Vaginoplasty Revisions

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Introduction Overview Before Surgery Preparing for Surgery Planning for Recovery Surgical Results Gallery FAQs

Welcome to Legacy Surgical Partners – we look forward to caring for you! Our priority is to make your surgery process and everything in between as pleasurable, empowering, and accessible as possible. Patients are expected to follow guidelines established by the WPATH Standards of care Version 8. We follow these standards—not as a gatekeeping hurdle—but as minimal guidelines that are useful guideposts that are protective. Though regret for gender affirming surgery is extremely rare, we are medical professionals who are here at your bequest. Surgery is irreversible, which puts the onus of responsibility on both patient and provider.

We're here to help you make essential decisions and know what to expect in surgery planning and recovery. Our team consists of:

Surgeons
A physician assistant
Medical assistants
Our surgery scheduler
Office team
And you

That's right, you! We value your input, your perspective and all the work you are and will be doing to prepare for and recover from surgery. We look forward to getting to know you better and learning how we can help you.

We want to make your surgery and recovery as smooth as possible. We’ll answer any questions you have and make sure you have the best possible outcome.

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I. Vaginoplasty Revisions Overview

We know this surgery is extremely important. It takes incredible trust to allow a surgeon to perform this operation. We want you to know we are humbled by that trust and take it very seriously.

The first step in this process is understanding your options and creating a plan that meets your needs. We’ve created this overview to help you make important decisions and know what to expect.

What is genital feminizing revision surgery?

After your previous genital feminizing procedure, you may be looking for revision to improve functionality and/or aesthetics. Typically, our surgeries are done in one stage with historical revisions necessary approximately 10% of the time. When revision is necessary, it is important to determine if the concerns are aesthetic, functional or both. Revisions on other surgeons present unique problems but are creatively addressed while attempting to preserve aspects of the previous surgical result that are desirable. Our goal is not to pass judgment on a former surgeon but to add or improve upon what you have while minimizing scarring. Typical goals of revision surgery include:

External improvement in symmetry, fat distribution, labial definition, clitoral hood, clitoris size and location. Urethral spraying or misdirection may also be addressed.
Internal improvements such as destruction of retained hairs or granulation tissue or removal of excessive scar tissue.
Canal deepening or reopening after depth is lost.

Each patient’s surgery plan and results are different.

II. Before Surgery

Before your first consultation, we encourage you to:

Consider your goals and priorities of surgery. Consider potential complications and aspects of revision that may not necessarily be crucial to your self-image.
Write down your questions and bring them with you to your visit.
You may ask a support person to come with you, as two are often able to enhance the experience with deeper questioning and recollection of details

Your First Consultation

Your first consultation is an opportunity for us to learn about your hopes and goal. Your surgeon will review various surgical options and explain the process. Once we understand your goals, we will:

Evaluate your anatomy.
Pre-operative pictures may be taken.
Assess your overall health to see which surgeries can meet your goals.

A fair amount of time is spent during the consultation with your surgeon. In addition, you will likely meet the other members of your care team.

Genital Feminizing Revision Options

There are many techniques available and the terminology used could differ from office to office. We will cover the most common techniques used for revision. We will go over which options are ideal for you and which techniques can be combined to achieve your surgical objectives during your appointment.

III. Preparing for Surgery

Revision genital surgery is a surgery that will limit physical activity for typically 2-6 weeks depending on the surgery completed. A large part of its success depends on your preparedness. This means being in the best possible physical and mental health before the surgery.

Above all else, it is critical to have reasonable expectations about what is possible for your body and what your surgeon can realistically accomplish. We recommend you:

Speak with a mental health professional who has an understanding of gender care to help navigate these nuanced choices in addition to consultation with your surgeon
Connect with peers who have been through this surgery for support. Please keep in mind that each person’s surgical plan and experience is unique. Information shared on some online forums may not be relevant to your surgery. Due to patient privacy laws, we never comment on another patient’s specific issues or experiences. We are happy to clarify anything related to your individual care.

Maximizing Healing

We like to think abouts urgery like running a marathon. You will be stressing your body and will haveto do significant healing. In the weeks to months before surgery, maximizing your health–both mental and physical–will help you recover more quickly. To maximize healing, we recommend:

Getting roughly 0.5 gram of protein per weight in lbs a day to maximize healing (e.g. 150lb x 0.5=75g of protein per day).
Reducing sugar and processed foods.
Remaining active before having surgery. Keeping up with or adding a workout plan will benefit your overall health and support a speedy recovery. Examples can include adding daily walking, home yoga, or simple home workouts with body weight to your weekly routines.

IV. Planning for Recovery

We understand the importance and urgency of this surgery. We also know your success hinges on being well-prepared. Remember, this is a lifelong investment in your health. Optimal preparation can improve your chances of positive physical and mental health outcomes.

V. Surgical Results Gallery

Below are examples of vaginoplasty revision surgeries performed by our team. These images are shared with full patient consent and are intended to help you understand what to expect. They include pre-op and post-op views, which may contain nudity and surgical results.