SRS Members - Is there a Doctor in the House?

[Traci Elizabeth]

Time is fast approaching for me to make a decision as to which Thailand SRS surgeon I should pick. Right now, I am leaning towards Dr. Chettawut only because I know a little more about him than I do any other doctors.

So my questions to all of you are:

1. which doctor did you use
2. how was the recovery & post-op care
3. what type of SRS did you have (i.e. penile inversion, etc.)
4. how many days did you have to stay in Thailand
5. how long was your recovery once back in the states
6. AND the most important, are you really pleased with the end result

If you would rather PM me that's great too.

[Katesback]

Ok.

1. I wont tell you which doc I used but I will tell you that 99% of all women are happy with thier doctors if the doctor is a well known SRS surgeon.

2. Recovery is variable. It took two years to feel completely normal. But I was walking around visiting people three and a half days after SRS. Perhaps it would be better to say your ready for work in three or four weeks.

3. Thiland was about three weeks total trip.

Hope this helps. I dont jump on the my doctor is better than your doctor bandwagon. The surgery is well established. I always say be more critical of the doctor that does your FFS.

Katie

[Traci Elizabeth]

I always say be more critical of the doctor that does your FFS.

Katie


Thanks for you input Katie. And I certainly agree with your above comment.

[Kathryn Martin]

Is there a particular reason why you would go to Thailand? I have found costs are comparable and as a result chose Dr. Brassard.

[Traci Elizabeth]

Is there a particular reason why you would go to Thailand? I have found costs are comparable and as a result chose Dr. Brassard.

You know I never thought about that. I only assumed that Thailand would be a lot cheaper even when taking into account the airfare.

Have you had your SRS yet Kathryn?

[crystalann]

1. Doctor Kamol in 2009
2. I was in the hospital for 5 days. The post op care was great.
3. Penile inversion.
4. I was in Thailand just over 4 weeks.
5. Back to work 4 weeks after getting home, landscaping.
6. Very happy with his work :)

[Frances]

Here is another vote for Dr. B in Montreal. You will not want to leave the recovery house! I go back quite often for visits.

[Kathryn Martin]

In 19 days. Taking into consideration that my spouse is coming with me Montreal was the right choice.

Pm me for exact figures.


You know I never thought about that. I only assumed that Thailand would be a lot cheaper even when taking into account the airfare.

Have you had your SRS yet Kathryn?

[CharleneT]

1. which doctor did you use: Dr. Chettawut

2. how was the recovery & post-op care: they were great, I had two probs and the nurses and Dr. Chet were quick and wonderful. He doesn't have a recovery house, but uses two hotels. I cannot say enough nice things about the one I used (Bangkok Rama). Although most patients go to the other one, the Rama is the place you want to stay in. Both of my nurses gave me their cell #'s, and there is always people at the clinic at night, so you can get help anytime. I know it works as I ended up calling about one of the probs at 11pm and was switched to Dr. C immediately. I swear he lives in the clinic. Also of interest, after my surgery there was a problem (due to lousy clotting time of mine...). They held me in the recovery room for an extra 36 hours to make sure I was ok. This meant holding off the next day's surgery, Dr. C. wants to ensure the current patient is fine before moving onto the next. A far cry from some SRS docs who do more than one a day.

3. what type of SRS did you have (i.e. penile inversion, etc.): The regular Chettawut/Supporn method, main vagina walls are made from scrotum, some penile skin is used at the entrance.

4. how many days did you have to stay in Thailand: 30 (the max on a regular visa, you can easily get a longer visa - but do so before you leave the states)

5. how long was your recovery once back in the states: I am still recovering a little. I was back to work at the Pharmacy 1 day after I returned to the US. I worked 9 nights strait too. I was fine, just a little sore and slow. Honestly the recovery from GRS is not that bad. Mostly you will be a little sore and slow moving. The manner of Dr. C's surgery really helps with this. I never had or needed any narcotics after mine for example. Just Tylenol and some Tramadol. I think Dr. Brassard also uses a spinal block for GRS. I believe this is a really good idea. Less recovery from the anesthesia !

6. AND the most important, are you really pleased with the end result: yes

FYI, Dr. Brassard was my second choice for sure. His work is great, the recovery house famously comfy and his prices are very good. If I had gone to him for all of the surgeries I had in Thailand, it would have cost me a lot more though.

FYI #2, Dr. Chettawut is very good at facial surgeries. Not as well known here for that though. I had a rhinoplasty and in many ways, it was the best of the work he did on me.

FYI#3 (sorry) Dr. Chettawut and Dr. Supporn do all revisions for free, for life. As well, any probs that come up while you are there will be treated for free - regardless of what they need to do. I had extra days in the clinic after the surgery, no chg. Dr. Chettawut even treated a mild case of food poisoning I had - for free ( including the meds ).

[Stephenie S]

Predictably, surgery seems to be awfully important to those who have not yet had it. But the truth is that the actual surgery is an incredibly tiny part of transition. Is it important? Oh yes, of course it is. But in a few years, you will have forgotten all about it.

Don't obsess about this. With any of the major surgeons, and many of the minor ones, everything will be fine. I went to Brassard. Others go to Thailand with equal success. Relax.

Stephie

[Traci Elizabeth]

Predictably, surgery seems to be awfully important to those who have not yet had it. But the truth is that the actual surgery is an incredibly tiny part of transition. Is it important? Oh yes, of course it is. But in a few years, you will have forgotten all about it.

Don't obsess about this. With any of the major surgeons, and many of the minor ones, everything will be fine. I went to Brassard. Others go to Thailand with equal success. Relax.

Stephie


Actually, except for the SRS, I finished my transition long ago and am living my life as an active woman. I am not obsessing over this whatsoever. For any operation including SRS it is prudent, and responsible to ask questions and to seek out the best medical help you can get. After all, it's my body and my choice.

[CharleneT]

A little clean up. I wrote my reply a little too quickly and gave the wrong impression. Dr. Chettawut does use a spinal block, and I believe that that combined with very low level anesthesia ( Propofol in my case ), you end up with a quick recovery because you are not "recovering" from anesthesia at all. Really, 30 min after I woke up, I felt completely normal ;) !

[Katesback]

Stephanie is wise. I know her. She is also very real. I belive she said not to obsess over surgery as a broad sense. Not specifically you Traci.

[Kathryn Martin]

Thank you, I cannot begin to tell you how much I appreciate what you just said. It is the only thing that I have always considered at an end. Once done you leave it behind.

It has to be done.


Predictably, surgery seems to be awfully important to those who have not yet had it. But the truth is that the actual surgery is an incredibly tiny part of transition. Is it important? Oh yes, of course it is. But in a few years, you will have forgotten all about it.

Don't obsess about this. With any of the major surgeons, and many of the minor ones, everything will be fine. I went to Brassard. Others go to Thailand with equal success. Relax.

Stephie

[Traci Elizabeth]

Stephanie is wise. I know her. She is also very real. I belive she said not to obsess over surgery as a broad sense. Not specifically you Traci.

Okie Dokie !

[Kaitlyn Michele]

Actually, except for the SRS, I finished my transition long ago and am living my life as an active woman. I am not obsessing over this whatsoever. For any operation including SRS it is prudent, and responsible to ask questions and to seek out the best medical help you can get. After all, it's my body and my choice.

Obsess is too strong a word to describe asking lots of questions...i agree with you..

There are two huge considerations and one that people differ on..

Safety and money are the huge ones...aesthetics is the other...

to me there is no amount of due diligence that is too much when you are gonna do a major surgery.. all surgery has a risk, and some very unfortunate people have suffered due to bad luck or timing...there is nothing you can do about it...but others have suffered by taking extra risk or not doing their due diligence...there are doctors that are demonstrably safer than others.. i chose my doctor based on his safety record..

as far as aesthetics..i recall dr mcginn showing me a page of pictures...something like 20 vaginas..all totally and completely different... half were ts half gg... it didn't matter, you couldnt tell ...frankly they were all kind of ugly..heh...

i have barely ever looked at my surgery spot after the original period of fascination went away...

[Traci Elizabeth]

Obsess is too strong a word to describe asking lots of questions...i agree with you..

There are two huge considerations and one that people differ on..

Safety and money are the huge ones...aesthetics is the other...

to me there is no amount of due diligence that is too much when you are gonna do a major surgery.. all surgery has a risk, and some very unfortunate people have suffered due to bad luck or timing...there is nothing you can do about it...but others have suffered by taking extra risk or not doing their due diligence...there are doctors that are demonstrably safer than others.. i chose my doctor based on his safety record..

as far as aesthetics..i recall dr mcginn showing me a page of pictures...something like 20 vaginas..all totally and completely different... half were ts half gg... it didn't matter, you couldnt tell ...frankly they were all kind of ugly..heh...

i have barely ever looked at my surgery spot after the original period of fascination went away...


Very good points and you are right, there are probably no two vaginas that look exactly the same. At least none that I have seen up close and personal.