[Asking MtF people who have had genital surgery, ideally in Chicago]
Hello! I started talking to my doctor yesterday about finding a surgeon for a bilateral orchiectomy. We both agreed Chicago would probably be a practical place to find someone experienced in the procedure.
I found two doctors: Dr. Loren Schechter, MD, and Dr. Traci P. Beck, MD. Both have come up in my searching, but I wanted to check if anyone in the community has advice / recommendations for who to go to.
I would just advise that the surgeon be someone who also works on other trans affirming surgeries, especially vaginoplasties, and knows how to perform the orchi in a way that preserves future options for a vaginoplasty. My orchi surgeon also later performed my vaginoplasty, and that’s common advice: to have the same surgeon perform the orchi and later the vaginoplasty.
Have you gone to local trans support groups and spoken with any local trans women who have had an orchi?
I know of a woman who will be having her orchi in a couple months in Madison, WI - I could always try to see how that experience goes for her and find out her surgeon if that would help.
I can also DM you details of my surgeon, people do travel from all over the country, and the midwest specifically, to see him, and I can confirm his work is excellent.
to have the same surgeon perform the orchi and later the vaginoplasty.
This is really good advice, thanks.
Have you gone to local trans support groups and spoken with any local trans women who have had an orchi?
I have never knowingly met another trans person IRL. I’m in a pretty red area, but I’m sure there are others. I have no idea where I’d look though.
I could always try to see how that experience goes for her and find out her surgeon if that would help… I can also DM you details of my surgeon
I would appreciate that!
The t4t app can help you find local trans folk.
I have only heard bad things about Dr Schechter when I was doing my research for my GRS years ago, as that was the closest doc to where I lived. I’d heard that his results were not great, and that he was very disrespectful, especially when his patients needed revision due to shoddy work. Those reviews are why I ended up going out of state for mine. I don’t know anything about the other doc. Good luck.
My brief look into GRS surgeons in the Chicago area ended with similar conclusions, there aren’t any (sufficiently) good ones in the area and you have to go out of state.
Admittedly this is a somewhat relative perspective, some people care less about aesthetics and are more risk tolerant, etc. so my advice to anyone is to find pictures people have posted of the surgeon’s handiwork, and read as much about people’s experiences with that surgeon as possible.
Personally I don’t care about bedside manner at all, the surgeon I chose is arrogant, vain, and spends as little time with his patients as possible … I chose him because results were good, and because he was such a skillful surgeon. Not everyone is like me or has my particular tolerances, so it’s important to get clear on your needs and what is important to you.
Dr Beck is good people.
Dr. Schechter is who did mine and he was great. The old reviews I saw said his care team at the time were bad and that his bedside manor was clinical. He answered all my questions, did great work, has a new care team. Mine was done is 2022. My ex girlfriend also went to him after I did so I got to go back a few months ago and say hi. I saw her results after as well helping her at home and her and her boyfriend are happy. If insurance will cover it I recommend going to the nursing care facility if you leave over an hour away from Rush.
Also he has written in wpath v8
