I'm not sure if anyone else is into this idea, but I've found that reading through this section there are a lot of overlapping/semi-repeat posts [or at least a lot of posts that generally ask the same things] while its still hard to find some basic information.
I figured I'd start a survey for people who have gone through bottom surgery, so that the rest of us who are merely interested in researching it can have some actual information about surgeons, the surgery process, and their results from other transmen all in one place and easy to find. [perhaps as a sticky if it catches on?]
If anyone else has any questions they'd like to add too just post them and I'll add them up top.
Surgery Questions:
What surgery[/surgeries] did you have?
Who did you go to for your surgery?
Where were they located?
When did you undergo surgery [year/age/stage in transition]?
How much did it cost overall?
How was the overall experience?
How much time did you have to take off of work/life for surgery?
How much time did you have to take off of work/life for recovery?
Would you recommend undergoing this procedure?
Would you recommend using the surgeon that you used?
Results Questions:
How would you describe the overall quality of your results?
How would you describe the overall aesthetic results of your surgery?
How would you describe the overall results in terms of sensation?
Rate your ability to stand and pee?
Were you able to use your new junk for sex [or even just jerking off if it doesn't get hard for penetration]?
Did you need to go back for revisions/do you plan to get revisions in the future?
Did you experience any issues or mishaps during the process?
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Surgery Questions:
What surgery[/surgeries] did you have? meta, vaginectomy, implants
Who did you go to for your surgery? Dr. Miroslav Djordjevic
Where were they located? Belgrade, Serbia
When did you undergo surgery [year/age/stage in transition]? 2010, 2 years on T
How much did it cost overall? $17000 including travel and lodging
How was the overall experience? Excellent. I wish I had someone to go with me but the staff/doctors are so attentive you really don't need someone there. It would have been helpful though.
How much time did you have to take off of work/life for surgery? 2 weeks
How much time did you have to take off of work/life for recovery? 6 weeks, so 8 weeks total for surgery/recovery
Would you recommend undergoing this procedure? Most definitely. Don't underestimate how you will feel with male junk, even if your dick is 1" soft. Reaching down and feeling a dick and balls changed my whole outlook on myself.
Would you recommend using the surgeon that you used? Most definitely.
Results Questions:
How would you describe the overall quality of your results? Excellent.
How would you describe the overall aesthetic results of your surgery? Very good. In an ideal world I'd get a mons resection and have an implant repositioned. Maybe I will still do that.
How would you describe the overall results in terms of sensation? Seriously, it was as if nothing had changed. There is no numbness anywhere (unlike top surgery) and it feels totally natural to me.
Rate your ability to stand and pee? Depends on what I'm aiming at. I've learned that urinals or trees make better targets than toilets because of spray and unpredictability of which way the stream will come out. Aiming for a toilet and not the floor or wall results in more on my pants than in the pot. So I sit. But when out and about I use urinals, and yes, snowbanks! LOL
Were you able to use your new junk for sex [or even just jerking off if it doesn't get hard for penetration]? not hard enough or long enough for penetration. Basically the dick you have now (on T) will be the dick you get, only you can get your hands all the way around it. it's freed up. I can jerk off like a regular guy, I can use Tenga eggs as masturbators, I can rub my dick on my partner's dick. I can't penetrate, though. But that isn't a big issue for me, personally.
Did you need to go back for revisions/do you plan to get revisions in the future? Ideally mons resection and nut repositioning, but if I do nothing it's still okay.
Did you experience any issues or mishaps during the process? I had some postoperative bleeding from the vaginectomy site that seeped into the bladder causing severely bloody urine, a catheter blockage necessitating replacement; my gut feeling (and what I felt physically at the time) was that a drain suture from the vaginectomy site inadvertently placed through a blood vessel caused this. Once the drain was removed there was a flood of bleeding, but that finally stopped with packing (gauze). I needed a plasma transfusion because of the blood loss, and I also had a post-op fever. I felt pretty miserable. But the surgery site is uncomfortable but not really all that painful. I also had delayed healing of the perineal incision where the vaginectomy was, that took 4 months to heal. It was mostly an annoyance because I had to wear pads, and that was just dysphoric! I did see a US doctor about it and they thought it best not to reclose it.
Is there anything else you would like to add? I chose the Serbian team because Dr. Miro is a pediatric urologist, not a cosmetic surgeon or gynecologist, and therefore experienced with repairs to tiny penises, since he works with babies and children. I also liked that it was a one stage procedure, and it was an economical choice as well. Initially I didn't want to go outside of the US, though I did consider Brassard in Canada, and Bowers. But I really needed to urinate through my penis. Remember though results are based on your own unique anatomy. And yes we all want 6" penises, but even cis-males aren't all blessed with those, either. Having a meta is a good first step, IMO.
Bump!
I really think that these are a great bunch of questions to get some answers to...if ya'll who had bottom surgery done would be so kind to take a shot at these?
Surgery Questions:
What surgery[/surgeries] did you have?
Meta, Vaginectomy , urethral lenghtening
Who did you go to for your surgery?
Gennaro Selvaggio, along with him a Urologist and a gynocologist.
Where were they located?
Gothenburg (Göteborg) Sweden
When did you undergo surgery [year/age/stage in transition]?
Dec 2014, 5 years on T
How much did it cost overall?
All Healthcare is free in Sweden so I didn't pay anything.
How was the overall experience?
The nurses and surgeons where all nice but I was in alot of pain and that wasn't a nice experience but I got to stay in the hospital as long as I needed to which was good beacuse I def wasn't ready to leave 1 week after surgery.
How much time did you have to take off of work/life for surgery?
I had the surgery Dec 9th and was back at work Jan 19th
How much time did you have to take off of work/life for recovery?
See the above
Would you recommend undergoing this procedure?
If one is prepared for the pain yes, and understand what the surgery can give you and what it can't give you.
Would you recommend using the surgeon that you used?
Definently yes
Results Questions:
How would you describe the overall quality of your results?
I still have one more surgery to go but overall im happy with my results after my first surgery
How would you describe the overall aesthetic results of your surgery?
Im very happy with the scrotum beacuse the surgeon did it just like I wanted it to (Joined scrotum) and it hangs just perfect.
How would you describe the overall results in terms of sensation?
Sensation is just as good as before the surgery.
Rate your ability to stand and pee?
I can stand to pee, It's easier at a urinal becuse you don't have to worry about peeing everywhere beacuse it sprays but I have a fistula right next to my actual pee hole and that adds to the spraying, that will be taken care of next surgery thou and that will make it easier to pee on the toilet. I can STP on the toilet but if im not at home or in a hurry I rather don't.
Were you able to use your new junk for sex [or even just jerking off if it doesn't get hard for penetration]?
Yes, I haven't jerked off yet but I am able to penetrate
Did you need to go back for revisions/do you plan to get revisions in the future?
Next surgery I will be getting the implants and a mons resection and a trim, and the surgeon will take care of the fistula I have developed.
Did you experience any issues or mishaps during the process?
I had problems with healing under my scrotum beacuse it's kinda saggy and was hanging so that the skin under it and sutures wasn't getting air and got irritated all the time, But it healed eventually. During the healing I also experienced problems with having a catheter, it got irritated and I would get a burning sensation from it, but when they took it out all of that went away.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I prob wouldn't have had the surgery if Sweden wouldn't have hired this surgeon from abroad just to come over and do this surgery on the few trans people we have inte this country. We are 9 million people here all together so you can imagine that there aren't alot of us. But when I found out they hired him I thought I might as well go ahead with it as long as he is working in this country beacuse the had done hundreds of surgerys and no swedish surgeron had his experience with this type of surgery.
What surgery[/surgeries] did you have?
Phalloplasty (Radial Forearm Flap, 1st stage)
Who did you go to for your surgery?
Dr. Jean-Luc Brassard and Maude Belanger
Where were they located?
Montreal, Quebec
When did you undergo surgery [year/age/stage in transition]?
December 2014: 1st stage Phalloplasty
How much did it cost overall?
All covered under provincial insurance
How was the overall experience?
Everything that occurred under the care of Dr. Brassard and Belanger have been great so far! They have been very attentive to the issues as they raised and did an awesome job, as far as I'm concerned. The hospital care is great and the residence care as well! They walk you through what is expected of you during your recovery and help you find ways that works for you, to achieve daily tasks that are necessary to your recovery. (Shower, dressing change, wound care, mobility, range of motion, scarring, etc)
How much time did you have to take off of work/life for surgery? How much time did you have to take off of work/life for recovery?
Phalloplasty(1st stage): At hospital morning of surgery. Stayed in hospital until the 5th day, at which time I transferred to the residence, at which I stayed for another 7 days before going home. 3 months off work initially, more time added because of complication with the arm graft.
Please note that these times are based on me having the kind of work that does not allow me to come back until things are fully healed, which explains the extended times. Normally, the first stage Phallo, with Dr. Brassard and Belanger, requires roughly 2 months off work.
Would you recommend undergoing this procedure?
Yes
Would you recommend using the surgeon that you used?
Yes, definitely
Results Questions:
How would you describe the overall quality of your results?
Fantastic!
How would you describe the overall aesthetic results of your surgery?
3 months post-op, I am more than very happy! I love it!
How would you describe the overall results in terms of sensation?
Still in recovery
Rate your ability to stand and pee?
NIL. The connection has not been completed. Connection to be done in April.
Were you able to use your new junk for sex [or even just jerking off if it doesn't get hard for penetration]?
It is unfortunately too soon for all of this.
Did you need to go back for revisions/do you plan to get revisions in the future?
The urethra connection will be complete soon. The testicular implants are left to be done, as well as the erectile pump.
Did you experience any issues or mishaps during the process?
The urethral hook-up could not be completed at the time of the surgery because there was not enough tissue available with the inner labia. The first part of the urethra was extended and the urethra within the phallus is in place. The hook up will be completed in April.
Also, part of a tendon got exposed during recovery of the arm graft and it is still in the healing process at this moment.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Not that I can think of atm.
Eiahn & Mackan, thanks for sharing!
Eiahn, I live in Canada and of course Dr.Brassard is the person I would likely see. Very happy to see that your experience has been good so far.
Thank you both for taking the time to do this and especially to share your experiences.
If anyone else has any questions they'd like to add too just post them and I'll add them up top.
Surgery Questions:
What surgery[/surgeries] did you have? A mastectomy, OVH and cervix removal, phalloplasty with testicular implants (smaller testicles to stretch the skin followed by replacement with larger testicles after a couple months
Who did you go to for your surgery? Dr. Ray did the top, can't remember the name of the surgeon who did the OVH and cervix removal, Dr. Serletti did the phalloplasty
Where were they located? Upstate N.Y.
When did you undergo surgery [year/age/stage in transition]? '89-91/ 26 years old/ pretty close to right off the bat
How much did it cost overall? My parents, God bless them, payed for all the surgeries. I think the phalloplasty was $6,000 at the time, but I think part of the low price was because I was the first one he had ever done. I spent ten days in a burn unit after surgery but don't know what the cost of that was.
How was the overall experience? The top and bottom surgeries were awesome, the OVH and cervix removal were done by a surgeon who flat out told me he didn't want to do it but the hospital made him. He said he didn't believe in treating mental illness with surgery. Needless to say, it was terrible.
How much time did you have to take off of work/life for surgery? I had my surgeries done before I entered school and in between semesters.
How much time did you have to take off of work/life for recovery? The top surgery took about a month before I felt completely ok, but wasn't working at the time. Same with the OVH, a summer for the bottom surgery
Would you recommend undergoing this procedure? Definately. The top surgery alone made me feel free. Finally having the right body is the ultimate high
Would you recommend using the surgeon that you used? I would for the top surgery. Definately not for the OVH, and not for the bottom surgery simply because there are surgeons out there who have done a lot of them. The surgeon was compassionate and explained everything, he just wasn't experienced with transgender surgeries.
Results Questions:
How would you describe the overall quality of your results? For the time it was good. If rated against what is out there now, poor
How would you describe the overall aesthetic results of your surgery? same as the above
How would you describe the overall results in terms of sensation? I have no erotic feeling in the phallus, but the clitoris was left in place. Most of the phallus has no feeling but it hurts to clean the hollow tube they left open in case I ever wanted a urinary hookup
Rate your ability to stand and pee? Only with a portable device
Were you able to use your new junk for sex [or even just jerking off if it doesn't get hard for penetration]? No. I was offered an implant but it would have meant a permanent erection with the possibility of the implant migrating out the end. There were no good options in the area at the time
Did you need to go back for revisions/do you plan to get revisions in the future? I went back for the larger testicles after the skin had stretched. If I had the money and was sure of success, I would have the phallus I have now replaced with the more realistic jobs available now. As it is, I couldn't afford it and I'm kind of attached to him.
Did you experience any issues or mishaps during the process? Only the OVH as the surgeon left no orders for pain meds post op. Worst night of my life.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
[/quote]
just that its important to find someone who knows what they are doing and is willing to communicate with the patient about the procedure. See if you can see some before and after photos of the surgeons previous works. Most of those pictures don't show the head and face.
Thank you sam1234!
It's interesting to see your answers. Thanks for sharing!
I'm doing this from my phone, so I apologize that my response won't answer many questions directly but here goes:
I had a full phalloplasty and removal of all female parts in Belgrade, Serbia through 3 separate surgeries. Starting in July 2013, my phallus was created with an MLD flap on my left side. It cost about $30K total. I have feeling, can urinate through it and can have a pump inserted to cause the phallus to become erect. However, I opted out of that part at this time due to previous complications and the fact that I can and have had sex as is. It's all good ;)
Surgery Questions:
What surgery[/surgeries] did you have?
Pubic phalloplasty (hysto, oopherectomy, urethral lengthening, nerve hookup, scrotoplasty, v-nectomy etc)
Who did you go to for your surgery?
Mr Christopher.
Where were they located?
London, UK.
When did you undergo surgery [year/age/stage in transition]?
2012, age 21. At 23, all was complete.
How much did it cost overall?
Got it done on the NHS (National health service).
How was the overall experience?
Im ridiculously grateful to have had the opportunity to go through all of this. My dysphoria was extreme ever since I was a child, now I feel normal and complete. The surgeries themselves plus healing, werent that bad. Dealing with the surgeon and his team; scheduling surgery, getting them to listen when I had complications, was and still is the biggest pain.
How much time did you have to take off of work/life for surgery?
4-5 weeks at a time.
Would you recommend undergoing this procedure?
If its what people want.
Would you recommend using the surgeon that you used?
Yes, for his work, no for his communication and seeing you as a person rather than a number.
Results Questions:
How would you describe the overall quality of your results?
Amazing. Everything works and has feeling.
How would you describe the overall aesthetic results of your surgery?
Amazing. I love how things look.
One negative is that during a complication fixture, the surgeon placed my 2nd testicle too high, now I am needing another surgery (plus for time off work - I work full time and have rent to pay :/ ) to fix this, plus the same complication he didnt fix at the time.
How would you describe the overall results in terms of sensation?
The sensation is better than I assumed it would be. I had heard the pubic phallos dont give the best sensation, but I guess that shows you shouldnt believe all you hear.
Rate your ability to stand and pee?
10/10. No problems, all happens naturally and its great :D
Were you able to use your new junk for sex [or even just jerking off if it doesn't get hard for penetration]?
Yeah, but I still have the "little guy" there, which gets used.
Did you need to go back for revisions/do you plan to get revisions in the future?
Yes. After my final stage in 2014, I developed a very large cyst internally (so big it caused a hernia-looking bulge). I kept trying to get Mr. Christopher to sort it, and 9months later I finally had surgery booked. However, the night before surgery, he cancelled!! So I had surgery with Dr. Garaffa (within the same London team) 2days after. This was to sort the cyst and put in the 2nd testicle. The testicle is too high, and the cyst returned 5weeks post surgery. Im currently waiting for surgery again to fix this.
Did you experience any issues or mishaps during the process?
The cyst as mentioned above. But also during the healing from the urethral hook up, I had awful problems with the catheter, had to go to A and E emergency room several times, and the catheter ended up being removed early (which solved everything).
Also, during my first stage of surgery, Mr Christopher tore my bellybutton open (and never apologized.... :/ ).
Is there anything else you would like to add?
My social life never really began until this surgery. I know that sounds dramatic but its true.
Surgery Questions:
What surgery[/surgeries] did you have?
So far i've had Radial Artery Forearm Phalloplasty stage 1, and stage 2 involving labroscopy hysterectomy, vaginectomy, glans scuplting, urethral hook-up and clit burial. At this stage I have not yet had any scrotoplasty.
Who did you go to for your surgery?
Mr Ralph's London team through St Peter's Andrology Centre - my surgeon seeing this through is Mr Christopher
Where were they located?
London, UK
When did you undergo surgery [year/age/stage in transition]?
Stage 1 in Aug 2014 (i was 29) and stage 2 July 2015 (again, age 29)
How much did it cost overall?
Nil - all covered by NHS
How was the overall experience?
Stressful and exhusting. I wont lie. It takes a hell of a lot out of you (especially stage 1) both mentally and physically.
How much time did you have to take off of work/life for surgery?
Stage 1 - 7 weeks off work from my office job. I had about 5/6 weeks bedrest. 5th week I travelled to London from Leeds for a post op check-up and it floored me, had to have another week of resting to recover before resuming work/everyday life. I was up and taking daily short walks after 4 weeks rest. Still currently off work from stage 2 (expected 4-5weeks max. I can update this later maybe)
Would you recommend undergoing this procedure?
This is personally down to each individual. If you are after a phallus that enables you to stand to pee, enables erotic sensation that is cosmetically pleasing, then yes, highly recommend this proceedure.
Would you recommend using the surgeon that you used?
Yes. I do not have the experience of Mr Ralph or Mr Garaffa, but Mr Christopher is an amazing microsurgeon with years and years of experience. Like most surgeons, he's not big on information when asked, but he does try to cover all aspects of general information and is very realistic in providing you with expectations for outcomes (ie, he doesnt sugar coat it. He covers everything that may go wrong and backs this up with figures and even a few of his own horror stories lol)
Results Questions:
How would you describe the overall quality of your results?
Quality of stage 1 was fantastic. I feel very lucky as I didnt become a victim to any infections or complications. I wont jinx my stage 2 as i'm only 4 days post-op, but so far so good. I've not looked fully, but things 'feel' tidy.
How would you describe the overall aesthetic results of your surgery?
Stage 1 gave very good aesthetics, I was very pleased with the size and girth of the phallus given the size of the donor site.
How would you describe the overall results in terms of sensation?
Sensation up to stage 2 is patchy. But good, sensitive. But i wasnt able to arouse myself fully through just touching the phallus, i had to go directly to the clit for total stimulation. I have opted for clit burial in stage 2 and straight away can feel an increase in sensastion in the tip of my phallus, so much so at the moment it makes me whince a little when accidentally brushed lol I'm looking forward to full recovery of this stage and exploring it's sensitivity ;)
Rate your ability to stand and pee?
N/A as of yet! May update in 3/4 weeks!
Were you able to use your new junk for sex [or even just jerking off if it doesn't get hard for penetration]?
So far I have not used my new phallus for penetration. Pre-stage 2 I was able to get off through stimulus of both stroking shaft and clit.
Did you need to go back for revisions/do you plan to get revisions in the future?
Unable to comment at this time. No revisions required as of yet.
Did you experience any issues or mishaps during the process?
No complications so far.
Thank you fellas so much! Personally, I'm leaning towards the phalloplasty. It's good to read some positive experiences.
Quote from: Elvis the Pelvis on July 09, 2015, 02:32:17 PM
Thank you fellas so much! Personally, I'm leaning towards the phalloplasty. It's good to read some positive experiences.
agreed!
thanks guys.