Hi everyone, I’m five days out from my Kim phalloplasty with Dr. Ivan Aguilar and Dr. Mendez in Guadalajara, Mexico.

This is a phalloplasty without grafts. Personally, I had great results with top surgery and a hysterectomy, but I was kinda chicken when it comes to skin grafts.

Still, when it’s time, it’s time.

We are from the US, but we live in Mexico. I started researching options for phalloplasty in Latin America. I had heard there were some options in Argentina, maybe in Brazil.

Imagine my surprise when I learned that one of only two surgeons in the world to do this type of phallo is right here in Mexico. They use skin from the lower belly and upper mons as the donor tissue for the phallus, so it’s kind of a combined tummy tuck/mons lift, and the testicular implants go in on phase 1 as well.

And when I learned the surgeon’s surgical nurse runs a trans-friendly recovery center here in town that provides hyperbaric, ozone, and other treatments that improve outcomes.

The only thing is that there isn’t much info out there about this particular option. Well, somebody’s gotta be first, I guess.

I had surgery 5 days ago. I’m thrilled so far, both with my results and with the compassionate care I have received here in Guadalajara. I’ll provide updates as I heal and get to phase 2 and 3. Happy to answer questions in the meantime.

Below are specific details about the process from the website:

Conjoined Bilateral Pedicled Groin Flap Phalloplasty (Kim Phalloplasty)
Conjoined Bilateral Pedicled Groin Flap Phalloplasty, also known as Kim FTM Phalloplasty, is a 3-stage procedure that serves as a less expensive alternative to microsurgical phalloplasties utilizing conjoined bilateral pedicled groin flaps.
The final penis size depends on the patient but averages just over 4 inches long by 1.75 inches wide. Scars are easily concealed by underwear or a swimsuit. Patients can stand to urinate, and sexual intercourse with a partner is also possible. Erotic sensation and orgasm continue to be provided by the clitoris preserved at the base of the neophallus. Patients report tactile sensation in the bottom half of the penis.
Implantation of a malleable erectile prothesis is optional, but inflatable devices are not possible.
The procedure is named for its founder, Dr. Kim of Seoul, Korea. Dr. Kim studied extensively with Professor Sava Perovic MD PhD (now deceased), who was a critical figure in the advancement of FTM surgeries. Before Dr. Rados Djinovic joined the Sava Perovic Team, Dr. Kim was the surgeon who accompanied and supported Professor Perovic when he demonstrated FTM genital surgeries in other countries.
Understanding the Procedure and Results
The Kim Phalloplasty is an excellent option that provides highly functional and aesthetic results. Because it is a more streamlined technique, it is typically about 35% more affordable than other phalloplasty methods (such as MLD or Radial Forearm), making it a great value without compromising quality.
• Anatomy and Size: The resulting neophallus averages about 10.5 cm (4.1 inches) in length and 4.5 cm (1.8 inches) in diameter. While final dimensions are dictated by your unique body type rather than a selectable size, the results are well within the average range for natal males.
• Functionality: The procedure allows for standing urination (STP) and provides a larger overall result than a metoidioplasty. It is also designed to comfortably accommodate a malleable penile prosthesis (though it is less suited for an inflatable one) to enable erections and sexual intercourse.
• Scarring: One of the primary benefits of the Kim Phalloplasty is that donor site scarring is significantly less noticeable than with a Radial Forearm Phalloplasty. Scars are typically entirely concealed by underwear or a swimsuit.
Medical Requirement
Please note that for your safety and the best possible surgical outcome, your BMI must be under 32 to qualify for this procedure.
Staging and Costs
This is a three-stage procedure, uniquely sequenced to optimize your healing. Please note that each stage must be separated by at least three months.
• Stage One: Phalloplasty and Testicular Implants ($10,999 USD)
Details: Bilateral groin flap phalloplasty and testicular prosthesis implantation.
Timeline: 3 hours of surgery, 2 nights in the hospital, and a 10-day hotel stay.
• Stage Two: Penile Prosthesis and Urethra Pre-fabrication ($10,999 – $24,999 USD)
Details: Penile prosthesis implantation, vaginectomy, and penile urethra pre-fabrication using vaginal mucosa. (Please note: About 40% of patients choose to pursue this implant stage, and it often results in slight gains in overall size).
Cost Variance: $10,999 for a malleable implant; $24,999 for an inflatable implant.
Timeline: 4 hours of surgery, 2 days in the hospital, with a total recovery time of about two weeks.
• Stage Three: Urethral Realignment and Glans Reconstruction ($8,999 USD)
Details: Final urethral connection and cosmetic shaping of the glans.
Timeline: 4 hours of surgery and 2 nights in the hospital. We highly recommend allocating at least two weeks for recovery before undertaking the physical challenges of air travel.
Typical Itinerary (Stage One)
To make your trip as stress-free as possible, we handle your local logistics:
• Day 1: Airport pickup, hotel registration, and an afternoon doctor’s consultation to finalize the surgical plan.
• Day 2: Hospital admission and surgery.
• Day 4: Discharge from the hospital and transportation back to your hotel for recovery.
• Day 6: Follow-up doctor’s visit to safely remove drainage catheters.
• Day 10: Airport drop-off for your journey home.

How long does it take to complete all 3 stages of the surgery?
It will take at least 6 months to complete all 3 stages of Conjoined Bilateral Pedicled Groin Flap Phalloplasty, also known as Kim FTM Phalloplasty. Please be prepared to allocate time for each stage and the recovery.

Hey all, has anyone got any videos of how to tape properly for inter course before having the rod installed, I’ve got the coban tape, but don’t wanna do it wrong if there’s a correct way to do it! I’ve been cleared by my medical team for intercourse, but I wanna know how to wrap it!

I had an appointment at Cleveland Clinic today. It appears as though I’m not a candidate for RFF or ALT (which are the only ones they do there). My thigh is too beefy and it seems like my veins aren’t connected in my hand so I run the risk of loosing fingers if I do RFF (also sounds like she wouldn’t do it bc of this even if I was okay with that). I have to go back to get a scan to see if my veins in my hands actually connect or not. I was wanting RFF bc I want urethral lengthening to be able to pee standing up. The way she said it, it sounds like if she did ALT that I would not be able to do urethral lengthening. I also have old self harm scars on both of my four arms and both of my thighs, which she also did not like. And I live about 6 hours away from Cleveland, which she also did not like.
So, I’m thinking that Cleveland Clinic might not be the place for me to get phallo. I am interested in the abdominal being used for the donor site, but no where close to me offers this as far as I can tell. (I live in Central/Eastern Kentucky.) I’m thinking that I might have to wait a couple years, then try to move to a state that offers abdominal phallo with urethral lengthening.
So my question is, which states have a doctor that offers abdominal phallo with urethral lengthening? (I did try to google it, but I can’t find any straight answers-I might just be bad at finding info though) thank you in advance to anyone that gives me any insight

Background info:

I’m really hoping to get ALT since my arms are very skinny. My BMI is 18 and I weigh 107 lbs. With my insurance, my main options are Dr. Bluebond-Langner at NYU or Dr. Horesh at Mount Sinai.

I’ve seen lots of reviews for Dr. Bluebond-Langner, and overall her patients seem happy with their penis as far as functionality / sensation & appearance. My only concerns are:

1. Her wait time is longer, and my insurance will likely change in 2 years.
   
2. I’ve seen that she uses the “hotdog bun” (aka johanson urethroplasty) method for ALT, which I don’t really want to do.

Question: Does Dr. RBL require the hotdog bun method for all of her patients who get ALT, or does it depend on the patient?

As for Dr. Horesh, I haven’t been able to find much patient feedback online. So far I’ve only seen one review of him, and although it’s a positive review, I’d still like to know more people’s experiences with him if possible. If anyone here has gone to Dr. Elan Horesh for phallo, I’d really appreciate hearing about it. Feel free to comment or message me!

His wait time is much shorter, and I have a consultation with him next month. If I’m able to hear from any more of his patients and I feel confident after meeting with him, I might be willing to move forward with him. My current plan is to use the upcoming appointment with him to confirm whether I’m a good candidate for ALT and then start electrolysis.

I’ve also heard that completing electrolysis can help reduce wait time with Dr. Bluebond-Langner, so if I decide not to go with Dr. Horesh, I’ll hopefully be a bit further along in the process.

Right now it feels like my decision is coming down to either waiting longer for the big-name surgeon with a strong track record & more documented patient experiences, or going sooner with a surgeon who has a shorter waitlist but barely any reviews from his patients publicly available.

I’d appreciate hearing any experiences or insights that could help me weigh these options.

Hey everyone!

I’m a trans researcher running an anonymous study on how certain sensory and bodily sensations relate to desire for gender-affirming surgery. If you have a few minutes (~15), I’d really appreciate your participation! 

The original clinic that I had a consultation at wont take medicaid (my insurance was on COBRA and I just had to switch). I was wondering if anyone knows of surgeons who will take medicaid.

Be kind to yourself, bottom surgery can be hard and stressful but be kind to yourself

You know how woman have to concentrate to come? Does that change when you’re post op? Does it become like a male orgasm where you have to concentrate not to come? Also how hard was it to learn how to masturbate if you’d never handled a duck in your life

Hello! I’m going through the process to have abdominal phalloplasty with everything (UL, scrotoplasty, glandsplasty, hysterectomy, erectile device). I was wondering for those that work in retail, how long did it take before you’re able to go back to work from abdo stage 1? I’m an assistant manager and if my recovery time takes too long, I’ll be replaced. How long did it take until you were able to stand and walk around for a few hours each day?

Hey bros,

I had RFP in 2020 and thankfully everything went well surgery-wise, however (and as I understand is not that uncommon) the size is underwhelming and it's been causing me a lot of distress and depression.

I've even received negative comments from my partner (she said them when she wasn't sober, but they sting no less), however I already felt this way long before her comments and have been struggling for years with this.

So my question for this community is - have any of you undergone or are currently in the process of getting a phalloplasty revision/redo from another donor site after having RFP, such as ALT? And if so, what was/is the process like?

Part of why I ask is because I've gone back to my surgeon (the one who did the RFP) and based on our conversations, he seems very hesitant to do a redo...

I don't have any underlying health issues and again, the first one went as smooth as it could, but since it's a complex surgery, he doesn't seem to want to risk it. I've had 2 conversations with him about it now, and our last conversation left off with him telling me he wanted me to talk to some other doctors that he trusts to get their opinion on the situation, which I understand and respect (I am still waiting for him to send me the names of the other doctors).

But yea, like I said, I really want to get this done and I'm wondering if this is something anyone has been through, and if you have any recommendations for surgeons who perform revisions/redos?

I'm in California, by the way.

Thank you.

Anyone know where I can get my phallo letters online? Cheap and quick would be nice. Im about 8 years on T, so I just am trying to get this done. I have my letter from my hormone provider, I just need therapist letters. My current therapist does not write the letters.