Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hi folks,

I'm new here, and I'm really looking for some advice.
As of 5 days ago, I've met all the qualifications for getting SRS.  (1 year full time, etc. etc.)
I'm also in a rare and lucky situation where my employer-sponsored health insurance includes coverage for hormones, therapy and SRS.
The catch is that if I have my surgery in the U.S., it's essentially free (The insurance would cover 90% of the cost of surgery, and the remaining deductible could be paid using funds from a health savings account set up by my union).
Outside the U.S., I would need to take out a loan for the entire amount, pay for the surgery up front, then get reimbursed by insurance... and I would need to pay about a $5000 deductible out of pocket.
I've heard good things in the past about Drs. Suporn and Brassard, mentioned as being among the "world's best" (one woman I know mentioned that her surgery with Brassard gave her a G-spot!). Are any of the U.S. doctors on par?
Or am I making a mistake by trying to settle on a U.S. doctor so that my surgery is free?  Is it worth it to wait until I save the $5000 to go abroad instead?
I've also seen horror stories from all the doctors, and it scares me. I don't know what to do.  :(

try Mcginn.

Marcie Bowers, Trinidad Colorado, but soon to relocate to SF. 

If I were in your shoes, I would consult with both Meltzer and McGinn and most likely settle with Dr McGinn.  There have been a few members here who have gone with Dr. McGinn and are reportedly extremely satisfied with their results and experience.  Dr. McGinn may not be currently regarded as one of America's best, but judging by what I've read, she is well on her way to be.  :)

I believe that Bowers in the US is probably the top ranked US surgeon.  I've yet to hear a bad review on her work.  Brassard is one of the worlds best, but he is in Montreal Canada.

Just remember that folks tend to talk up their surgeon, mine was Brasard and he did a great job for me, however remember that every patient is different and while my results may have been very good others may recover/heal differently with results that may be better or worse.

Srs is major surgery, surgeons are human and therefor fallible don't be surprised if your milage is a little different.

-={LR}=-

Admittedly I'm biased in favor of the Thai surgeons. However  if you are committed to the US, I
would go with Meltzer, McGinn, Reed, and Bowers, in that order.

From everything I have read, and reports from members and other TS's across the nation any of the primary north American surgeons is a good choice except for Reed... he appears very good with revisions but I've never heard anything good about him (or bad about him) for anything else.

Im biased towards NA surgeons though, those thai doctors scare the heck out of me.

Quote from: pamelasummers on August 05, 2010, 01:29:34 AM
As of 5 days ago, I've met all the qualifications for getting SRS.  (1 year full time, etc. etc.)

I've heard good things in the past about Drs. Suporn and Brassard, mentioned as being among the "world's best" (one woman I know mentioned that her surgery with Brassard gave her a G-spot!). Are any of the U.S. doctors on par?
Or am I making a mistake by trying to settle on a U.S. doctor so that my surgery is free?  Is it worth it to wait until I save the $5000 to go abroad instead?
I've also seen horror stories from all the doctors, and it scares me. I don't know what to do.  :(

If you have to ask this question, then maybe you haven't met all the requirements according to the SOC.  I don't think you have proper "awareness of different competent surgeons".  See sec XII, (6).  I suppose this could be loosely interpreted, but I took it seriously and made a reasonable attempt at educating myself. 

About the g-spot.  I don't think Dr. Brassard actually gave your friend a g-spot, it already existed before the surgery, it's called a prostate.  Since you already have one, you might as well start enjoying it.  Quite pleasant actually.

BTW, someone asked me privately what company I work for, that they cover transgender surgery.
I can tell you that it's one of the ones on this list:

http://www.hrc.org/issues/workplace/benefits/7644.htm (http://www.hrc.org/issues/workplace/benefits/7644.htm)

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Post Merge: August 05, 2010, 10:45:17 PM

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Quote from: blackMamba on August 05, 2010, 10:16:51 PM
About the g-spot.  I don't think Dr. Brassard actually gave your friend a g-spot, it already existed before the surgery, it's called a prostate.  Since you already have one, you might as well start enjoying it.  Quite pleasant actually.

She reports to me that Dr. Brassard, in addition to using a nerve bundle to create a clitoris, puts a second nerve bundle inside the vagina, in the G-spot area, to increase vaginal sensation.

That's the trouble with oft being too focused on our own difficulties....

At the moment there is a climate change affect bashing Russia, Moscow has had record summer temps this year.23 states have declared emergency's....

The bottom line folks - is that they are a major wheat supplier for the globe - helping us and animals to eat...(their annual crops have been devastated.) with a call for all exports to be banned... so poor countries like Thailand...will experience coming food supply disruptions... for sure.

They had internal civil unrest recently and the UK foreign office warned all Brit citizens not to travel to Bangkok...Though things in the US are tough too, 40m US families are now surviving on food stamps, it's a hell-o-a-lot more stable than many other places.

We've entered an age you see that James Howard Kunstler would describe as 'The Long Emergency'.... so if you wish to get things sorted timing/venue/nation will count....lol

This has affected my decision this year for a 2nd stage labiaplasty..... so I'm heading for Dr. Meltzer's clinic later this month....in AZ, a long way from the UK...

I was in Hungary during May/June and the level of begging on there streets shocking, elderly people lying prostrate....if there €20nb IMF loan doesn't come through then in a few years too...this will be nation trickier to negotiate....

(Scottsdale's an upmarket place to stay....nuff said!)

Oh, and he's one of the very best F-t-M surgeons too....btw

the most popular U.S. surgeons doing sex reassignment:

Dr. Christine McGinn (http://www.drchristinemcginn.com) (listed first because she did mine and she is my hero)

Dr. Marci Bowers (http://www.marcibowers.com/)

Dr. Toby Meltzer (http://www.tmeltzer.com/)

Dr. Harold Reed (http://www.srsmiami.com/)

Quote from: pamelasummers
hr]Post Merge: August 05, 2010, 10:45:17 PM

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She reports to me that Dr. Brassard, in addition to using a nerve bundle to create a clitoris, puts a second nerve bundle inside the vagina, in the G-spot area, to increase vaginal sensation.

that makes very good sense and better than relying on the prostate

Quote from: pamelasummers on August 05, 2010, 10:40:19 PM
BTW, someone asked me privately what company I work for, that they cover transgender surgery.

Slightly off topic, but since you posted it ...

I'm a bit suprised that Aetna was on that list.   My policy through work explicitly exempts Gender Identy and medical procedures associated with GID from being covered. :(

Blech ... hehe

Dr Mcgin did my ffs  ba srs she is great give her a call or check out her web site  she has a office in new hope pa

bethany

Quote from: Epigania on August 10, 2010, 08:43:05 PM
Slightly off topic, but since you posted it ...

I'm a bit suprised that Aetna was on that list.   My policy through work explicitly exempts Gender Identy and medical procedures associated with GID from being covered. :(

Blech ... hehe

That's because you don't have an Aetna health insurance plan. You have a plan set up by whatever company or institution you work for (or your family member, domestic partner, spouse, whoever is getting that benefit), which is underwritten by Aetna. I'm in the same situation.

Quote from: Epigania on August 10, 2010, 08:43:05 PM
Slightly off topic, but since you posted it ...

I'm a bit suprised that Aetna was on that list.   My policy through work explicitly exempts Gender Identy and medical procedures associated with GID from being covered. :(

Blech ... hehe

Aetna covers it for their employees, but for the health insurance, the company has to either pay for the benefit to be included if they don't self insure, of it they self insure authorize it under their plan. I have Aetna, and it is covered. Though I have to admit having coverage is not much better than not having it. I still had to pay everything up front and wait for reimbursement. And now I will be taxed on the benefit I received as well. It's been a bit of a pain, still working on reimbursement three months later. Fun!

Quote from: pamelasummers on August 05, 2010, 10:40:19 PM
She reports to me that Dr. Brassard, in addition to using a nerve bundle to create a clitoris, puts a second nerve bundle inside the vagina, in the G-spot area, to increase vaginal sensation.

Hmmm, I didn't know that.  If he is creating g-spots, he isn't advertising it.  I will say that my vaginal sensation has been excellent for the most part, but as far as mind-blowing g-spotness...  maybe I don't know what that is exactly.  I was always told the prostate is the g-spot on transwomen.  Dr. B did my surgery btw.

Quote from: blackMamba on August 12, 2010, 09:04:09 PM
Hmmm, I didn't know that.  If he is creating g-spots, he isn't advertising it.  I will say that my vaginal sensation has been excellent for the most part, but as far as mind-blowing g-spotness...  maybe I don't know what that is exactly.  I was always told the prostate is the g-spot on transwomen.  Dr. B did my surgery btw.

I heard some are now even coming with IPOD docks!   :laugh:

There is no need to create a g-spot, as the prostate is essentially the g-spot, and you don't need extra nerves to get incredible sensation from it. Even just a week or so post op it lit up like a christmas tree when Dr McGinn showed me where it was! If there were any extra nerves put down there I would have jumped right off the exam table. Clitoral sensation isn't always a guarantee because of the nerve movement, but the g-spot isn't touched at all and remains just as sensitive as before surgery, if not more as it is slightly easier to access vaginally then rectally.

I AM ALSO GOING TO MCGINN AND AM VERY EXCITED AND LOOKING FORWARD TO ALL  MY NEW VENTURES  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D YEAH UM HUHHH LOL LOL LOL