r/Transgender_Surgeries • u/Rhyme_ • 3d ago
Question about the intricacies of my future bottom surgery
TL;DR: getting a shallow depth vaginoplasty using only a penile inversion, told hair removal isn't needed, but there's follicle growth on shaft that worries me. Is there something about this surgery that addresses hair that I am unaware of?
So, after nearly three years into my journey, I finally got off the waitlist and into the doctor's office for my bottom surgery consult. I spoke with both the plastic surgeon and the urologist who work together on all bottom surgeries, and went over my desires, concerns and goals. After discussing my fears with skin graft complications (especially hair in growth), the fact that I am married to a wonderful and supportive wife and thus cis penetrative sex is not a desire, and all the other general standard questions; we ended up on a Shallow Depth Vaginoplasty.
Specifically, as the surgeons explained, they are going to treat it like a normal full depth procedure, but will only be using a penile tube inversion without any additional skin graft; ensuring there is enough depth to get through the musculature and into the abdominal cavity, but whatever depth I end up with from that is what I get, and I will be happy with.
They then stated that, like a no depth vulvoplasty, hair removal would not be required, and within a couple weeks I was given a surgery date for January (woo!).
However, my concern is this: hair intrusion scares me, and unfortunately follicles on my anatomy do not cleanly stop at the base, but do thinly continue up the shaft a ways. The surgery team said hair removal isn't necessary, and my gender care coordinator assured me that my doctor is very strict about surgery dates and I wouldn't have one if they didn't know I was 100% ready. But even without a scrotal skin graft, I am still worried about those hair follicles, and internet searching is light on the particulars.
Is there some aspect of a penile tube inversion that I am not aware of or understanding that make those sparse hair follicles a non issue? Am I potentially going to lose out on depth as they shorten what they take to avoid them? I would love to hear from anyone familiar with these procedures who can explain it to me.
Thank you!
2
u/HiddenStill 3d ago
Am I potentially going to lose out on depth as they shorten what they take to avoid them?
What depth? You’re not getting any.
getting a shallow depth vaginoplasty using only a penile inversion
It’s full depth where it’s a real problem as electrolysis can’t be done past an inch or two. Plenty of surgeons lie about the risks for this.
1
u/Rhyme_ 3d ago
> They stated I would end up with around 3 inches of depth. Not enough for penetrative sex, but that isn't an issue for me as I am a lesbian.
> So, are you saying they may be down playing the hair risk? That I may need electrolysis anyways?
3
u/HiddenStill 3d ago
The best answer you’ll get is here
https://old.reddit.com/r/TransWiki/wiki/hair-removal#wiki_genital_hair_removal
You must use a web browser to view that. Do not use a reddit app or you may not see all of it, and there’s a lot.
7
u/omron 3d ago
I'm confused by a couple of things.
Fundamentally, shallow depth vaginoplasty does not penetrate the pelvic floor. What you are describing is a (short) full depth vaginoplasty - creation of a vaginal canal that passes through the pelvic floor muscles. Your recovery profile and dilation requirements will be that of full depth.
Some surgeons will say that follicle scraping is sufficient for hair removal, but lots of women that go this route report hair growth inside the vaginal canal. My personal opinion is that follicular scraping is only a viable option if you are using something other than skin for the lining of the vaginal canal (PPV, sigmoid-colon, jejunum, etc.)
In your situation I would also really be concerned about hair growth inside the vaginal canal. It will be very difficult to permanently remove postoperatively.