When my partner and I decided on having our SRS (GRS) we researched surgeons both within Australia and Asia. We both agreed that Dr Preecha Tiewtranon MD in Bangkok, Thailand would be our best possible choice.
The reasons for this were twofold. He is widely recognised as the leading surgeon in his field of Cosmetic Surgery in Thailand. From the information we had at hand, he has taught some of the other surgeons who now practice cosmetic surgery in Thailand. He has many positive feedbacks to the SRS (GRS) surgery. Secondly as with anyone researching surgery anywhere was the cost of the surgery. The cost was vastly cheaper than in Australia. We cannot reason why this is the case but for the cost of airfares/hotel/spending money and the surgeries we still spent less than if we had of had the surgeries in Australia.
On checking his website and the testimonials that can be found there and elsewhere on the internet it seemed the best decision. Through his website we saw the facilities available to us as patients and that made our choice easier.
Of course there are always some nagging doubts about travelling overseas for surgery of any kind.
When we decided to go ahead with preparations for our surgeries we contacted the surgeon by email. Over a few months we did not always receive a reply to our emails or we did not receive the answers to our questions. I cannot answer why this happened but in the end we rang the surgeon�s office from Australia and managed to get the answers we needed verbally.
We followed the guidelines set by Dr Preecha and gathered the documentation that he required to go ahead with our surgeries. I mention this because it has been known in the past that shortcuts have been taken and some pre-ops have had there operations without the due care and psychiatrists workup that is required by the Harry Benjamin Rules. Dr Preecha like many others today require letters from psychiatrists, General practitioners and alike before going ahead with any SRS (GRS).
The day of our surgery we met with Dr Preecha and we discussed our operations. He was extremely helpful and explained everything that was to follow. He showed us the implants for our breast enhancements and explained the procedure for that and the SRS (GRS).
The following morning I was awakened by a nurse taking my obs and slowly I started feeling the pain and discomfort although it was muted as the nurse had given me painkillers. I started then checking myself out physically. I had bandages around my chest and thighs and groin. I had further bandages around my upper eyelids where I had some surgery there as well. I had an IV in and at least three tubes coming from my thigh /groin bandages. Two were for blood and the other was for my catheter.
Later that morning I willed myself to get out of bed, with the help of two nurses I managed to hobble down the hallway to visit my partner in another room. It was a short visit as it was an effort and I soon grew tired. Eventually after a few days I was able to get out of bed on my own and hobble down to the garden area on the 4th floor. This garden area was a pleasant excursion from the ward as it was decorated with fountains and gardens and a smoking area. Although walking out from an air-conditioned hospital to Bangkok heat takes your breath away.
Two days later I saw Dr Preecha again and he examined me and thankfully I was able to urinate.
Over the next two weeks I saw him again twice. We stayed in Bangkok and did some shopping and sightseeing. Some days though the pain and discomfort was too much and I stayed in the hotel.
The day before we returned home we saw Dr Preecha again and he was very happy with the surgical site. I was given my letters for gender change and a letter for the airlines asking to provide me with a wheelchair if required.
The wheelchair became a necessity while waiting at the airport for our flight. I found I was in too much pain and discomfort. The wheelchair was provided by the airport and a young Thai man helped us around the airport. An added benefit was being pushed to the front of the line at customs and check in.