Well, I'm getting serious about scheduling bottom surgery. Specifically meta with urethral lengthening by Dr. Crane in San Fransisco. Has any one had this procedure with him? I'd love to hear about your experience.

He's already booked into summer of next year. (!) Which is problematic for my work schedule, and also I just don't want to be recovering from surgery during the precious summer months when I'm normally outside doing stuff.

For anyone who has had meta w/ urethral lengthening: How long was your "real" recovery time? Meaning how long before you could do just about everything you normally do? How discreet (or not) is the catheter, etc.? Is it better to wait till all of that comes out to go back to work (I have a desk job and access to a private restroom), or is it not that bad? How long did you have it in?

I had surgery with Dr. Miro in Serbia, though if Dr. Crane had been an option I might have considered him as well.

Regarding healing, plan on a good 6-8 weeks barring any complications.  The catheter is discrete; you don't need to hook it to a bag or anything so you just go to the bathroom as usual and pee through that.  Catheter is usually in for 4 weeks, mine for 5 because of some post-op bleeding problems I had. If you have a desk job where you can sit on the donut you might be okay at 4 weeks.  Keep in mind this is major surgery and your body will need more rest than usual while recovering.  I probably could have gone back to work around the 6-week mark but there are no comfortable places to sit there and even after 8 weeks it was a challenge to sit there (just tender).

Good luck!

A friend of mine has his meta done with him which included the urethral lengthening. If you want to PM me. I think he is pretty happy with his results. He can STP and do penetrative sex (I know you are not supposed to be able to do this but some guys can). OTOH, I htink the healing was a bit knarly. He didn't have any complications that I know of.


--Jay

I had a meta w/ UL with Dr. Crane in May. My healing was a bit problematic. I found the catheter to absolutely suck. I am normally very good with tolerating pain, but I needed to be prescribed medication specifically to numb/calm my bladder in addition to regular pain meds. Due to my little break in stitches (the problem I had), I needed to keep the catheter in an extra week, so about 4 weeks total. I think it made a huge difference. Pre-catheter removal I would say I was like a 4-5. After, I'd say I was about an 8-9. For me, personally, there was no way I could go back to work with that thing still in. One wrong move and it hurt like hell. From about the 4 week point out, I felt pretty good. Sex was not possible for me until maybe 2-3 months. Any sexual activity hurt way more than it felt good.

Thanks for the replies, guys! This definitely helps in the planning, because it would be really tough for me to be gone from work for 4-8 weeks solid. I have sick leave, but the work doesn't stop coming just because I'm out of the office! Perhaps I can arrange so that they'll let me work from home for a bit. I'm thinking about scheduling in early December, but it does slow down a bit with the holidays.

Jesse, thanks for the info. When you say you were about a 4-5 before the catheter came out, do you mean your pain level? I'm surprised the pain was so bad after having the catheter out. I would have expected the opposite. Or did I read that wrong?

Another question: are you guys able to get natural erections? Any problems or issues with that after surgery with catheter, etc?

One of the things that interests me about meta is that I've read that you can get natural erections. Which although small, still strikes me as being pretty dang cool.

Sorry- I meant I felt much better. I use 1-10 scales for everything, lol. I was like a nine out of ten - felt great after the catheter was removed. As for time off...I would think 3 weeks would be the absolute earliest to return to work. I don't see how you could go back sooner based on my experience. I personally didn't go back for about 7 weeks.

Quote from: gatsby on September 06, 2013, 07:53:31 AM
One of the things that interests me about meta is that I've read that you can get natural erections. Which although small, still strikes me as being pretty dang cool.

I don't know why not. I have heard of people with no surgery at all have penetrative sex after being on T awhile. I don't know how common it is. But this takes what T gives you and basically unties it.
I think his results look darn good. Though obviously some people have more to begin with than others anyway. Did you read "Hung Jury"??


--Jay

I can't speak for metoidioplasty, but i had phalloplasty with dr crane this summer. I had a really great experience with him and everyone who worked with him. I'd reccomend him 100%

Yes, I get natural erections.  I definitely get larger and thicker, though it's not as hard as I wish it were.  If you are on T and have growth, what you get now is what you will get then, only your dick will stick out from your body rather than being 'stuck' in its current position.  How it elongates and thickens will be pretty much what you get.

I don't date women and don't penetrate, but in the right position I might be able to penetrate however my dick is very small I'm not sure how satisfying it would be for a partner.

Natural erections, yes. Hate to admit it but I am not close to being able to penetrate.

Quote from: mangoslayer on September 06, 2013, 12:49:03 PM
I can't speak for metoidioplasty, but i had phalloplasty with dr crane this summer. I had a really great experience with him and everyone who worked with him. I'd reccomend him 100%

That is good news and very reassuring. I know he's kind of "new in town," so it's good to hear some feedback from others.

Jay: No, I haven't read Hung Jury. I think I'll pick up a copy, thanks!