I just had a sigmoid vaginoplasty with Dr Richie.

Bianca

Hello all,

I just had a sigmoid vaginoplasty with Dr Richie in Delhi. There wasn't much information about the experience on this forum before I had the surgery but I am willing to be totally transparent . If anyone has questions , please send them here. I will answer them on a public chat rather than a private discussion.

Dishsoap

Bianca That's amazing Bianca. Will post some question later.

sreemati

Bianca
1.What are costs apporx.
2.How long ago did you undergo the procedure?
3.What is you current status with regard to healing? Can you move or function normally?
4.How long was the surgery?
5.Did you stop estrogen before surgery?
6.How good is post operative care under doctor Richie?
7.How long do you have to stay in hospital?
8.Did you ask for any reference from earlier patients? Did you see previous results? how satisfying were they?
9.What doctor told you....your realistic expectation from your neovagina regarding functionality,complications and care?

Who is taking care of you? do u have family and friends there to provide post operative care?

Hasini

Bianca congratulations 🎉,
I heard that Dr. Richie performs Peritoneal SRS too. I know Sigmoid is well known method but have you checked with your doctor about this?

loftylark

Bianca I appreciate you for your helping nature . I congratulate you. You are great heroine for me and others . I know you heroPlease share every thing about your srs surgery ,it helps all others who plan for it. Are you satisfied fully for getting what you wanted by crossing the bridge hassle free . DR Richie means lady surgeon. Will you please get me her email I'd. I will be glad to get it done by lady surgeon rather than a male surgeon. I am sure you will help me. You can share how you feel now ? About pain in undergoing ? Price ? Age when you underwent ? When did you completed HRT? Etc . I know you can understand my eagerness to know about every thing related too the surgery and also face feminization, breast augmentation also. Your career too if you do not mind. ( I like to know your email I'd please please . You may get me by direct message , I am ew here I do not know how to send direct message please help me )how this procedure is better than inverted penis method .thanks a lot

Ellie

sreemati I have same questions in mtmy mind. Congratulations @Bianca

Bianca

Thank you for your questions, Sreemati

I paid 7.2 laks. This covered the surgery, hospital stay, tests done at Fortis. I did , however, have to pay an additional 75000 as I wanted to stay in hospital a bit longer. I was alone and didn't feel confident to go back to my hotel after 4 days. I ended up staying in hospital for a week.
I had the procedure last week
Regarding my healing all is going ok. I am pretty self sufficient now but just feel a bit tired.
4.My surgery was 3 hours: it was a secondary procedure. I had undergone penile inversion in Australia a few years ago. Due to issues with depth( my own fault!) , I decided to undergo this surgery.
5.Yes, I stopped taking estrogen a month before my surgery.
6.The surgery was done at Fortis in Delhi .The care was pretty good although I had some issues communicating with nursing staff as I don't know Hindi. My main point of contact was Dr Rajat Gupta who works with Dr Richie and another doctor who created the canal from my large intestine( am sorry, I forget his name). Both doctors visited me every day to check on things. I had my bandages changed after day 3.
I chose to stay for a week. I was originally set for discharge after day 4 .
I didn't ask for references
I hadn't seen pics of his work. I did however have a virtual consultation with him 6 weeks before my surgery. I felt comfortable going with him.
I was alone. My family are overseas. I used the help of a medical tourism company.

I hope these answers help you

sreemati

Bianca Thats really helpful.Thank you so much for detailed answers.

swapna

Bianca Thank you for sharing!!! This is really helpful!!

Dishsoap

Hi @Bianca adding to the list of sreemati questions.
What estimated recovery timeline have the doctors informed you about? Are there any follow ups required?
What level of scarring is to be expected?
Did you opt for labiaplasty?
Was it(labiaplasty) included in the surgery or are you supposed to undergo post recovery from GRS?

Please feel free to ignore question you are uncomfortable answering.

Bianca

Glad it helps you.

Bianca

Yes, Dr Richie does also do the peritoneal method. I chose the sigmoid method. Dr Richie mentioned the sigmoid method was more self lubricating which is something I wanted. Also, the peritoneal method is still a relatively new method: the long term impact hasn't really been researched and documented.

So far everything has been going well. My surgery was two weeks ago. Dilation is going well.

Hasini

Bianca thanks for clarifying. I wish you a speedy recovery. Do keep us updated

Bianca

Dishsoap
Thanks for your questions:

Regarding , the recovery time, Dr Richie wanted me to be in Delhi 4 weeks after my surgery. However, my recovery has fortunately went well so I only stayed 2 weeks post surgery. The surgery was done laproscopically which has helped in having less pain and a faster recovery. My main issue was feeling tired caused by the medication.
I had 2 post op consultations . During these consultations, Dr Richie just checked everything and observed me dilating.
I didn't have a labioplasty as I had originally had SRS in Melbourne a few years ago. I had zero depth at that time. This surgery was to create a vaginal canal using my large intestine.

I hope this answers your questions.

Dishsoap

Bianca Thanks for addressing my queries.

Kamlesh

Bianca I wish you a speedy recovery. Pl, share your experience after fully recovering. Your experience is helpful for others in the selection of a Surgeon.

The selection of surgeons for any surgery is very difficult.

Suman

Kamlesh Thanks for valuable feedback. 🙂

Hello1234

Thanks so much for this info. Good luck 🙂

Bianca

Thank you everyone for your lovely wishes. I am now three weeks post op from my sigmoid surgery and here are my thoughts:

My recovery has been going really well. I still have bouts of fatigue but I guess that's to be expected after such a surgery.
Dr Rajat Gupta and and Dr Richie Gupta were my two points of contact. Essentially, they didn't have to create a vagina as I had already had SRS a few years ago. My surgery involved creating a vaginal canal. The team which did that have done a wonderful job. I am happy with the result.
I have 6 dilators which increase in size. I am currently on dilator 4. I was told by my surgeon that dilator 4 is larger than the average male penis which was good to hear. My aim is to work up to dilator 5 over the next week .
There isn't any pain when dilating but moving to a larger size is uncomfortable at first. It takes a while to get used to the bigger size but after few days you get used to it .
My vagina is self lubricating. I do wear pads that I change twice or three times a day. While in hospital, I had non absorbent pads which needed to be changed quite often as I was "leaking " a lot. Now I use stayfree pads which are very absorbent.
Fortunately, the discharge doesn't smell. I am also able to eat normally. For the first 4 days after surgery I was on a liquid diet, then I graduated to soft foods. Now I can eat everything but I tend to err on the side of caution and continue to eat soft to semi solid food.

Hope this helps you all.

Bianca x

loftylark

Bianca hi we wish you recover soon. What I understsnd- you have fully developed vag instead of in one go, but in two phases . Am I right ? You are helping all of us by sharing frankly. Kudos. We are lucky to be associated with you here. I am eager to see you my dear lady . Facial feminization- at your convenience- let us have your darshan , mam. Due to hrt , do we come to know how to behave as a lady , or mannerisms as a lady or we have to observe cis ladies and pick up such things , I am curious to know many things from you . I am glad I have discovered an experienced lady or a senior , to me , which will be a great help to me as a lady. Once i become a lady, no one should believe that i am a trans lady but cis lady only. Is it wishful thinking or your guidance may help me in achieving my dream. Thanks a lot.
Love2belady

Kamlesh

Suman Thanking and happy for you 😄

Bianca

Thanks a lot.
The recovery is slower than I expected. I think I need to be more patient and less hard on myself. I have graduated to the monster dilator number 5. I actually think that's what saps me of energy.. Dilation 3 times a day while necessary is exhausting!

[deleted]

Bianca....hi Bianca .... can you precisely highlight on the following?

1) Depth
2) inner vaginal feel (self and partner)
3) Self Lubrication (getting wet)
4) Sensation
5) Was that a total laparoscopy or you have a scar on your abdomen now

not a compulsion to reply.... but if you can...it would really help everyone ...

btw....CONGRATS!!

swapna

[deleted] I think she is just recovering right? Maybe we have to wait and see atleast around a year to know what the ultimate result was for Depth, inner vaginal feel, self lubrication and sensation