top surgery

[Kelt]

Originally Posted by DapperButch

Hey, everyone! On 10/10/13, I had top surgery with Dr. Garramone in Florida. I had the double incision method. http://drgarramone.com/

My chest looks fantastic, and I couldn't be happier. It was a fantastic experience, and the man is a genuis.

As you all can see in my profile, I don't define as FTM, but as transgender butch (male leaning). I am not on testosterone. I thought it important to share that I got this surgery because I think that butches are getting these surgeries/thinking about getting these surgeries, but just aren't talking about it (I have seen them talk about it in the past, on other b/f forums). I am not sure why the change, I am wondering if butches getting top surgery is no longer supported by the community so they are afraid to talk about it? Don't know.

I think it is great that you posted this. I am in a similar boat in that I am not on T and for a number of reasons it is not practical for me. I have been basically ignorant of this possibility. When I knew T was unlikely for me I shelved the whole idea because I had the impression it was a prerequisite. I don't know about the community support with butches. Maybe it could be as simple as being like me and just not knowing it is available as a stand alone procedure. One can hope.

This is really encouraging and I am starting into researching options now that I know there are some! I am fairly small chested so a reduction would not be of any particular help to me and would not give me the result I would want (male appearing chest) anyway. I have done some other things along the way that would fall into the category of transition steps and have been very happy with them. This would be a terrific step to add.

It would be a couple of years down the road due to unrelated family issues and I have to consider my age, 52, but I think this looks like a really great option. Since there will be some wait for me it will give me time to really get my research down. I like Garramones work a lot, his results look great. I am also looking into Brownsteins practice. It has recently changed hands and is now being run by Dr Crane. I will be able to see how he develops over some time but his credentials are solid. The fact that it would be local for me would mean quite a savings in travel as well as being able to recover at home.

Thanks to Oopster and the other guys for this thread. You don't know it, but I have been reading back through all of the trans threads and been getting really helpful information from all of you. Thanks.

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by Kelt

I think it is great that you posted this. I am in a similar boat in that I am not on T and for a number of reasons it is not practical for me. I have been basically ignorant of this possibility. When I knew T was unlikely for me I shelved the whole idea because I had the impression it was a prerequisite. I don't know about the community support with butches. Maybe it could be as simple as being like me and just not knowing it is available as a stand alone procedure. One can hope.

This is really encouraging and I am starting into researching options now that I know there are some! I am fairly small chested so a reduction would not be of any particular help to me and would not give me the result I would want (male appearing chest) anyway. I have done some other things along the way that would fall into the category of transition steps and have been very happy with them. This would be a terrific step to add.

It would be a couple of years down the road due to unrelated family issues and I have to consider my age, 52, but I think this looks like a really great option. Since there will be some wait for me it will give me time to really get my research down. I like Garramones work a lot, his results look great. I am also looking into Brownsteins practice. It has recently changed hands and is now being run by Dr Crane. I will be able to see how he develops over some time but his credentials are solid. The fact that it would be local for me would mean quite a savings in travel as well as being able to recover at home.

Thanks to Oopster and the other guys for this thread. You don't know it, but I have been reading back through all of the trans threads and been getting really helpful information from all of you. Thanks.

Kelt! Good to see you on the thread, my friend!

Yes, I am interested to watch what happens with Crane, as well. He did train under Brownstein, who of course is the father of top surgery (well, I guess one could argue that with Reardon).

What I have noticed about Garramone's work is that it is consistent. Right on the money every time. I think that Brownstein's has been pretty consistent as well, although I have noticed that his chests sometimes have more of a scoop look to them under the pecs than I like. I think that is where the surgeons go wrong the most. I suppose that would be them not following the pectoral muscle well. Not that Garramone's incisions aren't different in amount of curve based on pec, but I have seen some surgeons (not Brownstein), consistently, or dramatically have too much of a scoop. Throws the whole thing off and it conjures up visions of female breasts, even though the chest is completely flat.

Last night, now having my own chest done, I took a bit of a step back and went through probably about 200+ photos of all different surgeons. I was surprised to see how good (and consistent), Fischer's double incision surgeries were. She is known for her keyhole/peri procedures and that is the bulk of her work, but her double incisions were quite good. Don't get me wrong, I am glad that I went to Garramone, but it was interesting to see that my second pick was in my backyard. I know that I mentioned going to her for consult, but that was earlier, when my focus (and query) to her was how small I could get if I chose a breast reduction instead. I was researching the idea of a hybrid/modified type surgery at the time. I had not seen many double incision pictures of hers.

I think that if I had to choose between a surgeon who had AMAZING results some of the time and "ok" results some of the time, versus a surgeon who had consistently good results, I would go with the consistent surgeon. You are betting with your chest, and there is only one shot.

I see Garramone, Brownstein, and Fischer as the most consistent (based on what I have seen. But, I admit I have paid more attention to their surgeries, than others, due to them jumping out at me as quality work from the "get go"). This is now the ONLY surgery Garramone does (Fischer does others, I am not sure what Brownstein did), so it makes sense he would have a good rhythm going. The sign on my bed post said, "Garramone #4". I was his 4th surgery of the day. He does 5 per day, 10 per week (sometimes he adds a third surgery day and does more). The whole thing was a great experience. Don't worry, I will save you from yet ANOTHER ramble as to how great the man is. I'm sure everyone on the thread will be THRILLED when I go back to work next week and stop being a posting fool!

Last thing, and advice to anyone who is looking. Get as many consults as you can. Especially if they are free. Garramone is free (he does phone consults, you email him pictures of your chest), while Fischer was not ($125). No downside to consulting with more than one.

In a nod to Oopster (and Theo), I haven't seen any of Dr. Voloshin's work and they are both pleased with their surgeries. Additionally, the other surgeons mentioned in this thread (DuPere, Raphael), I have seen good results with, as well. I think we all just have our preferences for how we like our chests to look and to be honest I find it more rare than common to read guys not being pleased with their surgeries.

[DapperButch]

Ok, so it has been 9 weeks since my surgery.

Things continue to go well. I changed from Scar Away strips to using the Scar Away gel. The strips were cumbersome and with some research (with Kelt's assistance), it was determined that the strips and gel had the same outcomes.

I have read good stuff about Bio Oil, so I use some of that, too. Massage is very good for scars.

So, my routine is to apply Scar Away in the morning after my shower. When I get home from work, I rub in the Bio Oil. Before bed, I apply Scar Away again. I like to always have the incision line "moist", as that is part of what is supposed to heal the scars.

I am pretty certain that the scars are less red. However, I have not been consistent with taking weekly pics with the same lighting, so it is hard to say from pictures. Subjectively, I believe they have. They probably did not show any significant change until 6 weeks of use. You are supposed to only use this stuff for 3 months, but I am guessing I will be using it for a year. Based on this brief period of use, I would say that it will cost me about $35-40 per month for scar treatments, if I continue with the same level of diligence. I believe that this investment will be worth it.

I can also say that my scars are pretty much completely flat. I would say that 7/8 of the incisions/scars are flat. That is pretty significant, and would be due to the silicone gel, as well. I believe my using the gel as soon as possible after surgery kept the scars from becoming as raised as they would have become without treatment (not to say that they weren't raised when I started the treatment, however).

I have been pleased so far that my scars have not stretched. I still do not lift my arms up completely above my head. I feel a pulling if I do this. I hope that I am not just delaying stretching of scars, but rather assisting them in healing to the point where they will not stretch once I use my arms more. I am also not strength training for the same reason (even though I want nothing more than to build up my pecs!).

The sides where the drains were has settled down a great deal. However, there is still a small area of skin that is shaped like a little teepee on either side. This is not a dog ear. With tubes coming straight out from your sides, only to be flattened with a very tight ace bandage for 6 days, results in pulling/lifting of that skin. I am hopeful that it will eventually become completely flat. My motivation for using the Bio Oil is mainly to massage this area.

The nipples have healed nicely with no difficulties. There is no sexual feeling to them of course, since they are free grafts (this was expected).

I did have one "spit suture" along the incision line. This is where the body pushes out one of the stitches. You just have to wait for it to fill in from the inside (skin growing). It has been a month for me and is finally filling in. I am very glad that I only had one, of these. Even though there are hundreds of stitches, I was concerned about how slow it was to "fill in", plus the hole itself was getting a bit larger. Additionally, the incision line that spit suture was on, was consequently wider than the rest of the incision line. More "spitting sutures", would have meant more widening.

I think that is all. I hope this information is useful to future "recoverers"!

[Red Dirt Girl]

Hi all. I’m not sure which thread to post this in but since the initiating event is top surgery, I landed here. Please let me know if I should go elsewhere.

My partner is trans and is having surgery in April. I’ve been trying to come up with effective language to share this news with my family. Terms like “top surgery” and "T" and “trans” are not in my mother’s vocabulary so I don’t think “Hey Mom, partner’s having top surgery” is going to work. This conversation will also encompass a “Hey Mom, partner’s trans” component. I am not apologetic, but I am trying to be sensitive. I’m anticipating this conversation to be at the very least moderately uncomfortable and more likely quite uncomfortable and painful. (This doesn't account for coming out to neighbors, family friends, extended family, etc., which will almost definitely be much more that moderately uncomfortable.). My sister is very likely to be supportive or lovingly indifferent. One friend suggests telling sis and having sis tell mom!

Regarding surgery, I feel like the words “double mastectomy” are so loaded and cancer-implying that I’m hesitant to use them. “Boobectomy”, partner’s occasional description of upcoming procedure also seems not quite right. My mom does has some awareness of the non-traditional nature of our relationship (I refer to my partner as my lesbian husband) and my understanding of gender/gender expression as a non-linear experience (not in such enlightened, currently PC, self-aware terms, but in concept. ) I made her read Well of Loneliness and she kind of seemed to “get it” – whatever that means. Regardless, I’m still floating around in my head with all this.

So, carefully-crafted sentences aside, how do I tell my mom my partner’s trans? I am planning to do this in writing – partly for my own comfort level, partly to allow the info to settle in without me sitting right there next to my mom nervously awaiting love and understanding or rejection and grossed outness (or any combination in between). I’m interested in feedback from anyone willing to share – trans folks, partners of trans folks, butch, femme, TG butch, gender-nonspecific, queer, other, etc… How did you tell the people who matter to you? How do you feel about the approach you took? How did it go? Did it go as you expected? Better? Worse? Anything you’d do differently? I know every situation is different. I'm not looking for an indisputable formula, just thoughts and insights based on your particular experiences.

Thank you so much in advance for any replies! If you are more comfortable PMing me, please feel free.

[Rufusboi]

1) How many surgeons did you consult before deciding who was going to do your surgery?

I consulted with phalloplasty surgeons all over the world.

2) Who did your surgery?

I decided on Dr. Crane in San Francisco, California due to his credentials.

3) Are you happy with the results?

I am extremely happy with my results. My phallus looks natural and I have have been told by other doctors it looks natural.

4) Did you need any revisions?

I am going for my revision in July. The side of my phallus needs a revision where there was a loss of blood supply right after the surgery.

5) What procedure did you have?

I had Radial Forearm Phalloplasty.

6) What was your recovery process like?

My arm and phallus healed quickly, I had a problem with the donor site on my leg. It took about 6 weeks to heal.

7) Did you do anything to prepare for the surgery?

I quit smoking and began working out daily to become as healthy as possible. I am 62 years old and new it would be a hard surgery for someone my age, but I had no problems at all.

8) How much time did you have to take off work?

I work from home so cannot answer this question. Others I know went back to work in 6 weeks, but said they felt like they could have gone back to work earlier.

9) Is there anything you wish you would have done any differently?

I wish I had booked my apartment in San Francisco for 5 weeks instead of 4. I was not ready to fly home and endure long hours on the plane and sitting in airports. The problem was with my donor site not healing properly, if it had healed properly I would not have had a problem. You really cannot predict your healing time because some things do not go as planned.

10) What questions did you ask the surgeon?

I asked for his qualification.
How many phalloplastys he had performed.
The cost.
Pictures of past surgery's.
How long the surgery would take.
How long we would need to stay in San Francisco.
How long I would need to wear a catheter.
I am sure there were other questions, but I cannot remember them all right now. I had 2 friends in England who had the same procedure last year and they helped me with many of my questions.

11) What didn't you ask that you wish you would have?

Nothing.

12) what resources did you use in helping to decide what surgeon to go to or for what questions to ask?

I called many surgeons around the world and talked to them personally. I have friends who have had surgery done in England and Serbia, so they were helpful in making my decision.

13) What online resources do you know of?

Dr. Crane has a website and pictures of his past surgeries.

I hope this helps others who may be thinking of having phalloplasty.

Rufusboi

[DapperButch]

Hey, Rufus. How many surgeries did Crane say he did? Thanks for posting about phalloplasty.

[Liam]

I finally have a date for my top surgery, August 11th. Yay!