I'm aware that there are at least two different bottom surgery options (for FtMs), and I think there are a few different types of top surgery too.

I'm wondering what the different types are called and what the difference is amongst them? The functional differences, as well as any perceived pros/cons (opinions welcome).

Here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_reassignment_surgery_(female-to-male) is very detailed discription of the types of surgerys..

I think Hudson's has a good page on this. Are you familiar with that site?

Although I seem to recall that even Hudson's doesn't have an entry for the specific variation that my surgeon used...

Okay, I see that Jay has posted a Wikipedia link. Never mind.

Hudsons page? Never heard of it.. Can you PM me that too please?

Jay

Quote from: Jay on July 14, 2009, 02:09:56 PM
Hudsons page? Never heard of it.. Can you PM me that too please?

Man, you're fast. I just deleted the PM remark. Never mind again. I'll PM both of you with the Hudson's link. Har.

Thanks Jay for the wiki link (why didn't I think of that... lol).

Arch, if you have a link for the Hudson's page (no, I'm not familiar with it) that would be great. Maybe even just post it here (instead of PM'ing it) so that others who are interested can clicky-clicky too.

Also, if anyone has personal experience of the different types, why they went with (or why their doctor went with) the one they did, etc. I'm really interested in the personal choice aspect, the pros and cons, etc.

Thanks everyone!

Quote from: Braedon on July 14, 2009, 02:14:13 PM
Arch, if you have a link for the Hudson's page (no, I'm not familiar with it) that would be great. Maybe even just post it here (instead of PM'ing it) so that others who are interested can clicky-clicky too.

Braedon, I PMed you the link. I believe you need fifteen posts to read PMs, so you are one shy at the moment.

I like to be pretty strict about posting links on this site, so I'll just write the full name of the site: Hudson's FTM Resource Guide. Although a Google search of "Hudson's" and "FTM" will do it.

It's a great site. You could be reading it for days.

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Post Merge: July 14, 2009, 02:19:07 PM

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Quote from: Braedon on July 14, 2009, 02:14:13 PM
Also, if anyone has personal experience of the different types, why they went with (or why their doctor went with) the one they did, etc. I'm really interested in the personal choice aspect, the pros and cons, etc.

By the way, I'll respond to this later. I have an appointment I need to get ready for. Ciao!

I didn't know I should'nt post the link here. Whoops. I think I need to go re-read the rules, I thought it was all self-explanatory but obviously I missed something. lol

there's two top surgeries depending on the size of your growths. if they're small enough, you can get peri, which basically just sucks the fat out. then there's double incision which is a complete removal and reconstruction. people with a B or higher usually need the latter. you can email pics and a surgeon will tell you which one you need.

cons: with peri, you're more likely to need revisions. with double incision, you will have a big scar.

pros: you may or may not be more likely to retain nipple sensation with peri

there are several different versions of bottom surgery. I'm not well versed in all the variations, but basically you can get one sewn on - phalloplasty or you can enhance your clitoris (enlarged somewhat through T) with a metaoidoplasty - get it released, elongated, molded, rerouted, and have scrotal implants. there are several different variations of this type of surgery which basically works with what you got.

cons: you need a pump with phallo and will have some serious scarring at the donor site - arm or leg. not sure of the cons with meta.

pros: phallo will give you a normal size phallus. meta works with what you have naturally.

guys who have had the respective surgeries will be able to tell you in more detail.

Nero nailed it with the surgeries.  There is a third kind, a centurion, that is similar to a meta but has a few distinct variations.

Quote from: Mister on July 14, 2009, 03:26:09 PM
Nero nailed it with the surgeries.  There is a third kind, a centurion, that is similar to a meta but has a few distinct variations.

So what's the deal with centurion then?

The Centurion procedure is a unique variation of metoidioplasty that was first performed in 2002 by Dr. Peter Raphael. In the Centurion, the round ligaments (which run along the sides of the labia) are freed from the labia majora and brought together along the shaft of the clitoris to provide girth for the new penis. The extraction of the round ligaments from the labia majora leaves a hollowed-out area which serves as a "pocket" for solid silicone scrotal implants. The labia major are later joined to form a scrotal sac. A urethral extension to the tip of the new penis is formed by joining skin flaps around a catheter that runs along the underside of the clitoris. The catheter remains in place for about two weeks until the new urethral extension has healed.

The technique I had is listed on Hudson's as a variation of the double incision method. My surgeon did the "pedicle" procedure and maintained each nipple on a stalk of tissue, with most of the nerves intact. For each nipple, he carved a hole higher on the chest. He then pulled each nipple into its hole and stitched it in.

Most people on this coast praise Dr. Brownstein for producing the best-looking chests, but Brownstein does nipple transplants rather than the pedicle procedure. Since I wasn't at all willing to run the risk of losing or compromising nipple sensation, I went with a local surgeon who likes the pedicle procedure.

My incisions are extensive and not as aesthetically pleasing as what Brownstein produces, but I had full nipple sensation right away.

I have to say that it feels fantastic.

I did as well, Arch, and mine were grafted.  I'm sure a great deal of nipple graft success depends on the skill of the surgeon, but equally so the health and aftercare of the patient. 

Quote from: Mister on July 14, 2009, 11:10:18 PM
I did as well, Arch, and mine were grafted.  I'm sure a great deal of nipple graft success depends on the skill of the surgeon, but equally so the health and aftercare of the patient.

Yeah, I would agree. And I'm glad your surgery worked out well.

In my case, I was a sickly child and not the healthiest adult. I don't tend to heal so well. My skin has always been incredibly delicate (lifelong eczema and skin allergies since I was born, with a small break in adolescence). My skin was so bad at one point that I acquired a life-threatening systemic infection. You should have heard the chewing-out the doctors gave me that time! I was taking care of myself, I really was, but my immune system has always been pretty terrible.

In addition, I scar easily, and my cuts and scrapes get infected if I don't jump on them right away and baby them. My joints suck, and I've never been able to bounce back easily from illnesses and injuries. I had an on-the-job injury, a partly crushed finger, that didn't heal well--I still have a numb spot there that drives me nuts on occasion.

With all of this going against me, I wasn't taking any chances. No regrets so far...

Wow, I don't blame you a bit.  I've always been pretty healthy and was determined to go into surgery as healthy as possible- I cut out caffeine and alcohol for 30 days before and after surgery, ate as healthy as i could (or at least made smarter choices when i cheated) and got a full 8 hours of sleep every night.  My friends thought I was boring as hell for a while, but I'd like to think it paid off.  Unfortunately, I tend to scar easily so my chest will always bear markings of having been worked on, even with several rounds of cortisone injections.

Quote from: Mister on July 15, 2009, 01:11:40 AM
Unfortunately, I tend to scar easily so my chest will always bear markings of having been worked on, even with several rounds of cortisone injections.

Practically everybody I know keeps telling me to get my chest tattooed to camouflage the scars, but I'm not into tattoos, especially with my medical history and my sensitivity to pain. I'm hoping for a little fuzz to save me. And the scar-diminishing goop that the surgeon recommended.

You started T quite some time ago, Mister. Are you having any luck with chest hair?

Yeah, i've got a chest full.  Helps hide the scars somewhat, but they're still there.  I think they're horrendous, my lady says they're not bad.  No one stares at them when I'm shirtless and I haven't made any small children cry, so I guess I'm alright.

Quote from: Mister on July 15, 2009, 02:09:57 AM
Yeah, i've got a chest full.  Helps hide the scars somewhat, but they're still there.  I think they're horrendous, my lady says they're not bad.  No one stares at them when I'm shirtless and I haven't made any small children cry, so I guess I'm alright.

Mister, I've seen plenty of post-surgical pics of transguys. I've seen a few pics of men who should probably sue their surgeons, but none of them had scars that I would call horrendous. We are all of us hypersensitive to our physical flaws or what we perceive as flaws. Maybe your lady, bless her heart, has a more realistic perspective. I'll bet she has some insecurities about some of her own physical characteristics that don't bother you a bit.

All the same, I'm sorry that the cortisone didn't produce the desired results.

Honestly, I don't mind that I'm scarred.  I wish I was scar-free, but I'd rather be scarred 10x as badly than still have my pre-op body.  I am shirtless in public all the time without any fear, hesitation or reluctance.  I think we all have images of perfect Adonis-like bodies that we'll have post-op, but it doesn't work that way.

The cortisone actually worked really well to flatten out the scars.  I'm happy with the results I got from them.  If you go that route, prepare yourself for some serious pain and wear a shirt you don't mind throwing away.