Has anyone gotten phallo from Dr. Crane here?

[edwardee123]

Hey all,

Before I schedule a consultation, I was wondering if there are some people who can give me some third person's input here. I just want story out of experience, not a medical advice (which I will seek from the doctor). I will just number some questions so it's easier for you to read. I'd appreciate if you can tell me if you got RF or ALT.

1. The website says RF results in more sensitive phallus. Are there any guys out there who got ALT talk about their experience with orgasm and sensation?

2. Neophallus looks like a mere flesh when the surgery is just done, but does it catch up in color after two, three years? I assume they connect blood vessels so it will become more reddish like your actual skin after a while, but I'm not sure. Is your neophallus's color distinctive from the rest?

3. For people who got ALT... The website says, "However, the phallus can be too large for meaningful intercourse. Only the thinnest patients with minimal fat underneath their thigh skin get a phallus that can potentially penetrate".  So... How's your experience with that? My BMI is good enough for ALT,  and I'm Asian so I didn't develop much fat around my thigh and buttocks. I'm also athletic.. But I'm nowhere near "skinny". Like, do you really have trouble having a sex? I mean, this is gonna be the next most important thing for me after being able to STP.

4. How does neophallus sensation work? So, does your nerves in clit (pardon me for saying that, if that word offends anyone) connects to neophallus and end up the entire penis feeling like clit before the surgery? Or, does neophallus just feels some basic sensations and clit is stimulated indirectly? Do you get what I mean? I don't even know if my question makes sense lol. Any personal experience?

5. Do you have to decide if you want to do ALT or RF on the day you have a consultation, or can I choose it until I actually see the surgeon? (I'm gonna have a consultation over the phone.) Also, do you have to make an appointment for the rest of the stages when you schedule for the first stage?

6. How long did you take recovering for each stage? The website vaguely suggests timeline, but that's more like an average timeline for all types of people. Anyone in early twenties, athletic, and average BMI... Mind sharing your experience?


If you can share any one of your experiences, it would be tremendously helpful.
Sorry I have too many questions!! Thanks!

[captains]

Great questions. Unfortunately, I can't answer as I'm a long, long way out from any surgeries myself, but I'm hoping someone does.

[bwr]

5. Doctor cranes office will not schedule the phalloplasty until you have had a hysto or have a surgery date scheduled ahead of time.  He will only do the hysto at the same time as the meta, not phallo.


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[bwr]

Also, he didn't make my BF choose the donor site at our Initial consultation. However, keep in mind you may need electrolysis and that can take multiple sessions, with required wait times between sessions, to be completed. I recommend the sooner the better!


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[FTMax]

Haven't had phallo yet, but I'm considering Crane. I have done quite a bit of research over the last few months, so take the below for what it is. I would never be a good candidate for ALT, so it is the one I have researched the least. This site has a few great videos featuring Dr. Crane that I would highly recommend if you haven't seen it yet:

http://www.informingconsent.org/category/phalloplasty/

1. I have heard in terms of sensation RF > ALT > MLD. I have heard from guys who have had each of these that they are fully sensate and able to orgasm. BUT it could take some time to get to that point due to healing.

2. I believe the skin tone remains the same. Unless you were to go tanning or something. It may look better after the blood flow has really restored/after things are fully healed. But I'm not sure it would change the coloring too much. Keep in mind that phallo is done in an average of 3 stages. The results from the first stage look a lot different than the results from stage 3.

3. Such an individual question would be best suited for an in-person consult with Crane. The problem with bigger guys and ALT is how thick the neophallus ends up being. They can do lipo on the phallus in later stages if it is too thick, but I'm not sure how that affects the aesthetics.

4. The nerves are harvested along with the skin, fat, veins, arteries, etc. of the donor site. They then get attached to the clitoral nerve or other pelvic nerves that get embedded inside the new phallus. It is the phallus itself that is stimulated at that point. But the nerves take some time to regrow.

5. I don't think you have to decide on the day of the consult. It's probably best to go into it knowing as much as possible about all the options you think could work for you. It may be different if you're working with insurance as well. Like bwr said, Crane won't schedule anything until you've had a hysto or have scheduled a hysto so that may be something to consider. For both of those sites, you'll also have to slot in time for hair removal. I'm only considering MLD so I'm not sure what all is involved with hair removal/how long it would take.

6. I have heard to allow a minimum of 6 months between each stage. As far as total healing time, I think the most I'd heard of someone taking off from work per stage was 3 months. I'm not sure whether or not they had complications or how old they were.

[edwardee123]

5. Doctor cranes office will not schedule the phalloplasty until you have had a hysto or have a surgery date scheduled ahead of time.  He will only do the hysto at the same time as the meta, not phallo.


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Um, I don't know where you got the sense that I haven't had hysto, but I already finished that long time ago. I'm wondering about ALT and RF phalloplasty, not if I'm suitable for phallo or not, because I am. Did the word "first stage" confuse you? Wait, I'm not confused. When Dr. Crane website says "first stage", does he mean hysto, not reconstruction? So if I've already had hysto, am I off to stage 2? I don't see any reason being questioned about hysto otherwise. Someone clarify for me?

[edwardee123]

Haven't had phallo yet, but I'm considering Crane. I have done quite a bit of research over the last few months, so take the below for what it is. I would never be a good candidate for ALT, so it is the one I have researched the least. This site has a few great videos featuring Dr. Crane that I would highly recommend if you haven't seen it yet:

http://www.informingconsent.org/category/phalloplasty/

1. I have heard in terms of sensation RF > ALT > MLD. I have heard from guys who have had each of these that they are fully sensate and able to orgasm. BUT it could take some time to get to that point due to healing.

2. I believe the skin tone remains the same. Unless you were to go tanning or something. It may look better after the blood flow has really restored/after things are fully healed. But I'm not sure it would change the coloring too much. Keep in mind that phallo is done in an average of 3 stages. The results from the first stage look a lot different than the results from stage 3.

3. Such an individual question would be best suited for an in-person consult with Crane. The problem with bigger guys and ALT is how thick the neophallus ends up being. A guy on the Phallo FB group recently said that he wasn't willing to put it anywhere near his girlfriend. They can do lipo on the phallus in later stages if it is too thick, but I'm not sure how that affects the aesthetics.

4. The nerves are harvested along with the skin, fat, veins, arteries, etc. of the donor site. They then get attached to the clitoral nerve or other pelvic nerves that get embedded inside the new phallus. It is the phallus itself that is stimulated at that point. But the nerves take some time to regrow.

5. I don't think you have to decide on the day of the consult. It's probably best to go into it knowing as much as possible about all the options you think could work for you. It may be different if you're working with insurance as well. Like bwr said, Crane won't schedule anything until you've had a hysto or have scheduled a hysto so that may be something to consider. For both of those sites, you'll also have to slot in time for hair removal. I'm only considering MLD so I'm not sure what all is involved with hair removal/how long it would take.

6. I have heard to allow a minimum of 6 months between each stage. As far as total healing time, I think the most I'd heard of someone taking off from work per stage was 3 months. I'm not sure whether or not they had complications or how old they were.

Thanks for the detailed answer. I have an insurance which Dr. Crane is in network, and the policy says it coves all of the transitions, so I shouldn't have a problem with the insurance. But I'll need to double check it just in case upon consultation. Also, I'm already done with hysto, and the reason why I posted this question is because I'm done with all the necessary surgeries beforehand. So, I don't even understand why people are bringing up hysto on this thread. I thought finishing hysto was the default, so wouldn't be asked if I already had a hysto if I'm asking details about phallo.

By the way, for the question 3... You said you saw the guy who was had too thick neophallus on FB... Do you know how big he was as in body shape? Was he average? A little chubby? Slim? etc.? I'm planning to ask this when I see the doctor in person (which won't happen during consultation, because I'm doing it over the phone), but I just wanted to hear it from people who had it.. But yeah, that sounds really brutal. I'd rather have a scar than not being able to penetrate.

[bwr]

Um, I don't know where you got the sense that I haven't had hysto, but I already finished that long time ago. I'm wondering about ALT and RF phalloplasty, not if I'm suitable for phallo or not, because I am. Did the word "first stage" confuse you? Wait, I'm not confused. When Dr. Crane website says "first stage", does he mean hysto, not reconstruction? So if I've already had hysto, am I off to stage 2? I don't see any reason being questioned about hysto otherwise. Someone clarify for me?

I don't know anything about you and wasn't trying to question your hysto status. You were asking about scheduling and the hysto effects ones ability to schedule stage 1 with crane... I just meant he wouldn't schedule stage one unless you previously had a hysto. We had read otherwise and had delayed the hysto because it used to be part of stage 1.  This delayed getting scheduled for Stage 1 by a few months. We thought crane would do it together, so I thought other guys would benefit from that knowledge.


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[edwardee123]

Yes, you obviously had a good intention, and I really appreciate that you shared that.
I was just confused if the 1st procedure meant hysto, not reconstruction because of the reply.
So there still are three procedures even without hysto, right? I thought RF would be in two steps (including implanting device) and ALT three steps. I'd really wanna have RF, but the scar is making me hesitant. I got a keyhole for top surgery, and I personally appreciate that I got a keyhole, not double incision because of the scar. (Plus, some people say keyhole leaves nipples look feminine, but it's totally possible to fix nipples and look like you'd never had a surgery there...) But RF scar is even bigger and more exposed than double incision... And I've been living just like cis men for the last four years, and I don't wanna be visible even to transmen or other LGBTQ people. Thinking of scar makes me feel wanna get ALT, but seems like ALT mostly isn't good for having a sex unless you're really skinny. I watched the video where Dr. Crane talks about donor sites, and I have lower 20 BMI, but mine still would turn out to be really thick according to the measurement he mentioned. This is troubling me so much.

[bwr]

Ah, I'm sorry. I was answering you between meetings at work and wasn't very clear.  For the phallo, it is two stages at minimum to create the actual phallus.  It's my understanding you add more surgeries if you want implants and an erectile device.

I'm the straight GF of a stealth transman.  He's 6Ft and bearded.  Passes incredibly well. We're not active at all in any LGBT community, but when surgery became reality I sought out some message boards.  We are more concerned actually about the scar on the arm than anything else.  He wasn't a candidate for the ALT, but decided he'd rather have the scar than opt for the meta.  I suspect he will cover it with a tattoo. Currently he is doing tattoo removal and electrolysis to prep the donor site. Ultimately it was his decision and My feelings as a partner went back and forth for a bit.  I tried to stay neutral because I didn't want to influence his decision, but In terms of our sex life,  I'm a huge proponent of the RF phallo

During your consult,  Dr Crane (or Crane and Chen, since he is training him) will look at your anatomy and legs. He can tell you what your results will be like based entirely on your specific body.  That's what he did for my BF and was ultimately what led to him feeling confident in his surgery decision.


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[edwardee123]

Ah, I'm sorry. I was answering you between meetings at work and wasn't very clear.  For the phallo, it is two stages at minimum to create the actual phallus.  It's my understanding you add more surgeries if you want implants and an erectile device.

I'm the straight GF of a stealth transman.  He's 6Ft and bearded.  Passes incredibly well. We're not active at all in any LGBT community, but when surgery became reality I sought out some message boards.  We are more concerned actually about the scar on the arm than anything else.  He wasn't a candidate for the ALT, but decided he'd rather have the scar than opt for the meta.  I suspect he will cover it with a tattoo. Currently he is doing tattoo removal and electrolysis to prep the donor site. Ultimately it was his decision and My feelings as a partner went back and forth for a bit.  I tried to stay neutral because I didn't want to influence his decision, but In terms of our sex life,  I'm a huge proponent of the RF phallo

During your consult,  Dr Crane (or Crane and Chen, since he is training him) will look at your anatomy and legs. He can tell you what your results will be like based entirely on your specific body.  That's what he did for my BF and was ultimately what led to him feeling confident in his surgery decision.


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Thank you so much for your information! This was really helpful. I'm basically just like him that I'm not active in LGBT community at all (and pretty happy this way), and my biggest concern also is the scar. Other than the scar, RF seems far better than ALT, especially considering that I barely have body hair on my arms, so it's gonna be really easy to remove the hair. But the idea of having visible scar troubles me so much.
It's great that he made a decision.. And frankly, I'd totally do RF than meta myself. 
By the way, were you guys asked to make a decision on the day you guys had a consultation? I live in the East Coast, and I don't think I'd be able to make it to Cali for the consultation, so I'm gonna be doing it over the phone. It would be helpful for me if I can have more time making a decision....

[bwr]

We are lucky enough to live within a few hours of SF so we did a face-to-face consult (Mostly for me as I had a ton of questions and it was feasible to go there). We didn't have to make a decision at the consul, but crane was able to speak to the pros and cons of the different surgeries.

For us specifically, We couldn't schedule the phallo because we had to schedule the hysto first, but crane doesn't pressure you for a decision. He mostly just answered any questions we had and gave his opinion on the various surgery options based on my BF and the many other guys he's operated on. I assume you will be able to call the office to schedule any time after the consult. They may even let you schedule without specifying which type of phallo you want.  I should have more info to you in the next few days on this. We just got the hysto date so I have a call into cranes office to schedule.

Though he can't do an in person examination, I'm confident he'll be able to give you enough information to make a decision.  Like I said, after twenty minutes with Crane by boyfriend was able to be certain in his choices after months of back and forth.


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[FTMax]

Thanks for the detailed answer. I have an insurance which Dr. Crane is in network, and the policy says it coves all of the transitions, so I shouldn't have a problem with the insurance. But I'll need to double check it just in case upon consultation. Also, I'm already done with hysto, and the reason why I posted this question is because I'm done with all the necessary surgeries beforehand. So, I don't even understand why people are bringing up hysto on this thread. I thought finishing hysto was the default, so wouldn't be asked if I already had a hysto if I'm asking details about phallo.

By the way, for the question 3... You said you saw the guy who was had too thick neophallus...Do you know how big he was as in body shape? Was he average? A little chubby? Slim? etc.? I'm planning to ask this when I see the doctor in person (which won't happen during consultation, because I'm doing it over the phone), but I just wanted to hear it from people who had it.. But yeah, that sounds really brutal. I'd rather have a scar than not being able to penetrate.

The hysto depends who you go to. The surgeon I would really like to go to performs it as a part of the first stage. A lot of people come here having just gathered the basics and have a rough idea of what they want, but not how to actually go about putting things in motion. So I think it is a valid thing to mention.

The guy was a very slim, in shape dude. I am not sure what dimensions they took for the phallus and if that was part of the issue or not. The best advice I could give you since it's over the phone is to have someone else take some really good pics of you from multiple angles to send to Crane, if you haven't already. The pinch test as well is a good indicator (see the link in my first post, I think it's in one of the videos).

[Bimmer Guy]

Crane is fine with you switching your phallo type.  It happens all the time.  You just need to have enough time to get the electrolysis done on the new body part.

I'm scheduled for meta with Crane in March 2016.

[edwardee123]

Thanks all for the sincere answers! 
I got a body caliper and measured my thigh, and it says 8mm. But 8mm*5 isn't bad at all for the girth.
Probably I'd need another person to measure it too, though.
It's glad that he doesn't demand an answer right away... I'm leaning toward ALT, but who knows.
I should totally get pictures of myself. I haven't thought about that. Thanks guys.

p.s. Oh, and do you know if Dr. Chen does the surgery with Dr. Crane even if you decide to have a consultation with Dr. Chen? In other words, is there gonna be any difference with the surgical process, if I choose to consult with Dr. Chen?

[Bimmer Guy]

Thanks all for the sincere answers! 
I got a body caliper and measured my thigh, and it says 8mm. But 8mm*5 isn't bad at all for the girth.
Probably I'd need another person to measure it too, though.
It's glad that he doesn't demand an answer right away... I'm leaning toward ALT, but who knows.
I should totally get pictures of myself. I haven't thought about that. Thanks guys.

p.s. Oh, and do you know if Dr. Chen does the surgery with Dr. Crane even if you decide to have a consultation with Dr. Chen? In other words, is there gonna be any difference with the surgical process, if I choose to consult with Dr. Chen?

Consult with who you want to do your surgery.  Chen will be on his own, doing his own surgeries in a month or so.  Crane was supposed to be gone from CA in December, but Austin didn't work out.  His calendar of surgeries (including mine), have been transferred to CA.

As expected, you can get your surgery done with Chen much faster than you would with Crane.

[edwardee123]

Consult with who you want to do your surgery.  Chen will be on his own, doing his own surgeries in a month or so.

Oh, okay. Great to know. I'll call the hospital tomorrow. Thanks for letting me know!