I am about to choose Dr. Chettawut

[Princess_Jasmine]

Hey all. It's time to pick a surgeon as I now have the funds to do it and the letter to go along. I have been doing research for a couple years and I feel like Chettawut is the doctor that has consistent positive reviews, whereas Dr. Suporn has very good and very negative reviews. I was considering Dr. Brassard, but he is $18k whereas Dr. Chettawut is $10k. I don't feel like there is such a strong difference between the two that I should take out additional loans to see Brassard.

What do you think about Dr. Chettawut? And I would especially love replies from those who've been to him!

[Flan]

chett is pretty good overall, keep in mind hotel and food costs when budgeting.

this is the stock email I got when I was in communication with him last year (ignore the price quote).

Thank you for your interest in my service and the provided information.

My SRS technique is non invert penile skin for vagina wall creation.  The penile skin will be used mainly for external genital structures (for example:  well defined labia minora, vaginal introitus) in one step construction.
The scrotal skin will be used for labia majora construction and then for a skin graft inside neovagina as vaginal wall.
I can complete everything perfectly in one time (functional vaginal depth, good sensation from sensate neo-clitoris/clitoral hood/inner labia as well as cosmetic genital appearance).  It is rare that my patients need to come back for any revision or even secondary labiaplasty.

Please note that the length of vagina depends on 2 factors
1. The patient's anatomy.
The vaginal tunnel is created between the rectum and urethra/prostate gland/bladder, if the relation and condition of these structures are normal, you should most likely get normal (5-6 inches) or above normal (6 inches +).
In contrary, if there is any abnormality (like scar or inflammation) between these structures, the depth may be obtained less than the average.

2. Adequate skin graft for lining inside newly created vagina. 
The skin graft normally came from left over scrotal skin after being fashioned outer labia.  In case scrotal skin graft is insufficiency, the additional skin graft (from either groin or abdomen) is needed (extra fee 600 USD will be charged). So it is wise that prospective patients are aware of this possibility and prepare this extra fee.

For scheduling sex reassignment surgery:

- Email or fax me your SRS recommendation letter from your psychiatrist or license psychologist to +662-742-0845

- Inform me the information as follow:
  General info: age, height/weight, health status
  Specific info: previous surgery, any conditions or diseases which might have an impact on the procedure.

- Please have the following blood and laboratory tests done 30 days prior to the surgery date
1. CBC (complete blood count and platelet count)
2. Anti HIV (ELISA)
3. BUN &Cr (kidney function test) BUN 7-30mg/dL, Creatinine under 1.2mg/dL
4. PT & PTT (screening test for bleeding tendency due to liver disease) PTT 20-36 seconds
5. FBS (fasting blood sugar) < 110 mg/dL
6. Chest x-ray

The electrocardiogram (EKG) is also required if you're over 45 yr.
The report of all lab tests can be sent either via fax +662-742-0845 or e-mail cset_at_truemail.co.th  as jpeg format attached files.

Please note that all your original copy of blood & laboratory reports and the original letter of SRS recommendation must be brought to Thailand.

You must stop taking female hormone, aspirin, vitamin E or anti-inflammatory drug 2 weeks before surgery.

The current price for SRS is 10,000 USD (valid until April 30th, 2009).

Please be aware about the possibility of skin graft insufficiency (if your genital skin shrink or has not good elasticity) and it is highly recommended that all my patients coming to have SRS must prepare 600 USD for extra skin graft fee (either groin or abdominal skin graft) if needed.

You can inform me your preferred date of surgery, I'll check my schedule and try to adjust my schedule to accommodate you.
After you confirm your surgery date, a non-refundable 10% deposit (excluded the wire fee) is supposed to be transferred to my account to secure your surgery date within one week.

Please note that the deposit cannot hold the old price, the rest of your fee will be calculated from the updated price (as posted in my website) at the time of your surgery.

The total stay under my care for SRS is 3 weeks but you need to arrive Bangkok 3 full days prior to the surgery date for bowel preparing process which is very important to the surgery.

It is my policy that the patients need to stay only at the recommended hotel before and after surgery.
1. The Baan Sirirama place and resort. This is a good hotel, the rate per night for single room or twin room is 1,283 THB (around 40 USD, not included breakfast).  You can get more info at
http://www.bangkok-hotel.com/
Deluxe
Double (2pax): Airport pick up transfer complimentary All amenities and toiletries supply 1 welcome soft drink sets complimentary per day Daily breakfast buffet for 2 persons Non-smoking preferable room Warm water both at shower and wash basin 1790 per night


Should you have any questions regarding your surgery, please feel free to contact me.

Best regards,
Dr.Chettawut

[lilacwoman]

I am in England and we have the NHS but as my surgery has been delayed and will be quite expensive I asked the NHS to fund me to Dr Chet but they refused and messed me about for another half-year so when I fianlly got to the London surgeon he said the only thing he can do with me is a big double op at about 4 times what Chet would charge.
My gender clinic actually wrote ' we can only refer to surgeon we know who are Board Certified'  Dr Chet is board cert and also a member of the HBIGDA.

[Princess_Jasmine]

Thanks for the replies but has anyone here been to him or know of a close friend who has and what their experience was like? Positive/negative?

[Flan]

one of the chatters went to him a ways back (January 2009 iirc) and was happy with the experience overall (in spite of a minor surgical revision before leaving Thailand).

the biggest problem iirc from his team are from the hospital he uses (don't expect much english, so if you need painkillers you'll need to know the "correct" thai to say).

[lilacwoman]

soemone in my town went to Dr Chet and once back home needed some slight revision but a return to Chet was financially impossible and the local health made real trouble before they were threatened with legal action and finally agreed to fix it.

I have to say that if our local health will happily fix people who have gone abroad and had accidents or trouble then why will they not fix people who choose to go abroad for surgery?
Seems a bit illogical to me but that how the beancounters think.

[seawitch]

Hi,

  I see that you have not received any answers from someone who has actually been to see Chet, so let me fix that. I had my OP with him in Oct of 07. My total costs were approx 14,500.00  canadian. I had BA as well as the additional skin graft. My total hotel bill including meals if I remember correctly was 900.00. He is good choice of surgeon most competent and well priced. I had no trouble in the hospital as to pain as he will keep you on morphine for the first 2 days after the op. >The only real downside was that meals consisted solely of soup NO SOLID FOOD ALLOWED. I went in on  a Tuesday morning and was on the table about 2:30 that afternoon and back in the Siri late Sunday morning. I did have to have a minor revision in his office a week later in which he used a local, I did feel some of the cuts and stitching, but nothing to cause tears.

  Post operatively follow his directions to the letter and you will be fine. Dialation! when I got to the stage of using the 1 1/4 stent I  found it much more comfortable and pleasureable to use an 1 1/4 silicone dildo and moved from that to an 1 1/2 one.  I had my first sex about 4 months post op. Since then I have been bedded ( as I'm not in the least innocent nor a 'Good Girl' ) many times. Non of the guys have noticed anything out of the ordinary to my knowledge.
Oh yeah I guess I should mention that I was orgasmic after about 3 months.

  When you get your first look at things down there don't be to upset as  its not the prettiest sight to see lol, but in time as the swelling goes down and the stitches come out and the scars fade it is quite nice and 'Way preferable' to what was there before. You will also notice a wonderful smell when your new flora begins to develope. I only dialate once a week now and more if I am horny lol.

Well I hope this has been of help to you,

   seawitch

[Tammy Hope]

I find it interesting that the reply above did NOT say anything about "letters" - am i to understand that Dr. chet doesn't require the gatekeeper letters?

[lilacwoman]

Dr Chet SAYS he needs letters but once over there who knows?   But I'm thinking    the recent clampdown over ther will make it more  likely that he will need letters.

[seawitch]

I did in fact have my letter from the pychiatrist I had seen for the approval for my orchie. I have not looked at Chets site in quite some time but it use to state that if you did not have a letter then for an additonal fee arrangements could be made to see a pychiatrist there in bankock to obtain your letter. I don't know if that is still possible or not now days. The only complaint that I personally have is that my clitoral hood is somewhat tiny and when I'm excited pretty much my entire clit is exposed and it is quite sensative ( not in a painful way however ). Dr Chet had said that he would perform a surgory in his office at NO charge to enlarge it, but the air fare over there is prohibitive for such a minor surgory.

seawitch

[Susan T]

Chet will still operate providing you are willing to pay $300 dollars for a psychiatric assessment  (which is 10X the going rate)

[Tammy Hope]

Chet will still operate providing you are willing to pay $300 dollars for a psychiatric assessment  (which is 10X the going rate)

I lot cheaper than a year of therapy here though....heck, my understanding is a lot of therapists want to see you at least 3 months before writing the letter and that accumulates to well over $300.

I'd consider that a bargain (and moves Dr. Chet well up my list)

[Susan T]

However, he will only do this if you have good reason. e.g. you you have documentary evidence that you have been having therapy and been on a prescribed hormone regime but for some reason could not go full time i.e. for employment reasons. The use of his psychiatrist is not simply to get around all of the standards of care.

[Susan T]

I was going to go to Chet until I was adviseed by my gender specialist here in the UK that he sees more serious complications from him than any other Thai surgeon. He recommended Preecha or Suporn. In my view Suporn was over priced and the need to achieve anatomically ridiculous vaginal depths was not a priority, so I went to preecha for $8600 Plus $30 for a certificate from his psych because I couldn't get a second referral here

[Tammy Hope]

That's the first time I've heard the name Preecha

Would be cool to see a full review of your experience with him(?)

I'd been thinking Suporn (assuming i could afford the travel) mainly because of the reports of really good orgasmic response and sensitivity I'd read.

but that's a VERY attractive price - if Preecha can achieve a similar appearance and responsivness at that price it's a compelling argument.

[Susan T]

Preecha is the man who developed the advanced method of SRS used by most Thai surgeons today. Suporn and Chettawut used to work for him until they branched out on their own. Their method are still very similar except that Suporn Punctures the scrotal skin grafts 100s of times in order to make it stretch further for extra depth. However doing so takes a considerable time which will increase the period that you are under general anaesthetic and means that the graft will take longer to heal overall. What you have to consider before deciding on a surgeon is exactly what outcome you want. Suporn will probably be able to give you a depth of 7-8 inches (although that will reduce a little as the skin graft contracts) Others will give between 5 -7 inches. People flock to Suporn (who is undoubtedly a good surgeon) for extra depth. However you should bear in mind that the average depth of a natal female is only 4 1/2 inches so the obvious question is why do so many TSs think that they need 8  and are willing to pay a premium to get it.

Preecha runs the Preecha Aesthetic Institute in Bangkok. It is very large and upmarket when compared to the facilities that Chettawut and Suporn operate from. SRS will be carried out at the Piyavate hospital where I understand Chet also uses the PAI facilities for his patients.

The thing about going to Preecha is that he will not necessarily be the surgeon who operates on you.  This has always been the case and a few years ago going to Preecha could have meant that you actually got Suporn Chettawut or Saran etc. In fact Preecha did my FFS while his latest assistant Dr Burin carried out the SRS. I have 7 inches of depth and at everything is in the right place anatomically speaking. At the moment I'm a little too sensitive, but that I am told will settle down over the next few months as everything heals. The Preecha method claims to produce a sensate neoclitoris in almost 97% of his patients.

[MTH]

https://www.susans.org/cgi-bin/tseek/reviews.cgi?id=1459&cid=87

4 pages: https://www.susans.org/Sex_Reassignment_Surgery/MTF_Surgeons/

[raven75]

I had a good friend who went to Dr Preecha and didnt even have him perform the surgery. In my opinion i wanted someone who was very repetativa and also good reviews and feedback, i researched for 2 years and Suporn was the most consistant, the interesting thing was there was some negative reviews on him but not from people that had experienced it for themselves, alot of hearsay and just out to bad mouth him for some reason? I ended up going to Suporn and i have amazing results, the man is a genius! He is pricier than the rest and his waiting list is about 9 months, that on its own should give you some sort of an indication how in demand he is....

[mystic_voodoo]

When researching where to go if given the choice a little over two years ago chettawut was my handsdown favorite; as a choice in physicians, nothing yet has changed this opinion.

My problem is that since that time and now: There is a pattern of daily life that has been established and remained unbroken for almost two years that my pressence is always close by and that each and everyday I am present.  There is a child who is going to be very emotional not to see me each time he opens the door and who is just to young to understand, and the adults around here seem to think doctors outside of this country only work with matchettes and rusty pliers. But, all that aside the other side of the world is completely unreachable to anyone that cares about me and the distance is emitting a sense of being powerless and robs them of any thought of coming to the rescue when needed.

We seem to be on the same search for information and if your heart was set two years ago we came to the same conclusion at the same time on physicians, it might be helpful to talk. My plans are for surgery in january unless my family ties me up and throws me in the trunk of my old car.

[lilacwoman]

Their method are still very similar except that Suporn Punctures the scrotal skin grafts 100s of times in order to make it stretch further for extra depth.  why do so many TSs think that they need 8  and are willing to pay a premium to get it.

This puncturing is technically 'latticiing' in exactly the same way a pie crust is puntured to make it expand to cover a pie.
Suregons puncture skin grafts to make sure the skin does not contract.
I'm going to get a scalp advancment next year and the surgeon will do this latticing to make the scalp cover the MPB and forehead. This youtube shows how the punctures allow skin to stretch: 

I heard that the suregons started trying for the great depths in oder to cater to those MtFs who had been actively indulging in anal sex and their partners were used to the unlimited depth of the anus.