Vaginoplasty and Breast Augmentation with Brassard on 21 June 2017

[VanguardVivian]

I'll arrive in Montreal on 19 June, and hopefully fly back on 29 June. I'm so excited!!! I can't wait to not have to wear padded bras! I'm about an A cup right now. Also, since I'm straight, it'll be WONDERFUL to not have this source of awkwardness with guys anymore. My goal is for both top and bottom to look, feel, taste, and smell as natural as possible, and I've heard great things about Brassard's work in that regard. I've requested that my breast implants be regular silicone, not gummy bear, and that they also be smooth, under the muscle, and selected with the aid of intraoperative sizers.

Hopefully, my recovery goes well. I'm 23 years old, but I don't exercise much. My labs all came back normal, though. I've bounced back very quickly from surgeries before, but they were all relatively minor, so I don't know... meh.

I'd exercise more, but I have so much anxiety about being seen without my padded bra and gaff, and it's so uncomfortable to exercise with them on. I imagine I'll be able to be much more active once I've healed. I rationally know I'd be fine, since I haven't been misgendered or clocked once since mid 2016 (thank you, Dr. Haben's voice surgery), but still. :/

Any recommendations for things that GRS Montreal doesn't cover in their informational materials? Tips for general vaginoplasty and breast augmentation recovery? When is the earliest I can try PIV, versus how long I should wait in ideal circumstances? Can I dilate sitting up on a toilet, if a bed isn't available? How long is the minimum time I should wait between dilations? How soon post-op can I start applying scar recovery gel to my incisions? Why isn't it recommended to use silicone-based lube, even if you're long since post-op? (Silicone-based is SO much nicer for not having to re-apply.)

Also, what's your opinion on the requirement to stop ALL HRT three weeks prior to vaginoplasty? I understand the need to stop spironolactone, since it lowers blood pressure, but bioidentical estradiol should be fine. Cis women on estradiol 17-beta showed no increased risk of blood clots when they went in for major surgery: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/15269830/

Thank you all so much. I'm not really nervous, but rather obsessive about knowing as much as I can beforehand. <3

[KayXo]

I've requested that my breast implants be regular silicone, not gummy bear

What's the difference? I think he only does cohesive silicone gel (i.e. gummy bear) or saline.

Also, what's your opinion on the requirement to stop ALL HRT three weeks prior to vaginoplasty? I understand the need to stop spironolactone, since it lowers blood pressure, but bioidentical estradiol should be fine. Cis women on estradiol 17-beta showed no increased risk of blood clots when they went in for major surgery: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/15269830/

I think with Spiro, it has more to do with its effect on electrolytes. Regarding estrogen, I personally believe it makes no sense to stop if the type of estrogen taken is bio-identical and is taken non-orally so as to mimic ciswomen's bodies. Ciswomen naturally produce estrogen and aren't denied surgery because of this so if we take it in the same way, the same should apply to us. The study you provided (thanks, by the way) lends support to this but a randomized controlled study would have been better (those on HRT were younger and could be different in other ways too). Several other studies also show that non-oral bio-identical estrogen is quite safe in respect to DVT, even reducing risks.

BUT, I am not a doctor and you should discuss this with the surgeon before deciding anything.

Best of luck. I'm a 2005 Brassard graduate. I hope you don't end up with hairs inside your vagina like me and a few other girls but if you do, there's a quick, effective and easy (but temporary) solution Dr. B suggested.

[ainsley]

Can I dilate sitting up on a toilet, if a bed isn't available?

Nope.

Also, what's your opinion on the requirement to stop ALL HRT three weeks prior to vaginoplasty?

I went to Brassard.  I stopped everything just like he asked.  I had zero issues from it.  EXCEPT, if you've been on spiro for a while I recommend weaning down from it.  I stopped cold turkey as had massive water retention when I did (like 8 lbs) and bloated, ankle swelling, etc..  It went away after several days, but it freaked me out.

I would advise just putting yourself all-in to the experience at GRS Montreal and Asclepiad.  They take good care of you and know what you need.  Assimilate for the 10 days you are there.

[amanda_mc]

Congrats VanguardVivian,

   Did you just find out about the GRS date? 

I can't wait for my big day, just curious what was the wait time for Dr. Brassard. When was your file completed and sent to the pre-op team?

Thanks

[xFreya]

I guess when to stop hormones varies a lot by surgeon. I had my surgery 4 days ago with Dr. Sutin/PAI (Thailand) and they only had me stop 5 days before the op. (will prob make a thread later) 1 week post op he will probably let me restart E. I guess talk to your own doctor though.