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VFS With Dr Katherine Yung in San Francisco

Started by tgirlamc, March 31, 2018, 10:12:15 PM

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tgirlamg

March 31, 2018, 10:12:15 PM
Hey All...

Well... Here we go!!!...  I have VFS scheduled with Dr Katherine Yung for May 23rd, 2018...

She will be performing a Web Glottoplasty using a similar methodology to Dr Kim at Yeson...

It will be performed without external incision and two permanent sutures will be left in place and I will be seeing speech therapists from UCSF  Voice and Swallowing Center in San Francisco both pre and post-op...They are highly experienced in helping VFS patients through the process...

Here is her website:

http://www.sfvoice.com/

At my initial consult she placed a scope and observed my vocal chords while I made different vowel sounds etc... She said everything looked good other than some thinning of the chords which is common for my age which will be 57 before the surgery date...

I will keep this thread updated as I move through the process

Onward we go brave sisters!!!

Ashley 😀❤️🌻
"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment" ... Ralph Waldo Emerson 🌸

"The individual has always had to struggle from being overwhelmed by the tribe... But, no price is too high for the privilege of owning yourself" ... Rudyard Kipling 🌸

Let go of the things that no longer serve you... Let go of the pretense of the false persona, it is not you... Let go of the armor that you have worn for a lifetime, to serve the expectations of others and, to protect the woman inside... She needs protection no longer.... She is tired of hiding and more courageous than you know... Let her prove that to you....Let her step out of the dark and feel the light upon her face.... amg🌸

Ashley's Corner: https://www.susans.org/index.php/topic,247549.0.html 🌻
  •  

Allison S

#1
April 01, 2018, 07:20:59 PM
Good luck Ashley!! I'm excited for you [emoji4][emoji173]

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

  •  

Jessica

#2
April 01, 2018, 07:30:48 PM
I'm so happy for you Ashley!  We have communicated often, but never by voice.  Expect a call from me soon,  so I will be able to give a comparison report afterward.

Hugs and smiles, Jess

"If you go out looking for friends, you are going to find they are very scarce.  If you go out to be a friend, you'll find them everywhere."

  •  

Kendra

#3
April 02, 2018, 03:33:23 AM
Ashley I am excited for you!  I know you researched and decided very carefully.  My VFS was in March, so hopefully by end of this year we will have developed the voice we want.
Assigned male at birth 1963.  Decided I wanted to be a girl in 1971.  Laser 2014-16, electrolysis 2015-17, HRT 7/2017, GCS 1/2018, VFS 3/2018, FFS 5/2018, Labiaplasty & BA 7/2018. 
  •  

tgirlamg

#4
April 02, 2018, 12:09:46 PM Last Edit: April 02, 2018, 03:06:28 PM by tgirlamc
Allison, Jessica and Kendra!

Thanks so much for the good wishes sent my way!... I will keep this well updated since I am sure others will be interested in the option of this VFS technique without the overseas travel... After my surgeries over the last few years I remain an advocate of having some geographic proximity to your surgeon in case follow up procedures are needed.

I feel I am in very good hands with Dr Yung... She did work on a friend of mine who has struggled for years with less than optimal results from VFS many years ago performed by another doctor... Dr Yung's methodology employs what I feel is the most important aspect of Dr Kim's technique... the permanent suture to keep everything under the desired tension... Dr Yung does want you to do 2 weeks vocal rest as opposed to the 30 days advised by Yeson and uses a laser to prepare the tissue before suturing...


Onward we go brave sisters!!!

Ashley 😀❤️🌻



"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment" ... Ralph Waldo Emerson 🌸

"The individual has always had to struggle from being overwhelmed by the tribe... But, no price is too high for the privilege of owning yourself" ... Rudyard Kipling 🌸

Let go of the things that no longer serve you... Let go of the pretense of the false persona, it is not you... Let go of the armor that you have worn for a lifetime, to serve the expectations of others and, to protect the woman inside... She needs protection no longer.... She is tired of hiding and more courageous than you know... Let her prove that to you....Let her step out of the dark and feel the light upon her face.... amg🌸

Ashley's Corner: https://www.susans.org/index.php/topic,247549.0.html 🌻
  •  

Rachel

#5
April 02, 2018, 04:32:33 PM
Good luck and thank you for sharing your experience.
HRT  5-28-2013
FT   11-13-2015
FFS   9-16-2016 -Spiegel
GCS 11-15-2016 - McGinn
Hair Grafts 3-20-2017 - Cooley
Voice therapy start 3-2017 - Reene Blaker
Labiaplasty 5-15-2017 - McGinn
BA 7-12-2017 - McGinn
Hair grafts 9-25-2017 Dr.Cooley
Sataloff Cricothyroid subluxation and trachea shave12-11-2017
Dr. McGinn labiaplasty, hood repair, scar removal, graph repair and bottom of  vagina finished. urethra repositioned. 4-4-2018
Dr. Sataloff Glottoplasty 5-14-2018
Dr. McGinn vaginal in office procedure 10-22-2018
Dr. McGinn vaginal revision 2 4-3-2019 Bottom of vagina closed off, fat injected into the labia and urethra repositioned.
Dr. Thomas in 2020 FEMLAR
  • skype:Rachel?call
  •  

BillieC

#6
May 06, 2018, 10:41:15 PM
Hi Ashley,
I'm new to the board, but am very interested in working on my voice and learning about the surgical options as well. Voice has taken a back seat for me in my transition over the last two years for a number of reasons. Now, I'm starting to work on improving my pitch and tone. I'm making small progress.

Your surgery seems like a great fit for you. I wish you all the best and will keep an eye on this thread to see how you are as you heal and improve your voice after your procedure. You seem very prepared and committed.
Good luck!
Billie
– Happy to have finally found some peace of mind... if anyone finds the other peaces, please let me know!
  •  

tgirlamg

#7
May 22, 2018, 02:45:55 PM
Quote from: BillieC on May 06, 2018, 10:41:15 PM
Hi Ashley,
I'm new to the board, but am very interested in working on my voice and learning about the surgical options as well. Voice has taken a back seat for me in my transition over the last two years for a number of reasons. Now, I'm starting to work on improving my pitch and tone. I'm making small progress.

Your surgery seems like a great fit for you. I wish you all the best and will keep an eye on this thread to see how you are as you heal and improve your voice after your procedure. You seem very prepared and committed.
Good luck!
Billie

Hi Billie!... Sorry for the delayed response!... I wish you all good things as you explore the road ahead and where it will take you!!... Tomorrow is the big day and I am feeling good and positive about all that is to come in the days to come... I met last week with the speech therapist at UCSF, who will be helping me with the post-op therapy and feel very good about working with him!

I will keep things updated here as I move through the surgery and healing process including some before and after voice recordings... I have a little blind kitty and I am used to talking and singing to her throughout the day... I recorded some of that for her that I can play back on my phone during the vow of silence portion of the post op journey!

Onward we go brave sisters!!!

Ashley 😀❤️🌻
"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment" ... Ralph Waldo Emerson 🌸

"The individual has always had to struggle from being overwhelmed by the tribe... But, no price is too high for the privilege of owning yourself" ... Rudyard Kipling 🌸

Let go of the things that no longer serve you... Let go of the pretense of the false persona, it is not you... Let go of the armor that you have worn for a lifetime, to serve the expectations of others and, to protect the woman inside... She needs protection no longer.... She is tired of hiding and more courageous than you know... Let her prove that to you....Let her step out of the dark and feel the light upon her face.... amg🌸

Ashley's Corner: https://www.susans.org/index.php/topic,247549.0.html 🌻
  •  

Jessica

#8
May 22, 2018, 03:04:07 PM
Quote from: tgirlamc on May 22, 2018, 02:45:55 PM
Hi Billie!... Sorry for the delayed response!... I wish you all good things as you explore the road ahead and where it will take you!!... Tomorrow is the big day and I am feeling good and positive about all that is to come in the days to come... I met last week with the speech therapist at UCSF, who will be helping me with the post-op therapy and feel very good about working with him!

I will keep things updated here as I move through the surgery and healing process including some before and after voice recordings... I have a little blind kitty and I am used to talking and singing to her throughout the day... I recorded some of that for her that I can play back on my phone during the vow of silence portion of the post op journey!

Onward we go brave sisters!!!

Ashley 😀❤️🌻

You will do fantastically Ash! 
Love ya sister!

"If you go out looking for friends, you are going to find they are very scarce.  If you go out to be a friend, you'll find them everywhere."

  •  

AnonyMs

#9
May 22, 2018, 04:13:44 PM
I'm curious why you chose this surgeon over the others?
  •  

tgirlamg

#10
May 23, 2018, 06:17:51 PM
Quote from: AnonyMs on May 22, 2018, 04:13:44 PM
I'm curious why you chose this surgeon over the others?

Hey Sister!... I'm just got home from surgery this AM... all went well and I feel pretty good other than the obligatory sore throat.... Dr Yung said it went very well and showed me a couple pics of the surgical site before, during and after!!! I will post some thoughts for you in the next day or two about my reasoning in selecting her and I will be keeping this updated as I move forward as a post VFS patient...

For now, just know all is well and I am back home with my husband and kitty!!!


Onward we go brave sisters!!!

Ashley 🙂❤️🌸🙏
"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment" ... Ralph Waldo Emerson 🌸

"The individual has always had to struggle from being overwhelmed by the tribe... But, no price is too high for the privilege of owning yourself" ... Rudyard Kipling 🌸

Let go of the things that no longer serve you... Let go of the pretense of the false persona, it is not you... Let go of the armor that you have worn for a lifetime, to serve the expectations of others and, to protect the woman inside... She needs protection no longer.... She is tired of hiding and more courageous than you know... Let her prove that to you....Let her step out of the dark and feel the light upon her face.... amg🌸

Ashley's Corner: https://www.susans.org/index.php/topic,247549.0.html 🌻
  •  

Kendra

#11
May 24, 2018, 02:38:58 AM
Best healing, no complications, and welcome home! 
Assigned male at birth 1963.  Decided I wanted to be a girl in 1971.  Laser 2014-16, electrolysis 2015-17, HRT 7/2017, GCS 1/2018, VFS 3/2018, FFS 5/2018, Labiaplasty & BA 7/2018. 
  •  

tgirlamg

#12
May 25, 2018, 02:10:42 PM
Quote from: Kendra on May 24, 2018, 02:38:58 AM
Best healing, no complications, and welcome home! 

Thanks Kendra!... It's an honor to be in healing mode side by side with you, so to speak, my dear sister!!!

Hey All,

I am 2 days post op and feeling good... sore throat is mostly gone... I have to fight off the occasional urge to cough or clear my throat but, so far so good... Finding new inventive ways to communicate with husband and kitty and trying to let the healing process do it's thing!

All Shall Be Well 😀

Quote from: AnonyMs on May 22, 2018, 04:13:44 PM
I'm curious why you chose this surgeon over the others?

AnonyMs...

Here are a few of the reasons I went with Dr Yung in no particular order....

I had first heard of Dr Yung when she worked on a friend of mine to correct years of issues she had had after procedures with one of the well known voice surgeons and was impressed with what I heard about her and her experience which you can explore on the website.

http://www.sfvoice.com/

Our first meeting was very much unexpected synchronicity and I am at a place in life where I place some value in that....

Her technique is very much what Yeson does except for laser in place of micro-scalpel and she uses the permanent sutures which I think are important to keep everything tight and in good position...

INSURANCE!!!! Dr Yungs services were covered by my insurance which would not have been the case if I went to Yeson... not to mention hotel and flight expense and time away from home, husband and kitty!

I think this procedure has put me at the 40 hour mark for time spent on surgical tables and I continue to believe that geographic proximity should always be a consideration to some degree... if you need follow up work... not having to fly across or out of the country, is a plus in my book!
Fortunately, for me, I live within a couple hour drive of the San Francisco Bay Area so that afforded me a lot of good local choices for my surgeries... Deschamps-Braly, Ousterhout, Bowers and Dr Yung!!

I will keep you all posted as I continue the process!!!

Onward we go brave sisters!!!

Ashley 😀❤️🌻



"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment" ... Ralph Waldo Emerson 🌸

"The individual has always had to struggle from being overwhelmed by the tribe... But, no price is too high for the privilege of owning yourself" ... Rudyard Kipling 🌸

Let go of the things that no longer serve you... Let go of the pretense of the false persona, it is not you... Let go of the armor that you have worn for a lifetime, to serve the expectations of others and, to protect the woman inside... She needs protection no longer.... She is tired of hiding and more courageous than you know... Let her prove that to you....Let her step out of the dark and feel the light upon her face.... amg🌸

Ashley's Corner: https://www.susans.org/index.php/topic,247549.0.html 🌻
  •  

tgirlamg

#14
May 30, 2018, 07:44:34 PM
Hey All...

Here is my one week post-op update!!... I went up yesterday to San Francisco and did a one week post-op check with Dr Yung... She had me read the obligatory rainbow passage and then make some vowel sounds while she watched my vocal folds on the camera...  my voice is, of course a bit weak and raspy at the one week mark but everything looks good on the healing front!!!

Dr Yung shared the photos she had taken throughout the procedure, in the operating room, and her work looks very beautiful, clean and impressively precise from a technical standpoint! I had seen them in the recovery room but I was still coming out of anesthesia so I got to appreciate them a bit more this time!

I am cleared to begin using my voice in a metered way... I've been setting timers throughout the day and I speak a few words ( trying to have it add up to about 1-2 minutes of speaking an hour )...and already feeling improvement but, I am being very careful and back off when it feels like too much!... Dr Yung cited some newer studies saying that it is better to get patients using their voices to some degree sooner than some of the durations of complete vocal rest we see with some of the other doctors so, that is a difference of note for anyone considering VFS.

I also wanted to add that Dr Yung's office staff, and especially her Medical Assitant Chantelle, have been wonderfully responsive and pro-active with taking care of all my needs and fielding all inquiries in expeditious fashion!!!

I will be going to my first post op speech therapy at the end of the week and I will update again after that!!!

I am summing up week 1 post-op as  "I'm feeling good...It's nice to be on the other side of it and...so far, so good!!!"


Onward we go brave sisters!!!

Ashley 😀💕🌻
"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment" ... Ralph Waldo Emerson 🌸

"The individual has always had to struggle from being overwhelmed by the tribe... But, no price is too high for the privilege of owning yourself" ... Rudyard Kipling 🌸

Let go of the things that no longer serve you... Let go of the pretense of the false persona, it is not you... Let go of the armor that you have worn for a lifetime, to serve the expectations of others and, to protect the woman inside... She needs protection no longer.... She is tired of hiding and more courageous than you know... Let her prove that to you....Let her step out of the dark and feel the light upon her face.... amg🌸

Ashley's Corner: https://www.susans.org/index.php/topic,247549.0.html 🌻
  •  

HappyMoni

#15
May 30, 2018, 08:37:29 PM
Congratulations Ashley! Is there any weird or panicky feeling being awake while she looks at your vocal chords. I don't know that I could do that. Happy for you!
Moni
If I ever offend you, let me know. It's not what I am about.
"Never let the dark kill your light!"  (SailorMars)

HRT June 11, 2015. (new birthday) - FFS in late June 2016. (Dr. _____=Ugh!) - Full time June 18, 2016 (Yeah! finally) - GCS June 27, 2017. (McGinn=Yeah!) - Under Eye repair from FFS 8/17/17 - Nose surgery-November 20, 2017 (Dr. Papel=Yeah) - Hair Transplant on June 21, 2018 (Dr. Cooley-yeah) - Breast Augmentation on July 10, 2018 (Dr. Basner in Baltimore) - Removed bad scarring from FFS surgery near ears and hairline in August, 2018 (Dr. Papel) -Sept. 2018, starting a skin regiment on face with Retin A  April 2019 -repairing neck scar from FFS

]
  •  

kwala

#16
May 30, 2018, 08:42:27 PM
Quote from: tgirlamc on May 30, 2018, 07:44:34 PM
Hey All...

Here is my one week post-op update!!... I went up yesterday to San Francisco and did a one week post-op check with Dr Yung... She had me read the obligatory rainbow passage and then make some vowel sounds while she watched my vocal folds on the camera...  my voice is, of course a bit weak and raspy at the one week mark but everything looks good on the healing front!!!

Dr Yung shared the photos she had taken throughout the procedure, in the operating room, and her work looks very beautiful, clean and impressively precise from a technical standpoint! I had seen them in the recovery room but I was still coming out of anesthesia so I got to appreciate them a bit more this time!

I am cleared to begin using my voice in a metered way... I've been setting timers throughout the day and I speak a few words ( trying to have it add up to about 1-2 minutes of speaking an hour )...and already feeling improvement but, I am being very careful and back off when it feels like too much!... Dr Yung cited some newer studies saying that it is better to get patients using their voices to some degree sooner than some of the durations of complete vocal rest we see with some of the other doctors so, that is a difference of note for anyone considering VFS.

I also wanted to add that Dr Yung's office staff, and especially her Medical Assitant Chantelle, have been wonderfully responsive and pro-active with taking care of all my needs and fielding all inquiries in expeditious fashion!!!

I will be going to my first post op speech therapy at the end of the week and I will update again after that!!!

I am summing up week 1 post-op as  "I'm feeling good...It's nice to be on the other side of it and...so far, so good!!!"


Onward we go brave sisters!!!

Ashley 😀💕🌻
Goad things are off to a good start. Best of luck and thanks for sharing your experience!
  •  

tgirlamg

#17
May 30, 2018, 09:12:37 PM
Quote from: HappyMoni on May 30, 2018, 08:37:29 PM
Congratulations Ashley! Is there any weird or panicky feeling being awake while she looks at your vocal chords. I don't know that I could do that. Happy for you!
Moni

Hey Moni... I hope all is well dear sister!!!... To answer the question, I don't have any issues with it... the camera is small and at the end of a wand type handle...You open your mouth wide,  she pulls out a bit on your tongue to open things up as she puts the camera in your mouth... It makes it a bit difficult to make the vowel sounds she wants while it is in there but other than that no issues!!!.. I guess everyone is different but, I'm pretty tolerant of stuff like that if it is getting me what I want!!!

Quote from: kwala on May 30, 2018, 08:42:27 PM
Goad things are off to a good start. Best of luck and thanks for sharing your experience!

Thanks Kwala!!! :)

Onward we go brave sisters!!!

Ashley 🙂💕🌸
"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment" ... Ralph Waldo Emerson 🌸

"The individual has always had to struggle from being overwhelmed by the tribe... But, no price is too high for the privilege of owning yourself" ... Rudyard Kipling 🌸

Let go of the things that no longer serve you... Let go of the pretense of the false persona, it is not you... Let go of the armor that you have worn for a lifetime, to serve the expectations of others and, to protect the woman inside... She needs protection no longer.... She is tired of hiding and more courageous than you know... Let her prove that to you....Let her step out of the dark and feel the light upon her face.... amg🌸

Ashley's Corner: https://www.susans.org/index.php/topic,247549.0.html 🌻
  •  

HappyMoni

#18
May 30, 2018, 09:55:34 PM
Ashley,
   I had laser eye surgery. They at least numbed it and gave me a valium. I think there is no way I could have someone grab my tongue. You are brave, sis!
Moni
If I ever offend you, let me know. It's not what I am about.
"Never let the dark kill your light!"  (SailorMars)

HRT June 11, 2015. (new birthday) - FFS in late June 2016. (Dr. _____=Ugh!) - Full time June 18, 2016 (Yeah! finally) - GCS June 27, 2017. (McGinn=Yeah!) - Under Eye repair from FFS 8/17/17 - Nose surgery-November 20, 2017 (Dr. Papel=Yeah) - Hair Transplant on June 21, 2018 (Dr. Cooley-yeah) - Breast Augmentation on July 10, 2018 (Dr. Basner in Baltimore) - Removed bad scarring from FFS surgery near ears and hairline in August, 2018 (Dr. Papel) -Sept. 2018, starting a skin regiment on face with Retin A  April 2019 -repairing neck scar from FFS

]
  •  

Kendra

#19
May 31, 2018, 01:15:32 AM
Ashley, so great to hear your results are on track so far.  Yayyy! 

If my tongue needs to be pulled a magnet might work... had mine pierced.   ;)
Assigned male at birth 1963.  Decided I wanted to be a girl in 1971.  Laser 2014-16, electrolysis 2015-17, HRT 7/2017, GCS 1/2018, VFS 3/2018, FFS 5/2018, Labiaplasty & BA 7/2018. 
  •  
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