Sexual Reassignment Surgery Core Procedures
Date posted: June 22, 2009I talked some earlier about the things that come just before someone gets an SRS (sexual reassignment surgery). Now let’s talk about the two core procedures involved: vaginoplasty and labiaplasty. While SRS is certainly not the only reason for getting either of these operations, it is by no means an insignificant one. For the SRS patient, the vaginoplasty and labiaplasty are performed at two separate times-first the vaginoplasty and then the labiaplasty some time later.
The vaginoplasty is done under either spinal or general anesthesia. During the surgery, the surgeon removes the male testicles and erectile penis tissue. He then creates a vaginal space below the patient’s urethra. To eliminate need of skin grafts, the surgeon uses the patient’s penile skin for lining the vaginal vault. He forms the clitoris from the penis glans. The surgeon then uses a small part of the scrotum to create the labia. Once done, the surgeon places a gotton stent within the patient’s vagina; it stays there, in place, for about five days. After the stent is removed, the medical staff instructs the patient to start dilating the vagina four times daily during the first 30 days. Also, a urinary catheter stays in place for eight days after the operation. Once removed, the patient can urinate while sitting.
As for the labiaplasty, its purpose is to bring better shape to the labia as well as other parts of the new vagina. This is done on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia. The patient will experience some swelling within a few days after the procedure; this swelling disappears rather quickly within a couple of weeks.
I do want to mention that SRS is considered a last resort for treating a person who suffers from gender dysphoria. The patient must understand that this process is irreversible. And, considering all of the procedures involved in it, it is not cheap. So the patient-and the evaluation that the patient must undergo-must determine that this surgery is absolutely essential for her to live a happy, fulfilled life.
In the future, we’ll discuss some more about what the SRS patient can expect as part of their life-changing transformation.
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