So, been doing some research, and as far as I can tell, Pretoria Academic is the only hospital in South Africa that actually does SRS. Now, they are fairly well regarded (though I also go by "never trust what a patient says about their shrink) and if you're one of the lucky 4 a year that get picked, your surgery happens for the grand total of about $50.
HOWEVER,
They do that procedure where they use part of your small-intestine or colon or some such thing to create vaginal depth. And that just freaks me out. I mean, especially from the point of view of perhaps wanting to take up an active lifestyle again later on, this just seems way too dangerous and invasive when compared to penile inversion and the like.
So, can anybody tell me whether it's even worth trying to get into the program, or should I just start eating baked beans on toast until I have enough to go to Thailand with?
I'd recommend the baked beans. The colon procedure doesn't have a lot of adherents and is not as perfected as the inversion one, with which you can acquire optimum depth provided you "exercise" or at least dilate.
I've also heard the colon method is more prone to infection. If you're going to spend on anything in your life, your meow is worth saving money for.
My feeling on the matter as well.
Sigh. At least most brands of baked beans are vegan-friendly these days...
The colon method was developed at Stanford in California I believe. I met a couple of patients who had this procedure back in the late 80's when I was figuring out what to do. Had I the money, I would have done it. The results looked good (from my limited experience looking at such things) their depth was very good, and the tissue was self lubricating. I decided to go with Dr. Biber because the fees were substantially lower and I could wait no longer. It was all I could do to raise those funds required at the time. Stanford would have cost me 250 percent more.
I would not necessarily dismiss this procedure. I believe the reason that it is not done so much these days is that it is more complicated and as such requires more medical resources at the time of surgery. You may not have to deal with skin grafts which can be painful and leave scars or marks for some time.
I believe the end result could be viewed as superior to the inversion technique.
I'm sorry to go against the trend here, but I honestly believe that the procedure is very viable.
Cindi
Hmmm. Thanks Cindi. You raise an interesting point. My biggest concern is how much it would impact on one's overall ability to function actively. I know breast-implants, for example, are out of the question if I want to do anything more than get on a treadmill really, and I was just wondering how much risk such an invasive technique would add of tearing things that don't need to be torn.
I've heard that the uh 'lube' and cum a 'colon meow' produces is rank. I'd pass, darlin.
My therapist told me that using this technique isn't ideal as the blood supply to the end part of the neovagina is cut off and that the tissue can die causing the vagina to well do bad things. He explained that the scrotal tissue is ideal because it is already a "culdesack" so to speak.
Audrey
It's called a sigmoid vaginoplasty. Usually they perform this kind of surgery as a revision when the vaginal cavity doesn't have enough depth after the initial operation. No thank you. I don't recommend it! why? because I have heard that you are constantly "moist" down there and that "strange odors" contaminate the ambiance.
I think that the best way to achieve additional depth of the neo-vagina is by skin grafts from other parts of the body not your colon. True it is a more expensive and extensive procedure but better in the long run IMO.
tink :icon_chick:
In another forum I read that someone from Australia said she had penile inversion srs and got a vagina depth of around 4"-5", and now she is planning to have a colon procdure revision surgry to get a deeper vagina cavity... I just doubt if she really needs to take the risk, suffer more pain and leave a scar on stomach just for gaining probably 1-2inches deeper?! However, she said it was her surgeon (in Australia) recommended to do that...
....of course they recommended it, they'll get paid.
Audrey
Audrey is right. Additionally... I'd see it as lucky if they got even one more inch. The risk for this far far outweighs the benefits. It's like she's going for "deepest vagina" record... Which is a no no. We don't need "vaginal depth" contests like penis length contests. Blech.
Quote from: Audrey on March 12, 2008, 02:54:09 PM
....of course they recommended it, they'll get paid.
Audrey
That's exactly what I was going to say...
Posted on: March 12, 2008, 03:44:19 PM
Quote from: kirakero on March 12, 2008, 03:07:15 PM
... We don't need "vaginal depth" contests like penis length contests. Blech.
Sorry, if I say... this sentence is perfect for those Dr. Suxxx's girls! ;D
Thing is - I hear all this about 'depth' and as a natal female, I'm not so deep. Sure, it'd be nice, but not every female can accomodate well-endowed men.
(congratulations on the second most off putting thread title i have seen :o)
Quote from: Pica Pica on March 12, 2008, 05:07:05 PM
(congratulations on the second most off putting thread title i have seen :o)
I aim to please ;) ... what's the first?
vagino rectal leisures or something
...that's 'fistulas', Pica...
( >:D) =K
Quote from: Nero on March 12, 2008, 05:03:04 PM
Thing is - I hear all this about 'depth' and as a natal female, I'm not so deep. Sure, it'd be nice, but not every female can accomodate well-endowed men.
Nero,
From a parallel thread:
Quote from: trailertrash_NOT on March 16, 2008, 03:24:15 PMNOTE: Natal womans vagina's range from 3 to 4 inches when flacid; HOWEVER unlike US, when aroused their vagina's lengthen by 150 to 200 percent, whereas ours are pretty much a fixed length ie depth.
That's why depth is important.
Posted on: March 20, 2008, 06:59:12 AM
Quote from: Nero on March 11, 2008, 04:59:35 PM
I've heard that the uh 'lube' and cum a 'colon meow' produces is rank. I'd pass, darlin.
This is true. However, the people I've heard speak about it say that the smell subsides after about a year. But I've also heard that in
some cases the self-lubrication can be too much, meaning they have to use pads for the rest of their life. For me the other factor I don't like is messing with the bowel. I'd rather not involve a whole 'nother system and complicate my surgery even more. So although dilation is a chore, I know penile inversion made my recovery much, much faster.
I am not a fan of colovaginoplasty, so i do not believe everybody should choose this method unless they have to but yes in my case my surgeon and I thought it was in my best interest at the time.
Yes, you do get a fine horizontal scar on your bikini line.
Yes, the colon does provide good depth
Yes, the lube can become smelly if you do not regularly douche.
No, you do not have to wear incontinence pads for the rest of your life.
(Excessive lubrication becomes reduced over time; if not, they can cut a nerve which is a minor thing and it stops that problem)
No, you don't necessarily get infections. (I knew someone who had the inversion method and she had to deal with infections all the time)
Having said that, the inversion technique also has risks like the tendency of tissue to shrink (which causes loss of depth and width), fistulas, durability (?) and prolapse.
I'm guessing that in a sigmoid colon vaginoplasty, they use your sigmoid colon. your colon is not part of your large or small intestines, it's your colon- with it's own name and everything.
Quote from: Mister on September 15, 2009, 10:04:24 AM
I'm guessing that in a sigmoid colon vaginoplasty, they use your sigmoid colon. your colon is not part of your large or small intestines, it's your colon- with it's own name and everything.
Yeah but what is that colon and what is its function in the body exactly and how they extract it from you?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigmoid_colon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigmoid_colon)
Quote from: Mister on September 15, 2009, 10:17:09 AM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigmoid_colon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigmoid_colon)
The sigmoid colon (pelvic colon; sigmoid flexure) forms a loop that averages about 40 cm. in length, and normally lies within the pelvis, but on account of its freedom of movement it is liable to be displaced into the abdominal cavity.
The sigmoid colon is the part of the large intestine which is closest to the rectum and anus.So it IS part of the large intestine? The pic below is the large intestine and sigmoid is part of it right?
(https://insideawakening.com/images/sigmoid_colon.jpg)
Post Merge: September 16, 2009, 04:38:45 AM
Hey I forgot something, do we need to dilate too with this type of surgery?
Somebody please answer and tell me if we need to dilate too with this type of surgery?
Yes, you would still need to dilate hon. I don't think there is an SRS where you wouldn't.
Quote from: Nero on September 27, 2009, 05:27:04 PM
Yes, you would still need to dilate hon. I don't think there is an SRS where you wouldn't.
There isn't.
The only way is something hard in side to prevent the body from closing in around the vagina. Which would be rather obvious to anyone who put something in it.
Quote from: Shelina on September 27, 2009, 04:59:27 PM
Somebody please answer and tell me if we need to dilate too with this type of surgery?
I believe dilation is different with this method as it only requires dilation to keep the opening open. I read that somewhere.
Quote from: Matilda on September 27, 2009, 08:42:24 PM
Dilation is a lifetime commitment in all types of vaginoplasty. It (dilation) is tiresome at first, especially during the first three months after SRS, but you get used to it, you really do, and then it becomes routine like brushing your teeth or eating your yogurt every morning. :P
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi572.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fss161%2Fmatilda23%2F061.gif&hash=8f2301193b0dc73bb2e3c64f938f2048ea1a0591)
If I hook up with a different guy everyday, I don't think it'll be necessary to dilate right? (seriously)
Quote from: Shelina on September 28, 2009, 12:26:11 AM
If I hook up with a different guy everyday, I don't think it'll be necessary to dilate right? (seriously)
After few years, maybe. Certainly not within the first year.
I wouldn't count on it.
As someone who has had both the penile inversion and the colon graft, I don't really recommend either. They are both disappointing in their own ways. With the penile inversion, I had problems with depth and pain during intercourse. With the colon graft I had nearly two years ago, the depth problem is gone, but I still have pain during intercourse, plus an awful smell, I have to wear pads all the time for all the goo it spews out all day everyday, and it still bleeds frequently. Somoetimes the graft section kind of "convulses" and causes me discomfort at inconvenient times. I hear it tends to prolapse gradually over the years too. I'm really not looking forward to that.
Don't get me wrong. I had to get rid of that "thing." But I think I might have been just as happy with that surgery that just removes it entirely and leaves you with just a pee hole.
If I had to choose between the two, I'd recommend penile inversion. Maybe add a skin graft.
Hi Glenda,
Your problem of having to wear pads all the time for the continous or excessive lubrication can be fixed by cutting the nerve that also causes the uncomfortable contractions in the abdominal area problem. I had exactly the same issue as you till I had my first revision and since then it has stopped. It was a relief for me when that ended because I don't have that strong anal smell nor the colon custard(!) oozing out. >:-)
Quote from: glendagladwitch on September 28, 2009, 08:05:10 AM
plus an awful smell, I have to wear pads all the time for all the goo it spews out all day everyday
HUH! :o Is there any smell close to the smell it exudes? Can you describe the smell? Does it continue to smell even if you wash it thoroughly? For how long can it smell clean when washed?
Post Merge: September 28, 2009, 11:42:15 AM
One very important question, can we go DIRECTLY for Sigmoid Colon surgery? I heard that you need to go for penile inversion 1st and ONLY if the wall collapse and you don't have enough depth that you can go for Sigmoid colon, how true is this?
Quote from: jade on September 28, 2009, 08:30:23 AM
Hi Glenda,
Your problem of having to wear pads all the time for the continous or excessive lubrication can be fixed by cutting the nerve that also causes the uncomfortable contractions in the abdominal area problem. I had exactly the same issue as you till I had my first revision and since then it has stopped. It was a relief for me when that ended because I don't have that strong anal smell nor the colon custard(!) oozing out. >:-)
Hey, Jade.
Can you please tell me what doctor did that for you?
Thanks
Post Merge: September 29, 2009, 01:59:12 AM
Quote from: Shelina on September 28, 2009, 10:03:50 AM
HUH! :o Is there any smell close to the smell it exudes? Can you describe the smell? Does it continue to smell even if you wash it thoroughly? For how long can it smell clean when washed?
Post Merge: September 28, 2009, 08:42:15 AM
One very important question, can we go DIRECTLY for Sigmoid Colon surgery? I heard that you need to go for penile inversion 1st and ONLY if the wall collapse and you don't have enough depth that you can go for Sigmoid colon, how true is this?
No, you can get it initially. Wilson in Detroit does it for [sarcasm] the bargain price of about 50K USD [/sarcasm]. In fairness to him, that is mostly the hospital stay. His fee is less than 10% of the total. Kunaporn in Thailand will do a combination procedure that has skin graft near the opening plus a bit of colon, and he charges about 10K USD total.
One good thing about Dr. Wilson is that he was able to get my procedure covered 100% by insurance. I had Blue Cross Blue Shiled of Michigan Community Blue PPO, and certain levels of that plan do not exclude SRS. If you don't have that particular insurance, I don't know of any way to get it covered.
Post Merge: September 29, 2009, 04:06:39 AM
Quote from: Dana Lane on September 27, 2009, 06:34:57 PM
I believe dilation is different with this method as it only requires dilation to keep the opening open. I read that somewhere.
My doctor told me that dilation is not needed to maintain depth, but that it will narrow down to a long deep pencil hole if you don't dilate a couple of times a week. Plus, you can still lose depth from spontaneous prolapse, which can occur immediately or many years later. It can also occur gradually over time, or in stages.
Hi Glenda,
My surgeon was Dr. Preecha in Thailand.
I had 2 post-op revisions with him.
My first revision, he got rid of the stump that swelled up during arousal,
he also cut the nerve that caused the excessive lubrication and cramps following dilation or sex.
I'm sure most Thai SRS surgeons can fix that problem if you describe it to them.
I suppose most of the people on this old thread have gone. Jade, if you're around I'd be interested to chat - as per the longstanding issues with my colovaginoplasty on this thread: https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,97396.0.html (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,97396.0.html)
It's not all gloom and doom, though. Yes, there's the smelly gunk and the need to wear panty liners 24/7. On the plus side, no need for artificial lube during intercourse, and my b/fs have always thought I was hot because I was always wet :) Depth has never been a problem.
Dilation keeps me flexible but it wouldn't close up if I stopped. As much as anything, it's good for cleaning.