court.

Most surgeons are very good. Gender surgery  (MtF) is not particularly special by any means.

I know Andy quite well. I am also aware of comments from Australian clinicians who say they have never seen a bad job from him. I know he performs hundreds of GRS a year, and if I decided to go that way he would be my choice.

But choosing your surgeon is very personal and you give total trust to them. Just do your research and have faith!

[Sammym]

I basically don't trust people and especially doctors and surgeons. I trust nothing they say. I only trust what I can find out by other means, and I don't trust that either. I admit it does make life a bit difficult. At the end of the day I try to work out the risk of each choice. If I get SRS its going to be a matter of risk who its with, not trust. Sadly, there's no peace of mind for me.

Yes, absolutely with you when it comes to trust. Might sound inhuman, but I do admit to playing the numbers when it comes to surgeons. Surgeons who have the most amount of experience for the given procedure will always be at the top of my list. Practice does make perfect, mostly.


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[Tiny]

The best photo's for Suporn by far are not on his website. I assume you've found them by now. I don't know about Chett.

I havent seen any off Suporn's site, but there were plenty to inform my choices! Same with Chett.

[Cindy]

Do remember people that the thread was started by the OP to talk about Andy Ives and her experience  with him. Let us be civil to the op please!

[Tiny]

Of course! It's why I wanted to ask how she felt about her results overall.

[Cindy]

Of course! It's why I wanted to ask how she felt about her results overall.

Thank you Honey!

[AnonyMs]

Do remember people that the thread was started by the OP to talk about Andy Ives and her experience  with him. Let us be civil to the op please!

Sorry, my fault I think. Bad habbits.

[Serenation]

I'm not an expert on vagina's I've looked at about 837 since I had surgery (mostly wall of vaginas), and I'd say I prefer mine to 800 of those. The other 37 where porn stars and mostly half my age and probably had tweaks since everything I read about vaginas says don't compare yourself to porn stars.

Now I have the option to have further enhancements and adjustments and could quite possibly bump myself up closer to the magical 837 but that's up to me and how much time I want to spend in hospital. (To be honest I'm pretty scared about going under again as every time I've been to a hospital they have had trouble waking me up)

Mines what you would describe as an innie, I was on hrt for 13 years so didn't have a lot to work with, I needed to have a scrotal graft. Still amazes me that a dilater that is way bigger than what I had is able to fit in me, as well as all the skin they use on labia and clitoral hood.

I had my GP of 10 years do a check up on how things were healing between checkups with Andy and she said wow and amazing.

I always say your body has as much to do with how your vagina turns out as the surgeon but if someone wanted an outtie neo vagina with as much inner labia as possible then Suporn seems to be the one for that.

I generally think all neo vaginas are a little too perfect compared to cis vaginas.

[AnonyMs]

Wow, I think you've just invented a scoring system for SRS results. You score 800. We could even average them out if there were more of them to get an overall score for the surgeon.

[Serenation]

Wow, I think you've just invented a scoring system for SRS results. You score 800. We could even average them out if there were more of them to get an overall score for the surgeon.

it's not really relevant because everyone has different tastes, I prefer Chetts general look over Suporns and I prefer Brassards over either of those. At the of the end of the day the most important thing is you don't die having surgery, second most important is to not have serious complications. Then functionality, aesthetic, after care in whatever order is important to someone.

If I need to go and see my surgeon today I can. If I really need to ring him I have his mobile number. All my checkups are done by him personally. I got to spend 9 days in a private room in a hospital with nurses checking on me 24/7 with chefs cooking all my food while watching foxtel with the Surgeon spending time with me every single day. These things were and are a good peace of mind for me.

[thegirlinblue]

If I need to go and see my surgeon today I can. If I really need to ring him I have his mobile number. All my checkups are done by him personally. I got to spend 9 days in a private room in a hospital with nurses checking on me 24/7 with chefs cooking all my food while watching foxtel with the Surgeon spending time with me every single day. These things were and are a good peace of mind for me.

Hi Serenation,

This is really great to hear, I booked to have GRS with Andy in May next year and I agree that it is hard to find any information good or bad. I had a Breast Augmentation with him a few years back and I am absolutely stoked with the results and the after care he provided.

It's excellent to hear people say good things though. I had to look up what an inne and and outie was as I had never heard that in the context of a vagina before. lol

But now I know, I think I prefer the innie look. My partner and I were joking around the other night and I said that she should come with me to my pre-surgery appointment so I can show him her's and get him to make mine the same. It was funny because it made me wonder if you could ask for a certain look to the end result?

[Serenation]

Hi Serenation,

This is really great to hear, I booked to have GRS with Andy in May next year and I agree that it is hard to find any information good or bad. I had a Breast Augmentation with him a few years back and I am absolutely stoked with the results and the after care he provided.

It's excellent to hear people say good things though. I had to look up what an inne and and outie was as I had never heard that in the context of a vagina before. lol

But now I know, I think I prefer the innie look. My partner and I were joking around the other night and I said that she should come with me to my pre-surgery appointment so I can show him her's and get him to make mine the same. It was funny because it made me wonder if you could ask for a certain look to the end result?

Can't ask for a better reference than a repeat customer, hopefully I can afford BA one day. From what he said to me about choosing aesthetics is no he just gives you the best he can. Although at a later checkup he did say he would be able to give me more inner labia in a revision if that was something I really wanted, from my experience and what a friend told me, he generally does cosmetic revisions 6 months to 12 months later. I'm at 5.5 months now and things are still changing as it heals. All things you should ask him though, maybe you have more to work with than I did.

[Cindy]

Sarah I removed your post, no matter how I agree with it, as you indicated, it is inappropriate for this thread.

Cindy

[Sammym]

I've had a rather poor experience that involves Dr Ives a little that I thought might be worth sharing. it might impact any decision to go overseas or to another surgeon.

Following on from my procedure overseas, there has been some granulation tissue develop that needs attention. Since I did not have a gynecologist at the time, Dr Ives was maybe a possibility. So I phoned his office just to find availability for consults. Just to be told that it's against Dr Ives direct policy to not see patients following surgery with other surgeons. I was told that it was due to insurance...

When I discussed with my doctor, we were both really unimpressed. My doctor explained that it'll be due to the lack of Medicare codes available for followup on procedures such as this. Essentially putting profit before people my doctor said.

Personal opinions aside, this could be a big issue if you have any serious complications following overseas surgery, so definitely worth considering.



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[AnonyMs]

I believe granulation is pretty much what you'd want to see a gynecologist for. Its a simple thing.

Personally I'd stay away from surgeons where possible. I recall a non-trans friend of mine who's unfortunately had a lot of experience of surgeons telling me they tend to solve problems with surgery. ie if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

Having said that from previous discussions here about Dr Ives I very much doubt its profit motivated. It doesn't seem like him. You point about going overseas is very valid though. I've no idea about Dr Ives, but I've heard some surgeons don't like to revise other surgeons work as it can be very difficult not knowing what they have done. Presumably there would be additional risk as well even if they agreed to do it.  You might also find the original surgeon won't do any further revisions if someone else has messed with it. I plan to go to Suporn one day, and I'm very aware of all that, especially as Suporn's technique is complex and he hasn't shared it with anyone. Back to Thailand if there's any serious problems.

[thegirlinblue]

I find it hard to believe that Dr Ives is profit motivated.

I had one surgery with him and intend to have my gender affirmation surgery with him too. If I have seen anything from all the follow ups and pre-surgery visits I have had it that he is totally interested in my wellbeing and complete comfort with past and upcoming procedures. I am sorry that you had this experience.

But in my experience I have only ever paid for one consult and the rest have been included.

One of the main reasons that I am choosing to have the surgery in Australia is the follow ups and simply being able to drop in on my surgeon if I need. This is the main reason that I wouldn't have the gender affirmation surgery overseas.

[Serenation]

I've had a rather poor experience that involves Dr Ives a little that I thought might be worth sharing. it might impact any decision to go overseas or to another surgeon.

Following on from my procedure overseas, there has been some granulation tissue develop that needs attention. Since I did not have a gynecologist at the time, Dr Ives was maybe a possibility. So I phoned his office just to find availability for consults. Just to be told that it's against Dr Ives direct policy to not see patients following surgery with other surgeons. I was told that it was due to insurance...

When I discussed with my doctor, we were both really unimpressed. My doctor explained that it'll be due to the lack of Medicare codes available for followup on procedures such as this. Essentially putting profit before people my doctor said.

Personal opinions aside, this could be a big issue if you have any serious complications following overseas surgery, so definitely worth considering.



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In the last video I posted in his interview at the 7 minute mark, he says he does do revisions and fixes on overseas work, but explains it's not covered by medicare. Granulation is very common and unless it's inside the vagina I'd be surprised if a GP wouldn't do it.

Can we just go a day without having to get the thread cleaned.

If someone wants to talk about "their" experience with Andrew by all means start a thread. Same goes for Suporn, there's 100's of Suporn threads already do we really need to turn this one into a Suporn thread.