I appreciate all this information about Dr Brassard and I too plan to schedule with him in 2014.  I was wondering if anyone has had BA surgery with him also, or knows anyone that went there for GRS and BA at the same time.  I was planning on getting GRS and then BA 6 months to a year later, but now the idea of having both done at once is becoming more attractive.

Tammy : I was there with a woman who did GRS and BA. I don't know much details, though. She was happy with the results when we left the residence, is all I can say.

I met Dr. Brassard a couple weeks ago when I was in Montreal for FFS with Dr. Bensimon. Brassard seemed very nice and I'm looking at booking my SRS for the middle of February 2014. The facility looks really nice, and the hospital is great (Bensimon and Brassard work out of the same private hospital).

The only thing I'm still looking into is whether you can stay at the recovery house for longer than a week, as I'd rather stay in Montreal for 2 weeks post-surgery rather than flying home so quickly.

 hello, I would like to ask,what technic dr.Brassard  uses , penile inversion or colon-vaginoplasty ?and  are brassarrds girls  satisfied with deepth of neo-vagina ? tnx

I'm also looking to have surgery with Dr. Brassard in late June 2014... so am appreciating the comments

 

Quote from: Tammy M on November 12, 2013, 07:16:33 PM
I appreciate all this information about Dr Brassard and I too plan to schedule with him in 2014.  I was wondering if anyone has had BA surgery with him also, or knows anyone that went there for GRS and BA at the same time.  I was planning on getting GRS and then BA 6 months to a year later, but now the idea of having both done at once is becoming more attractive.

I suppose you can do both at the same time but the immediate after care from the Srs surgery is pretty intense and combined with chest discomfort I could only imagine how tough it would be to get dilating in, still some women do it. I just don't know how they do it and heal properly afterwards.

I did what you are saying, I had my BA done about a year later. I ended up traveling all the way to Thailand to see Dr Suporn for it since he was the only surgeon who was able to use the type of textured silicone that I wanted for a natural look. I didn't want boobs that "looked" like or "felt" like implants when they were done so I was willing to pay more for it.

I don't know what Dr Brassard uses for implants and what type of implant he uses, that would be a question for the good doctor himself of his staff. My experience in Canada was excellent and he did an awesome job with my Srs, although I know a lot has changed since I was there for my surgery in 2003.

Quote from: Michaela29 on December 21, 2013, 06:59:12 PM
hello, I would like to ask,what technic dr.Brassard  uses , penile inversion or colon-vaginoplasty ?and  are brassarrds girls  satisfied with deepth of neo-vagina ? tnx

He does the Penile inversion technic. Everyone keeps on the depth thing. There is only so much area that depth can be done safely. So yes mine is around 6" and happy.

Izzy

I am a Brassard Girl.. I had my surgery back in May 2013, so my experience is pretty recent.

~NOTE: Aftercare facility does NOT allow for your partner to stay!!~
there are many places near by (10 to 15min away) so investigate for yourself

#1, the aftercare is Very Nice with Brassard, everything is taken care of, and MOST of the staff have a good to decent understanding of the english language (french is NOT necessary, you just need some patience and you'll understand them 99% of the time)

#2, he does do an inversion technique, but as for depth, I would have to say YMMV (I have had my partner check and #4 can fit all the way (no white dots showing) and yes I mean the orange monster  ).

#3 Brassard's clinic is right next to the after care house/facility, the only possible complaint I would have about Brassard is that most of the aftercare rooms are set up to have 2 people in them, this is both good and bad.. Good as when you are laying there resting (they really promote exercise and movement afterwards) you'll have someone to talk to, Bad as when you need/want Privacy

If Anyone has questions, feel free to PM me, and I'll try my best to give an answer


SoShy

Quote from: SoShy on January 02, 2014, 07:06:06 AM
#3 Brassard's clinic is right next to the after care house/facility, the only possible complaint I would have about Brassard is that most of the aftercare rooms are set up to have 2 people in them, this is both good and bad.. Good as when you are laying there resting (they really promote exercise and movement afterwards) you'll have someone to talk to, Bad as when you need/want Privacy

If you're lucky, you may get a room like 204. I value my privacy and that room did me just swell! Even though, it's still not quite private, what with Darlene and Jack wanting access to vacuum the floor or change the cloths and towels mid-dilation. But that was fine. You see, for the first time in my life I wasn't ashamed of my body.

I don't remember my room number... but I know it was the tiny one right off the stairwell, and at least it was private. The other one-person rooms were bigger, though.

Quote from: Jenna Marie on January 02, 2014, 12:49:28 PM
I don't remember my room number... but I know it was the tiny one right off the stairwell, and at least it was private. The other one-person rooms were bigger, though.

You mean the room directly to your right as you come up to the landing, the one next to the bathroom and opposite the shower room with the stirrups? That was room 204.

Nicolette : Yes I do, and it sounds like we had the same room, then. My only real issue was that it was SO small that there was no good place for my wife to sit! (She spent pretty much every minute of visiting hours every day for me, so it kinda mattered.)

Hey ladies,  I had SRS on November 12th.  I was in a double room.  I wanna say I was 210.  Luckily I had the most awesome roommate. We pretty much let modesty out the window while we were there.  The whole experience from the clinic to the residence was amazing.  I really couldn't have asked for better care.  I really do believe that you only make the recovery there as hard as you want to.  Everything else....and I mean everything, they take care of.  Yes, it does get a little cramped in the room, but after a few days you are constantly busy with your personal maintenance that you don't have time to really think about it.  My only gripe was the hot water.  They need a bigger hot water heater for sure.  So do your stuff first, or at least when nobody else is, so that way your not left with barely warm water.  The food was good and always enough.  Florence is the chef and she has an amazing personality.  It's almost like dinner theater if you catch her in a feisty mood.  The nurses were always very nice and took the time to talk to you and answer any questions.  You are pretty much gonna be super uncomfortable till the damn stent comes out, so just prepare yourself for that.  In the long run, being there with other people, going thru the same thing you are is actually a good thing. Before you know it, it's time to go catch a plane and go home. I would only recommend Dr Brassard, and Dr Bellanger.  Oh, and my results, thus far, couldn't be better.  Good luck in your journey and whomever you choose.  Hope this helps

Quote from: Tammy M on November 12, 2013, 07:16:33 PM
I appreciate all this information about Dr Brassard and I too plan to schedule with him in 2014.  I was wondering if anyone has had BA surgery with him also, or knows anyone that went there for GRS and BA at the same time.  I was planning on getting GRS and then BA 6 months to a year later, but now the idea of having both done at once is becoming more attractive.

Hi Tammy
I have a good friend who did both surgeries together with Dr Brassard last March. It worked out fine but she is a quite a tough lady and I'm not sure everyone could take as much punishment as she can. I also investigated doing both surgeries together as time management is a major issue for me. However I was rather put off by the price, 7300$C using silicone implants, especially as this surgery is done along with the GRS so there are no extra costs for anaesthetic etc. I could get the same procedure done locally for about half this price so that sort of settled the question in my mind.
Wishing you all the best.
Donna

I think that the canadian team is a great choice with amazing results. When it comes to BA and SRS at the same time it depends how much pain can you handle? My BA was way more painful then the SRS. When it comes to the price for BA I don't think that should influence your choice much because BA in a transsexual patient is quiet specific and you want an experienced doctor to do it.

Hello there!    I've been searching pretty intently online for info but I've come up with nothing...does anyone have current figures for patients who will be paying for themselves (non-Canadian government payment) with Dr. Brassard?  The total cost for GRS without Canadian coverage with him?  Thank you!

EDIT:  I've found a 2012 estimate of 19,000 USD, but is this up-to-date?

Quote from: Azahara on January 09, 2014, 09:28:03 PM
Hello there!    I've been searching pretty intently online for info but I've come up with nothing...does anyone have current figures for patients who will be paying for themselves (non-Canadian government payment) with Dr. Brassard?  The total cost for GRS without Canadian coverage with him?  Thank you!

EDIT:  I've found a 2012 estimate of 19,000 USD, but is this up-to-date?

My paperwork in January 2013 had 19300.00 CAD.

hope it helps.
Mine was funded.

Azahara : You can email them and ask; they'll send the standard information packet (electronically). Be aware, though, that he requires payment in Canadian dollars - not unreasonable, but it means it's not *possible* to quote you a price in US dollars, since the exchange rate fluctuates.

(At the time I went in 2012, the price was $18,300 CAD. That ended up being close to $20,000 US between exchange rate and bank fees.)

19,375.00 CAD was the amount I received on my information packet (2014, Jan).

My only complaints about Dr. Brassard's practice are: a) very little face-time with him or Dr. Belanger - maybe a total of 10 minutes each, 5 of which was with them both immediately before my surgery, and b) a rather disorganized front-office (they lost one of my surgery letters requiring an immediate resend since it was so close to my date, and a friend had them misplace their cashier's check for a few days.)

$19,375 CAD was what I paid; the packet lists $19,300 and I never figured out where the extra $75 came from. Ultimately, the exchange rate favored me so the cost in US was similar to what Jenna Marie listed (I originally intended to have SRS in 2012, but months of delays in delivering my surgery letter from my long-time gender therapist prevented that.) The price increase was in December of 2012.

I was very happy with the experience there and I would not hesitate to recommend him. I did get a single room, 206 (us girls were in 205-210 that week.) I was there in mid-May and this room got a bit chilly at night; apparently the building draws a draft through it (it's the one with the enclosed balcony overlooking the yard so it has an exterior door.) My wife traveled with me and stayed at the B&B in Laval (she doesn't suggest it.)

My one regret was not including trachea shave in my surgery. I had originally planned to do so but a budgeting mistake by my wife prevented it (it's a long story - she insisted on including an uncertain source of funds and it didn't pan out.)