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I'm Scheduled For My MTF Bottom Surgery With A Reputable
Question: I'm scheduled for my MTF bottom surgery with a reputable US surgeon in a few months. I'm really looking forward to it, but can't decide if I should get zero-depth/minimal-depth/no-vault and a tilapia vagina (https://marcibowers.com/transfem/tilapia/) later on or get it all at once. The tilapia thing, which is said to be markedly better than a standard penile inversion, may be a pie in the sky and contrary to what I hoped, it's not really realistic for me to freeze my penile skin until a later point in time. So it feels like I have to weigh the pros and cons carefully.
Some people are discouraging me from getting two surgeries instead of one but I'm curious about the medical logic behind it. If they add a vault later, is it harder for the body to recover since they're operating on what used to be a surgical wound? Or is that just a myth? I realize two surgeries equal two recoveries, but is the whole greater or less than the sum of its parts? Like if my goal to keep my total discomfort low, is it better to do it all at once or in two steps?
Also, this is probably a silly question as there's not much literature on this, but if the tilapia becomes an option in the reasonable future (which has gotta be superior to penile skin), they say a patient needs 9 days of bed rest. Is this like what they call hospital bedrest, where she needs to use a bedpan and get sponge baths or can she ride a wheelchair to the bathroom just for those limited tasks?
Some people are discouraging me from getting two surgeries instead of one but I'm curious about the medical logic behind it. If they add a vault later, is it harder for the body to recover since they're operating on what used to be a surgical wound? Or is that just a myth? I realize two surgeries equal two recoveries, but is the whole greater or less than the sum of its parts? Like if my goal to keep my total discomfort low, is it better to do it all at once or in two steps?
Also, this is probably a silly question as there's not much literature on this, but if the tilapia becomes an option in the reasonable future (which has gotta be superior to penile skin), they say a patient needs 9 days of bed rest. Is this like what they call hospital bedrest, where she needs to use a bedpan and get sponge baths or can she ride a wheelchair to the bathroom just for those limited tasks?
Brief Answer:
Please elaborate
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query.
Noted the history and understood your concerns.
Please elaborate your discussion with the Surgeon or his/her Team about the possible procedure and results, complications so that we can discuss this point better.
Most important point is what you want: whether zero-depth/minimal-depth/no-vault or functional vagina.
Please elaborate.
Awaiting your feedback.
Please elaborate
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query.
Noted the history and understood your concerns.
Please elaborate your discussion with the Surgeon or his/her Team about the possible procedure and results, complications so that we can discuss this point better.
Most important point is what you want: whether zero-depth/minimal-depth/no-vault or functional vagina.
Please elaborate.
Awaiting your feedback.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
I want a fully functional vagina eventually, unless medical contraindications exist. That's not the question. The question is should I do it all at once (using my penile skin) or should I get zero depth in the spring and a canal later on (with skin grafts or tilapia). Several surgeons and my GP advise me to do one step but I'm not sure why. Do 2 steps equal a longer total recovery? Or are 2 recoveries shorter than 1? Or will it be hard to operate on the perineal area due to scarring?
Or to put it another way, what are the advantages of doing it all at once, besides preserving penile skin.
Or to put it another way, what are the advantages of doing it all at once, besides preserving penile skin.
Brief Answer:
Single stage is better than 2 stage surgery.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your feedback.
To answer your specific queries as per the studies conducted so for and our little experience:
The mean postoperative hospital stay was 7 days for patients who underwent single-stage surgery vs 16 days for patients who underwent 2-stage surgery. Hence single stage is better.
Neovaginal depth proved constant in patients who underwent single-stage surgery, whereas a loss of more than 30% was observed in patients who underwent 2-stage surgery.
Significantly lower complication and revision rates, shorter recovery time, and superior aesthetic and functional outcomes were observed in the single-stage than in the two-stage surgery.
Yes, second stage surgery becomes difficult due to scarring of previous surgery.
Obviously the surgeon who is going to operate can tell you the better and should follow his advise as per his expertise and experience.
I hope this answers your specific queries.
Dr T Chandrakant.
Single stage is better than 2 stage surgery.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your feedback.
To answer your specific queries as per the studies conducted so for and our little experience:
The mean postoperative hospital stay was 7 days for patients who underwent single-stage surgery vs 16 days for patients who underwent 2-stage surgery. Hence single stage is better.
Neovaginal depth proved constant in patients who underwent single-stage surgery, whereas a loss of more than 30% was observed in patients who underwent 2-stage surgery.
Significantly lower complication and revision rates, shorter recovery time, and superior aesthetic and functional outcomes were observed in the single-stage than in the two-stage surgery.
Yes, second stage surgery becomes difficult due to scarring of previous surgery.
Obviously the surgeon who is going to operate can tell you the better and should follow his advise as per his expertise and experience.
I hope this answers your specific queries.
Dr T Chandrakant.
Note: For further inquiries on surgery procedure and its risks or complications book an appointment now
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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