How much does surgeon choice matter? (Mtf vaginoplasty)

9
u/ahyeahiseenow
Mon Sep 21 23:18:02 2020 UTC
(3 comments)

I'm 23 (U.S.) and I've finally decided that I do want to get a vaginoplasty someday. Like the title suggests, I want to know how important it is to pick a top surgeon. I've looked at the trifecta (Bowers, McGinn, Meltzer), but there are other surgeons who have fewer requirements and shorter waitlists and seem totally fine.

For context, I'm transitioning in stealth. I don't plan on coming out to my work and school until I already feel like I'm sort of "passing" already. This will (hopefully) happen in the next 9-12 months. This kinda makes RLE/RLT a dealbreaker for me, since it'll tack on an additional year of dead air on top of the surgeons waitlist. I'll wait forever for my surgery if I have to, but I'd rather get it done in 1 year than in 5.

So like I've heard of nightmare surgeons like Rumor and amazing surgeons like McGinn. What do I have to lose by choosing a surgeon in the middle? Are there any red flags? Any green flags, for that matter? How did you choose yours? Any info would be super helpful

all 3 comments


7
u/TronzAnon
Tue Sep 22 04:44:18 2020 UTC
*
(0 children)

I wouldn't be worried about RLE/RLT. Actually they don't care how "femenine" presenting you are, they only care about your soundness of mind and your fundamental understanding of what you're embarking on.

I showed up to my psych analysis + social worker meetings for surgery letters (pre-vaginoplasty consult)..... 6 months into hrt.

I was age 24 and wearing boy clothes. A basic navy cotton buttondown shirt from uniqlo and forest green chinos from banana republic. And my skateboard shoes. I hadn't even cut long boy hair at the time and I wore no makeup. I didn't even have my ears pierced yet and wasn't wearing any jewelry. My nails were trimmed short and I had no polish on.

I told them I was still going by my deadname at my job and with my students, although I had come out in most instances.

Anyway, the psychiatrist at Dr. Ting's office is a trans man in his 50s. The social worker is a trans woman in her 40s.

I received my letters of support 3 days later.

And still to this day, 2 years later and 9 months post-op, I continue to present "GNC" most of the time. I still got the same guy voice. I rarely shave my legs or rarely ever shave my armpits. I often still go out with a few days of worth of stubble to work or hangouts with friends. And I will never change that for a partner.

I guess my point is they don't give a shit what you look like. Because those appointments are not even about that. It's about what's inside you , your soulshine. So rejoice and be yourself (:

And schedule those consults now! Your future self will thank you.

7
u/[deleted]
Tue Sep 22 00:26:15 2020 UTC
(0 children)

It matters. Make sure you research your surgeons thoroughly before making a decision.

2
u/notyourdonut
Mon Sep 21 23:30:56 2020 UTC
(0 children)

Get a consultation asap. My surgeon let me schedule for when I would have my rle, not have to wait for it.

Why bowers?