I'm with you 110%, I'm just not happy with the current results, even the results from the "best surgeons" are mediocre at best. The introitus gapes, there isn't the normal pink color to the vaginal vault, and the labia minora are too thick. I may be too picky (I was diagnosed with OCD many years ago) but I think it is because of my medical prospective (I'm a Gyn Tech). Not to mention I went through a phase where I tried to convince myself I was a male by sleeping with lots of women. I know this may offend people here, but I have trouble believing these stories that "My Ob/Gyn couldn't tell." I started hormones 4 years ago, and planned to have surgery 2 years ago, and I still haven't, it isn't because I doubt myself (I've lived full time for over 3 years) or because I don't have the money, it is just that I'm not happy with the options out there. There have been a lot of advances in immune tolerance, for now I think I'm holding out for a transplant.

-Lef

Quote from: Moxie F. on May 21, 2011, 05:22:06 AM
I was talking to Viola in the chat and I said to her that I don't think I would do the current from of SRS. I've researched it and the current way of SRS and decided I just don't like the way it is done, it's not quite what I want. I guess it works for most people but I wouldn't settle for it just because it's the only option, I wouldn't get an outfit that I wasn't completely happy with just because it was the only option I had available so then why would I have SRS if I know I wouldn't be compliantly satisfied with the results. Not I am not knocking anyone who has gone through or is planning on going through the current SRS I'm just saying I know what I would want from SRS and it's currently not offered. Does any MTF's feel the same what that I do about the whole thing? I would love to hear everyones opinion about this.

To add one more thing, I've seen plenty of bad results from "great surgeons," that really concerns me.

-Lef

IF transplants happen it will probably be as a result of own tissue regeneration. The old donor methods of working are thankfully slowly going out of fashion as stem cell technology starts to yield results. That of course means that to get cross sex organs to grow you would also have to do some genetic manipulation - not impossible - but more tricky, and therefore likely not to happen in the first wave of developments. It might happen in the next century perhaps... if our technology survives that long after the oil runs out.

In any case, even if you used the old Frankenstein methods it isn't just tissue rejection you would have to solve, but nerve regeneration too, otherwise you would have a numb sexual organ, which belonged to someone else, and which you couldn't even feel. I mean EWWWWW! The thought of that really would make me ill! Current results may not be perfect but in my eyes they are infinitely less gross and disgusting than that situation.

So I fear you are almost certainly dooming yourself to die with male genitalia attached, something which I and many others would have found to be completely unacceptable when a compromise solution IS available. Yes it may not look perfect, but I've absolutely seen plenty of natal women who don't either. So I personally find your attitude rather odd. It is of course your life and your choice but to me it seems a very strange one which I simply don't understand at all. Does not compute sorry... I don't mean to be offensive.

SRS isn't perfect, but to me and others who feel as I do it is simply infinitely better than remaining needlessly of male physical sex. (ie possessing male genitals)

Quote from: leflauren678 on May 25, 2011, 12:52:26 AM
I know this may offend people here, but I have trouble believing these stories that "My Ob/Gyn couldn't tell."

You're not the only one who also has trouble believing that.

Quote from: leflauren678 on May 25, 2011, 12:52:26 AM
I know this may offend people here, but I have trouble believing these stories that "My Ob/Gyn couldn't tell."

Finally someone brave enough to say it!  I'd be questioning any doctors credibility who says that they CAN'T TELL the difference.  As for men?  They'll say ANYTHING just to get laid.

Transplant is a great option, and its not really that ewww if it does work. If it doesn't then, yes it is ewww. I'd rather have the real thing than a scar tissue made-do. However, the reality of effective transplants is far off. I don't think there is any harm in getting the SRS as current advancements allow while waiting for transplant option. For transplant you will not need your current equipment anyway.

They don't seem to have any problem reattaching complex motor and sensory nerves to do hand transplants, I don't see why it would be a problem down there.

Quote from: rejennyrated on May 25, 2011, 03:24:47 AM
In any case, even if you used the old Frankenstein methods it isn't just tissue rejection you would have to solve, but nerve regeneration too, otherwise you would have a numb sexual organ, which belonged to someone else, and which you couldn't even feel. I mean EWWWWW! The thought of that really would make me ill! Current results may not be perfect but in my eyes they are infinitely less gross and disgusting than that situation.

Quote from: Valeriedances on May 21, 2011, 08:12:31 AM
I havent had a partner complain yet, either those I disclosed to or not. I didnt disclose to several and they seemed very content with my body. I'm so pleased with the outcome that I am going to not disclose any longer until it turns into a possible long term relationship.

I am not orgasmic yet, but believe its possible.

So, I dont feel like you do, sorry. I'm very happy with my decision. It IS a vagina. If you could touch, feel, smell, see one  (that had a good result), see how wet they get, how silky they are, you might change your mind. The smile on my guys face last week during sex was priceless.

I couldnd put it better myself Valerie, my Fiancé had absolutely no idea mine wasn't my original equipment, when we got engaged I tolded Him, he's now my Husband, I was self conscious when we got married at first on my ability to satisfy Him as a woman, but Iv no fears, the way he looks at me, that smile  and contented look on his face during and after sex, he certainly makes me feel like a beautiful woman and he's a well satisfied straight guy, its priceless to satisfy my Husband in that way.
Pauline

Quote from: glaze on May 27, 2011, 12:47:22 PM
Transplant is a great option, and its not really that ewww if it does work. If it doesn't then, yes it is ewww. I'd rather have the real thing than a scar tissue made-do. However, the reality of effective transplants is far off. I don't think there is any harm in getting the SRS as current advancements allow while waiting for transplant option. For transplant you will not need your current equipment anyway.

One of the Docs I work with was just talking about this the other day, if they are going to try a new drug for cancer, they are going to find the healthiest cancer patients to try it on, not someone who is Stage 3 or 4 or has diabetes. They want to get good results with the least complicated situation first, then they can push it and try more complicated patients. The same goes with surgery, you don't want to test out something knew when you have lots of scar tissue and nerves moved around.

-Lef

for me, I dont think i would be willing to compromise any more time than is absolutely necessary regarding surgery.  personally, i think the current method of penile inversion is very adaquate.

I concur. I was so disgusted with my male genitalia that I would have settled for having them simply removed without constructing a vagina. Yes, life requires compromises and that was certainly one I was willing to make. I am not orgasmic (17 years after SRS; don't want to scare anyone but it is true) but I have never had any regrets. The sense of freedom I got (and still get) from finally getting rid of that thing down there was worth it.

The Siberian modified inversion technique interests me greatly.  They use all of the original equipment, and boast clitoral and vaginal orgasm as a result.  There are more methods out there if you look.  I too used the all or nothing argument on myself; before I even came out.  But, when asked one question, I found where my thoughts aligned:  If you were to live where no one knew you, and all your personal relationships were a non-issue, how would you want to live?  For me the answer was, as a woman.
I cried myself to sleep as a child for not being able to have babies, or periods, and felt cheated because of it.  However, since I have come to understand that every post-op woman HAS given birth.  They must use the same post-op care perscribed to women after vaginal birth.  Who is brought into the world though, is their whole self.  And, very often, very PMS-like, symptoms are experienced by those on hormones (especially depo) a week before the next dose.  In this the results align today's post-opers much closer to that of a GG than ever before.  I will take what I can, with as informed of a decision as possible, and make every effort to minimize settling from the options that are currently available.  For, to me that is better than the alternative of inaction.

I feel that some people in this thread got a bit too worried about defending their choices to the OP. I can understand why, at times when people arrive at different conclusions to the same questions we had, especially something we have all thought about as much as SRS it can feed insecurity a bit and be a bit invalidating. This is normal just remember that what works for one doesn't work for another.

As has been said before, if you can be happy without SRS then great, there are risks and generally you shouldn't get any surgery you don't need. That being said, if you are holding out for a better method, you could be waiting for some time, while growing an ear on the back of a mouse is a cool trick, even if we had everything perfected with growing you your own parts, it would still take 20 years to get it all approved and have people doing it.

I had some similar thoughts as the OP when I first asked myself "what am I going to do about this?" but, I have realized that I am not getting any younger, and I am spending too much time as is just getting money so that I can do something about this, and I am a bit desperate to finish things before I am 30, so the current methods seem to be a pretty good compromise with thoughts like that in mind.

If anyone, M or F, is capable of living without SRS, I'm thrilled for you.  Seriously.  Genital surgery is no simple thing, and if you don't absolutely have to have it in order to truly live, I would say don't go through it until you absolutely need it.

From the M perspective, our surgeries are even less favorable than surgery for the ladies.  But as someone who is now almost a year post-op, I will say that having the correct anatomy that works, even though small and not ideal, has had a huge impact on how I see myself and my confidence level.  Just knowing the old stuff is long gone, and the new stuff is right, has been enough.

Do I still wish I had perfect anatomy?  Of course.  But at my age the options aren't going to get much better soon enough for me to benefit.  This works, for me.


Jay

I just want to note that cis women's vaginas vary considerably and no two are alike. Men who have been around know this and mostly likely won't think or say anything. Really, there are so many different shapes, colors, and styles. Everything varies from the the size of the lips, to the size of the clit, tightness, color, etc. Also, women who have children may have had complications or scarring down there. There is no perfect pussy. Even the most porn worthy one gets tore up from childbirth.
There are several websites out there with pictures of cis women's vaginas and how much they vary if anyone's interested.

As to orgasm, a large percentage of cis women can't come from penetration alone. So, don't use that as a marker.

Quote from: Plain Jane on June 22, 2011, 04:13:33 AM
I concur. I was so disgusted with my male genitalia that I would have settled for having them simply removed without constructing a vagina. Yes, life requires compromises and that was certainly one I was willing to make. I am not orgasmic (17 years after SRS; don't want to scare anyone but it is true) but I have never had any regrets. The sense of freedom I got (and still get) from finally getting rid of that thing down there was worth it.

So true! I'd rather live with a not-so-perfect vagina than with the male genitalia. I just had surgery 6 weeks ago and indeed the sense of freedom and joy is so definitely worth going through the whole surgery thing!


Someone also said: I don't believe the my ob/gyn can't tell stories, well I do believe that most doctors can't really distinct between vaginas or neovaginas for that matter (given the surgery is performed by a competent doctor and no serious complications occurred). Of course some sort of internal exams and x-rays will always give you away. Boys don't really care I guess if they really take a close look at all. Like Kristyn said, they'll do anything to get laid LOL.. well I once read this quote saying that (from a man's perspective speaking) "it's always the girl to decide if a boy gets laid"... so we girls actually have an enormous power here... Okay, bottom line, most boys just don't really care about the looks of your vag.

To answer the question from topic starter, I once felt the same way, always thinking that techniques would improve and that I could have SRS with an improved technique. Then I also realised the clock is ticking away and having SRS early in life (24 yo) will give the best chance of being completely happy as a girl and young woman. So waiting for something (techniques improving) was not really an option, personally I just had to go for it and do not have any regrets. In fact I feel very confident that once healing has completed it will look quite normal down there

For myself, I will need something other than the normal penile inversion to become a normal woman with sufficient depth & girth. My sexual orientation is to men & always has been. I cannot imagine not being able to be with a normal size man after SRS. This is what I've always desired, just to be a normal complete woman. For now unsure of the best steps forward???

There are several websites out there with pictures of cis women's vaginas

Several?  How 'bout millions?  It's called porn.

Tekla, but are these porn vulvas shown (vagina is actually the inside only) in any way representable of the "average" female vulva? I'd say NO way. They to pretty for that, sorry.

It is why so many cis-females are now into vaginal-rejuvenation, the 2nd most sought after cosmetic surgery after BA.

Axelle

I'd say NO way. 

Better check it out then.  The huge explosion in porn was not created by the professional porn industry, but with the advent of extremely high quality cameras that are easy to operate and computer programs like Photoshop and editing software the really amazing thing is that it's largely become an amateur deal.  The number of naked bodies on the web is truly staggering.