I've been looking at some out of states SRS surgons. So far i'm looking at Dr. Preecha and DR. Chettawut as their prices are most affordable to me. Does anyone else have any they would recommend?

Well, as I understand it, Preecha is basically retired.  The surgeries done in the P.A.I. Institute or whatever it's called are by the stable of surgeons that he's trained, so you're not actually getting "Preecha" as such.  I really don't know a lot about the P.A.I. surgeons.  I should clarify that I am going with Chettawut.

Lia

I've heard good things about Dr Chet.  He is on my list as possible surgeon in the near future.  I am also considering Dr Supporn, also in Thailand, some mixed comments on him concerning after care and recovery time though.

A person I know is going to Chet here in March, so I'll be sure to ask them about their experience when they get back

Also not sure who else I'd recommend on that one Angel, but good look with the search and be sure to inform us.

You are right, Dr. Preecha has retired from surgery but he is also a teacher. He has trained a lot of surgeons. I think most of the surgeons in Thailand. I met some of his new doctors when I received my surgery. They were very nice and very competent. He still has a hands on institute. He is just getting old, like a lot of us.
Sheila

I guess then i'm looking more at Dr. Chet then. But to go to him, isn't it an extra 1,000 for the plane ticket and the hassle of the passport?

Please Dear, do not decide your surgeon based on financial critiria. It is sth that will follow you throughout your life.It is also a huge operation. If money is a problem take a loan.But DO NOT make a bad choice just because others are expensive.
i believe us citizens should ONLY choose usa or canada doctor.I have heard too many bad stories from people going in tai.But i have heard so little,if any,bad stories coming from brassards or bowers.
Think about it.I am considering loan because i also find these two too expensive.But i want the best

Dr. Sanguan Kunaporn. It's been 6 months. I'm happy. He was very sweet and capable. a good experience for me.

Brassard best work i have ever seen!

Also It is a one stage surgery, instead of most tai doctors that do just the first stage for you and then you have to find another surgeon to "hood" you clitoris if you want to.

Point being I would gladly spend 20k to get the finest work with Brassard, PLUS you get to stay in this lovely Mansion in the Canadian country side for a while, it really is very nice and well planned.

Deniz,
  I have heard about bad surgeries from all of them. Mistakes can happen. You go with the surgeon you feel comfortable with. I have known people who have gone to Suporn, Chet, and Preecha and have had good results there were others but can't think of their names off hand. I have heard them going to the Canadian Brassard and the other one, to Bowers and the one down in Arizona, can't think of his name off hand either. (getting older CRS) and they all have had good results, there are many others in this country and abroad that are very good. I went to Preecha and I'm very satisfied with the results and its been almost 4 years now. For the amount of money I would have spent on surgery in the US I could have had two surgeries plus the cost of my wife going plus all the little things we did there. It cost me for the whole trip, 4 years ago, 12000 dollars. For surgery in Canada it would have cost me 18000 just for the surgery and 15000 for Bowers over 20000 for the Dr in Arizona.  But check it out and go with who you feel comfortable with. Mine was one stage surgery too and I know that Suporn was also and I believe Chet was too.
Sheila

I had mine done by Chettawut last October and I couldn't be more happy with the results, and I enjoyed my stay in Thailand. Getting a passport is easy, and even with the air fare and extra stay I still saved over $8000 over getting it done here. He also does the single stage technique.

Choosing a surgeon is a very personal thing that takes time and a great deal of research. It would have been nice if money wasn't an issue for me, I would have loved to be in a position to write a $20,000 check and get it done here, unfortunately it was a big issue and I'm sure it is for a great many others too. I also feel that it's a bit presumptuous to think that the only way to get quality work or medical care is to stay in the U.S. or Canada, I was truly impressed with the skill and the facilities in Bangkok. I also think that you wouldn't go wrong by going with any of the major players in the world, they're all highly skilled and do good work.

Karen Starlene

wait untill you talk with M Bowers  she is so sweet and understanding and from talking and meeting with her I wouldnt let anyone else touch me   and there was another point brought up if you are from US wouldnt you want someone that would stay with you to make shure you are doing great and everything is going ok   the healing time is considerable  and I would (personly) want someone that would be there for me to talk with if I had questions about any complations that I wasnt shure of   I do have to say that the price is a little spendy were ever you go  but for me I would pay the price for the security and piece of mind to know that I could go back if I thought that there was a prolbem  at least for me were she is  she isnt that far of a drive for me not quite a days drive
well I want to wish you well with your desision with whom ever you choise and congrats on making it to the final steps in your jorney of your life
TTFN
Kristin

I am so desparate for SRS and get depressed so often about it that I don't even know where to start...

There are people here (and elsewhere) that say surgery is a decision with such lifelong consequences that money should never be a factor in your decision.  I wish I could completely agree with this philosophy.  However, so many people don't understand how it has become a life or death situation for so many TS's.  When I talk to people close to me, they often insinuate during conversation that if I have to wait another 10 or 15 years that I'll just have to wait another 10 or 15 years, like it's no big deal.  Now I am sure I am not alone here in having suicidal thoughts in the past, and the thought of having to wait even another 10 years immediately makes me think I probably would not be able to last that long.  I would not hesitate to say that I am much more frustrated now than I was before transition.  And not because I'm not happy living in my chosen gender, but rather because before transition I had a life, money, girlfriends, a future.  Now I work two jobs because I had to take a pay cut because I came out of the closet as trans and am also trying to save for SRS.  I can't date.  I get asked out, but I can't go out with them because I fear for my safety (and my job), and I feel if I didn't have these fears that I would probably have more guys interested in me because I probably give off "don't mess with me" vibes now.  Although, I have no doubt in my mind that once I have SRS that I will be able to live a virtually normal life as a girl.

Before surgery I would see girls in public and be jealous of them for every possible reason... clothes, hair, voice, name, personality, boyfriends, vagina, etc.  It was this nagging voice in my head that said, "You know you want to be her."  Now it's just boyfriend and a God-given vagina, and the latter affects the ability to have the former.  But now that nagging voice has turned into one which screams, "OH MY GOD. I AM SO DESPARATE I DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER I CAN LIVE WITHOUT SRS!!!!!"  To people who aren't TS I sometimes explain it like this.  You've finally gotten that long sought after Ferrari, the one everybody in public would literally drool over, but you are FORCED to leave it sitting in the garage.  That's the way I feel about being a girl.  At my last job a guy found out about my TS status but understood the dangers of telling anyone else so he didn't  But he let down the wall that guys and girls put up and he started telling me things that guys would never tell girls.  For example, he said that I had every guy on the jobsite panting over me and that it was a well-known fact amongst all of them that I was incredible.  Like I told him, "That's just great!  Now I know that I COULD HAVE gone out with any one of them."  Of course, he found it particularly amusing that all of these guys would FREAK if they knew.  He took pleasure in that, and I let him 

I have digressed... badly.  But it was all to make point.  I have personally experienced Dr. Brassard's work because early in my transition a 7 month post-op woman asked me to give it a test run (yeah, i know.  kind of weird).  Outstanding!  I have always said I wanted to go to Dr. Brassard.  But this woman who had been there earned $300,000 a year, and still her parents gave her the money for it!  But now, in my current financial situation, I can't honestly say that if I could go to Thailand for half the price I wouldn't.  I would really prefer Dr. Brassard, but I am to the point where I have to ask myself, "Do I want to go to Thailand in a couple years, or Dr. Brassard 5 or 10 years from now?"  Easy decision.

Now I have to start researching it all, prices, availabilty, etc.  If anyone has any prices, procedures, etc. on Canadian versus Thai surgeons the info would be greatly appreciated.  Perhaps private message them to me?  If Chettawut has a good history, a good price, and does a one stage procedure then I am seriously considering him.

You'll be seeing me around more often.  And no, I won't rant like this every time  >

Thanks for listening!

Amy

Well my situation is the worse ever.In greece we can not change name until we have grs.I am a lawer. imagine what happens in court when i have to proove i am the person who signs the legal papers:( it is so embarrasing. not to mention that judges and clerks NEVER hear what i am saying about a case because their are SHOCKED THINKING what the f..k is that:)

Quote from: amy2003 on February 23, 2008, 08:30:20 AM
You'll be seeing me around more often.  And no, I won't rant like this every time  >

Thanks for listening!

Amy

Rant all you want dear-heart. I'm still crossing that first hurdle from out the closet and into to RLE, but I know exactly what you are saying. Waiting to be whole and complete because of something ridiculous ... and at the same time vital, like money, is reaaaaaally frustrating.

If you were closer I'd invite you for ice-cream and we could feel miserable together... hmmmm, Hagen Daz... therapist of note.

Love,

Simone

Posted on: 23 February 2008, 09:30:09

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Quote from: deniz on February 23, 2008, 08:49:12 AM
Well my situation is the worse ever.In greece we can not change name until we have grs.I am a lawer. imagine what happens in court when i have to proove i am the person who signs the legal papers:( it is so embarrasing. not to mention that judges and clerks NEVER hear what i am saying about a case because their are SHOCKED THINKING what the f..k is that:)

You could always tell them your parents REALLY wanted a boy and insisted on giving you a boy name ...

Sorry hon, wish there was more I could do about this particular issue than just try and lighten the mood. You can join amy and I for virtual ice-cream if ya want ...

Quote from: Renate on February 23, 2008, 08:37:30 AMI sympathize with you.  I would also like to get SRS as soon as possible to just get on with life.

Exactly, to get on with my life!  People who know I'm TS who ask what I'd like to do with my life I tell them, "Have surgery."  They say, "Yes, I know you want surgery, but what about life after surgery?"  I say, "Surgery."  They say, "Yes, I know you want surgery, but what about life after surgery?"  I say, "Surgery."  They say... well, you get the point.  Who's on first now 

Quote from: Renate on February 23, 2008, 08:37:30 AMUm, you do know that some people can't actually get a loan?

Thank you.  I had to borrow money from a friend just to FILE for bankruptcy last year.

Quote from: lady amarant on February 23, 2008, 09:32:42 AMRant all you want dear-heart... If you were closer I'd invite you for ice-cream and we could feel miserable together...

Thank you, Simone

Quote from: mara on February 21, 2008, 01:53:55 PM
Brassard best work i have ever seen!

Point being I would gladly spend 20k to get the finest work with Brassard, PLUS you get to stay in this lovely Mansion in the Canadian country side for a while, it really is very nice and well planned.

Well Dr Brassard does good work, but you're mistaken about the recovery house.  It's not in the country, it's in the city itself, right next door to the medical bulding they do the surgery in.  I know I visited there earlier this month.  You are probably thinking of the original Rez that was on an island in the city.  That closed about a year and a half ago.  In the interim they used a convalescent center in Laval.  The new Rez opened in September and is wonderful.  And also contrary to the old place, the nurses at the new Rez do speak English reasonably well.  Oh, almost forgot.  The Montreal SRS website has not been updated yet, it still lists the address of the interim place they used.  I know because I went there by mistake!  The new place is right next to the medical building (999 Salaberry, Montreal).

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Dr Bowers fee is $18,500 for 2008 I believe.  I paid $17,500 last year.  It's really amazing that she's able to keep the price at this level considering how incredibly difficult it is for a SRS surgeon to get malpractice insurance in the USA.  Marci gave a speech last year at the American Psychiatric Association where she said although she's NEVER been sued that doesn't stop the insurance industry from charging exorbitant fees for coverage.

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And just to show I'm not biased.... If you are under 30-35 I would reccomend Thailand if you can't afford surgery in North America.  My only caveat is that you use one of the major docs.  The older you are the greater chance of complications and risk of DVT from a 20+ hour plane ride.



edit: If you decide on Montreal one word of caution.  Stay on top of your paperwork and Dr Brassards office personel.  I have a friend that flew 5,000 miles to see him for her big day and her surgery was almost cancelled because the office lost both her labwork and her check!  From talking to others I know this is NOT an isolated incident.

Metzler does good work too... Hes in arizona I think... Actually better than Brassard if you do both Procedures... Given that Brassard is a one step and Metzler is a two step...

ok..

I'll have mine with Dr. Suporn in six months.  I've done extensive research on him; many of my friends have had their genital reconstruction with him too and I've come to the conclusion that he's the best choice for me.

Quote from: mara on February 28, 2008, 11:27:51 PM
Metzler does good work too... Hes in arizona I think... Actually better than Brassard if you do both Procedures... Given that Brassard is a one step and Metzler is a two step...

What do you base that on?  Most docs are going to a one-step.  Results are the same, only one anesthesia, one recovery, one plane trip (money), what's not to like?  Having done a one step myself I could not bear to start dilating from scratch all over again after a labiaplasty.  No thank you!

Meltzer about:    $24-25,000

Everybody else: less than $20,000, many (still great results) less than $10,000

Meltzer might be good, but I'd be willing to bet that he eventually goes to a one-step or retires.  He is no longer competitive and I think you're just paying for a name.