If money was no issue - who would you get surgery with?

[hunkydory]

Hello everyone,

I have been reading posts on this forum for quite a while but have never joined or posted - so this is my first post 

I am in a situation where my private insurance company is paying for surgery - so money is not an issue.
I am currently booked with Dr. Chettawut in July, and I do feel he is a good choice.

But I would like to be sure that there isn't a better alternative.

My question is - if you could choose any SRS surgeon in the world, regardless of price, who would you choose and why?

Thank you

[echo7]

I went with Chettawut for my SRS, paying for it all out of my own pocket, even though my insurance would have fully paid for SRS to be done by a surgeon in the USA. So for me, money was not an issue either.

For me, it was important to get the non-inversion method of SRS.  There are many reasons for this, but I feel Carrie Liz's SRS thread (posted on these forums about a year or two ago) on her reasons for preferring non-inversion over penile inversion are similar to my reasons.  I just personally felt better about having this surgery done with that technique.  And so it was either Chettawut or Suporn for me, and I chose Chettawut after talking with friends who went to both.

[AnonyMs]

There's a number of photos of various surgeons work, posted by patients, on internet so you can see for yourself what you like.

[Dena]

Welcome to Susan's Place. I had my surgery a long time ago but if I needed surgery today, I would strongly consider Dr Meltzer/Dr Ley. The surgery is a two procedure surgery however I am less than an hours travel time to the office. They have a good deal of skill so results are consistent and most important is the surgical unit. It's a fully equipped hospital and as part of the hospital there is an emergency surgical unit right next store. Should anything unexpected happen, everything is in place to deal with it. Results are important however the most important thing is coming out of it alive.

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[sarah1972]

For a long time Bluebond-Langner at NYU or Macey Bowers have been my favorites. NYU mostly because it is in reasonable distance.

Right now it is Mt. Sinai due to the new perinoteal graft method. Hope this spreads quickly.

[Rachel]

I went to Dr. McGinn and had my GCS 11/15/2016. Wednesday I had extensive rework with Dr. McGinn. I did not have the inverse penile procedure due to not having penile skin to use. I would go to her again. She took extremely good care of me. 

In 2016 I paid less than $5,000 for my BA and GCS with Dr. McGinn due to insurance and paid $0 for Wednesdays procedures. All of Wednesday's CPD codes were for intersexed corrective procedures.  The $0 cost was because my co-pay and co-insurance deductions were already paid to 100%.

I have another procedure in 5 weeks and expect to pay $0.

[Ellement_of_Freedom]

I would still go with Dr Suporn.

[Galyo]

In my current situation, I would probably go with whatever my insurance can cover. Don't have the funds to travel half the world for it, I'm afraid. If funds were not an issue, I would probably do a ton of research and go for the most experienced doctor that money can buy.

I want to get it done sometime next year, though the thought of it scares me. I know I want the SRS done, but I just completely hate surgeries, and I especially hate having to go under for one.

[Devlyn]

Dr Oates, because he's fifteen minutes from my house. And because he already has my family jewels. 

[JudiBlueEyes]

Ha Ha Devlyn.

I paid for it myself and would make the same choice, Dr. Leis, although there are lot of good doctors out there.   

[SadieBlake]

I'd go to Heidi Wittenberg again. I was her #33 and I'm amazed at what a wonderful job she did. Not the least element is surgery time which is an important element. Working solo Heidi completed my procedure in 2.5 hours. There are perfectly good surgical teams reporting 5-6 hours duration, that's not my cuppa tea.

That said, since my procedure I've heard some great things about Bluebond-Langer and a friend will be going to her soon.

Those are my top two, however there's a lot of good choices out there.

[Miss Clara]

I doubt you'll find a consensus by asking for advice here.  The fact is, any well known GCS surgeon is likely to do right by you.  The results you achieve will depend more on you than your choice of surgeon.  That's not to say that all surgeons are equally skilled.  Technique and experience do make a difference.  Still, every patient is unique and, that being the case, forces compromises at the hand of the surgeon, any surgeon.  A surgeon will produce both fantastic results and not so fantastic results depending on your priorities and expectations, his or her methodology, your anatomy, your healing ability, possible post-op complications, and how carefully you follow post-op instructions.  Then there's old fashion luck.

[epvanbeveren]

Indeed everyone is most likely going to mention her doctor.

So I choose to have my surgery done by Dr. Keelee MacPhee in Raleigh NC. Mainly because some of my local friends have had their grs with her. Worth of mouth was important for me, as well as the feelings I had when I met my Dr. at the consultation.

Dr. Keelee MacPhee was trained by Dr. Marci Bowers, which I think, she is a great doctor as well.

Every doctor will have different opinions and techniques, every patient will have different needs and questions.

I say do some research and perhaps ask some local friends in person about their experience in the surgery itself and the aftercare.

For the record I was thinking of Dr. Rummer and Dr. MacGinn as well, but the impression and feelings I had with Dr. MacPhee, next to my friends experiences, compared to the other doctor's made me decide to go with her.

Go with your best feelings after your research dear. If it doesn't feel good, don't.

[SadieBlake]

I doubt you'll find a consensus by asking for advice here.  The fact is, any well known GCS surgeon is likely to do right by you.  The results you achieve will depend more on you than your choice of surgeon.  That's not to say that all surgeons are equally skilled. 
.....
Then there's old fashion luck.

I don't know as consensus is the point, the decision will ultimately be (very) personal. As I said, had Bluebond-Langer been on my radar, I'd have considered her .. the trip to NYC would have been far easier than going all the way to SF, on the other hand I have so many friends in SF, I had inherently good support there which was important.

I considered McGinn and certainly knowing lots of happy outcomes from her was a great recommendation. However as I understood it then, she required payment up front and that was out of the question. Brownstein Crane worked out my insurance ahead of time and I basically never had to think about the $$. I did see the (staggering) bill that went to my insurance, have no idea what was actually settled on.

I did my surgery on a shoestring and this year has been very tight financially, being just 2 weeks short of a year, I'm truly glad to be where I am today :-).

[Gail20]

I'd still go back to Dr Rachel Bluebond-Langner at NYU for two reasons. First, she was part of a surgical Team.  She partnered with a well-known Urologist who regularly does reconstruction.  They use a robot which is far more precise. The second reason is NYU is a world renown medical center and school with state of the art knowledge and care. In the end I had no issues at all with scaring or tissue decay and I was 66.  I attribute this to their extensive knowledge base and training. . . As a general recommendation, for all surgeries, Med school hospitals are at the top of the list.

[LilDevilOfPrada]

In my current situation, I would probably go with whatever my insurance can cover. Don't have the funds to travel half the world for it, I'm afraid. If funds were not an issue, I would probably do a ton of research and go for the most experienced doctor that money can buy.

I want to get it done sometime next year, though the thought of it scares me. I know I want the SRS done, but I just completely hate surgeries, and I especially hate having to go under for one.

American based doctors dont like to put you under instead they just numb you up. Always a way around going under .

[steph2.0]

For a long time Bluebond-Langner at NYU or Macey Bowers have been my favorites. NYU mostly because it is in reasonable distance.

Right now it is Mt. Sinai due to the new perinoteal graft method. Hope this spreads quickly.

Sarah, have you had a consultation with Mt. Sinai yet? If so, I'd like to compare notes. My consultation was back in March with Zil Goldstein (part of Dr. Ting's team). What I brought out of the meeting is that the peritoneal method practiced at Mt Sinai is not what we've been reading about, and doesn't offer a huge advantage over the inversion method.

Stephanie

[sarah1972]

Hi @Steph2.0 : Thanks for offering to compare notes, unfortunately I have not yet had any consultations (It's complicated and I am years away).

Too bad that the hype over the peritoneal graft seems to be greatly exaggerated. It did sound too perfect.

Hugs 🤗 Sarah

For a long time Bluebond-Langner at NYU or Macey Bowers have been my favorites. NYU mostly because it is in reasonable distance.

Right now it is Mt. Sinai due to the new perinoteal graft method. Hope this spreads quickly.

Sarah, have you had a consultation with Mt. Sinai yet? If so, I'd like to compare notes. My consultation was back in March with Zil Goldstein (part of Dr. Ting's team). What I brought out of the meeting is that the peritoneal method practiced at Mt Sinai is not what we've been reading about, and doesn't offer a huge advantage over the inversion method.

Stephanie

[Randi]

Only 4 surgeons on my list, in no order of preference.

Bowers, McGinn, Brassard or Meltzer.

[warlockmaker]

I can afford the very best surgeon and service. Also running  foundation we have donr a great deal of research on surgeons. I selected PAI 2.5 years ago. They have a modern clinic in the city and offer VIP service and private nurse. I had a hospital suite and private nurse.

Chett is well know but he has his surgery at his clinic NOT at a hospital, he is way out in the suburbs and does not provide VIP service and his accommodation post op are just average.

I have great aesthetics, 6 inch depth and great orgasms. Plus, after a year they can do some fancy cosmetic revisions. I will have my fancy revisions next month.