Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Howdy y'all, I am currently going through the paperwork to get approved for GCS. It's time that I pick a surgeon, and I am considering Dr. Pierre Brassard or Dr. Marcie Bowers. The one step process that they use, at least as far as I have heard, gives fantastic results. Could someone who received MtF GCS from either of them please share your opinion on your results, as well as the whole experience. Also any recommendations would be greatly appreciated  (although I can't go to Thailand, insurance won't cover it there).

I went to Brassard, and from my experience it was good. I don't have any problems whatsoever. My cis girlfriends who've seen my result all said that it looks good, and some even say better than theirs.. lol.
Anyway, you will hear the same thing from Bowers side too.
There are also some horror stories from both surgeons as well.
In the end it all comes to how you are healing and your aftercare support. Both surgeons are equally good in what they do (they do lots of this kind of surgeries).

You could have a look here:

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,193067.0.html


hugs

My surgery with doctor bowers is in a few weeks so I can't comment on the surgery yet. I don't think you can go wrong with either surgeon.  However, I would recommend if you are serious about Dr Bowers it might be a good thing to get on her schedule asap.  She is booked out pretty far in advance like 14 months or so?  I was ok with the wait time since I needed to hit that one year real life experience mark anyways.  If you have already hit that mark though, it could be a long wait.

There are post-op pictures of Dr Brassard's work if you search enough. I can't post the links here, against the rules.

Quote from: AnonyMs on January 20, 2016, 02:26:12 AM
There are post-op pictures of Dr Brassard's work if you search enough.

Here is a discussion :

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,193632.msg1728611.html#msg1728611


hugs

Quote from: Khalysta on January 20, 2016, 12:16:27 AM
My surgery with doctor bowers is in a few weeks so I can't comment on the surgery yet. I don't think you can go wrong with either surgeon.  However, I would recommend if you are serious about Dr Bowers it might be a good thing to get on her schedule asap.  She is booked out pretty far in advance like 14 months or so?  I was ok with the wait time since I needed to hit that one year real life experience mark anyways.  If you have already hit that mark though, it could be a long wait.

She's now booked two years. I made my appt in October and got a surgery date of Nov 15 2017. Hopefully I can get in sooner on the cancel list.

*

BellaAntigone

You wrote that you have insurance to cover your GCS / SRS.  Is that insurance coverage in the USA or elsewhere?  I am presuming USA because you posted that you are deciding on American surgeons.

How much will your insurance cover versus how much will you bear out-of-pocket?  The entire package.

Yes, you wrote that Thailand is not in your plan.  May I mention that the three primary Thai surgeons / clinics (Dr. Chettawut, Dr. Suporn, PAI) do offer reasonable prices.  The entire cost of their packages when you add air travel from USA, pre- and post-op accommodations at their recovery hotels / cottages, and all the sight-seeing you can do pre-op (Thailand, Southeast Asia, Australia, China, Mongolia, etc.) can out-weigh the expence you will pay for domestic (American) surgery.  That sight-seeing can also develop an improved, positive frame of mind versus a ho-hum plain ol' trip to California (nothing against California, I have my favourite places).

Plus, those three Thai surgeons may have sooner availabilities than 2017 - perhaps as soon as later this Spring or Summer.

There are many recent Susan's threads of people travelling to Thailand.  Perhaps you can learn from them and decide based upon more information.

Just re-presenting options to you.

*

I am in Canada.

Would any one be willing to share the steps each of you took to achieve
your end results?

Thank you.
Ginger

Well, Laura posted a link to my review of Brassard, but I'm happy to answer any other questions you have. :) 3+ years post-op and VERY happy with the outcome...

Suggestion: So for those gals that don't want to wait and have cash. There is 'walk in SRS' available from two Beverly Hills based surgeons.

January 20th 2016

To Doctor Marci Bowers, Robin, Janet, Angelita, & Karen

I have waited a long time for this Surgery and it has been a rough road for me. I had my surgery on October 20th 2015 and have been so happy with everything about it. I have to say that Doctor Marci Bowers and her entire staff have been wonderful, I could have never asked for anything better! I have never experienced such caring and love of her patience's as she and all her staff have done for me and everyone that they have touched in their lives. It does not stop when you leave after surgery. It is only the beginning of a dedicated Doctor and staff that checks up on you and want to make sure that everything is ok and you are happy.  And the Mills Peninsula Medical Center and all the staff there have been wonderful too.  :angel: :angel:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/312296555390910316/

Happily submitted
Lyndsey Marie

A few Pros and Cons from information that I have heard from others --

Bowers:

Pros --

• Takes Insurance

Cons --

• 2 Year Waiting List

Brassard:

Pros --

• Much Shorter Waiting List
• The Weak Canadian Dollar (currently ~70-71 cents) should put Brassard's price at between $13,990 and $14,162 (in US Dollars). If the Canadian Dollar drops to 59 cents as one article suggests it might, that would bring Brassard down to $11,800

Cons --

• It is exceedingly unlikely any US insurer will pay for Brassard

That's right.

Maybe I will take out a loan from the bank...

Yes i hope our dollar SUCKS

WOOHOOOO

Actually, my insurance would cover Brassard, he is certified in the US, and is actually training surgeons at the Mayo Clinic (because my mother works for the Clinic, we get extremely good insurance). I could potentially get it done here, but even if I went to Montreal, it'd be covered. After insurance, but excluding travel costs, it shouldn't cost more than 5k, which I already have (this has been a loooong time coming).

Hi All
In my honest opinion there is only one choice and that is Dr. Marcie Lee Bowers as she is the only one that hides that scars and also you will have a real labia as she is the only one who take the extra time to do this and you will have a hood over you G spot. Even the gynecologist will not know unless you tell them.

Lyndsey

Lyndsey : With all due respect to Bowers, most photos I've seen from *all* the top name surgeons have labia (and I certainly do), scarring is a matter of surgeons' technique combined with personal healing, and there actually shouldn't be a hood over the G-spot. ;)

(I could just as easily say that she's the only one I've heard several recent horror stories with fistulas about... but a lot of that depends on who's telling stories and which surgeon has recently had bad luck. It happens to all of them.)

Hey All,

     Actually Lyndsey is right. The newest addition to Dr. Bower's technique is moving the incisions as far to the thigh creases as possible. See the new photos on her site. She mentioned this in my consultation with her.

     This is what Suporn and I think other Thai surgeons have been doing for a while. It's just a matter of time before most US surgeons start to do it too.

      The problem - Bower's wait list is incredibly long. I waited 6 months for a consultation only for them to say it would take 6 months to verify insurance and only after that put on the 2+year waitlist. We're talking up to 3 1/2 years. I'm trying to finish transitioning and move on with my life. I don't need the best vagina in the world. I just want one that's mine :)

   I decided to go the Dr. Satterwhite in the Bay Area. In my consultation, he mentioned that he is friends with Dr. Bowers, has been with her when she performed surgery, and has incorporated some of her technique. He showed me results that weren't on the site. They looked really great. He said he's a mix of Dr. Bowers, Dr. Reed (whom he trained with in Florida), and Dr. Crane. And I asked him about hiding the scars far to the sides - he's just begun doing it too. His wait list is about 9 months right now.

   I think all these surgeons are getting better and better nowadays. Good thing too because there just aren't enough of them.

   That being said, Dr. Brassard's results look incredible in my opinion and his wait list is much shorter because he has another talented surgeon who works with him so he can do more surgeries per day. I wouldn't hesitate to trust him. He's one of the most experienced surgeons in the world for srs.

- Ruby

I'm Bowers class of March 2011 and my result was pretty good....not perfect...could use a labiaplasty for aesthetic reasons but the recovery was so tough I don't think I want anyone to touch anything down there again.

Interesting to hear that she is doing the scars in the groin area now though, that is kinda neat. I do wax down there so there's no hair to hide the scars but my husband doesn't care and my waxing lady doesn't mention it haha.

Hi Girls

I have to say and can't hide the fact that Dr. Marci Bowers is a great friend of mine and we spend a lot of time together  as Dr. Bowers, Jessica Lynn and I do a lot of speaking at seminars and conference all over the country. Here is a few photo's of us all together.
https://www.pinterest.com/burke1060/my-new-life/

Hug's
Lyndsey