Dr. Marcy Bowers Vs. Dr. Brassard

[Guest ChalenAustin]

I'm not planning on surgery unless I literally have to fight a getting a gun out of my own hand but I was wondering who does better work for the ftm transsexual?

Who did you like better (ladies are more than welcome to answer too!) and which is smarter for you?

Thanks to Evan_J's post on top surgery I'm feeling even more conservative about it (I'm actually very glad you wrote it)

I know Marcy doesn't do top surgery and Dr. Brassard has been featured more for bottom surgery regarding the phallo.

Thanks!

[Guest Donna Jean]

Chalen......

I have to say that for me to consider either would be like me considering whether

to buy a Ferrari or an Aston Martin......I can't afford either!

There are less expensive alternatives in Thailand....That's where I'm going...

Most is state-of-the art and up to a full 1/2 less than either of the above doctors...

Do a Google search and look around...you may be surprised!

Huggs

Donna Jean

[Guest Robin Winter]

I don't know much about Dr. Bowers, but I've only heard good about Dr. Brassard. And as I've said in other topics, his aftercare is supposed to be excellent, which I think is very important.

[Guest kyattei]

There are less expensive alternatives in Thailand....That's where I'm going...

Most is state-of-the art and up to a full 1/2 less than either of the above doctors...

Do be careful, DJ, honey! I've heard stories of some girls who went to foreign countries for cheaper surgeries, and ended up with problems like still their new anatomy getting partially hard when aroused causing extreme pain or splitting open during the healing process...

Those were just hearsay from other transsexual chats that I lurked in, I'm not sure if they're true... and there certainly were success stories from some that went to Thailand and such too...

But even if it's expensive, it's your body and you have to live with it forever! It might be the single most important thing you pay for in your entire life. It'd be the worst thing ever to have to learn the "You get what you pay for" lesson on (except for FFS but I've never heard of a 'cheap' one of those).

Make sure you really really look into whom you're going to and find others who can give you their opinions on the surgeries they got!

[Guest kelise]

The problem here is you're not going to find anybody who can compare. I had Dr. Bowers and am fantastically happy with the results, she is an ARTIST! It looks perfect! Would I have gotten even better results from Brassard? How could I know? But I don't care, I love what I have and love that my insurance paid for it! You might find people who have a problem with Dr. Bowers, but you don't know if their problems are the result of Dr. Bowers messing up, or them not following post-op guidelines, or the shape they were in before/during/and after surgery, or them being just plain too picky. With the positive responses they may just be so happy and thankful to have it done they would never speak an unkind word. My advice would be just go by number of surgeries they have performed, who they studied under, and the ratio of good to bad responses. In the end it's a gamble as to how the results are. Also note that how you take care of yourself after surgery makes a BIG difference in what the final healed results will be.

[Guest NatashaJade]

I've always been inclined towards Bowers because of geography and reputation. While I live in Meltzer's city, I won't when I have my surgery and Bowers will be the closest at that point and she is my preferred surgeon (plus, she has one surgery whereas Meltzer requires two).

As for Thailand, my wife is in favor of that because she wants to go to Thailand. But Suporn has a good reputation.

xoxo

Gin

[Guest Donna Jean]

.

Well, we can all listen to whatever evidence is available from the girls that have went before us....

It's like eating peanuts and declaring them the best ever if you've never tasted cashews...

I'm going to be a Thailand girl....

Huggs

Donna Jean

[Guest sarah f]

When I can ever afford the surgery, Dr. Bowers is my choice.

[Paula ult]

Dr. Mcginn in Hew Hope, Pa does FtM surgeries, i have not heard any feedback from other FtM that have had surgery with her other than her MtF patients who have been pleased with the results, she was my choice for when i have my surgery next year, she studied under Dr. Bowers, was a NASA flight surgeon and a transwoman, here is the link to her site.

http://www.drchristinemcginn.com/

Paula

[Guest Elizabeth K]

(Well that's interesting - my computer dumped my message before I even typed ANYTHING!)

I hesitated when I saw this TOPIC. I don't think we make recommendations here on Laura's. All we can do is relate our experiences, and as so few of us are post op, there isn't that much information. All else is hearsay - not a good thing.

I suggest if we DO relate a story, that it be at least something no mor removed than second hand - something that we have had a good friend or trusted aquaintance tell us. No "I hear... blah blah blah..." TO MUCH of that here already, my opinion.

My roommate in college - Veronica - is 4 years post op. She really loves what Dr. Bowers did for her. She is really pushing for me to use Dr. Bowers.

My friend Courtney - 16 years post op - says her surgery (Dr. Bower's predicessor, Stanley Biber, whom I believe is deceased) did her surgery, but she is not sexually active and can't make a recommendation. She says she doesn't have much depth.

We have three MTF girls here on Laura's who have recently had surgery - one with Dr. McGinn (she is happy - but hasn't completely recovered, I think had to have some repair on the uthera)- Melody needs to tell her own story - and Kelise already has posted.

At my LGBTQ trans support group, three T-Girls have had surgery - all in Thailand. All have been satisfied. And as Dee Jay has been to Thailand while in the service, six times I believe, and feels comfortable with the country and the services there - I will most likely go with her, and use Dr. Saporn, who already has a copy of my letter on file. Dr. Soporn is probably the original developer of vaginaplasty. There are at least two others there.

Sally has researched and prefers to work with Dr. Bowers as Sally originally contacted her office when she was looking for resources and a therapist, way early.

I have a friend on Facebook - Canadian - and she of course will use the Canadian source for SRS - I don't recall the name of the surgeon.

As for FTM? The Six or seven FTM in my LGBTQ group here explained to me, top surgery and a hysterectomy can be done by most anyone who will work with transgendered, after proper recommendations from the therapists.

And FFS? I haven't asked much on that as I don't plan on using it. Veronica went to a surgeon in Califrnia - $30,000 worth of work - yikes.

So there you are!

Lizzy

[Drea]

I tend to agree with kelsie

There may be large debates as far as who is better. Mostly I think it doesn't mean a whole lot because with a reputatable surgeon who doesn't have a pattern of negative results, on a given day, with a given patient, with a given alignment of the stars and position of the moon, the results would be within the same general range. One may do better or the other.

On the other hand, if one has some particular signature procedure that makes them stand out, that is unique, that would indeed make them stand out.

By comparison, the not so good surgeons often have plenty of patients who have had poor results and a little asking around will tend to uncover those. I would stay away from anyone with a bad reputation for sure.

I will add my opinion with regards to Montreal's aftercare. It' superb. Unless they changed their how they price things, it is included. Which means no hotel is needed for the days before surgery and the period after surgery even after one is discharged from the hospital.

One comment about top surgery. I've met Brassard but haven't talked with him about top surgery. I have listened to Menard (Brassards associate) and there was one big difference between what McGinn said about top surgery and Menard said.

Menard said it was important to leave some breast tissue for a natural looking pectorial. McGinn talked about the need to remove all breast tissue as it would remain a cancer risk (though she said the nipple tissue left would still subject to breast cancer).

Seems to be either an experience of a philosphical difference at work. I don't know what people feel about this. The result I saw from McGinn had a slightly scooped out appearance.

[Sally]

We are not allowed to make endorsements on this site - so all that anyone can offer that is truly helpful is from personal experience (The very best) or to relate the information directly from a trusted friend or relative (very good) not what you heard from a third party relating what someone else told them about what someone else had said.

Having finished with my disclaimer I will tell you the main reason for my interest in one doctor over another.

Simple, when I first started to research what transexuality really was I went to a number of sites from a number of surgeons - I liked three in Thailand very much, one in Canada and three in the US - Dr Bowers and her staff were the quickest to reply and being here in the US it was easier for me to communicate with them.

That is step one - research the doctors yourself.

I liked the idea of surgery without a twelve hour flight to get home so I talked to the US doctors, Marci Bowers, Christine McGinn and Harold Reed - Bowers and McGinn have both undergone the procedure themselves so they make an impression right away.

My very first Trans friend (before I joined Laura's) is a Bowers girl and told me that she was in her words "200% satisfied" - five years post op now and still happy, living stealth and loving life.

My second trans friend was the girlfriend of my electrologist and she was a Reed girl - very happy with the results - her girlfriend had been to Trinidad with another of her friends and said that the only real difference to her as an observer was in the bed side manners of the two doctors - both are excellent surgeons.

I have talked to Dr. McGinn but I do not know anyone personally who has had their surgery with her so I will make no comment other than the results on her website are very good.

Of the Doctors in Thailand - price is not an indicator of skill as much as operating costs - insurance has driven the price of SRS in the US so high that it can not be used to compare with surgeries performed anywhere else.

Dr. Suporn is one of the most highly regarded innovators in the field yet his pricing would make him seem cut-rate compared to Bowers - from the information on his website and the papers that he has presented in the scholarly medical journals that is not the case.

Research the doctors on your own - if you can find someone who has been to them - talk to them directly, that was how I made my friend - she is still like a big sister and mentor to me - then make an informed decision - it is not important for me to like and be comfortable with the surgeon that you choose, it is only important that you are.

Love ya,

Sally

[Guest Melanie Dawn]

I know one post op person, she went to Dr Bowers and is THRILLED with the results... if i can afford it, one day Dr Bowers will do mine.

Melanie Dawn

[Guest Hood]

I've always been inclined towards Bowers because of geography and reputation. While I live in Meltzer's city, I won't when I have my surgery and Bowers will be the closest at that point and she is my preferred surgeon (plus, she has one surgery whereas Meltzer requires two).

As for Thailand, my wife is in favor of that because she wants to go to Thailand. But Suporn has a good reputation.

xoxo

Gin

Meltzer doesn't "require" two the second surgery is optional. Also his first stage is more or less like the surgery that Bowers does -- basically he doesn't find the idea that in just a single surgery you can make it look perfect to be very realistic.

[Drea]

Meltzer has a very solid positive reputation.

The two stage procedure was the standard for good reason. The single stage procecure has one major drawback. The finer details are hard to maintain due to all the swelling. Many surgeons have incorporated them into one procedure but chances for a revision are greatly increased. On the ohter hand, like with the two step procedure, many don't feel the need for perfection so just don't bother with getting a revision.

[Guest Melissa 67]

Chalen......

I have to say that for me to consider either would be like me considering whether

to buy a Ferrari or an Aston Martin......I can't afford either!

There are less expensive alternatives in Thailand....That's where I'm going...

Most is state-of-the art and up to a full 1/2 less than either of the above doctors...

Do a Google search and look around...you may be surprised!

Huggs

Donna Jean

Excuse me Donna Jean But could you tell me how much cheaper it is in Thialand for srs, and also would they do a less expensive facial feminzation surgery there, and if so do you know how much they will cost individually?

Melissa 67

[Guest KimberlyF]

I don't care which doc I see within reason. They have to have a good rep and the price is right but regardless of procedure, I'd have to consider it an upgrade.

Kim

[Guest Melissa 67]

Excuse me Donna Jean But could you tell me how much cheaper it is in Thialand for srs, and also would they do a less expensive facial feminzation surgery there, and if so do you know how much they will cost individually?

Melissa 67

Well, does anybody know the answer to this?

Melissa 67