Effect of Circumcision on Results of Vaginoplasty

[kat69]

Good Day.  My first topic here at the forums.  Yay!

My primary question is how much of an effect does being circumcised have on the length and functionality of the neo-vagina?  I know that there is less skin for the doctor to work with...but I'm just trying to get an idea if a circumcised penis loses millimeters or inches (I know I mixed units) in terms of potential vaginal length.

My secondary question revolves around whether the "shrinkage" due to T-blockers has any impact on the amount of usable skin and vaginal length?

Kat

[Jenna Marie]

Even the surgeons who prefer uncircumcised patients generally use the foreskin to construct the labia, not the vaginal canal, so it shouldn't affect depth. In addition, there are quite a few surgeons who are used to circumcised patients, and they have adapted their methods for the best results in that situation.

As for the shrinkage, it depends in large part on how elastic the skin still is - the depth will rely on the penile skin when fully stretched. It's not a 1:1 comparison, though; a 6" penis doesn't mean 6" of depth. In fact, the only woman I knew when I was at Brassard's who couldn't get at least 5.5" of depth without a skin graft had a penis that was less than 1" fully stretched. The surgeon can stretch skin a LOT more than is possible when it's still attached to the nerves.

[kat69]

Wow...that's the kind of thing I was hoping to hear.  I've been trying to find this out because anecdotally I heard differently.  The few other places I've asked told me to ask my surgeon, but I'm still a long way before having a surgeon to ask questions to.  When one has anxiety issues such as I do, it does help to nip these questions in the bud before the hamster turns a minor concern into a crisis.

Thanks.

[Jenna Marie]

I'm not sure which thing you're being told anecdotally, but you can research some of the big-name surgeons and find out what they do with the foreskin, which might help. Since they're all, as far as I know, going to say either "it's used for labia" or "we don't list it as part of the procedure at all, and if you have one, it's just a bonus."

As for depth, skin grafts are not such a big deal anymore, either. They generally don't take full-thickness grafts, meaning that some layers of skin are left behind at the "donor site," and the scar I saw from Brassard's grafting technique was about a 1" square of whitish skin. It's not ideal, but it's not a catastrophe if you do need one.

[KayXo]

I was circumcised and had my op with Dr. Brassard. He said I had enough tissue and didn't require any additional skin graft. Depth was around 4.5 inches. Years later, I lost some because I don't dilate. Down to about 3 inches, I think.

[JeanetteLW]

Hi Kat69,

    Now days there is a wealth of information on pretty much all aspects of trans. Pick the subject and google it. Change up the keywords and different things become available. It take a little practice but it's easy. You can even watch the procedures if you want. (I have)

   Happy hunting
      Jeanette