#mr christopher

Just to make everyone aware that Mr Christopher has been unwell since last month and has cancelled all of his upcoming surgeries.

Mr Lee and Prof Ralph are taking on as many of his patients as they can, while others are being offered the option of going with Chelsea & Westminster instead.

This will obviously have a huge impact on the waiting lists. For Scottish patients who had their surgeries suspended for more than a year, this will obviously be devastating as some were just offered dates which were then cancelled again.

It is impossible to say how long Mr Christopher will be off for, but it can only be hoped that New Victoria will do right by patients, especially Scottish patients who have been messed around for so long.

I’m left-handed and will be using that arm 

Can you use your dominant arm for radial forearm flap phalloplasty? Yes. You can use your dominant arm if your surgeon says it's okay. Unless there is a problem like limited blood flow, not enough fat or skin, or if there is significant damage i.e. deep scaring. Though these problems translate to either arm just so you’re aware. 

How did I decide which arm to use?  I knew that I wanted to use my dominant arm way before I was even sure I was going ahead with phalloplasty. I had my second opinion appointment (which you need for the go-ahead for surgery) almost 2 years ago, and I knew then that I wanted to use my left arm (my dominant arm). It wasn’t a huge decision for me, I just knew that would be what I would be doing. For a brief period of time, I thought about and considered using my non-dominant arm but I quickly realised that wouldn’t be the best for me, personally. 

Why am I’m using my dominant arm? The big question that I get asked a lot. The main reason for using my dominant arm is simply aesthetics. I want a good looking penis, so perhaps it’s a little vain. My non-dominant arm has a lot of self-harm scarring from my earlier years, and I just don’t want excessive scars on my penis. 

What did my surgeon say about using my dominant arm? He simply asked me why, and if I was sure. He was very laid back about it and didn’t have any issues. During my consultation with him, he took my pulse rate and pinched the skin (to see if I had enough for the procedure). Very simply, he was absolutely fine with me using either arm. 

They also confirmed that they have not sent any patients update letters about this process so they were unsure why some were getting letters and who these were actually from.

Hi Anon,

I spoke to St Peter’s a couple days ago and they still said the same line they have been saying for the last 6 months “we are hoping to know more within the next few weeks”.

It appears that those who have been referred for bottom surgery are receiving update letters. But a lot of those between stages or in need of revision surgeries have not received any updates at all. I am unsure why some get updates and others are getting nothing.

St Peter’s really are not being clear about what is going on and how this will effect everyone.

It is understandably that everyone will be worried and especially those between surgery stages or those who are waiting for revisions will be keen to have the same surgeon that has done their past stages as they have been the one who has started these surgeries and should finish/fix these.

It is also understandably that if the NHS do put different surgeons (especially new surgeons) in place, that this will raise questions about whether or not these surgeons have any experience in bottom surgery and whether we can then trust these surgeons to know what they are doing.

So we are opening this up to our followers.

Has anyone had their bottom surgery since March or were their dates cancelled? Has anyone been given a new date for bottom surgery with Mr Christopher’s team yet?

Being able to say that I am having stage one phalloplasty next month is so weird, it’s a great feeling. I have been waiting a fair while for this and it’s finally around the corner. In these weeks upcoming, I will be more proactive in posting how I feel and what is happening. I’m excited, nervous but excited. 

I turn 23 on Saturday, and where I didn't have a particular age that I wanted start my phalloplasty journey so long as it was under the age of 30; 23 seems a reasonable age considering how long I’ve been on testosterone and how long post op chest surgery I am.