Heya! I had an orchiectomy over 10 years ago now at age 24 so the memories aren't too sharp. My main priority was, well, I just didn't want anymore testosterone in my system to continue with potential masculinization.
I had the procedure done at a local hospital by a urological surgeon who does the procedure regularly for cis men living with prostate cancer (for which it is a relatively common intervention/treatment as these cancers are often androgen sensitive). He was competent enough. I'm sure other have mentioned it, but if you are at all considering vaginoplasty one day (or even if you aren't, you never ever really know where you'll be at) it's important for the surgeon to do a MIDLINE INCISION so as to keep the scrotal tissue most easily usable for subsequent vaginoplasty.
The procedure was done under local anaesthetic. I was fully awake. It took surprisingly long (it is a little bit more than just a slice/snip/snip/sew as you may be aware, almost an hour but felt longer. I wasn't in pain at all though I could feel a tugging now and then. The emotional release though of taking control of this 'situation' and of knowing that my body was free of T forever was just so uplifting I danced out of the OR (literally). Once the local anaesthetic wore off I was sore but nothing some OTC painkillers couldn't resolve. I was working 2 days later (as a waitress) and was okay though it was tough, and I had to wear skirts for a week, which was not my style at the time, LOL.
I wrote a Live Journal post about it back then. I'll see if I can find the link....here it is! It's a wonderful read and it conveys the experience quite vividly in its emotional cathartic release.
http://splinterjete.livejournal.com/16738.html---------
Rebecca
Toronto, ON
35 years old
Transitioned socially 1997
Hormones since 2002
Orchiectomy - Toronto (Klotz) 2005
GAS (vaginoplasty) - Montreal (Brassard) 2008
FFS (forehead/nose) - Buenos Aires (Rossi) April 20, 2016!!!