Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hey ladies

I want to get a vaginoplasty in Thailand and I know I'm gonna have to stop taking estrogens before the surgery and for one month afterwards.

My question is, how long do I have to wait after starting my HRT before I can do that? Is there a minimum delay?
Also, I know one should not wait too long before doing vaginoplasty because of the shrinking of the scrotum. How much time after HRT does this start to happen. Is it safe to wait one year and a half after starting HRT?

Thankies

Hi, there is many informative threads that you can read in this forum to awnser your questions. i will let others give you link to the ressources.

However.. yes there is a minimum delay standard for almost every surgeon.   Are you planning to have covered SRS or to pay it with your pocket?

For exemple, the covered SRS with dr brassard if you are from Quebec ( just an exemple)  you need the following:

- 1 year on hormones with a doctor/endo that can confirm it
- 1 year living full-time as a woman.
- 2 letter from psychologist/psychiatrist  . The first one need to be from a specialist that have seen you for at least 6 month  and the second one is from a therapist that can confirm what the first specialist said
-1 letter from a doctor saying that you are in good health

so.. if you started hormones and went full time  6 month after  then sorry they will tell you that you have to wait another 6 month because all criterias need to be met before they accept it.



SRS is a very important surgery ( no comming back after) , this is why the access to it is hard.  They need to make sure it is the right thing for you.


You can howerver undergo all the other surgeries without all those requirements  ( FFS , BA , orchiectomy ...)
Most surgeon will still ask for a letter from psychologist telling it is a well took decision and  to make sure that you arent charging him after.

Quote from: archlord on January 27, 2016, 01:15:43 PM
Hi, there is many informative threads that you can read in this forum to awnser your questions. i will let others give you link to the ressources.

However.. yes there is a minimum delay standard for almost every surgeon.   Are you planning to have covered SRS or to pay it with your pocket?

For exemple, the covered SRS with dr brassard if you are from Quebec ( just an exemple)  you need the following:

- 1 year on hormones with a doctor/endo that can confirm it
- 1 year living full-time as a woman.
- 2 letter from psychologist/psychiatrist  . The first one need to be from a specialist that have seen you for at least 6 month  and the second one is from a therapist that can confirm what the first specialist said
-1 letter from a doctor saying that you are in good health

so.. if you started hormones and went full time  6 month after  then sorry they will tell you that you have to wait another 6 month because all criterias need to be met before they accept it.



SRS is a very important surgery ( no comming back after) , this is why the access to it is hard.  They need to make sure it is the right thing for you

thanks for the fast reply :)

I've already decided I wanna do it, and I'd like to do so as soon as adequate with regards to HRT, and as soon as my savings allow me to as I'm going to pay for it myself. I'm from France and I plan to go to Chett's in Thailand, we're not covered when we do something in a different country :/

What about the maximum delay before the tissues start lacking?

It starts to happen when you dont produce testosterone anymore.  I had shrinkage after a month i would say ( mostly the balls).  I am on heavy  AA  however..


So for your scrotum shrinkage concern,  make sure to stretch it when you have time.  It will help to keep as much tissue as possible.  Think of it like if you were dilating your post-op vagina to keep the depth

I didn't stretch scrotum or anything. I was on a strong anti-androgen, cyproterone acetate and some estradiol and other stuff as well, bicalutamide, progesterone, finasteride. I had my surgery 1 yr and a half later, no problems with depth or surgery. :)

I also continued taking estrogen (small dose sublingually), progesterone, bicalutamide, finasteride right through surgery as these don't affect clotting to any significant degree. I believe Marci Bowers in the US allows for the continuation of a small dose of bio-identical estradiol until surgery, no stoppage. She is better informed in terms of HRT, she is trans herself.

In Thailand, if you want the honest truth, you don't even need letters for some surgeons. It depends and sometimes, they just have someone from their staff assess you psychologically once and then approve surgery. BUT, I personally think it is important to live fulltime as a woman for a significant amount of time to get an idea if this is what you want, if you feel comfortable with lifestyle, etc.

k thanks for ur replies girls <3