Satisfaction after phalloplasty

[AGhostInMyArms]

Hello everybody,

I wanted to open another topic concerning phalloplasty patients and their satisfaction with results.

Who did your phalloplasty? When did you have the procedure and which did you choose?

What was the estimated cost? Did you have help from insurance?

Where did you stay? What did it cost?

How (and how long) has recovery time been? Any complications? Were they resolved on their own or did they require further surgery/revisions?

What stage are you on/how many left? Which stages are you planning?

How is sensation/erotic sensation? How much time did it take to regain? Are orgasms different?

How are your aesthetics?

Are you happy? Has dysphoria lessened? Any regrets?

Would you recommend your surgeon and procedure to others seeking bottom surgery?


Thought these were a good set of questions that might not take too long to answer. All feedback is greatly appreciated! Thank you. 

[FTMax]

We don't have many post-op guys who are active here, so I'm not sure how many responses you will get. I'm commenting and bookmarking so I'll be able to come back and respond after mine this summer. I'll be having RFF with Dr. Schechter most likely in August.

[JesseO]

Who did your phalloplasty? When did you have the procedure and which did you choose? Dr. Loren Schechter in Chicago. Had it in December. Forearm.

What was the estimated cost? Did you have help from insurance? Insurance covered some costs, but the surgeon's office was difficult to work with on that.  Hate is a strong word, but I really hated working with one particular member of their office staff.  I found her to be really rude and condescending. She kept threatening to cancel my surgery and gave me wrong information multiple times. I paid $14,000 out of pocket + travel costs.

Where did you stay? What did it cost? Hospital the whole time.

How (and how long) has recovery time been? Any complications? Were they resolved on their own or did they require further surgery/revisions?  MANY complications with the urethral hook-up.  Having a 6th procedure done next week to try and correct it.

What stage are you on/how many left? Which stages are you planning?  I want to get the erectile device & testicular implants but can't until the urinary issues are resolved.

How is sensation/erotic sensation? How much time did it take to regain? Are orgasms different?  It's limited, but seems to be improving.

How are your aesthetics?  I would say so-so.  The phallus is sort of oddly off center.

Are you happy? Has dysphoria lessened? Any regrets?  I think once everything is healed that I will be. It's been very hard to go from being able to urinate standing (had meta) to not be able to any more.

Would you recommend your surgeon and procedure to others seeking bottom surgery?  I'm still torn on this.  I had a meta w/ Dr. Crane prior to this, and had absolutely no complications. Part of me wishes I went back to him.  It's hard to say at this point though.

[AGhostInMyArms]

Hey Jesse! Thank you so much for your input, I really appreciate it. I wish you the best of luck with your recovery, I hope all complications clear up soon and easily as possible.

[JesseO]

Thanks! Sorry if my post sounds negative - I'm very happy to have had the opportunity to have this surgery. For me though, it was a lot more emotionally rough than I was expecting. The first 5 days, you basically can't move. You are flat on your back, with your legs strapped down and your arm strapped down. It made me completely stir crazy. With having so many procedures in such a short time, I felt (and still do feel) foggy, probably from so much anesthesia. Again, this is only based on my personal experience, but I did have a few moments of what the hell did I do to myself? Because everything just looks and feels gross. Again, just my experience. I have been on T almost six years and didn't even think about how this would impact me emotionally. I do not regret my surgery but I think it's important to be prepared going in as to how to handle things if they don't go as planned. Be excited, but realize that this isn't minor surgery, and some parts are going to really suck.

[Bimmer Guy]

Thanks! Sorry if my post sounds negative - I'm very happy to have had the opportunity to have this surgery. For me though, it was a lot more emotionally rough than I was expecting. The first 5 days, you basically can't move. You are flat on your back, with your legs strapped down and your arm strapped down. It made me completely stir crazy. With having so many procedures in such a short time, I felt (and still do feel) foggy, probably from so much anesthesia. Again, this is only based on my personal experience, but I did have a few moments of what the hell did I do to myself? Because everything just looks and feels gross. Again, just my experience. I have been on T almost six years and didn't even think about how this would impact me emotionally. I do not regret my surgery but I think it's important to be prepared going in as to how to handle things if they don't go as planned. Be excited, but realize that this isn't minor surgery, and some parts are going to really suck.

Jesseo,

I don't think you are being negative.  I had a vaginectomy tear that took 3 months to heal (still not closed completely) and a fistula inside that (still not healed completely), and I was pretty gumpy about it for a long time.

I absolutely CANNOT imagine what 6 surgeries have been like not even physically, but psychologically over this short period of time.  Or over any period of time.  You are so very, very right about the psychological strain with all of this.  I suspect that it has to be much less draining for guys who do not have complications, but as you know, complications are pretty common.  I know that for me what made it so hard was the vaginectomy tear I had.  This open gaping wound that I had to look at every time I urinated (to put gauze in because of fistula there) really messed with my head.  I saw it as a vagina all over again.  I know that I looked at that thing probably twice the number of times that I saw it over my 46 years, prior to surgery.  It measured 3.0  inches x 2.5 inches x 2.0 inches, so it was rough.  I was told that it would close by 3-4 weeks, but it didn't even start to close until 2 months.  Then it moved quickly.  Like I said, it is still closing.  The area was numb, so pain wasn't an issue.  The first month I got a lot of support from Crane's nurse, so I am thankful for her.

I too had a very rough time with my surgeon's office (Crane).  I didn't know until 2 weeks before the procedure that everything was ok with the insurance.  They didn't return calls.  They also threatened to cancel my surgery.  It was horrid.

BUT, outside of all this, I have a great looking meta.  Last week the fistula is closed enough that I can stand to pee with only the teeniest leak.  So, I am finally started to get excited about having the penis and standing to pee.  After the v-nectomy tore open (day 12), I have not felt joy about it.  I am very excited about implants I will get in December.

Hang in there.  I know phallo is much worse than meta on the body and I suspect the mind.  One day at a time.