Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Helloo everyone.

Would love some advice about having surgery with these individuals.

Firstly I'd like to ask about the incidence rate of fistulas. I'm absolutely terrified of this happening and want to know what the risk of developing one is, specific for these surgeons if possible. Are they caused by mistakes, as in cutting the rectum for example, or as a consequence of poor wound healing? Does the fact that I'm 20 years old, not a smoker, healthy otherwise...etc make a difference?? This is my only major concern about SRS at the present and I really would like someone to alleviate these fears if possible!

Also.. In terms of the results of these surgeons... I think I'm going to opt for one of them just in case there are any complications post-operatively. Are the results generally good?? Who would you say does  a consistently better job? Can anyone shoe me any results of their work, especially for Phillip Thomas (as I have not been able to find anything online or through his secretary :( )?

Also any info regarding NHS waiting times would be very useful, as this (sort-of) has a large impact on whether I may need to get it done privately or not.

Thanks so much :)
x

James doesn't work with NHS anymore.
http://www.bellringers.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/styled-10/index.html

As far as fistula risk, it's luck of the draw with the complication being pretty uncommon for most seasoned surgeons however the risk is much greater in patients with recent eating disorder histories as the intestinal walls become paper thin with any sort of binge/purge cycling. The risk comes with the nature of blunt dissection of the vaginal space.

Does he still do private work? And by eating disorder, you mean like starvation-related like anorexia..etc?

Do you happen to know what the statistic is for fistula occurrence?

Thanks! :)

I've heard Phillip Thomas is good, I also heard Bellringer wasn't with the NHS anymore but apparently some people weren't crazy about him and his views anyway (not sure why). Regarding waiting times, I think you know by now its in great part luck, in great part where you're located. I haven't had mine done yet either and the waiting times at the GIC are driving me crazy!! lol. I just want it to happen already!

Quote from: calicarly on April 13, 2014, 03:56:21 AM
I've heard Phillip Thomas is good, I also heard Bellringer wasn't with the NHS anymore but apparently some people weren't crazy about him and his views anyway (not sure why). Regarding waiting times, I think you know by now its in great part luck, in great part where you're located. I haven't had mine done yet either and the waiting times at the GIC are driving me crazy!! lol. I just want it to happen already!

dear calicarly,

You can bypass the waiting times by booking a surgery in Thailand. I've met many British girls in Chonburi, with dr Suporn.

I've never heard any correlation between eating disorders and fistulas... I think with the top few surgeons both in the west and Thailand, the incidence of fistula seems to be extremely rare. There is also a risk with general anesthesia, but both of these I think are quite minimal. I can certainly vouch for Dr Suporn as well in Thailand, although his waiting time is probably close to four - six months as well at any given moment... bottom line is that anything in life carries a risk. In this case, we both know the reward is worth it. Good luck!

Quote from: LauraGirl on April 13, 2014, 06:11:12 AM
dear calicarly,

You can bypass the waiting times by booking a surgery in Thailand. I've met many British girls in Chonburi, with dr Suporn.

I was giving Grs in Thailand some serious thought for a few months, however the money I have been managing to save will be going for some FFS now, my boyfriend and I keep worrying that if any revision work needs to be done that the NHS won't take care of me if I have it done in Thailand... It's so much info to process but I will tell you something, if the NHS keeps taking this long and I am still waiting for them by the time I've had FFS done, I think I will just go to Thailand... I didn't even realize the price of GRS in Thailand was this accessible ...

Fistula was my main concern when I was having my SRS. Those complications are not only described in the medical textbooks but they do happen in reality. Using blunt preparation prevents the fistula but it can still happen. Most of the doctors will try to fix the fistula during the initial surgery and it works in most cases. In case the fistula is big and they couldn't fix it during the surgery then you will manifest symptoms. Those complications are very rare and choosing an experienced doctor prevents them. I have read somewhere about fistula experience with Dr Thomas. I have never heard of fistula with Dr. Bellringer. I don't think that individual anatomy, rough dilatation or other factors would contribute to it, but I think it is a bad surgical technique and bad luck in general that cause it. According to Dr Miro in Belgrade and Dr Reed in Miami it happens in 10 % of their patients, but I think that with other doctors this numbers are different

James Bellringer scares me. My good friend "I will call her Jess" nearly bleed to death after surgery with James Bellringer, Iv heard this is not an uncommon occurrence with bell ringer.

The guy prides himself on being able to preform surgery very quickly compared to other surgeons. I can vouch that my friend Jess got sent home after surgery, became ill, starting to bleed a vast amount and had to have a emergency blood transfusion to save her life.

Quote from: mythaisrs on April 14, 2014, 04:24:05 PM
James Bellringer scares me. My good friend "I will call her Jess" nearly bleed to death after surgery with James Bellringer, Iv heard this is not an uncommon occurrence with bell ringer.

The guy prides himself on being able to preform surgery very quickly compared to other surgeons. I can vouch that my friend Jess got sent home after surgery, became ill, starting to bleed a vast amount and had to have a emergency blood transfusion to save her life.

Scary!!!

Having just been down to Brighton and been pleasantly surprised with my results (given how little he had to work with) I did spend some time talking to Liz (Mr Thomas's nurse specialist) who says that for years they have been trying to get him to be more honest about how rare major complications like fistulas have been for him. In that one patient needed a colostomy but this was due to a pre-existing condition and another managed to push through into her bowel being a bit too enthusiatic with dilation.

Mr Thomas is the person that many women  go to after the grafts done by their thai surgeons fail... they might be cheaper but the surgery they do is also riskier.

Thanks for the info :) What are your results exactly? Depth/look etc. And you're happy with the results? Thank youu

Quote from: Samantha007 on August 31, 2014, 03:26:51 PM
I had the same problem with Bellringer. I bled until I fainted, then needed blood transfusion. I subsequently suffered a post-surgical anemia as a result of the blood loss!

As did another person (Pebbles if I remember correctly) as recently as last July. Personally, I wouldn't touch any surgeon with a record like that with a barge pole, especially when compared with the performance of someone like Brassard in NA or Suporn or Chettawut here in Thailand. Now 12 days post op with Chettawut  ( price for GRS alone ~ 8000€), my recovery so far has been 100% trouble free: no bleeding, no pain and already very much up and about. There are 8 of us here at the Bangkok Rama (4 French and 4 Americans) , all more than 9 days post-op and while some have more pain than others, I haven't heard anyone report any significant complications and believe me, we do talk with each other...

Quote from: Donna E on September 01, 2014, 01:58:57 AM
As did another person (Pebbles if I remember correctly) as recently as last July. Personally, I wouldn't touch any surgeon with a record like that with a barge pole.

Yes this did happen. Had internal Bleeding, 1-2days post op, required a second operation to repair the damage and 5units of transfused blood.

Quote from: eggy_nog on June 07, 2014, 02:59:40 PM
Thanks for the info :) What are your results exactly? Depth/look etc. And you're happy with the results? Thank youu

In addition to the bleeding I contracted an infection once discharged that caused my sutures to rip open 9days post op, The wound has pretty much closed now 6 weeks on, however the wound healed open so it left quite a large scar under and around my vaginal opening. the scarring can be abit tight and achey sometimes I'm not particularly bothered by the appearance.

Everything else I seem to have fairly good function. My clitoris is sensate and I can orgasm. Although I can't see it under it's hood which seems quite pronounced I wounder if my inner labia has fused partially, it's obviously there. Peeing is fine, I have limited sensation in my vagina now, although I only really experience pain and abit of occasional pus from what I suspect is Granulation at the top of my vagina. No fistulas or problems with my back passages.

Quote from: eggy_nog on June 07, 2014, 02:59:40 PM
Thanks for the info :) What are your results exactly? Depth/look etc. And you're happy with the results? Thank youu

Hi Girls!

I had mine SRS done in November 2013. I have 5.5" Everything works/ is sensate but I'm not particluary impressed with the visual side of my results as comapred to Thai surgeons. But I never had the gut to ask for revision.

I didn't have the luxury to wait and save up to go to Thailand, and you probabaly want someone to go with you, so you hvae to make everything double.

I think you shouldn't worry about fistulas. Fear is only natural, I was obessed with the problem of hair before my srs and read all the herendous stories. This is the worst thing you can do. If you got with Mr Thomas, you are in good hands.

I had mine with Mr Bellringer privately in November absolutely no complications.  I have good depth and I'm so far very happy with the result.

I think berating a surgeon for complications,when you are dealing with hundreds of patients a year is a little short sited.There sadly will always be complications. But as you are unaware of the full track record of the other surgeons, especially the surgeons in thailand who do countless operations on girls that wouldn't use this site, to tell us the tales, swearing their impecable credentials is very dangerous.

Quote from: RachelH on December 29, 2014, 05:50:06 PM
I think berating a surgeon for complications,when you are dealing with hundreds of patients a year is a little short sited.There sadly will always be complications. But as you are unaware of the full track record of the other surgeons, especially the surgeons in thailand who do countless operations on girls that wouldn't use this site, to tell us the tales, swearing their impecable credentials is very dangerous.

I'm not really sure I agree with this. Yes, Thai surgeons do countless operations, but I believe the ones we hear about overseas would be mainly working on foreigners, and I think we'd heard about those. The ones we wouldn't hear so much about are all the others doing local work, and some of them are really cheap. I've no idea, but I wonder how many of the really bad Thai stories are from them.

I read an interesting point some time ago regarding Thai surgeons. Some of them perform surgery in their own clinics rather than hospitals, and the reason for this is apparently they are not qualified to work in hospitals. Again this won't apply to the ones we hear much about.

I'm curious what type of people this site attracts vs the others, as it does influence the types of discussions, but I've never managed to work it out. It's pretty international, in English, and has very strict rules about what can be discussed. That must strongly bias who's here.

Well even though this is a site that is used internationally, I still feel that the predominate users of this site are people from western industrialised countries, and a much greater number of these from English speaking countries in that wider demographic.

You then have the Thai, surgeons who will service a huge number of international patients including substantial UK/US/Aus etc, but also a substantial number from outside this group.

However, when you come across UK/US/Canadian surgeons, the majority of their patients would be English speaking or western patients.  These patients would fit this sites major demographic  substantially.  This must therefore increase the percentage of all results been reported on this site.  But also people tend to report bad results more than good ones, unless specifically asked; wouldn't that also increase the reporting of complications on this site of those western surgeons, and skew the results to make the Thai surgeons look better?! 

I just think some objectivity in reviewing surgeons is needed, rather then just blindly stating, in a "me and my friends"where fine so everything they do is amazing mentality.

Quote from: RachelH on December 29, 2014, 07:07:22 PM
I just think some objectivity in reviewing surgeons is needed, rather then just blindly stating, in a "me and my friends"where fine so everything they do is amazing mentality.

But this is the standard.. And goddess forbid that you provide actual evidence of these surgeons failures.. There's a particular Thai surgeon who is aggressively defended by his clients, well, the ones with successful results. Many won't mention if they've had issues because the fangirls shout them down - or blame the person themselves for the complications.. I wouldn't use him if he was the last surgeon on the planet..

Quote from: RachelH on December 29, 2014, 07:07:22 PM
Well even though this is a site that is used internationally, I still feel that the predominate users of this site are people from western industrialised countries, and a much greater number of these from English speaking countries in that wider demographic.

You then have the Thai, surgeons who will service a huge number of international patients including substantial UK/US/Aus etc, but also a substantial number from outside this group.

However, when you come across UK/US/Canadian surgeons, the majority of their patients would be English speaking or western patients.  These patients would fit this sites major demographic  substantially.  This must therefore increase the percentage of all results been reported on this site.  But also people tend to report bad results more than good ones, unless specifically asked; wouldn't that also increase the reporting of complications on this site of those western surgeons, and skew the results to make the Thai surgeons look better?! 

I just think some objectivity in reviewing surgeons is needed, rather then just blindly stating, in a "me and my friends"where fine so everything they do is amazing mentality.

Hi Rachel,
Could you kindly explain what can be more objective than the many testimonials provided here from girls who have done their surgeries with for example Bellringer on the one hand and Chettawut on the other, especially given the numbers involved eg. there seems to be at least one person a week here doing surgery with Chettawut.I think we can reasonably imagine that if any of us had a significant complication it would be reported. As it happens, if you look at all the detailed threads on experiences with Chett you will see that loads of little problems are reported, down to lizards, ants and even cockroaches in hotel rooms so  what makes you believe that these same people would keep it to themselves if they had bigger problems, like the major haemorrges several people experienced with Bellringer earlier this year ?
Sorry, but statistics is actually a numbers game and the only objective tools we have are the many imputs we get from patients of the various surgeons who are out there. Given this, I really don't understand where you're coming from and find the last statement in your post above very insulting.

Quote from: Donna E on December 30, 2014, 12:54:18 AM
Hi Rachel,
Could you kindly explain what can be more objective than the many testimonials provided here from girls who have done their surgeries with for example Bellringer on the one hand and Chettawut on the other, especially given the numbers involved eg. there seems to be at least one person a week here doing surgery with Chettawut.I think we can reasonably imagine that if any of us had a significant complication it would be reported. As it happens, if you look at all the detailed threads on experiences with Chett you will see that loads of little problems are reported, down to lizards, ants and even cockroaches in hotel rooms so  what makes you believe that these same people would keep it to themselves if they had bigger problems, like the major haemorrges several people experienced with Bellringer earlier this year ?
Sorry, but statistics is actually a numbers game and the only objective tools we have are the many imputs we get from patients of the various surgeons who are out there. Given this, I really don't understand where you're coming from and find the last statement in your post above very insulting.

Were it not against the rules, i'd create a dummy account and complain about complications from a surgeon and then you could
watch how fast i get shut down by his fangirls..

Quote from: kelly_aus on December 30, 2014, 01:08:21 AM
Were it not against the rules, i'd create a dummy account and complain about complications from a surgeon and then you could
watch how fast i get shut down by his fangirls..

Kelly,
That is one very sweeping generalisation but I have noticed from some of your previous posts that this is one of your pet subjects. What you are trying to tell me is if that for example you had experienced a major life threathening haemmorhage with Chett, Suporn or whoever and you reported it here, you would be shut down by people like me? You have simply got to be kidding...  ::) 
Worse than that, you even seem to be suggesting that we are actively involved in some sort of plot to hide the terrible truth about these dangerous Thai surgeons we trusted with our bodies from unsuspecting members of this forum. I really don't understand where you are coming from with that.
Oh and BTW, I will almost certainly be going back to Chett for an aesthetic revision, something I already posted openly about...

I want people to think about their posts.

Surgeons and their clinics access this site. If you libel someone you are open to whatever lawsuit they may wish to bring.

That said, let us also be aware the GRS is major surgery. It is accompanied with many risks, all of which should be explained to you before you sign the consent form. If they have not been, you should not sign the consent form and leave that clinic ASAP. If you consent to surgery without being aware of the risks - well to be honest you are an idiot.

Surgical errors occur and they will occur stochastically, or deterministically if you have pre-existing health and life style issues.

So the more surgeries a competent well trained unit do, the more errors, in number, will occur - simple arithmetic, but percentage wise it should be lower than a unit who perform few procedures, due to experience.

I am aware of, and I think many members are aware of a few surgeons who I would not allow to spay my cat, never mind operate on me.

I do know that on occasion, if people post who their surgery will be with, a gentle pm may be sent with a 'please reconsider' included. Probably worthwhile thinking of.

There are now many surgeons in many countries, most are extremely good and I have heard great reports from girls who have been to them.
I am also aware of girls who have had horrible results from basically all of the leading surgeons in all parts of the world, but human nature is such that they do not wish to talk about it in public, and who can blame them?

Who wants to admit in public that they have been mutilated - even if by accident? A bit like a Mum declaring her baby is ugly, doesn't happen.

Which brings us back to the beginning of this post:

Be aware the GRS is major surgery. It is accompanied with many risks, they include: rectal perforation, with temporary/permanent colostomy required. Rectalvaginal fistula, bladder perforation, may lead to permanent incontinence, necrosis and loss of clitoris, urethra, nerve palsy, pulmonary embolism, DVT.


So please think through your decisions. It is only your decision which is important to you.


<55 days to go>

Let me state up front that Dr. Reed in Miami has a track record of patients with post-operative problems and that a lot of girls will avoid him for that reason. I know one who went there because of cost, and yes, she had multiple complications. A single or a few patients with problems are one thing, but when one particular physician seems to have a stream of patients with complications over a longer period of time, I think it is fair to note that and it is fair for girls considering SRS to consider that when planning their surgeries. As far as western nations go, apparently all of the surgeons named herein are licensed to practice but as we all know, a license to practice may not equate to the best possible techniques and care.

Choose carefully. Price should not be the only consideration though understandably it is an important one for those of us without insurance coverage or national health care that includes trans surgeries.

Quote from: Donna E on December 30, 2014, 12:54:18 AM
Hi Rachel,
Could you kindly explain what can be more objective than the many testimonials provided here from girls who have done their surgeries with for example Bellringer on the one hand and Chettawut on the other, especially given the numbers involved eg. there seems to be at least one person a week here doing surgery with Chettawut.I think we can reasonably imagine that if any of us had a significant complication it would be reported. As it happens, if you look at all the detailed threads on experiences with Chett you will see that loads of little problems are reported, down to lizards, ants and even cockroaches in hotel rooms so  what makes you believe that these same people would keep it to themselves if they had bigger problems, like the major haemorrges several people experienced with Bellringer earlier this year ?
Sorry, but statistics is actually a numbers game and the only objective tools we have are the many imputs we get from patients of the various surgeons who are out there. Given this, I really don't understand where you're coming from and find the last statement in your post above very insulting.

I see me freaking out about the lizards have made an impression xD But in all seriousness. It is a rather serious procedure. Your job is to review and consider the best surgeons you can. There's ALWAYS risk of complications, usually minor, sometimes major, and people considering SRS need to accept that and deal with it if it comes.

Hell. People get serious complications from way less invasive procedures. Just to give you an example, my grandfather was admitted to a hospital recently and an experienced nurse messed up while inserting his IV. The vein on his hand exploded and he has a big black gash on the hand as we speak :P So there's always risk, but if it's worth it to you, you'll take it.

Just do your research, pick the surgeon you like best, 99,9% of the outcome is their doing, the remaining 00,01% is just simple bad/good luck, depending on the person.