Dear Victoria,
I am really glad you wrote back with so much detail, and it means a lot that you are doing this level of thoughtful preparation. It shows how committed you already are to taking care of yourself throughout this whole journey.
To answer your question directly: Dr. Burin performed my gender reassignment surgery, and Dr. Sutin performed my facial feminization surgery. Both did an exceptional job in their own areas of expertise, and I felt completely safe in their hands throughout the entire process. You are correct that Dr. Surin (often spelled a few different ways) is one of the senior surgeons there as well, and people consistently speak highly of him. If he has been assigned to you, you are in excellent hands.
As for the support you receive once you arrive—they really do take care of you from the moment you land. They did not just meet me at the airport; they actually sent a driver to pick me up and take me directly to PAI. Everything was handled smoothly and professionally, and I never once felt lost or on my own. That level of support continued throughout my entire stay. And if you want even more help, you can hire a nurse to attend you at your lodging. Some people find having a nurse come by reassuring during those early days.
On food safety: the hospital food was completely fine. The Thai menu was my favorite, but even the "foreigner" menu was clean, safe, and mild. Thailand is a major medical tourism hub, so hygiene is taken very seriously. When I moved to the apartment I was staying in after discharge, I continued to be careful. I was staying with the friend who paid for my bottom surgery, Bobbie H., and we both stuck to bottled water and reputable food places. I still never got sick. If you love Thai food, you are going to be in heaven—and you can still be cautious without feeling restricted.
To give you a little glimpse of what it looked like for me, I am attaching a picture taken shortly after my facial surgery: bandages from the top of my head down to my chin, oxygen mask on, and me giving a thumbs-up from the hospital bed. Even in that moment, I felt safe and well cared for. And because it truly felt like being born into my true sex, I followed it with a little "It's a Girl!" graphic to celebrate that this was finally real.
About the flight home: premium economy or business class is very helpful if you can manage it. Not because of intense pain—just because space makes everything easier, not to mention the ability to lay down flat. A donut cushion is absolutely worth bringing for the car ride to and from the airport, and keeping it on the flight. It takes the pressure off and makes bumps far more tolerable.
For the airline itself, I highly recommend ANA (All Nippon Airways). They took exceptional care of me during my flight—attentive, gentle, and incredibly respectful. They helped me get settled, checked on me throughout the flight, and made the entire trip far more comfortable than I expected. If ANA is an option from Australia for your routing, they are absolutely worth considering.
Most airports can also arrange wheelchair assistance. They can meet you at the gate, take you through security and passport control, and bring you directly to your next plane or out to your pickup. It removes so much stress. You will also have letters and documentation from PAI for customs and security questions, so everything stays smooth and predictable.
To give you a clearer picture of my own timeline: my surgery was on January 20. On January 25, just five days later, Dr. Burin came in and told me everything was clear for discharge—no sign of infection, no skin necrosis, everything healing exactly as expected. Two days after that, I went to the PAI clinic for an internal checkup and a proper lesson on dilating. They guide you through it step by step and make sure you feel confident before you ever do it alone.
In total, I stayed in Thailand for about a month: ten days before surgery and twenty days after. That gave me time to recover enough that the long journey home was manageable. I personally had no significant pain and needed very little pain relief. But it is important to be honest that everyone's experience can vary. Age, health, healing patterns, and even tension levels all make a difference. What mattered most for me was following instructions, resting when I needed to, and not rushing anything.
About dilation: my own dilation did not hurt. There was a sense of pressure, and the nerves were "loud" in the way healing tissue tends to be, but it was not painful for me. Using plenty of water-based lubricant and going slowly made everything smooth and manageable. Some people do experience discomfort at first, especially if they are tense or anxious, but PAI will teach you in person, and that hands-on guidance makes a huge difference. Once your body begins to settle, dilation becomes a routine rather than something to dread.
One thing I want to emphasize very clearly: if at any point you experience sharp, intense, or worrying pain—whether with dilation, walking, or just resting—tell the clinic immediately. You will never be "bothering" them. They want to know, and they will respond quickly and take it seriously. It is always better to ask and be reassured than to push through something that does not feel right.
Your plan to give yourself six months or more before anything intimate is wise. Healing is an investment, and taking your time now leads to better long-term comfort, function, and confidence.
I do not have a video blog, but I have shared my experience here many times and I am always happy to answer anything you would like to know. And thank you again for the compliment about my photo—that was very kind of you.
If you are considering additional procedures, PAI is excellent at coordinating them safely so nothing is rushed or overloaded.
If you want to talk about the two procedure options or anything else you are wondering about, you can absolutely do that here. Nothing is off-limits, and you do not have to figure out any part of this alone.
Warm Regards,
Susan
