How would you sequence surgeries?

[Louise B]

I am creating a road map for transition, and have decided it will include several surgeries.  My question for all of you is how you would recommend sequencing the surgeries, and why.  If I start down this path it is my intent to complete it.  But being a realist, I also want to be able to have (what passes for) a normal life if I abandon the transition.  It is on my mind because years ago my first attempted transition had to stop due to a serious medical condition (now properly managed).  Here is what I contemplate:

 

1) Feminine body contouring

2) FFS

3) Top surgery

4) Bottom surgery

 

My face will not pass as female, so that much is important sooner rather than later.  OTOH, if I must abandon the transition, what is it like trying to present as male after FFS?

 

In what order would you recommend doing these, and what is your reasoning.

 

Thanks all!

Louise

[Marcie Jensen]

I started with FFS, then Top surgery then body contouring and finished with bottom surgery. Sort of a top to bottom approach. Lol.

[Louise B]

Marcie, given it to do over, would you do it the same?  

 

Having had FFS, if you HAD to pass as male again, would that be a problem in terms of how you appear?

[Marcie Jensen]

Wow, Louise, you pose a great pair of questions. As I have no desire to pass as male ever again--I'm a woman, period. It took me a long time to come to that realization, and honestly I've not considered that. I'll have to think about a meaningful answer. BTW, there's no wrong answer that question.

 

I had all of my surgical work done in the order my doctor recommended, so yes, I would do it in the same order. I don't talk about it much as there are a number of folks who regularly post here who are much more articulate than I am and I can't add anything to their words. 

 

Hope that helps.

[Kasumi63]

I hope you don’t mind my saying that if you’re considering detransitioning (or stopping your transition) before having any surgery, you should probably hold off all together. None of the surgeries you mentioned are easy, nor are they easily reversible. Please make sure you are certain before embarking on this journal. I apologize if I misunderstood what you said about “abandoning transition.” Being realistic, this isn’t a path that can be reversed. You did say you intend to finish if you start, so maybe you are certain. I don’t know.

 

Assuming you are certain, I don’t think the order matters so much. Still, it’s a great question and one I, too, agonized over. Marcie’s order makes sense, but I was pretty much the opposite: I had SRS first, followed by FFS and BA, and then voice feminization surgery. I’m now considering body contouring; however, I might not have this surgery, as I am happy and doing well.

 

My main reason for choosing the above order is that I wanted to have the surgeries that are most important to me first. That’s my recommendation for you, too: start with the surgery that matters most to you, leaving the ones you could survive without for latter.

 

 

[Louise B]

Thanks Kasumi!  I began a transition years ago and developed a related medical problem that necessitated abandonment.  My doctor believes it is safe for me to start again, and I have resumed GAHT.  It is because I hit the roadblock the first time around that I need to think-through the scenarios of it happening again.  I am inclined to start with FFS because it is where I need the most help in passing (which I know is not a requirement to all transwomen but it is important to me).  So I have the curiosity regarding whether a FFS face could be made to pass as male again, if I get past the point only to get thrown off the horse again.

 

Tell me about your voice surgery.  How long did it take you to recover?  Did you achieve the result you desired?  Any complications?

[Kasumi63]

Sorry. I didn't mean to pry, but I'm relieved to know you're confident about moving forward. I hope everything works out well. I had voice surgery in August of last year with Dr. Haben in New York. For the first month, I couldn't talk at all, and it's taken a few months to start feeling more confident with my voice. I'm extremely pleased with the results, but I still have trouble generating as much volume as before. I have spoken with others who are less happy, but I'm quite satisfied, as I usually can pass now, and my voice was the last thing keeping me back. Good luck with your transition!

[Louise B]

Kasumi, what dissatisfactions do you hear from others less happy with their voice surgery?  And HOW much less volume do you now have...down a bit or barely audible.  How would you describe it?

[Kasumi63]

If you search on here, you might find someone who was not so happy. As for my volume, it was worse for the first couple of months, but now it's just down a bit. It's hard to shout over others anymore, and since I have less range and voice control, my singing voice isn't very good anymore. I still go to karaoke, though, and normal conversations are fine. Even with what I know now, I would still have the surgery, but for singers and those who value their voice, I would urge caution.