As I am not so patiently waiting for my date with Dr. Brassard, I looked at his new website. One option available to patients is to have vaginoplasty without a vaginal cavity. This got me wondering about what I should do. I had never even considered this before. Looks and sensitivity are the same. Given my age and the fact that that I am only interested in women, I wonder if this may work for me. Has anyone else considered or had this surgery? I don't know if this is something that I ultimately will do as I have always wanted to feel 'complete'. Invested in your views on the topic.

I thought about it. I, too, am a lesbian. The thought of being clocked in an intimate situation, though...

Given my age and current situation I could settle for that option.

There is a thread discussing this option that was active a while back. The advantages are faster healing, cheaper and no dilation. The disadvantage is no penetration and should you change your mind, the surgery would be far more complex.

I am glad I had the full surgery even though I remain a virgin because it keeps my options open. This may not be true of everybody or at least for people who are engaged in a sexual relationship and know what the want.

I'm not sure what price difference Brassard has for this surgery over the vaginoplasty with a cavity but my partner asked Chett about it when I had my surgery. For Chett the price is basically the same so the advice was have the full surgery and if in 6 months you don't want to dilate or you have no need for a cavity just stop dilating and it will heal itself.

The point I think was give yourself a chance to know what a cavity involves and feels like and then decide. It is different for everyone. I've had my cavity for 18 months and the only things to go in there are the 4 dilators Chett gave me but I'm still glad I have it.

Mr Bellringer offered me a cosmetic operation which is what you've described back when I lived in the UK but I declined and I am glad I did. I hope that helps

Hugs

Sorcha 

Thanks everyone for your comments. I am still going the vaginoplasty with cavity. I just came across this option when I was looking at Dr. Brassard's site. I am interested in the dilation schedule and am somewhat overwhelmed by the amount of time each day it will take. I do know that in the end, it will be worth it. I am just waiting for my date. Everything is in and being reviewed by the clinical nurse. I will need to be more patient I guess.

The early SRS surgeries of the 1950s and 1960s were pretty much what you describe--no depth. Biber was the first one I knew of (don't know much about Burou) who perfected surgery for those interested in intercourse.

As for lesbians, lesbians use fingers (and things left to the imagination) with a partner. Suddenly you might be be called upon to do some 'spalining at what should otherwise be a romantic moment.

And hormones can switch orientation, and then it gets messy. Sigmoid loop might then be the only way to get a vagina with depth if you change your mind.

On another matter--dilation. Even almost 39 years after SRS, the vaginal canal is still patent with (shame on me!) periods of infrequent dilating. Maybe closure is a concern after six months, but in the case of Biber's work, once lined, at least in my case, it stays open and depth and width can be recovered over a period of weeks. I use the Meltzer dilators and like them because of the angle design at the tip. He also has tapered ones as well which are new. Biber showed Meltzer how to do the SRS as well as taking Bowers as an understudy.

I considered both but essentially without a good 'do over' option......I went with the full GRS.

2.5 months later in the thick of dilation I'm still very glad I did. 

Also a lesbian and zero (OK negative) interest in men. 

The cost for surgeon fees is essentially the same, but you really save on the hospital.

I think I'm just a keep your options open woman when it comes to penetration...even with my wife.

This is not an option I had thought about, food for thought I guess.

Thanks again for the insights. I am committed to getting the full procedure. I have actually thought about what happens down the line in my relationship, as if something does change and I find myself wanting another partner. I do not want to be clocked. Just another thing to think about and to cause more anxiety.

I also appreciate all the information and insights from all of you who have already gone through vaginoplasty.  It is very helpful to me in helping me get mentally prepared.

Hugs,
Kelly

I realize the decision is made, so this is really a tangent, but I do know one woman (an ex-friend now) who ended up with dysphoria about having a vagina. She was happy with the rest of the GRS results, but the vaginal cavity made her more miserable than having a penis did. So my only piece of advice to people considering alternatives is that if you think you actively do NOT want it - which is not the case here 🙂 - don't let other people talk you into doing something that's not right for you. That's good advice in general, of course.

(She wanted the no-cavity version from the beginning, but people convinced her to go through with the full surgery, and she ended up suicidal for a while over it.)

Thanks Jenna Marie! I have always wanted a vagina and will accomplish this at some point. It is just one of questions that arise when a different option is presented. It caused me to think - 'oh what if I had that instead'. This did not last too long.

I always appreciate your comments in the 'threads'!

Hugs
Kelly