SquiggleSquaggleSqwoo
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FP Edit: oh my God. I can't believe the support and the comments. This community is beautiful and amazing. If I can quote the legendary Patton Oswalt: "it's chaos. Be kind" goodnight<3
I'll be 32 in a few weeks.
I'll finally have my Vaginoplasty surgery tomorrow morning.
Been training and preparing and getting in shape, hair removal, hormones, doctors, therapists, letters, rejections, insurance etc etc etc etc. it's a monumental undertaking.
If anyone. EVER tells you they just hand these out and mutilate kids left and right they are unbelievably wrong.
It takes months of prep, dozens of tests and tens of thousands of dollars and a lot of luck.
See ya on the other side Imgur fam <3
dreyfusslugado
Best of luck to you!
pocsaclypse
Valkor
here's to a speedy recovery!
NewGeekyWorkshop
Awesome! Good luck and swift healing!
Cyberbeni
You will be gossiping with the girls in no time
Brockvegas
I’m 54 and I had to Google this surgery. Congratulations and may your recovery be quick and uneventful and end results be everything you hope for 🤞🏻🍒🍯
Realityisanillusion69
Best of luck with surgery!!!
SwarmOfEnbees
Congratulations! I know how many hoops that was you jumped through! I've heard from several friends that the initial recovery period is tough so be sure to lean on your support network, and you're always welcome to DM me if you need someone to talk to! You got this! 💖
TeeTeeEffEn
Awesome username btw @SwarmOfEnbees
SwarmOfEnbees
Thanks!
wetqueef
The fact that you have to have electrolysis — laser not enough as I’m sure you know — on every last pubic hair or you’ll get them ingrown into your new genitalia is proof enough that it’s not for the faint of heart. Best of luck!
Penguinofmyspirit
I didn’t realize this was a thing. It sounds terrible up front, but as someone who had a c section twice, it’s got to be better than the alternative.
delecti
Good luck! The first few days suck because you'll be so loopy, but honestly it's really just a big hassle, and not bad at all. Make sure you've got lots of things to keep busy with that don't take too much focus. Fun anecdote: the applesauce they gave me as I was coming out of anesthesia remains one of the most amazing things I've ever tasted.
DocTanner
You go girl!
Zootsoot
Wonderful!! Speedy recovery and can’t wait to hear from you as soon as you’re out of the hospital and okay!! ((hugs))
ViolentlyJaded
I'm so happy for you! I hope the recovery goes well and congratulations on becoming your true self. You are rad and you are loved!
PoliticalWanderer
Congrats and good luck with surgery! Hope everything goes well and you recover and are completely happy in your body.
TheCoolerKira
Congratulations! I'm still a few years out I think, I've only recently celebrated my first transition anniversary.
Psionickitten
Oh yeah, there's so much misinformation about gender affirming care. It requires so much and everything that can be done before 18 is 100% reversible. Fear mongering is the way of the ignorant fascist.
Canofminus
Careful. I heard if you get sand in your vagina, they make you a Fox News host.
uniquepseudonym
It's also something that wealthy people have much more access to. I knew one transwoman who got sick of the paperwork and the required therapy and being condescended to by physicians and had her bottom surgery done overseas, because there she could just pay and nobody asked any questions. Most people don't have the means to do that.
MsQuin
It's something I've been worried about, that I'll never have the means for the surgery. Im trying to just focus step by step trying to get some hormone therapy(I'm still not sure which ones yet to be honest)
SanshinDojo
Congratulations, @op. Wishing you a speedy recovery.
v
smorsdoeuvres
Wishing you an easy & speedy recovery process! Sending love.
len0k
13andido
Good luck and congrats on the new Vajayjay!
MythIncarnate
AFAIC the only genital mutilation that gets handed out to kids left and right is circumcision. Get you your parts, and a swift and painless recovery to you. :)
DidItForScience
There's female circumcision in some other countries too.
MythIncarnate
Also true. As much as I genuinely don't wish to think about either, genital mutilations are an obscenely common practice for all sorts of folks. I am at least glad we've moved past the barbarism of the Castrato, but there is a ways to go.
SpiteLip
This is a legit question - I mean this with respect and just curiosity. My understanding (limited) is there is lifelong dilation required, or dangerous issues can arise including deadly infection. Is that true, are there ways to preempt that or manage it, etc. Or is that manufactured conjecture?
delecti
A lot of the purported downsides of vaginoplasty are manufactured. That one certainly doesn't line up with my experience.
iatezola
lots of things that vaginas go through have a risk of infection or death, whether they're original or created. it's kind of a vagina thing.
StarSumiaki
Not OP but last I checked, dilation weans off after a period, and there is no greater risk of infection than any other surgery.
saintbrun
They’ll have to dilate for the remainder of their life, but the frequency with which it’s necessary to have to do reduces over time.
littlefoxpounce
Omg I WIIIIIIIIISH I could get bottom surgery. I would literally give my left nut for bottom surgery, joke HEAVILY implied but still want the surgery
InsouciantSausage
That’s a solid joke, compadre, I chuckled outside my brain
BigDaddysMeatWagon
That's funny as hell. Lol
RoyalWithChz
I have always fucking loved that it’s called bottom surgery.
littlefoxpounce
It sometimes makes me wonder, **best Seinfeld impression ** if I'm getting the bottom surgery, then who's the top?!
Bristlecone42
Oh my god SAME. Probably at least three years out for me. And I’ll never financially recover.
littlefoxpounce
I doubt I'll ever raise money like that. I'm 41 now and have a condition that will probably disqualify me for the surgery anyways
drduffer
Still a good joke though! ⬆️😁
vincentlaurila
Had to Google it as a non native speaker but now that I know best of luck for both the surgery and your future life! I have a trans son so I almost know how to relate.
pacmanownsyou
Good luck! Can't wait to hear you're in recovery.
Justasleepykitty
As someone who has had the surgery , You could probably go on for about 10 more pages and still not cover. I always said that if people could clearly see what we go through to be happy they would never bother us again. Congrats
leroy666
Yeah. They would; cause they don't give a shit about you. Its all about their twisted world view.
BHPaperstacks
You give them too much credit. You can tell them all of this and they will immediately disregard it because if they were capable of being honest and having the discussion in good faith, they would confess that it's more about hating those who do not conform to their ideas about what societal norms should be than it is about being misinformed and that's the case for a pretty sizable majority of them in my experience.
turdswindler9000
And in some cases it's actually a quality of life thing. Had a patient that had that done in a case I was working in on as a circulator. She was getting it done because intercourse was painful at times because of it, aside from the cosmetic aspect which also played a part.
Wanderlay
Does it work, lubrication wise etc also? Or is it for looks?
komododave
I had seen a technique that used the urethra from the penis as part of the neovaginal wall. Since the urethra is somewhat self lubricating, it helps out.
combatwombat0
No lubrication and you might need to occasionally help it maintain it's shape with dilators. Other than that just a vagina
Columbus43219
The breaking point for my true empathy was seeing the results of a "bad" chest binding. I was already sympathetic, but that really drove it home.
Strugglecityliveshere
I'm non binary and planning to have top surgery soon to remove my breasts. Very excited and scared.
Columbus43219
I'm cis-het, but for me, every procedure leaves one impression: the docs and nurses are just so unimpressed with everything. They are doing three more procedures today, and it's not that they aren't existed for you, they are just doing something routine for them. It's so jarring to have something so BIG to me have so little wight in their lives.
Strugglecityliveshere
I kinda like that idea, that for them, it's just routine and there's no judgement :)
Meqad
I feel so stupid for asking this question, but what is a vaginoplasty? :/
78927x4No1
The outie becomes an innie. :)
Brockvegas
komododave
To add to everyone else, the different methods are fascinating from an outside perspective and really highlight the creativity and brilliance some surgeons have. There are breakdowns on YouTube and elsewhere.
NotJackieDaytona
It's a Vagina Job. Create new parts for a person so they can be themselves on the outside. M -> F
AlfredDPrince
Why only Monday through Friday though?
NotJackieDaytona
Only emergency surgery happens on the weekend.
AlfredDPrince
Oh
GadenKerensky
To add to Marzolan's comment, it involves turning the penis inside out and pushing it inside the body, alongside rearranging nerve clusters and making cosmetic alterations to ensure it looks and feels as much like the real thing. That's my crude understanding at least. It's quite extraordinary.
solarshado
"Penile inversion" is probably the most common technique, but not the only one. I've never looked super deep into the details, but I've seen at least two others mentioned. And, just in case you're now wondering, yes, "vaginoplasty with penile preservation" is also a thing, though *far* less common.
mesmer2
I could Google, but I appreciate answers from Imgurians more. "Penile preservation", meaning if one is unhappy with their results, they could have it reversed? I have a friend currently contemplating surgery and want to be as supportive as possible in their journey.
GadenKerensky
More that they may wish to have both, that it best fits their mind.
thatpersonontheinternet
If I may correct a tiny bit, the skin of the penis can be used to create a cavity, given that the quantity of skin is sufficient (if not, a skin graft can be taken from elsewhere). Other parts of the penis are dissected to be used, for example for the labia minora and the clitoris. However, some people chose to undergo a vaginoplasty without a cavity (which should be called a vulvoplasty).
PretzelHangers
What about F—>M bottom surgery? Do they use the vaginal tissue to make a penis?
TinyBadger101
Sort of. They use the clitoral nerves but take skin and fat from elsewhere to build the penis. Some transmen will get a pump inserted into their new scrotum so they can get an erection and have penetrative sex.
solarshado
In addition to the method TinyBadger described, there's a less-invasive option some trans guys opt for, but explaining requires a bit of context. Masculinizing HRT (i.e., testosterone) typically causes "bottom growth", where the clitoris becomes larger, longer, etc. Apparently, there's a ligament they can have snipped to "free" it even more. The procedure's called "metoidioplasty". -- Really though, the thing to know is that >>>
sendbobsandvageneiguess
No stupid questions
sendbobsandvageneiguess
I mean there are no stupid questions. Stupid assholes maybe who want to be insensitive jerks or silly things like does circle go in square, but any real question is always a welcome question. Also I have, in fact, forced circle in square. Not my proudest moment but a surprising one tho.
marzolan
Surgery to create a vagina. OP is a trans woman taking the surgical steps to make their physical body match their identity. It’s not required for her to be a woman, not all trans people pursue surgery, but it can help those with feelings of dysmorphia live their life more happily.
casiehansolo
What a great explanation, thank you!
Kizmet1974
It's 3 am here and I was here after a toilet stop. Feel so dumb because I didn't think op was trans. I was thinking she was having cosmetic vagina surgery.
anonaltone
Gender affirming care is not just for trans people! For example, cis-women sometimes receive vaginoplasty for pelvic organ prolapse. There's also labiaplasty, a related kind of (generally cosmetic) surgery.
whitefoxkei
Cis male here. Reading that made me involuntarily cross my legs lol ouch.
ChaoticGoodTransGirl
love this explanation, well said
Swinkerton
I love folks who give solid answers to honest questions on the internet. Thanks, stranger!
truthader
LOVE them. Btw, is your name related to the Pinkertons?
Swinkerton
Naw, just a favorite nickname. No union busting here!
TsubakiTragic
xlnt response.
zeacorzeppelin10
Klpincoyo
I need to find this in an actual flag form. It's excellent.
netutoring
I love how Star Trek people always show up in these kinds of posts. And they always come with love and support:)
mrpink83
I'm a "multiverse theory person". Watching Star Trek, Star Wars, reading sci-fi books, and just paying attention to a little bit of real science, e.g. astronomy/biology/statistics, etc. led me to believe that there very well could be a whole bunch of combinations of beings. I mean, if aliens came here, and they had four dicks, ninety-seven vaginas, and thirty arms adorned on their body, I would be impressed, but not surprised. ;)
lastmanonearthbutidroppedmyglasses
Infinite diversity in infinite combinations.
v
netutoring
Hell yes, she was lovely:)
LondoMollari58
According to myth, trans people could post their transition progress on Reddit and get some upvotes and affirmation in six hours. Now watch out! Here comes Imgur! We'll give it to them in SIX MINUTES!
netutoring
"What McCoy said in frustration, I say with pride!" - Paraphrasing Picard:)
PrincessLeliana
I've had friends go through it. Recovery is hell. It is awful and hard. Make sure you have people with you to help. Youre gonna be so happy.
ComicallyLongUsername
I've been through it, the first month or so of recovery is messy and bloody and frequently painful, and there are some fairly common minor complications, but honestly it's fine.
ScarletEmerald
I did it, recovery was a breeze. Most of my friends had an easy time with it too.
DocWino
You had your penis removed, urethra moved, vagina built, and it was a “breeze”? Thats not what I’ve read but congrats.
Badprenup
My partner and I was just visiting someone after they had their surgery. They were in their mid-60s and had no complaints about the surgery or recovery.
DocWino
Wow, I’m amazed!