Thailand....really?

[dreamer_2.0]

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't slightly considering this but, believe me, that decision is a long way off. Until then though, what are your thoughts on SRS and various feminizing surgeries in Thailand?

It was quite a surprise to see that Thailand actually had some reputable doctors available, especially at such relatively low prices. I've read they don't follow the same level of standards as other countries making it easier, though riskier, to transition. That's potentially good or bad, depending on your perspective.

The risks initially seemed to great but now I'm not sure...

Thoughts?

[AllieSF]

You need to do some more reading outside of this site and then do a search here for Thailand related surgeries on this site. You will get a lot of good and informative experiences. Some of the best and highly recommended surgeons are in Thailand. I personally know two that have had GRS in Thailand and one who has had FFS in Mexico, plus some members here that have had FFS with the same Mexican surgeon, all with very good results and level of post op treatment prior to returning home.

[docrobbysherry]

I met a member from here at the SCC some 4 years ago. Then, I saw her there again 3 years later. In the mean time she had had simutaneous FRS and SRS done in Thailand. The cost and care was amazing and included recovery for a week or 2 after the surgery in their private hospital. I don't recall which. That alone would cost a small fortune here! She said she was very pleased with surgeries and the entire experience. And, it sure looked good to me!

[noeleena]

Hi,

Phuket Thailand Dr Sanguan. cost $ 12,000 for SRS , BA cost $ 4,000. check the testimonals ,

& as to risk any surgery has that no matter where you go, or the surgery, depends on the person .

Phuket Plastic Surgery,


...noeleena...

[Kaitlyn Michele]

I;ve never met anyone that had a bad experience in Thailand//

the plane ride sucks..the aftercare is far away and that must be managed...but its totally reputable

[kellycan27]

I had my procedure done in Thailand and I did a lot of research beforehand. Every surgeon that I looked into followed the SOC in regards to SRS. Personally I would be quite skeptical of a doctor who didn't.

[Catherine Hopkins]

There are good and bad doctors in Thailand.

Sanguan has already been mentioned. Two other excellent ones are Chettawut and, of course, Suporn, who many regard as without equal in the world for his GRS technique.

If you go to the budget end of the Thai surgeons, beware. Not all are as good as those three.

[ameliabee]

I'd be more shocked to hear of someone considering an SRS in the United States, honestly. There are no amazing American SRS surgeons and every post-op girl I know has gone to Brassard, Suporn, or Chettawut. Not going to blow an extra $7k on a subpar procedure; I'm absolutely confident in having it done with Chet in 25 days.

[Ann Louise]

Oh my, Ameliabee, that's bad news. I wonder if some of the SRS clinics in Thailand or Mexico are "providers" under my U.S. insurance company. Believe it or not my job covers TS transition- and SRS-related expenses, but I was led to believe that I'm going to have to stay in the states to be covered when it's time for SRS for me. I just don't know.

[Rianna Humble]

Just as a previous poster said that there are good and bad surgeons in Thailand, it is also true that there are good and bad surgeons in the US (and everywhere else too).

Some of the other members of this forum can tell you a lot more about the better surgeons to check out in your country.

[GirlieAmanda]

I guess my bottom line is...Do I really want to be all the way in Thailand if something goes wrong? What if you have a complication? Fly all the way back? God forbid you should die. Your family would have to come get you and try to secure flying a dead body overseas.

[sandra-leigh]

With regard to Canada: I keep hearing of Brassard, near Montreal. He is the one that most of the people here in Manitoba go to, and he seems to be fairly respected (though not necessarily "Top Of The Line"). I know through general knowledge that there is also someone near Vancouver, but I don't seem to hear much about them one way or another.

With regards to flying a body from overseas: I gather that it is an expensive process, and that only a limited number of flights are willing to take them at all, and not usually many of them at once -- so there could be a notable delay. Not the funnest thing someone would have to do, but it is doable, generally.

But some further information: recently my mother-in-law died and was cremated. When we talked to the funeral parlor about transporting her ashes to Japan (eventually), they said it would not be any problem, that we would pretty much just have to present the certificate of death and the certification of human remains.

Would I be concerned about death overseas and the aggravation afterwards? Yes. But that probably would not stop me.

[DebbieL]

Much of this depends on what you are planning going from and to. You need all your legal paperwork done before you leave, and you should do the hormones first. If the hormones are producing nice large breasts, and you don't worry about erections (you want to be a woman don't you?), you may not need breast augmentation. You will also have done the therapy sessions as well, and you are prepared for the side effects of the hormones, have been living as a girl as much as possible, preferably 24/7. You've been able to make your life work as a woman, and you have worked out employers, relationships, and living situations.

There are two main advantages. The first is cost. Thai doctors charge less than the deductible if insurance covered transition in the USA, usually about 10% or less of USA "Reasonable and Customary" rates.

The other bigger advantage is that you can get combinations that wouldn't be considered in the USA. For example, some girls go in for SRS, breast augmentation, liposuction, and FFS all in one or two sessions. I've heard that there is something called "the works" for someone who wants to go from barely passing to fully female in one hospital trip. There are not the same malpractice concerns that there are in the USA.

The down-side is that you will probably be alone in Thailand, and will be recovering without the support of family and friends giving you emotional support. You also need to wean yourself off the pain-killers because they will give you what you need and it's easy to get addicted. In the USA, the doctors prefer the morphine pump that limits your dosage and tapers you off.

Read up on the procedures in both the USA and Thailand, do your research carefully, try to get referrals. You are early in the transition process, and you may find that the benefits of hormones can take you a long way toward where you want to go. Some girls eventually opt not to do SRS for years because they can pass as female in almost any situation.

Have you had your facial hair removed? What techniques did you use? Did you at least get rid of the dark hairs? Have you started hormones? Have you done the legal documents? Are you in a state where you can change your gender marker BEFORE you actually do SRS?

Assume that you have two years before you are ready to do SRS. How much of the work can you do naturally? Have you lost the weight? Are you doing female exercises like ballet, yoga, jazzercize, or zumba? Can you walk through a shopping mall in femme mode without being noticed?

[sandra-leigh]

Are you in a state where you can change your gender marker BEFORE you actually do SRS?

Dreamer is in Canada, but has not (that I have seen) indicated which province. If she happens to be in Ontario, then Yes, the gender marker can be changed without SRS. I am not aware of any other Canadian province that allows that, though.

I was born in Ontario and lived there for about 30 years, but I have resided in Manitoba for the last 20-ish years. If I were to become resident of Ontario again I could change my marker without surgery. Ontario is (at least in theory) willing to have me do that. However, as I am resident in Manitoba, I am required to go through procedures in Manitoba, which will then forward the notice of the change to Ontario (which would then amend my birth certificate)... and Manitoba does not offer this as an option, at least not at this time.

[celeste26]

Trinidad Colorado is another location within the US where the SRS has been done by several different surgeons but I have not gone there and do not know their reputations.

[dreamer_2.0]

Excellent comments as usual.

I also reside in Manitoba and believe SRS is covered but I'd have to do it in Montreal. So I was thinking of doing SRS there but have cosmetic surgeries in Thailand. I'm purely in a research stage now though and while I am seeing a therapist I want to see a specialist who could better asses me. Hoping to do that in June.

[Memzy]

I'd be more shocked to hear of someone considering an SRS in the United States, honestly. There are no amazing American SRS surgeons and every post-op girl I know has gone to Brassard, Suporn, or Chettawut. Not going to blow an extra $7k on a subpar procedure; I'm absolutely confident in having it done with Chet in 25 days.

What about Toby Meltzer? I've heard good things about him.

[Angela Campbell]

I can see a trip to Thailand in my future. I know a few girls who went there and they had wonderful experiences with the personal treatment there. I plan to do HRT then some facial work first. The SRS will be one of the last things I do.

[ameliabee]

Oh my, Ameliabee, that's bad news. I wonder if some of the SRS clinics in Thailand or Mexico are "providers" under my U.S. insurance company. Believe it or not my job covers TS transition- and SRS-related expenses, but I was led to believe that I'm going to have to stay in the states to be covered when it's time for SRS for me. I just don't know.

It really boils down to your priorities. Up for getting a ton of genital electrolysis done? How do expenses work out? How much risk tolerance do you have? Whose results do you like the most? Specific technique you care about? How about aftercare? Can you handle an international plane flight?

I didn't want a penile inversion procedure or to deal with genital electrolysis. That quickly brought my decision to between Suporn and Chettawut, after which point it came down to price and personal preference in results.

What about Toby Meltzer? I've heard good things about him.

If you can afford such, more power to you.

[Nicki S]

I am now 9 weeks post-op from my SRS and FFS with Dr Chettawut. This doctor is amazing and the nursing staff that he has is also incredible. There level of care is more than I expected. When I awoke from surgery, there was a nurse sitting in a chair along side my bed, with her head laying on my mattress and she was holding my hand. This was so comforting to wake up like this.
I am very impressed with DR Chett's work and if I was do do it all over again, I would not hesitate to go back to Thailand and have him as my Dr.
I know that I dont even have to mention the cost difference...

[Catherine Hopkins]

So I was thinking of doing SRS there but have cosmetic surgeries in Thailand. I'm purely in a research stage now though and while I am seeing a therapist I want to see a specialist who could better asses me. Hoping to do that in June.

For Facial Feminisation, Chettawut is every bit as good as Suporn. That said, the exchange rate doesn't favour the Thai Baht nearly as much as it did 5 or 10 years ago so research prices carefully.

There are at least three European teams who are now getting good reputations for FFS. One in Marbella, Spain, one in Belgium and one in Poland.

[dreamer_2.0]

Is there a good place to find before/after pics for FFS and other procedures? I've looked at some sites but surprisingly found little. Perhaps my google skills are weak. Seem to find lots for younger girls but I'm mostly curious about the 30+ year range.

[AllieSF]

Dreamer, 3 or more of our wonderful women here on this site have gone to Dr. Cardenas in Mexico for FFS and BA with great results. Look up the thread "Ouch" for Badtranny's experience with pics. Others have also posted here with their pics and they I think are mostly in their 30's and 40's. I visited another member here, Terri from Minnesota, in her hotel after she had her GRS with Dr. Marcie Bower's near San Francisco airport. She was very satisfied with her results and care. There are some very informative threads here, just keep trying different search words till you find them. Good luck.

[Ann Louise]

Holy moly this is a good thread. I'm cut/pasting the whole thing for my transition medical file. Thank you so much ladies. Any more specifics would be appreciated, certainly by many of us in the research stages. I have a friend who just got back from Dr. Suporn three months ago and she said she was on his waiting list for more than a year. An important point I didn't fully recognize until last night.