#ftm trans resources

[answersfromzestual]

Phalloplasty Procedure Full Outline Offical (Radical Free Flap Procedure)

What is phalloplasty/ phallo?

Phalloplasty - "includes several surgical procedures that aim to construct male genitalia that looks as natural as possible. The surgery is divided into several steps that may vary from patient to patient. Generally, they are the three following steps" (Source1) . We aren't going to count if the prerequisite of hysterectomy. Since my surgical procedure, they have removed the requisite of an oophorectomy, that procedure is now optional thanks to the always advancing technology.

The first step:

a surgery that consists of creating a penis from a skin flap from a specific area of your body (most common areas are forearm and lower back) of the body that you would chat about with the surgeon(s) and that specific skin will be grafted to the genital area.

The second step:

Here, surgeons construct the urethra that will llow urination. This is known as Urethra Lengthening (often referred to UL) (Urethra Lengthening Procedure Post)

The third step:

At this stage, you will receive testicular and erectile implants that will allow for penetrative sex. Note: this is not the only type of phalloplasty sugerical options.

The first surgical step consists of:

the creation of a penis or phallus from a skin flap and fatty tissue of the donorn site involving the removal of blood vessels (to create a blood supply) and nerves (this is where nerves are disconnected and reconnected, which can take some time to gain full tactile function or feeling. This skin will be grafted to the genital area where a penis would naturally sit on your body. The next part of the procedure is:

"the burial of the clitoris at the base of the phallus;

the creation of the penile urethra within the phallus;

the lengthening of the biological urethra;

the creation of the glans;

the creation of the scrotum;

the closing of the vaginal cavity; and

the removal of a layer of skin from the thigh to compensate for tissue loss

on the donor arm." - (Source1) Some of these things are not the same for every surgeon, be sure to ask about if your clitoris could be not buried for example, or different pumping systems, varying styles in surgerical procedures from clinic to clinic, even surgeon to surgeon.

The second step consists of the construction of the urethra:

This procedure connects the penile urethra so the part of the urethra inside the phallus itself to your biological urethra that was elongated in the first step of the phalloplasty surgical procedure. The connection of the urethra is made by creating a tube from the skin of the scrotum between the openings of both parts of the urethra.

Note that the anatomical makeup of the phallus is composed of only skin, fatty tissue, blood vessels, and nerves.

It does not contain any muscles or a sphincter (a muscle that opens and closes like your butt does aka "the breakwall"), which means that after the second step, you may have to empty your urine either temporarily or permanently manually from the portion of the phallus by applying pressure to the phallus. (UL Article)

A minimum of a six month waiting period is necessary between this and the next stage planning.

Permanent hair removal from the area that will be used to construct the urethra is also required to avoid complications (unless during the consult the doctor states otherwise). Note that it is impossible to determine in advance which area will be depilated since it must be evaluated after Step one. It is at this time that you will receive information about hair removal,

The third step:

Involves insertion of implants (erectile device and testicular implants).

This procedure will allow you to be able to get an erection in your penis (phallus) and now you have the ability of penetrative sex. Erectile Devcies Post

You will have to wait a minimum of three to six months after the second step (healing and surgeon(s) pending) and have no urinary problems before planning the third step. If complications do come up, they will have to be completely treated and healed before the implant surgery can be performed.

"Depending on the surgeon's assessment, the second and third steps may be reversed." (Source1)

Everyone has to decide whether to undergo one, two, or all three steps. Meaning you can stop after any phase/step of the three)

This choice is super personal and must be made according to what you need, your expectations of the outcome, and the impact it has on your daily life.

There are a few factors that may influence your decisions, such as wanting to urinate while standing, the desire to have penetrative sex, having more masculine genitalia, etc.

The estimated time to complete all three stages of phalloplasty can vary from two to three years, including the waiting I'm between surgeries.

These results may vary according to the age, weight, quality, and elasticity of the skin at the donor site, the scarring process, lifestyle habits and the overall health of the patients, healing, how well you take care of yourself, etc. The radial forearm free-flap technique is shown to produce the best results from bottom masculinizing surgery options.

Mandatory Prerequisites for Phalloplasty:

Hysterectomy with removal of the cervix done minimum six months before the phalloplasty procedure. *There are two options for this: removing the uterus only (called "total hysterectomy"), or option two removing the uterus, fallopian tubes, and the ovaries, also called "total hysterectomy with salpingo-oophorectomy"*

Permanent hair removal (second step when recommended to start). The recommended options are laser hair removal or electrolysis, which may be more beneficial for results. from the area of the phallus donor site to prevent complications with hair growth (fistuals), which can cause issues such as infection and even surgerical intervention to fix the issue area(s). Surgeons typically like to see the graft site not have any hair growth for a minimum of three months.

Talk to your primary physician and/or gynecologist to help you make an informed decision about your choice on the type of hysterectomy you get.

And talk to your surgeon and your primary doctor about which option of hair removal is better suited if one is not insisted on you using it.

A vaginectomy can be removed since only 2 cm will be used for the phallus.

Body Mass Index (BMI)

Before phalloplasty can be performed, it is important to know that you must have a healthy weight or have a BMI under 30, and you can not have excessive fat accumulation in your abdominal area.

"Being overweight and abdominal fat can compromise the connection of blood vessels during the procedure and lead to significant surgical complications.

If your BMI is 31 or higher you be most likely required to lose weight before the surgeon will perform the procedure.

Patients with a high BMI also have a decreased potential for healing and decreased satisfaction with surgical results." - (Source1)

Source List:

Source1 -GRS Montreal,Quebec, Canada - downloadable PDF -used as the direct quotes and most of the information

John Hopkins Hospital - used for an information source. -https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/phalloplasty-for-gender-affirmation

Cleveland Clinic -an information source (I barely used this)- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21585-phalloplasty

Article- Self written on Urethra Lengthening Procedure

Article- Self Written - Erectile Devices Available

[nothorses]

i think i cracked the code on converting regular underwear into packing underwear:

easily

using only a pair of sacrificial underwear

looks good (inside and out!), AND

keeps ur packer firmly and comfortably in place

if there is interest I can be persuaded to share my secrets

[shamebats]

More info on Radial Forearm "Flap" Phalloplasty which some ppl were curious about in the notes of the other post.

You're welcome.

The OP is Emmett Preciado (he/him), you can go watch this & the first phallo info video on his IG below:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Emmett Preciado (@emmettpreciado)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Emmett Preciado (@emmettpreciado)

[nekhcore]

HEY YOU!

Yeah, you! Are you trans? Do you like reading books? Or watching movies?

Do you like media about trans men/transmasculine characters but don't know where to find it?

That's sooo crazy because I have this little spreadsheet I'm working on where I'm trying to document all media with protagonists/major characters who are FTM or transmasculine.

The spreadsheet currently has 400+ entries spread across the following categories:

Books

Manga

Memoirs and non-fiction

Movies

TV Shows

Graphic novels / Comics

Webcomics

Audio dramas

Books and movies are also sorted by:

Which character is trans (MC, love interest, antagonist, etc)

If the trans character is POC

The trans character's sexuality (Because I saw lots of transhet guys sad about only being able to find gay romances)

If the author/actor is also trans (if we know for sure)

It's free to use, and free to add to as well! Editing permissions are on, and I check on the spreadsheet every now and then to make sure everything is in order and to clean up.

If you know something that isn't on the list, please add it! You don't have to fill in every single column, but fill it to the best of your abilities.

If you don't want to use the big ass long link below, you can also use: bit.ly/FTM-protags

I made this because I want it to be a community resource. So even if you're not a trans guy or transmasculine person, please reblog!

[tidyturnip]

[the-trans-advice-blog]

Please please please think of trans people of color when you’re going to make a generalized statement. When you’re making posts about passing tips, medical treatments for transitioning, even light hearted stereotypes include people of color in your sentiments.

As a black trans person it is so fucking isolating to see stuff I’m supposed to relate to only to find that they weren’t talking about me or people like me.

[genderqueerdykes]

Hi! What are some queer history sources you’d recommend on the transmasc experience that aren’t stonebutchblues? Also any tips on making a zine?

the best 2 i can think of off the top of my head will be Lou Sullivan and his various writings, some of which can be found here:

i also recommend checking out Original Plumbing, a publication for and by transmasculine people!

you can purchase issues, and you can also find them at libraries if your library has queer books :) i was able to find a collection called original plumbing: the best of ten years of trans male culture by Amos Mac & Rocco Kayiatos! these may be of interest to you!

as for writing zines, i actually don't really have a lot of tips, it's going to depend on how you want to write them, personally! some people prefer using physical mediums, some prefer digital. i really just sit down and write when the inspiration hits me, but i'm a writer in general so it kinda happens often. zines are kinda what you make of them, it can be whatever you'd like. sorry that's such a vague answer but it's really up to you! it's a good idea to decide if you want to do it digitally or traditionally, what topics you want to write about, what you feel you don't see enough representation for, and so on. what kinds of experiences do you have that you feel would benefit others if you shared. that kind of stuff

hope this helps! take care, stay safe!

[blorpingtonn]

Reminder that masc voice training is a thing! So if you have voice dysphoria you might wanna try it at least for a month or two and see if it helps :]

[our-ftm-experience]

A brief guide to Testosterone HRT

If you’d like the one for Estrogen HRT, ask in the comments and you shall receive.

Image from the Transpeak Discord - unsure of actual source (a clinic?) (if anyone knows, please tell!)

Alternate text under the cut

Alt:

What is the goal of testosterone therapy?

Testosterone has two main jobs: It causes masculinizing changes to occur throughout the body, and it suppresses the production of estrogen. Some of the changes caused by testosterone are permanent (they would remain if testosterone was stopped), and other changes are reversible.

How is testosterone administered?

Testosterone is available as injections, cream, or gel. Injections are administered either every two weeks intramuscularly (into the muscle) or every week subcutaneously (under the skin). Nursing staff provides injection training here at clinic. Creams and gels are absorbed through the skin and applied daily.

What are the irreversible effects of testosterone?

Testosterone causes voice deepening, clitoral growth, body/facial hair growth, and sometimes male-pattern balding (also influenced by age and genetics). Testosterone may irreversibly affect fertility. Desires for fertility should be considered prior to starting hormones, and for those seeking fertility preservation (or education about fertility preservation), referrals can be made to Lurie’s fertility preservation team.

What are some of the reversible effects of testosterone?

Testosterone causes increased muscle tone, fat redistribution (hips to stomach area), skin oiliness and acne. Mood changes (often irritability, having a “shorter fuse”) and heightened sex drive may occur. Menstrual cycles will change and eventually stop after some time. There may be genital changes caused by low estrogen levels.

What are some of the known side effects and risks of testosterone?

Testosterone may increase your metabolic risk profile — that is, the risk for conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol or blood pressure. The risk for heart disease is higher for people who smoke cigarettes, are overweight or have a family history of heart disease.

Testosterone causes hematocrit, the proportion of red blood cells in a volume of blood, to increase. This blood thickening, at high levels, can be life-threatening, causing stroke or a heart attack.

Testosterone can also cause increased appetite, headaches, and acne.

A low-detail diagram of the upper half of three bodies is displayed. From left to right, the bodies represent having been on testosterone for little to no time (a month or less), a medium amount of time (six to eight months) and a greater amount of time (a year or more).

The diagram is a visual representation of testosterone effects on the body. Hip mass shifts to the stomach area, The adam’s apple grows. Muscle mass grows and shoulders become broader. Facial and body hair grows on the arms, face, and assumably the legs not displayed in the image. The skin gets oily and acne appears on the face.

Testosterone affects: skin, muscle mass, body fat, body hair, voice change.

Increased skin oiliness and acne starts within 1-6 months of testosterone. Its complete effect can be within 1-2 years.

Increased muscle mass and strength starts within 6-12 months of testosterone. Its complete effect can be within 2-5 years. This effect is highly dependent on the amount of exercise one does.

Voice pitch deepening starts within 6-12 months of testosterone. Its complete effect can be within 1-2 years.

Body fat redistribution starts within 3-6 months of testosterone. Its complete effect can be within 2-5 years.

Facial and body hair growth starts within 6-12 months of testosterone. Its complete effect can be within 3-5 years.

Monthly periods stop within 2-6 months of testosterone.

Clitoral enlargement of 0.5 inches to 1 inch begins within 3-6 months of testosterone. Its complete effect can be within 1-2 years.

Male pattern hair loss starts when you have been on testosterone for over a year. Its complete effect date is variable. It depends on age and genetics, and can be minimal.

Sex drive also increases.

How do we monitor for safety?

Labs (bloodwork) are collected prior to starting hormones and every three months for the first year of treatment. In the second year, labs are checked every six months. Tests that are monitored include cholesterol, liver tests, hematocrit, and hormone levels. These labs can be drawn at Lurie’s or a local facility.

How quickly will changes develop?

Remember, it’s normal to want to see changes occur rapidly, but (just like in puberty) these changes take time! Most changes start to begin around 3-6 months after starting testosterone and take years to fully develop.

Will I look like my friend _____?

Remember, everyone experiences puberty differently. Factors other than testosterone (such as genes!) affect appearance. It’s impossible to predict exactly what changes will develop.

It’s important to take the prescribed dose of testosterone. Taking more increases health risks.

Always tell your health care provider if you have questions or concerns about your health.

[answersfromzestual]

Recent Announcements

I apologize for the very long absence. I have been dealing with health issues.

I appreciate all of you who find this blog useful. I sincerely apologize to people who have been waiting a long time for their questions to be answered or messages responded to.

Right now this blog is still taking questions, messages, etc. however with that said I would consider this blog semi-active. I periodically check in.

I want you to know that you are all incredibly strong and to remind you to take a step back and look at how far you've come on your journey. No matter what stage of transitioning you are in, you have worked hard to get where you are. I'm glad you're here today 💙 🩷

-Zestual

[the-transgenda-agenda]

ATTENTION TRANSGENDER MEN (AND NONBINARY PEOPLE) WHO ARE ON T OR WANT TO GO ON T.

After spending roughly the past week editing and updating the testosterone page of The Transgender Dictionary, I can confidently say that its pretty comprehensive at this point. Check it out!

please

[shamebats]

Bottom surgery questions part 3!

Part 1, Part 2 Bonus Info on RFF Phallo

Source: Emmett Preciado IG

He cut his hair but apparently he donated it so he's forgiven

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Emmett Preciado (@emmettpreciado)

[officialpenisenvy]

gio officialpenisenvy's DIY packer tutorial

are you transmasc and tired of shoving socks down your boxers? did you lose your penis in a freak accident and wish you could have your bulge back? do you know the basics of sewing and want to find out how to make a packer? you've come to the right place! i have been making and selling packers for a year, and this is my tried and true method for hand-sewing a packer in roughly half an hour, to results such as these:

MATERIALS NEEDED: felt in your choice of colour (if you want to use fabric, go for a jersey knit so it won't fray, and use more stuffing to make up for the lack of structure), sewing thread in your choice of material and colour, stuffing of any kind (i use acrylic batting, you can use an old pillow, cotton balls, fabric scraps cut into tiny pieces...)

SEAMS USED: a backstitch or running backstitch is the only seam you really need to know; i employ a gathering stitch and a whipstitch as well for aesthetic purposes, but if you only know how to backstitch you can absolutely make a slightly uglier version of this packer. if you're an absolute beginner, here is a helpful tutorial: just double up the thread and knot it for a stronger seam.

STEPS:

cut a piece of fabric approx. 25x25cm or 10x10in wide and fold it in half vertically, then draw a shape on the fold like the one pictured above, with the widest point measuring roughly 12cm or 5in and the smallest point (the shaft) measuring roughly 5cm or 2in

carefully pin the fabric and cut out the pattern along the shape you've drawn, leaving a small seam allowance of approx. 1/2cm or 1/4in (if you feel unsure in your ability to follow a small seam allowance, you can cut it larger and trim it to size later; if you're using fabric, a larger seam allowance is recommended)

sew alongside the seam of the shaft with a tight backstitch or running backstitch; you can tug on the thread after every stitch, so the seam will pucker up and give the shaft a more natural curved-inwards effect

close the top part of the shaft (the head) and the bottom part of the sac (roughly up to the marked X in the picture) with a tight and multiply-reinforced gathering stitch, almost like a drawstring effect; you can use a backstitch here, but it won't look as natural

turn the packer inside out and put your stuffing inside the shaft, packing it quite full (but not so full it has no give, as real soft penises are somewhat squishy); this might be tricky to do if you have short fingers like me, so you can use a pen or your scissors or any other thin elongated tool to help you get to the tip

stuff the sac a bit less than the shaft, and try to make two balls with your stuffing (you can see i have cut out two strips of batting in the first picture) so they look like two separate testicles

sew the sac closed: i used a whipstitch and pulled the thread tight so the fabric would gather and pucker like a real sac, but you can use a ladder stitch or a backstitch at your preference

to further separate the testicles, sew a few stitches down the middle of the sac, so the two balls will lay separate with a flat seam in the middle (pictured above you can see how the stitches should look from the back)

optionally, you can secure the very tip of the shaft to the very bottom of the sac with a few stitches, so the packer will stay folded and won't run the risk of opening up (of course, you can skip this step if you want your shaft and your sac to be able to separate like a real penis)

and here you have it, your packer is finished! you can wear it in your underwear directly on your skin, or sandwiched in between two pairs of underwear, or however you prefer. direct contact with water should be avoided as much as possible; the packer doesn't need to be cleaned daily, but a spritz with rubbing alcohol will kill most germs and get rid of any funky smells, and if it gets stained you can spot-treat it with a little water and soap and make sure it dries thoroughly.

[xiaokuer-schmetterling]

for my transmasc peeps !!!

and for anyone else who is interested in chest-flesh-supportive undergarments lol

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my review: i have personally used the gc2b binder--i didn't wind up liking it for myself because of the way the compression interacted with my sensory issues (and the heat. omg i was so sweaty in the summer hahaha) but also. i am very sensitive to fabric textures and prefer loose clothing and ngl don't even wear bras at all anymore so it really depends on the interactions between your dysphoria vs your dysmorphia vs your potential sensory objections!

and i'm excited by the new tape product (which btw is $14 per roll at time of posting) so i'm gonna check that out when i can!!!

ps! if you have financial struggles or barriers to gender affirming healthcare that would prescribe a binder for you--there is a donation program with partner organizations in 42 usa states. here's the link! and although this company is based in the usa, they have international partners in many countries!

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spoiler: the answer is yes

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PSA: list of resources if you are in an immediate mental health crisis (just checked, soz, this list is specific to usa, canada, uk, new zealand)--i will keep looking into more widely-available international resources

edit: this support group available online to ANYONE, ANYWHERE (with the obvs limitation of being hosted in english)

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end post

[chronicallyleggless]

Transgender userboxes! (Full pack)

[genderqueerdykes]

hello, i have a question concerning one of your recent posts talking about trans men, ftm and other male or mspec people being lesbians. i mean this in the most respectful way possible, but how could a trans man be a lesbian? isnt the whole point non men loving non men? im sorry if youve got this question before and thanks for answering in advance if you do

i get this question all the time lol but i don't mind answering. thanks for taking the time to ask!

that is radfem rhetoric that you've picked up from other people inadvertently- lesbian does not mean "non man loving non man," as gay does not mean "non woman loving non woman". "gay" is a form of queer attraction, so is lesbian. if we don't define "gay" by who we leave out, why are we doing so with lesbianism? we do not define who we are attracted to by who we leave out, that makes no sense. lesbian is a form of queer attraction that can include as many people as an individual feels is right for them. if we say "non men" to include nonbinary people why are we excluding nonbinary and other trans people who also happen to be men as well? some people are "non men" and men at the same time, so do we exclude them, too, or do we include them?

the logic falls apart instantly the second we remind ourselves that multigender, genderfluid, gender non conforming, genderqueer, (masc) nonbinary, genderfuck and other people who completely break the gender binary. and a lot of them are men and mascs. lesbians should not have to be shoved inside of a cis butch woman - cis femme woman dichotomy and nothing else. we've been tricked into thinking like radfems by viewing "proper" lesbian relationships as relationships between cis lesbians and feminine afab nonbinary lesbians (who are being viewed as cis women in this scenario) and nobody else. we need to allow lesbianism to be diverse, otherwise, we will continue this radfem echo chamber that has been going on for decades!

we must also consider that lesbian is a form of queer attraction, so it can include lots of experiences, just like gay can. nonbinary people, genderqueer people, trans people of all genders can use "gay" how they see fit, whether it means they're attracted to men, women, nonbinary people, intersex people, genderfluid people, and so on. people of all genders are allowed to do the same thing with dyke, sapphic and lesbian as well! the most common useage of the word lesbian is to mean wlw, but that doesn't mean every single lesbian, dyke and sapphic explains it that way. some lesbians, dykes and sapphics experience multiple modes of attraction! some are bi, pan, poly, omni and so on

lesbianism and men are not polar opposites. lesbians can be multigender or genderfluid. lesbians can be transmascs and trans men and guys and boys and men. lesbians can be boydykes and guydykes. many trans men and mascs start out in the lesbian community and find their home there. some find they never stop feeling like lesbians or butches or dykes. there are two-spirit lesbians who are also men. this is totally okay. this sort of thing can hurt intersex lesbians. this kind of thinking can hurt transfem lesbians and lesbian trans women as well if transphobic people consider them "men". we need to stop trying to exclude as many people as we can from lesbianism, and focusing on including people instead. lesbian is not and well not ever be an exclusive term that only applies to women and women only. let's be real, "non men" just means very feminine nonbinary people and ""women-lite"" enbies. this doesn't apply to masc enbies and trans people, because where does the line between "non man" and "man" begin? it doesn't exist

hope that helps! thanks for taking the time to ask! have a wonderful day you can also search the tags on this post on my blog as i talk about this a lot! :) this works best in desktop or in a browser on mobile.