Okay, so I haven't even started my RLE. However I feel that I need to get some information under my belt for when I do choose to get the surgery.
I've been finding cheap SRS surgeries (MTF) around $5000 total for the procedure and flight cost in Thailand.
However I'm not sure why it's cheaper there? Is the quality bad? What sort of laws do they have for performing this procedure for Trans-folk?
I haven't found many places in the U.S. that offer SRS surgery. The ones that do cost around $10000-$15000.
I've also seen pictures of those in Thailand vs. U.S. doctors and Thailand repeatedly has had several extremely successful surgeries.
If it's worth it, I'd love to get it done in Thailand and spend some vacation time there while I'm at it. I've never been out of the country before and thought it would be a great opportunity.
I'm looking for some insight from you gals that have had the procedure done.
Any suggestions for me?
I went to Dr McGinn. Extremely pleased with the results and care I received. Many very successful surgeries are performed right here in the states, not sure why you are saying there aren't any done here.
No I just said there weren't as many offering SRS in the states compared to Thailand, etc.
That's why I'm looking for advice and potentially websites of the doctors and cost of the surgery.
I doubt you will find any of the reputable Thai surgeons performing SRS surgery for $5000, or actually less as you mention $5000 including flight cost. I personally paid $11500 US for my surgery inThailand plus airfares and accomodation. I know of one who is more expensive and several who are around the $10000 but all have good reputations and surgery techniques. I would be vary wary of anyone charging $5000 or less.
Was I happy with my result, extremely and yes Thailand is a great place to recuperate however travelling overseas for surgery is not for everyone. Keep in mind you are a longway from home should there be complications and you may be on your own if you can't get anyone to go with you.
Do your research,
Surgeons here in the states:
Dr McGinn - New Hope, PA
Dr Leis - Philadelphia, PA
Dr Bowers - San Mateo, CA
Dr Reed - Miami, FL
Dr Meltzer - Phoenix, AZ
And then some I am sure. Plenty of options for you, that is if you wanted to have it done here.
Dr. Brassard in Montreal.
Wherever you go, go easy on your expectations of post-operative vacationing.
Your primary job is to recuperate, that also takes quite a bit of time.
Between dilating and resting you may not have as much time as you think.
Dr. Nguyen in Portland, Oregon.
I would remind you of a couple of things when contemplating your surgery:
1) You get what you pay for. You can do it less expensively, there are also some surgeons in Mexico as well. However, can you be assured of having a quality result? I would do a LOT of investigation prior to selecting one of the lower cost surgeons.
2) You only have one chance to do this. Once the surgery is done there is very little that can be done to correct any major problems. Most surgeons will do a correction if needed, but in many cases you will have the additional expense of another surgery.
And to make things even more complex, every surgeon will have their supporters and their detractors. Every surgery and recovery and result will be different.
-Sandy
Quote from: Renate on April 22, 2011, 05:31:52 AM
Wherever you go, go easy on your expectations of post-operative vacationing.
Your primary job is to recuperate, that also takes quite a bit of time.
Between dilating and resting you may not have as much time as you think.
Yup agree
After surgery it's hard to even feel like getting out for a bit. I went out to dinner with my wife and friend the night before discharge and it took a LOT out of me.
Quote from: Valeriedances on April 22, 2011, 02:09:08 PM
You might be able to fit in a bit of vacation before surgery, but it can be hard to relax and focus on it. I remember I didnt want to do anything prior, I was paranoid something might happen to keep me from surgery.
What I remember most was buying some real cool shoes that I still wear at least once a week, and having a wonderful lunch at a restaurant in Montreal with my dearest friend in life.
We had a few great meals in Motreal
when I had my surgery with Dr. McGinn, I rented an apartment in Philadelphia and stayed for 5 months! Good thing I did- I had some complications after surgery through no fault of the surgeon that required multiple visits to her office for the first month, tapering off to weekly, semi-weekly, then monthly for the last 2. I might not have actually needed all of those, but since I lived only 45 minutes away it was very convenient and she was happy to keep tabs on my progress while I was so close. Also I had her emergency number and was able to contact her at any time I had a problem. An added benefit was that every single post-surgical follow up visit only cost me the fuel to drive to the office, the rest was absolutely free.
It all worked out fine in the end, and I'm very pleased with all aspects of my results. The surgery itself at that time cost me $17000, But that's still less than the cost of a decent used car, and I hate to think what would have happened if I had flown to Thailand and then had those complications- It might have ended up being a very expensive venture indeed.
Quote from: FairyGirl on April 22, 2011, 07:28:49 PM
It all worked out fine in the end, and I'm very pleased with all aspects of my results. The surgery itself at that time cost me $17000, But that's still less than the cost of a decent used car, and I hate to think what would have happened if I had flown to Thailand and then had those complications- It might have ended up being a very expensive venture indeed.
That's one thing my therapist asked - what if you have complications? I had my surgery in Montreal by Dr Brassard and Dr Belanger
Teresa
I intend to have my surgery with the doctor I feel is the best, regardless of location, regardless of price. Unless I chance to come across a large pile of cash in the next couple years, the cost will be beyond my means and I will likely pay for most of it with debt, but I won't regret it. It's more important to me to know I did everything I could to have satisfactory results.
Yeah I'd say be careful. I've heard of $10000 or $15000, maybe less...in Thailand (like Suporn) but as cheap as $5000, I'd probably just make sure you check on their results...talk to other patients who have had that surgeon, etc.
cheapest srs seen in the bangkok post 2 years ago: 1650 usd
current fee:
dr suporn 540000 thb (thai baht)
dr chettawut 327000 thb http://www.x-rates.com/calculator.html (http://www.x-rates.com/calculator.html)
The technique of the surgeon is one thing to also consider, the two most common methods being pineal inversion and the flap method. The pineal inversion is less invasive so it has a quicker recovery but the opening sits higher up compared to the flap method which personally I prefer but recovery can be more intense. Also consider the skin you have to work with, some surgeons prefer non-circumcised for the best results while others it doesn't matter as much as they don't use that material anyway. From my own research I considered bassard and suporn to be the front runners of both techniques.
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php?topic=90908.20 (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php?topic=90908.20)
Funny you should ask... I'm in Thailand right now! lol
RUN AWAY from anyone offering SRS for $5000!!!!!
This is something that you can do ONCE! You have to live with the result for the rest of your life. I initially looked at Thailand because of price but realized that, if I could wait just one more year, I could have this done with the best in the world... even then at a better cost than the top US surgeons.
The technique was a huge factor in my decision as well.... After researching the alternatives, penile inversion just didn't make sense to me. I'm not going to make a shameless plug but I will say this: I've been in Thailand for 7 days, in this hospital for 5... I am getting world class care and had my surgery with, IMHO, the best at what he does for considerably less than top surgeons in the US. Don't assume for a minute that you're getting substandard care just because it's not in the US!
Do your research and talk to others who have done this... Don't just read accounts.... ask for phone numbers and email addresses. Take your time. When you do make your decision, you should have NO DOUBTS going into that operating room. Don't let anyone convince you or sway you... it's your choice.... make it wisely.
Jessica, glad to hear you are doing so well, do your dilating and you should have great results.
There are a few $5K and below surgeons in Thailand, and India, but would stongly advise against utilizing them.
Indeed in some intances the outcome is a Hijra style GRS, or little more than a penectomy.
Continue your ressearch, there are many competent surgeons in Thailand with whom your surgical dollar will go far.
Stateside, I would say that Dr. Harold Reed of Miami is priced very competitively, and provides excellent results.
After alot of research, I came down to 3 surgeons.....Dr Preecha at the PAI, Dr. Saran (trained by Dr. Preecha) and the Yanhee Hospital. I have considered surgeons in the US but I decided against it. I've realized (and I'm guestimating) that huge hospital fees for OR and Recovery are a major portion of US fees. In the end, I've come to understand that those 3 Thai surgeons have just as good results as any US surgeon.
I decided on Dr. Saran next month. He isnt the cheapest nor the most expensive at $8K USD but he is the one I feel most comfortable with.
I've been leaning more towards Dr. Saran for the surgery if I ever raise the money for it.
I actually have a blog going right now asking for any and all donations so that I may one day afford my surgery:
http://imalmostalice.wordpress.com/ (http://imalmostalice.wordpress.com/)
But if money weren't an issue I'd see Dr. McGinn in Pennsylvania.
I plan on doing some more research.
Thank you all for your input!
You might also care to check with your insurance carrier! Mine is thankfully covering 100% of all fees with Dr. Bowers, hospital and anesthesia. If it turns out that your does cover it, why worry so much about the hospital fees?
GL!
Hayley
I had my surgery May 9th with Dr. Mcginn, at the time i scheduled last year it cost $17,500.00 which included her fee, anesthesia and the hospital, it has since gone up to $18,500.00, i just totaled all my expenses, including gas, tolls, hotels food and miscellaneous items, the total came to just shy of $20k.
I chose Dr. Mcginn because she was relatively close, 480 miles away plus she was the only one close that would operate on me with my medical history which includes diabetes, close enough to return if there were complications and for followups at 6 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months.
Since my Cigna insurance would not cover my surgery due to my company excluding anything GID related i will deduct the expenses on my income tax at the end of the year.
Paula
Another Surgeon and City for SRS...
Peter Raphael, MD
American Institute for Plastic Surgery
Plano, TX (practically connected to Dallas)
http://www.ai4ps.com/procedures/transgender/male-to-female-surgery/ (http://www.ai4ps.com/procedures/transgender/male-to-female-surgery/)
Also performs FTM Top Surgery and FFS.
I've met Patient #3, she stated she was able to orgasm, but he had not worked out a dilation protocol with his pt's at the time she had surgery. Recently, last 3-6 mo.? She told me he does 2 "free" revisions, she'll need at least one due to closing up.
I had my surgery on Feb.14,2011 With McGinn and her post op care was absolutely aMAzzzing , I am 8 1/2 months post functional and very sensate ,like some of the woman have stated you can only do this onCE! and i didnt want to risk it. I had several consultations with a few of the top surgeons and like someone stated you have to feel comfortable with your choice .when i choose Mcginn I KNEW she was the surgeon for me ,I wish you the best and DO YOUR RESEARCH !!! XOXO
Suigeniris, who did have consultations with before deciding on Dr. McGinn?
Quote from: Hayley Rivka on July 14, 2011, 01:39:39 PM
You might also care to check with your insurance carrier! Mine is thankfully covering 100% of all fees with Dr. Bowers, hospital and anesthesia. If it turns out that your does cover it, why worry so much about the hospital fees?
GL!
Hayley
Hi girl, i had a srs question if u dont mind. it seems to me that bowers girls are happy and recover faster than suporn girls but suporn girls seem to talk about sex more and being really orgasmic.
were bowers girls dont. do bowers girls orgasm?
it also seems like bowers girls dont rave about their vaginas as much as suporn girls do and bowers has some negative comments about her on the internet were ive only found 1 with suporn.
Maybe I can answer your question.
I had srs back in '84 and even I can have sex and an orgasm.
Last time I had a cystoscopy due to kidneystones and the urologist said they did a pretty good job, because from the outside
A different with cis girls can't be seen.
The recovery is different from person to person depending on your own medical condition.
You can't compare because everybody is different and the healing is from your body, the surgeon is putting the tissue to eachother and put stitches in it.
The recovery and healing is your job and one heals better than another.
For example, i was working in a hospital who only had the heavy cases of myocardial infarction, when someone was in a very bad shape the ambulance brought the patient to that hospital because there were the best possibilities.
Needles to say that if such a hospital only get the worst cases the mortality range was higher compare to hospitals with smaller injuries.
Is this hospital worse than the others, no of course not, I should say better, but the statistics say there is a higher mortality range.
That's an example why there is no compare possible based on statistics.
BTW, talking about sex and orgasms is slightly different than having it.
I think the techniques used by the today's experienced surgeons are all good, especially in the western world.
If you go for the lowest price there is a possibility that the assistant will do the op, and you only will have one chance, what is cut off will never grow on again.
In the US and Europe the costs are higher but the doctors have to take care or they can be sued, so for their own benefit, they have to work from the standards of quality.
You can ask each one of us about the difference of surgeons but we only had one surgeon, so we can't compare, we can only be happy with the results or not.
For the record, I'm happy, but it takes some time to get used to the new parts and to know every corner of it, to have experience with sex.
I hope this is a answer to your question