What exactly is it, what do they remove, what does the finished result look like and the pros of cons. I've known I was trans for more than a year and I've never heard of it before.

I would like to know as well.
I don't see much specific info on it when I look it up on google. The topic usually shows up on phallo related blog posts, and is said to be the most painful thing ever... kind of frightening since it's so mysterious.

I don't know the full details as it's only something that's peaked my interest as of late too. But it pretty much is a full removal of those acky female bits. However, there are risks. I have heard it best to go for a part vaginectomy as a full can cause complications with loss of nerves and such. I wouldn't want anything to jeopardise possible sensation of my neophallus

So would you still need a hysterectomy as well?

A hysterectomy is taking out the womb, so I don't know what that has to do with this. I just asked because my local ftm meeting club is going to be talking about this plus hysterectomy and the two types of bottom surgery. I've always been too nervous to go but the mystery of vaginectomy has really peaked my interest.

Because those are the two procedures we hear about when bottom surgery is involved. But if you go I'm sure you'll get more information. Let us know what you hear if you go.

I am not a doctor nor do I play one on the internet, but yes, vaginectomies are performed as part of lower surgery with  urethral hookup, either meta or phallo. A  total hysterectomy has also been done prior to this or in conjunction with this (some surgeons do the total hysto at the same time as the whole lower surgery procedure.  It would be medically impossible to have a vaginectomy without a hysto (period blood needs to drain somehow; and yes some guys on T still have bleeding issues), and can't have a vaginectomy without re-routing the urethra, because the pee needs to come out.

Quote from: bambam on August 16, 2014, 06:57:43 AM
So would you still need a hysterectomy as well?

It's a requirement. In the event of bleeding from thereabouts, with no hole there'd be nowhere for the blood to go. Surgeons who perform vaginectomy/colpectomy commonly offer hysterectomy performed at the same time, or have a second surgeon with them who performs the hysterectomy while they perform the vaginectomy and other bottom surgery.

Here's Dr. Toby Meltzer's page on the subject. http://www.tmeltzer.com/Surgeries_Procedures/ftm_surgeries/vag_hyst_ooph.html

Wait a tic...you need to move the urethra once you've had a vaginectomy? But urine doesn't go out there.

Quote from: Nygeel on August 16, 2014, 08:04:43 AM
Wait a tic...you need to move the urethra once you've had a vaginectomy? But urine doesn't go out there.

Yeah, that's the part that confuses me. 

I only know that vaginectomy is pretty much mandatory to have in Finland if you want to get meta or phallo, and that it's preferably done at the same time as hysto since apparently the scar tissue left behind by hysto makes it a bit more difficult if they're done separately.

Quote from: Nygeel on August 16, 2014, 08:04:43 AM
Wait a tic...you need to move the urethra once you've had a vaginectomy? But urine doesn't go out there.

I guess that when the vagina is removed, they usually also tighten/close the surrounding area, which includes where the urethra opening used to be, so they move the urethra to another position.
In my country the surgeons close the vagina and lift the urethra in one operation as the 1st stage bottom surgery, before phalloplasty (which is the usually the 3rd stage).

Quote from: Nygeel on August 16, 2014, 08:04:43 AM
Wait a tic...you need to move the urethra once you've had a vaginectomy? But urine doesn't go out there.

The urethra is separate from the vaginia. Thus, you should be able to renove the vagina without moving the urethra. However, wouldn't it be possible to create a penis and extend the urethra without removing the vagina.

Quote from: mac1 on August 16, 2014, 12:02:16 PM
The urethra is separate from the vaginia. Thus, you should be able to renove the vagina without moving the urethra. However, wouldn't it be possible to create a penis and extend the urethra without removing the vagina.

Maybe to extend the urethra they cut into where the vagina was? So you would a big cut in it if you left it there?

Quote from: Alexthecat on August 17, 2014, 03:13:14 AM
Maybe to extend the urethra they cut into where the vagina was? So you would a big cut in it if you left it there?

They use the tissue from the vagina to extend the urethra. Beyond that I don't know much.

I went to a session at Philly Trans Health (actually two back to back) on lower surgery.

Jay is right in that it is done for both phallo or meta.
In the vaginectomy that's performed (sometimes-- not required, though it depends on the surgeon) is not *completely* taking out the vagina, they take out the mucous tissue. Some doctors might want to do this with a urethra lengthening because they can use the lining as the urethra, but there are other options. Some people do not want this procedure for a few reasons. (One may just be risk, it is associated with bleeding.)

A complete hysto is required for the reasons that a lot of people gave.

I just think the urethra moves a bit when they do they do this. I don't think it actually is "taken out and moved". From what I've seen of them, they look to be in the same place roughly.


--Jay

So it's a surgery they do when doing bottom surgery then. It being a separate procedure is still confusing. If I go to the ftm meet up I'll tell you what I find out, but your answers have made it clearer.

Yeah Elis, think of this like a Chinese menu of sorts. With lower surgery there are several different procedures that may or may not be done together. For instance:
a meta (or phallo)
urethra lenghtening
vaginectomy
mons resection
scrotoplasty
testicular implants

Most of these can be performed without the others. It's possible to get a any of these by themselves (pretty much), or at a separate time. SOme of these may need to be performed later (depends on the surgeon). I explain it here:
There is a LONG LONG disclaimer and trigger warning; myths and so on; and then definitions of everything. I haven't yet done the meta one. It's my goal for the next week. Jay

Honestly, "are you going to cut out your vagina" was one of my daughter's first questions. I laughed at the time, but it would be nice to have one fewer self-lubricating orifice.

I really wish there was more info on this out there, and more research/development of techniques so it isn't so risky, etc. I don't particularly need to have a penis, but I really really need to have this done.