The Impossible Question - Which Surgeon?

[emma-f]

Hi girls

Although only recently having gone full time, I've been in some flux of transition for a number of years, to the extent to which my psychologist has already said that she'll write my letters, but that most surgeons would require me to be living full time for a year. So we're now looking for surgeons for surgery some time late next year.

I know that there is no absolute answer, and that as you can only have GCS once, so nobody can truly compare two surgeries, and I know that no surgeon is perfect, but in terms of appearance, sensation, minimal number of complications etc. who are considered the best surgeons these days?

Cost isn't really an issue (As this is something so important, I'll just pay what it takes).

Any advice or assistance would be great

Em x

[AnonyMs]

There's photo's of some surgeons work available if you search for them.

[emma-f]

There's photo's of some surgeons work available if you search for them.

Hi

I have done, and I've emailed a fair few surgeons who have provided me with examples and descriptions of their techniques. But the problem with that is that there's no knowing if the photographs are representative of their usual work, or just the few that went well. And that only deals with the aesthetics. I've maybe over-researched it as I'm now swimming in uncertainties over it, but I'm certainly not coming to the forum to ask this question out of laziness or having not tried to look things up myself and I'm genuinely sorry if I gave that impression.

I was hoping that some people perhaps a bit more active and in discussion with more people who have had GCS, would be able to guide me as to present feelings on the various surgeons who do this work as to who consistently achieves good results. I trust the people on this forum greatly on all issues, more so than photographs on a surgeons website, or sent to me by them by email, that are essentially marketing.

Thanks

Em x

[emma-f]

Thanks for the PM AnonyMs - You're awesome!

Em

[warlockmaker]

I had a post some 2 plus years ago when I visited the surgeons in Thailand. Now 2.5 years later our foundation has done a great deal more research on GRS surgeons in Thailand. We consider that the surgery is a vinalla surgery, its not rocket science. So practice makes the difference, we note that the top surgeons have all done 1000 plus GRS. We also note that they all follow a similar technique of the penile inversion, developed by Dr Preecha ( PAI), but many try to reinvent the penile inversion by minor variations and touting a new procedure for marketing purpose.

All the 5 Drs below have a track record of great sensation, average depth of 6 inches and great aesthetics which are improved by an optional secondary corrections a year later . They all also have bad results but at a low percentage.

Dr Sutin PAI
Dr Burin PAI
Dr Chettawut
Dr Suporn
Dr Kamoil

[emma-f]

I had a post some 2 plus years ago when I visited the surgeons in Thailand. Now 2.5 years later our foundation has done a great deal more research on GRS surgeons in Thailand. We consider that the surgery is a vinalla surgery, its not rocket science. So practice makes the difference, we note that the top surgeons have all done 1000 plus GRS. We also note that they all follow a similar technique of the penile inversion, developed by Dr Preecha ( PAI), but many try to reinvent the penile inversion by minor variations and touting a new procedure for marketing purpose.

All the 5 Drs below have a track record of great sensation, average depth of 6 inches and great aesthetics which are improved by an optional secondary corrections a year later . They all also have bad results but at a low percentage.

Dr Sutin PAI
Dr Burin PAI
Dr Chettawut
Dr Suporn
Dr Kamoil

Excellent Warlockmaker - you've helped me so much and also put my mind so much at rest. I'm probably obsessing over a decision thats actually not that big a deal, so long as I go with somebody reputable and experienced.

Thanks again

Em

[Dena]

There are other factors which you haven't stated in your request. Do you favor staying in one country or is travel not an issue? How will you pay for your surgery? If paying by cash, what is your limit? Are you willing to go a bit longer for a better surgeon? The United States has several good surgeons and Canada is also an option. Unlike when I had my surgery, today you have many options so make sure your getting what you want.

[Colleen_definitely]

My criteria was based on availability, since I didn't want to be waiting years, competence, and willingness to take insurance.

The surgeon I ended up choosing has a short wait list, has done a bunch of these surgeries, and I know several people who had SRS with him with great results.  His office takes my insurance so it ended up being a no brainer.

[reborn]

Complications happen with every surgeon and they are impossible to predict. In most cases some skin necrosis and some tears happen. The good news is that they heal without compromising the results. How ever major complications are uncommon with the reputable doctors. Every doctor has a specific technique which delivers different cosmetic outcome and different usual depth. It really comes down to what you expect from the surgery. Ask yourself how much depth do you want. What is a beautiful vagina in your understanding? Search for photographic results from different doctors. Compare them. And decide which one you like the most. Most of the doctors deliver similar results in different patients. One more advise. Don't trust textual descriptions of the cosmetic results. Most of the transsexuals are very subjective when it comes to the results. Only trust pictures. And not those posted on the doctor's websites, but those posted online by patients. It is a hard work finding the right doctor for you but it is well worth it in the end

[emma-f]

Colleen - thanks. Thats the problem - I know nobody that has had surgery outside of the UK surgeons (who do seem to get a mixed write up so I don't want to go with that), and as I'm not covered by insurance the world is my oyster.

Dena - its that very presence of options that causes me such problems - I can never even pick an item from a menu! Cost I'm easy on. Whilst I'm going through an expensive divorce at the moment, by the time that next year comes around funds will be no problem at all. I work as a barrister so can build capital quickly. And I'm happy to go anywhere and wait as long as it takes. Thailand would be an obvious option as my father lives in Pattaya but I want the right surgery, not the most convenient.

Em x

[emma-f]

Complications happen with every surgeon and they are impossible to predict. In most cases some skin necrosis and some tears happen. The good news is that they heal without compromising the results. How ever major complications are uncommon with the reputable doctors. Every doctor has a specific technique which delivers different cosmetic outcome and different usual depth. It really comes down to what you expect from the surgery. Ask yourself how much depth do you want. What is a beautiful vagina in your understanding? Search for photographic results from different doctors. Compare them. And decide which one you like the most. Most of the doctors deliver similar results in different patients. One more advise. Don't trust textual descriptions of the cosmetic results. Most of the transsexuals are very subjective when it comes to the results. Only trust pictures. And not those posted on the doctor's websites, but those posted online by patients. It is a hard work finding the right doctor for you but it is well worth it in the end

Thanks for the help reborn. It really is hard work isn't it! I thought it would be exciting but 4 months of emailing and speaking to 20 odd surgeons, and researching them all, and trying to mentally judge them is really tiresome!

Em x

[reborn]

Thanks for the help reborn. It really is hard work isn't it! I thought it would be exciting but 4 months of emailing and speaking to 20 odd surgeons, and researching them all, and trying to mentally judge them is really tiresome!

Em x

At the time of my SRS I really liked Dr Bowers, Dr MCginn, Dr Bressard, Dr Chettawut  and Dr Suporn. The first two both deliver very good cosmetic and functional results. I decided against because of long wait lists. Bressard delivers great cosmetic results and the usual depth is 4,5-5,5" which wasn't enough for me. Suporn delivers great depth, great cosmetic outcome but he doesn't remove the penis and many patients have painful erections under the skin. Dr Chettawut delivers great cosmetic results, great depth in most cases and his waiting list is short. Those were the reasons I decided against some doctors and I went with Chettawut. I am happy with my choice. 

[Harley Quinn]

Easy work around for the 1 year full time BS is that 1). You're trans, so by definition you've been a woman the whole time. 2). Since you've been living as a woman trapped in a man's body... technically you've been living as a woman even if you wore men's clothing... "tomboy's" do it all the time.  And the surgeons don't need to know that you don't appear in public as a woman 24/7.  You should be in the clear.  Worked for me.

As for surgeons, I would meet them in person to see how you feel about them as a person and check their big book of "surgeries gone right".  I would also put more weight into the penile inversion as a first course of action, because you can always get the sigmon colon "if you need to" later.  If you start with the sigmon colon you are pretty much there as for options.  They can't really go backwards.

[emma-f]

At the time of my SRS I really liked Dr Bowers, Dr MCginn, Dr Bressard, Dr Chettawut  and Dr Suporn. The first two both deliver very good cosmetic and functional results. I decided against because of long wait lists. Bressard delivers great cosmetic results and the usual depth is 4,5-5,5" which wasn't enough for me. Suporn delivers great depth, great cosmetic outcome but he doesn't remove the penis and many patients have painful erections under the skin. Dr Chettawut delivers great cosmetic results, great depth in most cases and his waiting list is short. Those were the reasons I decided against some doctors and I went with Chettawut. I am happy with my choice.

I have to say I did like the look of Chettawut. I like that he suggests that you can expect self lubrication in his email. Also checked out the Dusit hotel that he suggests which I quite liked

[emma-f]

Easy work around for the 1 year full time BS is that 1). You're trans, so by definition you've been a woman the whole time. 2). Since you've been living as a woman trapped in a man's body... technically you've been living as a woman even if you wore men's clothing... "tomboy's" do it all the time.  And the surgeons don't need to know that you don't appear in public as a woman 24/7.  You should be in the clear.  Worked for me.

As for surgeons, I would meet them in person to see how you feel about them as a person and check their big book of "surgeries gone right".  I would also put more weight into the penile inversion as a first course of action, because you can always get the sigmon colon "if you need to" later.  If you start with the sigmon colon you are pretty much there as for options.  They can't really go backwards.

You know, I'd go for it tomorrow, but I think that the year might well pass just from my surgery choices. I want BBL (I'm very v-shaped in my mid portion - large waist, no bum or hip sadly) and FFS and I'll prob do them first, just as they'll have more affect on my day to day life. I do agree though that the 1 year thing is BS. My medical records will show a 18 year history of this so it's hardly a snap decision. And even though it's not until now that I'm 7 days a week, I've basically been in flux for years anyway!