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SRS Questions

Started by link5019, June 21, 2016, 04:31:08 PM

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link5019

I know I've a long ways off from SRS but I've been wondering, what's considered enough donor material? Like I know that if you don't have enough donor material, then skin grafts will usually be used to achieve a good depth and create the neo-vagina, but at what point is it considered not enough donor material that it requires the use of skin grafts? Does being a grower pre-srs versus being a shower have any impact on the amount of donor material or the doctors decision. I personally have narrowed my choice down to either Dr.Bowers or this other doctor in Philadelphia but that aside, it's one of those questions that have been bugging me for a while o.o






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mmmmm

If there is enough skin available for decent aesthetic result of vulva and decent vaginal depth (like 5 inch), we can probably say that there was enough donor material from penile and scrotal skin. With years of hormones and previous orciectomy, there might be considerable lack of material (for some people, for some not), which would cause a need for either additional skin grafts (from groin, or thigh or abdominal area) or preferably different type of vaginoplasty, like colovaginoplasty.

Average or little smaller than average pre-op donor material, is usually enough. Most SRS techniques have evolved in this way, because most trans patients dont have above average donor material. Consequence are techniques like full-graft vaginoplasty and modern penile inversion with additional scrotal grafts for more vaginal depth.

Microsized penises and shrunken scrotum are a problem, and even surgeons who do non-penile inversion techniques, are more likely to suggest colon vaginoplasty for these patients, as the simply isnt enough tissue for both vulva and vagina, even with additional groin/thigh grafts.
Circussized penises are not a problem. Such patient is ideal candidate for penile-inversion, or peno-urethral flap. There is enough material for labias and vagina from penile flap alone, and no additional scrotal grafts are needed.

I have no idea what grower or shower means....
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link5019

Quote from: mmmmm on June 21, 2016, 04:58:56 PM
If there is enough skin available for decent aesthetic result of vulva and decent vaginal depth (like 5 inch), we can probably say that there was enough donor material from penile and scrotal skin. With years of hormones and previous orciectomy, there might be considerable lack of material (for some people, for some not), which would cause a need for either additional skin grafts (from groin, or thigh or abdominal area) or preferably different type of vaginoplasty, like colovaginoplasty.

Average or little smaller than average pre-op donor material, is usually enough. Most SRS techniques have evolved in this way, because most trans patients dont have above average donor material. Consequence are techniques like full-graft vaginoplasty and modern penile inversion with additional scrotal grafts for more vaginal depth.

Microsized penises and shrunken scrotum are a problem, and even surgeons who do non-penile inversion techniques, are more likely to suggest colon vaginoplasty for these patients, as the simply isnt enough tissue for both vulva and vagina, even with additional groin/thigh grafts.
Circussized penises are not a problem. Such patient is ideal candidate for penile-inversion, or peno-urethral flap. There is enough material for labias and vagina from penile flap alone, and no additional scrotal grafts are needed.

I have no idea what grower or shower means....
A grower is someone who when soft usually looks to be about maybe 1 - 3 inches in length but then when they get aroused it extend to 4 - 6 inches for example. A shower is someone who is 6 inches soft and 6 inches hard basically. I'm just a bit worried because while I have a decent sized scrotum, my actual um penis, is a grower so I'm worried if there would be enough material or not. I am circumcised, and when I get aroused on the rare occasion it's like 4 - 5 inches in length (it was slightly longer, pre-hrt so shrinking has happened naturally). Just concerned is all.






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Dena

I was a grower and circumcised and had a PI. Because I remained functional to the end, things were kept stretched out. I ended up with about 5.5 inches depth. I think I had about as much depth as I had in original size.
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link5019

Quote from: Dena on June 21, 2016, 06:14:09 PM
I was a grower and circumcised and had a PI. Because I remained functional to the end, things were kept stretched out. I ended up with about 5.5 inches depth. I think I had about as much depth as I had in original size.

That actually makes me feel a whole lot better! I'm still functional, but I usually have to coax  it to get hard which is never a pleasant experience for me, since I have dysphoria about it. It is more spongy though.






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Dena

They didn't have blockers when I transitioned and estrogen wasn't a good blocker for me. I guess there was an advantage of doing it that way that I didn't appreciate at the time.  :o
Rebirth Date 1982 - PMs are welcome - Use [email]dena@susans.org[/email] or Discord if your unable to PM - Skype is available - My Transition
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CrysC

I had a consult with Dr Bowers and asked her on this very subject.  She said it was rare that penis size was an issue for the procedure but if it was really small they had options.  She asked how big I was to which I honestly said a little less than 6" when erect and she laughed saying that was fine and had nothing to worry about.  I also asked if I should stretch the scrotum skin and she said no.  It wasn't an issue. 

When I was looking around for a doctor I picked Dr Bowers based on reputation, accountability, hearsay, and after meeting her.  It didn't hurt that she is covered by my insurance.  That really put it over the top.  I compared her against others primarily in North America but steered clear of overseas though that isn't because of concerns on ability.  In the end I simply have more resources (friends, family and legal) available to me here if there was any issue.  Also, insurance would not cover overseas.

In the end I just want this over and done with so I my eyes don't wander to the the hair trim scissors when I get out of the shower.  I just want to wake up and be me forever more. 
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link5019

Quote from: CrysC on June 21, 2016, 08:21:09 PM
I had a consult with Dr Bowers and asked her on this very subject.  She said it was rare that penis size was an issue for the procedure but if it was really small they had options.  She asked how big I was to which I honestly said a little less than 6" when erect and she laughed saying that was fine and had nothing to worry about.  I also asked if I should stretch the scrotum skin and she said no.  It wasn't an issue. 

When I was looking around for a doctor I picked Dr Bowers based on reputation, accountability, hearsay, and after meeting her.  It didn't hurt that she is covered by my insurance.  That really put it over the top.  I compared her against others primarily in North America but steered clear of overseas though that isn't because of concerns on ability.  In the end I simply have more resources (friends, family and legal) available to me here if there was any issue.  Also, insurance would not cover overseas.

In the end I just want this over and done with so I my eyes don't wander to the the hair trim scissors when I get out of the shower.  I just want to wake up and be me forever more.

I know same here, I want to just be able to wake up and not have a penis attached to me anymore, sadly the gatekeepers say otherwise. Doesn't Dr.Bowers like make you pay up front and then have the insurance reimburse you? Because of that I'm probably going to have to resort to go fund me so I don't take like 4 years to build up the necessary funds if I work a minimum wage job, with no family support. But I chose Dr.Bowers for the same reasons you did.







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CrysC

Quote from: link5019 on June 22, 2016, 04:29:04 AM
I know same here, I want to just be able to wake up and not have a penis attached to me anymore, sadly the gatekeepers say otherwise. Doesn't Dr.Bowers like make you pay up front and then have the insurance reimburse you? Because of that I'm probably going to have to resort to go fund me so I don't take like 4 years to build up the necessary funds if I work a minimum wage job, with no family support. But I chose Dr.Bowers for the same reasons you did.
Dr Bowers has staff that helps work things out with your insurance carrier so you normally don't have to pay everything up front.  I just had to make my down payment and will have to pay any deductible/co-pay amounts that insurance doesn't cover. 
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2cherry

Was a grower as well, had 6 inches before, after PI I had 5 inches depth (measured by surgeon). He used some of this material (foreskin) to create the inner labia, the rest to line the wall.

So it's not all about the material... your anatomy can limit depth, as not everyone is the same. That's what my surgeon told me when I asked about depth. His advice: loose weight. because operating on a fat area isn't helpful, besides being risky. I was overweight and lost 25 pounds only for this operation, and still was a bit overweight.


1977: Born.
2009: HRT
2012: RLE
2014: SRS
2016: FFS
2017: rejoicing

focus on the positive, focus on solutions.
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Jenna Marie

First of all, the penile material is used fully stretched (I know this from the hugely humiliating pre-op exam I had where they pulled everything out to full extension...) so it's the "final size" that matters, not the non-erect size.

Secondly, for Brassard - who uses a similar technique to the two doctors you're considering - the only woman who needed a skin graft was less than 1" erect. I have no idea how he did it, but even 1.5" erect = 5.5" vagina with very nice aesthetics. :)
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link5019

Quote from: Jenna Marie on June 22, 2016, 10:54:11 AM
First of all, the penile material is used fully stretched (I know this from the hugely humiliating pre-op exam I had where they pulled everything out to full extension...) so it's the "final size" that matters, not the non-erect size.

Secondly, for Brassard - who uses a similar technique to the two doctors you're considering - the only woman who needed a skin graft was less than 1" erect. I have no idea how he did it, but even 1.5" erect = 5.5" vagina with very nice aesthetics. :)
Oh wow that's amazing! o.o lol so there isn't really much to worry about then ^_^

Quote from: 2cherry on June 22, 2016, 10:17:29 AM
Was a grower as well, had 6 inches before, after PI I had 5 inches depth (measured by surgeon). He used some of this material (foreskin) to create the inner labia, the rest to line the wall.

So it's not all about the material... your anatomy can limit depth, as not everyone is the same. That's what my surgeon told me when I asked about depth. His advice: loose weight. because operating on a fat area isn't helpful, besides being risky. I was overweight and lost 25 pounds only for this operation, and still was a bit overweight.

Good thing I'm losing weight now and not later then. I've actually lost 8 lbs at this point since I started hrt. It just sort of decided to drop some. I'm not overly fat, I'm 224, but I definitely have plenty of time to lose some more weight.






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Jenna Marie

Glad to help. :) For the record, I was about 5" on HRT and had no issues whatsoever and the surgeon said there was "plenty of material" during that pre-op exam.  (Of course, I also regained some size and all the skin flexibility when I went off HRT for surgery, which probably helped too.)
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Dee Marshall

I'm not expecting problems. Due to unfortunate circumstances i've been without estradiol for a week now, but I still have spiro. My penis has regained enough "resting" size that I'm having problems with my current method of tucking. I suspect that the waiting period off E before surgery that some doctors require will leave me with enough donor tissue, assuming I can ever afford the surgery.
April 22, 2015, the day of my first face to face pass in gender neutral clothes and no makeup. It may be months to the next one, but I'm good with that!

Being transgender is just a phase. It hardly ever starts before conception and always ends promptly at death.

They say the light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train. I say, climb aboard!
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link5019

Quote from: Dee Marshall on June 22, 2016, 12:33:54 PM
I'm not expecting problems. Due to unfortunate circumstances i've been without estradiol for a week now, but I still have spiro. My penis has regained enough "resting" size that I'm having problems with my current method of tucking. I suspect that the waiting period off E before surgery that some doctors require will leave me with enough donor tissue, assuming I can ever afford the surgery.

I hope you can afford the surgery! That's one thing that's worried me is paying for it since some doctors have you pay upfront and then have the insurance reimburse you later. I also am dreading those weeks I'll have to go off the E because those will be some sucky weeks...also have to figure out about the letters because those might be a bit tough to acquire down the line assuming I need two and not one. I have seen a few people resort to crowd funding sites to help build some funds for SRS, so maybe that is something you could look into?







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