Three weeks post-op, penile preservation vaginoplasty

214
u/TransThrowAway482618
Sat Jan 8 14:08:15 2022 UTC
*
(69 comments)

Initial post: https://www.reddit.com/r/Transgender_Surgeries/comments/revtj4/part_1_penile_preservation_vaginoplasty/

Two weeks post-op: https://www.reddit.com/r/Transgender_Surgeries/comments/rtqc44/two_weeks_postop_penile_preservation_vaginoplasty/

I'm finally back home! I don't have to ice 24/7 anymore, but I still need to a lot, especially after dilating or walking around a bunch. I'm allowed to start increasing my activity beyond 10 minutes three times a day.

Healing is still progressing, and the swelling still isn't too bad, although it's very tender as I'm inserting the dilator.

Dilating is getting old fast. There was I think one day where it was kinda pleasant since the pain had gone down enough, but since then it's been mostly boring. I have to be careful not to get aroused yet since everything is still healing and it's still uncomfortable, which contributes to it being boring. I'm excited to explore, and frustrated that I can't yet.

I can still get all the dots in. I'm allowed to start sizing up next week by starting with 15 minutes on the smallest dilator to maintain depth, then 15 on the next size. There's no rush to size up, since the peritoneal tissue is stretchier than skin and can size up later. The most important thing is to keep depth, which can't be regained later.

I don't have any wound separation yet, but that can still happen in the next month or two. I might have a little granulation that appeared during the flight home, but I'm unsure. I have a gynecologist appointment at the end of the month to get everything checked out at any rate.

Dilating, today: https://files.catbox.moe/dpe065.jpg

Squeezing out the dilator after I finished (video): https://files.catbox.moe/ir8xdi.mp4

After dilating: https://files.catbox.moe/fzo98c.jpg

One month post-op: https://www.reddit.com/r/Transgender_Surgeries/comments/s3bqzd/one_month_postop_penile_preservation_vaginoplasty/

all 69 comments


32
u/SymphonicSlut
Sat Jan 8 14:31:27 2022 UTC
(1 child)

Gotta say, I'm really curious to keep up with this, thank you for posting all these updates

19
OP
Sat Jan 8 14:49:23 2022 UTC
(0 children)

Thanks! I'll keep posting!

13
u/DrVinylScratch
Sat Jan 8 17:16:53 2022 UTC
(1 child)

Wow that is really clean. I hope the rest of the dilating goes well.

Keep posting the updates!

Also how was Dr Wittenberg and the staff? Would you recommend?

10
OP
Sat Jan 8 20:16:02 2022 UTC
(0 children)

Thanks, and will do! Dr Wittenberg is great, really good beside manner. The whole team has been great. The office is very responsive, and it's easy to reach Dr Wittenberg through the Hale Health app.

I absolutely would recommend. I've been really happy with their part of the process, on top of the results.

24
u/IfOnlyICouldBeMe2
Sat Jan 8 15:19:38 2022 UTC
(2 children)

Didn’t know this was an option… I’m in love!

5
OP
Sat Jan 8 20:02:22 2022 UTC
(0 children)

Best of luck on your journey!

3
Sun Jan 9 06:40:25 2022 UTC
(0 children)

Check out r/salmacian ! there are other people pursuing similar options

6
u/PricklyMuffin92
Sat Jan 8 17:57:44 2022 UTC
(2 children)

Fascinating! I want this lol

6
OP
Sat Jan 8 20:18:45 2022 UTC
(1 child)

Best of luck on your journey!

5
Sat Jan 8 21:14:12 2022 UTC
*
(0 children)

Honestly after my orchi and FFS, and then getting into the FFS business, I feel like there are bigger fish I can catch. IDK, my dysphoria is mostly gone I suppose, and I want to use my time on Earth to help other people, and maybe tackle big issues we're dealing with, such as climate change.

I just need to figure out how...

u/[deleted]
Sat Jan 8 14:14:41 2022 UTC
(1 child)

[deleted]

8
OP
Sat Jan 8 14:49:01 2022 UTC
(0 children)

Thanks!

10
u/Jessicatg24
Sat Jan 8 16:19:35 2022 UTC
(1 child)

How’s this possible? You have sensation at both?

15
OP
Sat Jan 8 20:07:32 2022 UTC
(0 children)

Dr Wittenberg uses peritoneal tissue to create the vaginal canal, so no skin graft was needed from the penis. The inside doesn't feel touch exactly, but I can definitely feel the dilator going in, and resistance when I squeeze it. There's a lot of sensation around the entrance.

4
u/[deleted]
Sat Jan 8 17:32:26 2022 UTC
(4 children)

You kept the testicles too?

3
u/M8R1X
Sat Jan 8 18:56:06 2022 UTC
(3 children)

I think there is an orchiectomy scar visible in one of the pictures

3
Sat Jan 8 18:57:02 2022 UTC
(2 children)

I see it now!

If that’s the case, then there’s no need for the sack, but what do I know.

13
OP
Sat Jan 8 20:18:12 2022 UTC
(1 child)

I'll use the scrotal tissue for a labiaplasty in a year once this heals. When done at the same time with penile preservation, they lose definition. I don't fully understand why but it has something to do with erectile tissue.

3
Sat Jan 8 20:40:15 2022 UTC
(0 children)

Oh ok. That makes sense.

6
u/Dry_Rain9139
Sat Jan 8 22:19:13 2022 UTC
(1 child)

Wow!! Thanks so my for sharing this!! I REALLY appreciate it! I have concider this

5
OP
Sun Jan 9 01:18:57 2022 UTC
(0 children)

I'm glad you found my post helpful! Best wishes

4
u/1DeeAnne
Sat Jan 8 15:53:08 2022 UTC
(0 children)

Take care of yourself.

5
u/DozingX
Sat Jan 8 20:31:23 2022 UTC
(1 child)

How many times a day do you have to dilate, and how much active effort does it take to keep the dilator in, if any? I know when my girlfriend got vaginoplasty, she had to do it 4 times a day at the start, so I'm curious how this'll compare in that regard cuz dilating seems kinda boring haha.

5
OP
Sat Jan 8 20:39:05 2022 UTC
(0 children)

Three times a day for 30 minutes for three months, then daily for three months, then every other day for three months, then every week forever. Right now it takes a little longer to get it in all the way first though.

It's definitely boring 😑

It's pretty easy to keep it in, but I have to hold it the whole time.

6
u/leshpar
Sun Jan 9 00:59:21 2022 UTC
(5 children)

As a transgender hermaphrodite I honestly didn't know about this as an option until recently and seeing your posts. I just tell most people I'm female to avoid having to explain shit, but it's nice to know there are others who feel as I do out there. I don't think my life would allow me the time needed to recover from such a surgery as you have had nor could I afford it anyway, so I'm just on estrogen to grow breasts. I wish I could have everything I should below though.

7
OP
Sun Jan 9 01:34:02 2022 UTC
(0 children)

I hope that you do one day get the opportunity to have your body match who you are, even if it seems unrealistic right now

4
Sun Jan 9 06:41:39 2022 UTC
(0 children)

Check out r/salmacian , there are other folks who desire mixed genital sets

Fri Jan 14 09:56:06 2022 UTC
(2 children)

[deleted]

1
Fri Jan 14 17:03:21 2022 UTC
*
(1 child)

I identify as Herm and wish to have both sets of gear.

And idiots who downvote my identity are a large part of why I don't bother explaining shit. There's more than two genders.

3
u/LadyBulldog7
Sun Jan 9 05:04:47 2022 UTC
(1 child)

Wow! Looking better every week! 👍

2
OP
Sun Jan 9 17:44:26 2022 UTC
(0 children)

Thank you!

3
u/Zestyclose_Setting99
Sun Jan 9 08:15:36 2022 UTC
(1 child)

So happy for you. I'm FTM doing the opposite. Having a phalloplasty (this year if covid doesn't postpone it) but I'm keeping my front hole. Having an extra hole is great for me. Best of luck with yours.

2
OP
Sun Jan 9 17:46:44 2022 UTC
(0 children)

Thank you, and best of luck with your phalloplasty! If you're not already familiar, I'd recommend checking out r/salmacian

2
u/Androgynoplasty
Sun Jan 9 09:21:57 2022 UTC
(1 child)

Glad to read that your recovery is coming along well!

1
OP
Sun Jan 9 17:48:24 2022 UTC
(0 children)

Thank you!! 😊

2
u/Tessa167
Sun Jan 9 10:51:41 2022 UTC
(1 child)

Thank you for sharing. I'm gonna have to consider this for the future.

2
OP
Sun Jan 9 17:50:55 2022 UTC
(0 children)

I'm glad you found it then! Best of luck on your own journey!

2
u/Aussieninja08
Sun Jan 9 14:38:44 2022 UTC
(1 child)

Ooo! I remember seeing your first week recovering and seeing it now looks amazing! This is actually convincing me slowly to get this surgery in the future

2
OP
Sun Jan 9 17:51:52 2022 UTC
(0 children)

Thanks! I'm really happy with the recovery trajectory too. Best of luck on your own journey!

2
u/[deleted]
Sun Jan 9 17:06:42 2022 UTC
(1 child)

I find penile preservation so fascinating. I know penile inversion is the more common method, but as a trans tomboy I may benefit from this surgery. However, on the contrary, I wouldn't mind getting an inversion because to me having a penis is very excessive.

2
OP
Sun Jan 9 17:55:33 2022 UTC
(0 children)

Best of luck figuring out what's right for you! There are also hybrid methods that use peritoneal tissue for a wet inside, leaving more penile tissue to use for the inner labia. Avanessian and Wittenberg both do versions of this, although only Wittenberg keeps the peritoneal tissue connected to the blood supply throughout the whole procedure (versus a graft).

2
u/LucilleBlues
Sun Jan 9 19:56:20 2022 UTC
(1 child)

omg.. learned something new today

2
OP
Sun Jan 9 21:56:49 2022 UTC
(0 children)

I'm glad you found this then!

2
u/servicefriends
Sat Jan 29 01:59:44 2022 UTC
(1 child)

I'm still following you! I am so interested to see how it turns out. Hopefully late summer/fall I will have one too. Thanks for posting. It looks great! I know its still painful but the swelling is going down. How long before the doctors typically say you can use it? Hugs!!❤

3
OP
Sat Jan 29 03:08:55 2022 UTC
(0 children)

I'm glad you're enjoying my posts! I'll probably post another update in a few days for a month and a half. Best of luck with yours! Are you also going with Dr Wittenberg?

It's really more sore than painful at this point. I'm getting very frustrated that I'm not allowed to get aroused 😅

I'm allowed to use it after three months, so almost halfway there.... I'm very excited. Meanwhile I'm focusing on sizing up and seeding my microbiome, and more icing.

💜🏳️‍⚧️

3
u/Possiblylucille
Sat Jan 8 18:28:34 2022 UTC
(9 children)

I’m kinda curious about the functionality of both. Because I was under the impression that testicles were the thing that causes orgasm sensation with the male genitalia. And the female genitalia I thought required parts from the penis to make an orgasm capable vagina. Excuse my ignorance. I’d love a comment on this type of srs functionality.

4
OP
Sat Jan 8 20:20:32 2022 UTC
(1 child)

I'll be sure to update everyone when I'm allowed sexual activity after three months.

2
Sun Jan 9 16:54:47 2022 UTC
(0 children)

Thank you so much!

2
Sat Jan 8 18:38:49 2022 UTC
(6 children)

Nope, most of your orgasm sensation is in your pelvic floor muscles.

3
Sat Jan 8 21:15:13 2022 UTC
(0 children)

if you have a vagina without any senate tissue (peritoneal tissue has no feeling) that is absolutely going to impact your ability to have vagina orgasms, from penetrative sex. maybe you can hit your p spot etc but that’s not coming from the peritoneal tissue.

1
Sat Jan 8 19:35:38 2022 UTC
(0 children)

Good food for thought. Thank you.

1
Sun Jan 9 20:00:27 2022 UTC
(3 children)

Wait follow up question. If testicles aren’t the thing that causes male anatomy orgasms then what causes testicles to react and ejaculate sperm during orgasms?

2
Sun Jan 9 23:54:03 2022 UTC
(2 children)

They don't, they continually secrete sperm into the prostate. The prostate is responsible for ejaculation, so when ejaculation occurs, the prostate sqeueezes and it's semen enters the urethra, where an orgasm (not the same as ejaculation) propels the semen via pelvic floor muscles contractions.

2
OP
Fri Jan 14 23:07:02 2022 UTC
(0 children)

For what it's worth, I don't really ejaculate very much fluid anymore, ever since starting Spiro a couple years ago. But orgasms just changed a little bit, they're still awesome.

1
Mon Jan 10 01:08:07 2022 UTC
(0 children)

Wow you taught me something today.

3
u/Zodiacal_F
Sat Jan 8 19:48:36 2022 UTC
(1 child)

Might be too soon to ask this, but does this surgery affect ability to have erections?

3
OP
Sat Jan 8 20:22:03 2022 UTC
(0 children)

I'll post an update when I can explore more, but I don't think there's any effect on erections.

2
u/lonnie776
Sat Jan 8 23:07:05 2022 UTC
(1 child)

This looks amazing. I'm excited for you!

I too want a PPV using the peritoneal pull through method. I am looking into getting an orchiectomy before then though and I'm pretty hesitant about it. I'm really worried about being dependent on testosterone for the rest of my life (age 29).

Are you currently taking testosterone or do you plan on it? If so, have you had any side effects from TRT? And I guess I'll ask the sex related questions in a future post. (If your comfortable with that)

I'm really interested in following your progress, it get me excited all over again for my journey towards having both genitals!

Best of luck.

3
OP
Sun Jan 9 01:23:08 2022 UTC
(0 children)

Thanks very much! Happy to answer the sex related questions in a couple months or so.

I'm not on testosterone and I don't plan to go on it currently, though I guess that could change depending on my health. I'm on estrogen and progesterone though, and previously I was on Spiro.

Good luck on your own journey! I'm glad you're excited for it!

2
u/WonderVirgo88
Sat Jan 8 16:24:53 2022 UTC
(6 children)

Please excuse me I mean no offense, but you now have both to use as a option?

10
Sat Jan 8 16:46:18 2022 UTC
(5 children)

If you didn't see the pictures, yeah, they have both a natal penis and a neovagina yeah.

I'm excitedly following it because I want the same thing. It's a relatively new surgery option.

OP also cross-posted to /r/salmacian where we there is much discussion of "keep your penis and add a vagina" or "keep your vagina and add a penis"

You can find other examples there. I think other people have said they still have sensitivity in / use of their penis, since it isn't affected much by PPV

3
Sat Jan 8 16:48:36 2022 UTC
(0 children)

Oooh ok I see now.. thank you

2
Sat Jan 8 19:04:34 2022 UTC
(2 children)

That doesn't suggest whether an erection is achievable.

2
OP
Sat Jan 8 20:10:46 2022 UTC
(1 child)

So far the swelling makes it uncomfortable, but it did start to become erect once or twice while dilating last week. I'll have more information in a couple months.

2
Sun Jan 9 00:43:45 2022 UTC
(0 children)

Best of luck with your healing progress!

1
OP
Sat Jan 8 20:11:34 2022 UTC
(0 children)

Thanks, this ^

2
u/[deleted]
Sat Jan 8 20:41:22 2022 UTC
(5 children)

I don’t mean any offence, but what is the point of this?

23
OP
Sat Jan 8 20:43:54 2022 UTC
(4 children)

I like it.

8
Sat Jan 8 21:54:37 2022 UTC
(0 children)

I can’t find enough like buttons or big enough for this !

“Cause I like it!” You’re damn right!!

Sun Jan 9 01:33:18 2022 UTC
(2 children)

[removed]

3
OP
Sun Jan 9 01:42:31 2022 UTC
(1 child)

There are at least a few surgeons in the US who have done it, and more who would be willing to try based on my research. I'd consider it a gender affirmation surgery or gender confirmation surgery. The "reassignment" language feels very 20th century.

I like to separate gender from dysphoria. I consider myself to be agender, though my gender presentation tends towards "woman". Not having a vagina gave me dysphoria, but my penis didn't give me dysphoria and I've always liked it, so I found a way to keep it.