Choosing a Surgeon

[Valwen]

I find myself giving serious thought to GRS and one of the big steps there is choosing which surgeon to see, now this choice may get more or less made for me by my insurance but in the event that I get the choice I just don't know which one to go with.

So my Question, How did you pick your surgeon?. Why that one? and would you recommend others go to them too?

Serena

[suzifrommd]

So my Question, How did you pick your surgeon?. Why that one? and would you recommend others go to them too?

I wanted someone local - someone I could go to without getting on a plane.

That proved important, because there is no way I'd have gotten someone to stay with me during recovery if I'd been far away.

That narrowed it down considerable. It was between Christine McGinn, Kathy Rumer, and Sherman Leis.

I ruled out Sherman Leis pretty quickly after meeting him at Philly Trans Health. I also met Kathy Rumer that same conference, and she was very approachable and understanding. I got a sense that she really "got" trans people. Her office was very prompt with a surgical quote and she was very patient with the many questions I had. A few people who I knew IRL who had gone to her and had satisfactory experiences.

Christine McGinn's office refused to answer any questions at all until I brought myself physically to their office in New Hope Pennsylvania, a 3 hour ride away. They wouldn't book that consultation for another 5 months, so it would be even 5 months before I could even get them to talk to me.

Based on that I went with Rumer.

I'm pretty pleased with how it went. She and her staff were professional and the outcome is satisfactory. My experiences are detailed here: https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php?topic=164493.0

That being said, I have since come across a handful of people that are furious with her over things that did not go well and problems they say she didn't take seriously. If I were choosing today, that would be a concern.

[OCAnne]

Went the hassle free walk-in route (letters in hand) with a Beverly Hills surgeon...one of two in the area.  Have health insurance that supposedly covers SRS but got denied twice!  So cash it was for ASAP SRS!

Worked out great for me, was getting to the point I did not want to interact socially or get involved in high risk assignments at work.  Constantly feared arrest and getting thrown in with the guys, something I might welcome now.

Then there's the whole TSA travel issue.  Kinda bummed I might now miss out on pat downs post SRS.  Was planning on making quite the scene like the fake orgasm in the movie 'When Harry Met Sally'.  IMO undergoing SRS ASAP by any means possible and getting on with your life does have it's many benefits.

FYI: Paid $1,000 deposit? to Dr. Bowers back in February of 2015 to hold SRS date.  Her office told me they would work hard to get me in by end of that year.  Got nothing but the original surgery date in August of this year.
Sure glad I did not wait in that line.

EOM

[Jenna Marie]

I drew up a list of priorities in term of what results I wanted out of the surgery (and I was not willing to leave North America, which also narrowed down the list) and then found the surgeons who seemed to produce outcomes closest to what I'd hoped for. Of those two, McGinn refused to operate on me because of my weight - and I think BMI is bull->-bleeped-<-, so I wouldn't trust a surgeon who believed in it as the primary way to judge health anyway - which made it easy from there.

[Rachel]

I had a consult with McGinn in March 2015. I think it was a 6 week wait. November 13, 2015 I went full time and changed my name at work. My therapist said I qualify as on Nov 13, 2015. I called McGinn's office and set the operation date for 11/15/2016 and paid a 10% deposit.

I saw the work of and researched several doctors. I love Dr. McGinn's neo-vaginal work. I meet with Dr. McGinn and Heather her PA-C. I really clicked with them and trust them. I liked Dr. McGinn's no nonsense personality. I live between the hospital she operates at and New Hope. I love New Hope and am there often.

I filled out and mailed the patient information packet requested and the consultation fee. I then called to schedule an appointment. The days they see patients and do consults is hectic and not a good time to call. When you e-mail them ask which days are good to call. I was there for my first hair clearing and the office was calm and I was the only patient there the entire time. 

[Katie]

I picked a doctor that had a reputation of doing the surgery often and with good results. To add to it I picked the doctor because his price was dam attractive. He is in Thailand. I did not pick the doctor based on his personality, I did not pick the doctor based on opinions of pre op girls that have never had the surgery yet. I did not pick the doctor based on opinions of girls that have had the surgery and said their doctor was the best (as if they get to try out other doctors).

Later when I got FFS I did that exactly the same. I don't pick a doctor because I like his personality.........


Again experience, and price were the only things I used.

Katie

[Dena]

The most important thing is you trust the doctor to product the results you want. You don't want to wake up and discover the surgery is something different than you want. I was pretty limited in doctors when I had GCS but for my voice surgery, there were three options. One doctor was clearly out, The second I wasn't sure could deliver what I might need and the one I used was my best shot. After meeting with him, I verified his ability and his love of his profession and I went with him.

[TG CLare]

I wanted a surgeon that was in North America, preferably within a 500 mile radius with a good reputation.

I selected Dr. Christine McGinn from some candidates after reviewing her "resume" and medical accomplishments as well as patient feedback.

I found her to be very nice and personable and we did a phone consult because of the distance to drive for an office consult. My waiting time was a very reasonable 6 months which involved finding various results, getting new tests done and the like. The fact she was also trans helped sway my decision too.

For a final update, I would go with her again! The follow-up care was great, the office staff wonderful and the final results are great too. She is a wonderful caring and compassionate lady and I'd recommend her to any seeking such a surgery!!

Love,
Clare.

[Katie]

Yes I agree with the doctor in North America. AT the time I got it done the price in Thailand was less than half of what it would cost me here. If the American doctors had been more cost competitive I would have stayed here. The biggest reason is the airplane ride is VERY LONG.............

KAtie