Today we are going to talk about wound care, propping, and personal hygiene after having an erection device and testicular implants placed. Wound care is pretty simple compared to other stages of phalloplasty. There are usually just 2 incisions on the sides of your scrotum. Most surgeons just have you apply an antibacterial ointment like Bacitracin twice per day and keep the area uncovered. That’s it! Some surgeons recommend propping your penis after this surgery but others do not. My surgeon...
13 days ago • 1 min read
Waking up after surgery with new hardware in your body can bring some unfamiliar sensations. Here is what to expect: Your penis will be semi-pumped up after surgery. It will feel hard, which is so euphoric! It will most likely be a little sensitive, especially while milking. Your scrotum will be very swollen initially. Making it feel hard. This is temporary. As the swelling goes down, it will soften up. You will most likely be able to feel both the cylinder in your penis and the pump in your...
20 days ago • 1 min read
A lot of people are nervous about how to use their erection device. You think, “What if I can’t get it deflated?” “What if I can’t inflated it during intimacy?” My best piece of advice is to practice! AND don’t leave your surgeons office without doing a test run. You need to be sure that you can operate the device on your own. Do not let the surgeon make you feel rushed. Here are some helpful tips on how to operate the pump erection device. Hold the pump bulb steady with your non-dominant...
27 days ago • 1 min read
Last week, I mentioned that the biggest barrier to a smooth recovery isn't a lack of information, it's a lack of a System. Why do some people navigate this process with a sense of calm, while others feel like they are drowning in chaos? It isn’t about who has the better surgeon or the most money. It’s about moving from Reactive to Proactive. Most people treat phalloplasty as a series of random medical events. They react to problems as they happen. But true peace of mind comes from having a...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
For the last 7 months, we’ve covered a lot of ground in this newsletter. We’ve talked about everything from the orange rug disaster and one-handed showers to the mental adrenaline drop and the mystery of Stage 2 complications. If you’ve been reading along, you’ve realized one thing: Information isn’t the problem. You can find supply lists and surgery photos all over the internet. The problem is Structure. Most people prepare for phalloplasty like it's a one-day event, but it's actually a...
2 months ago • 1 min read
If we don't laugh during recovery, we’ll cry. So let’s laugh at my expense for a minute. Story 1: The Orange Disaster. I had a shy bladder during voiding trials, so I was prescribed FlowMax to help. FlowMax creates urgency. I also ended up with a UTI as well. So I took AZO for the UTI pain. AZO turns your urine bright neon orange! So because of this urgency from the medication, I didn't make it to the toilet one night. My nice cream-colored area rug in my bedroom? Permanently stained...
2 months ago • 1 min read
We need to talk about the two words every Stage 2 patient fears: Strictures and Fistulas. What if a complication wasn't a "failure," but just a plumbing adjustment? The Stricture: This is a narrowing of the urethra due to scar tissue. If your stream feels weak, starts "spraying," or you feel like your bladder isn't emptying, contact your team. The Fistula: This is a small hole where urine leaks out from somewhere other than the tip of your penis. The Good News: Most fistulas heal on their...
3 months ago • 1 min read
In Stage 1, intimacy is a lot of "wait and see." But Stage 2 brings a massive shift, especially if your natal anatomy was buried. What if your penis and your natal anatomy finally started talking to each other? When the surgeon buries your natal anatomy at the base of your penis, something incredible happens. Stimulating your penis now stimulates your natal anatomy, too. For many of us, this can be very affirming. The Tactical Technique: Since your penis is still flaccid (no ED yet), it can...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Stage 2 is the "Plumbing and Aesthetics" phase, but the recovery timeline has its own specific rhythm. Unlike Stage 1, where you’re managing a massive graft, Stage 2 is about internal healing and catheter management. What if you knew the milestones before you hit them? • Week 1: The "Bolster" (bulky bandage) comes off your penis, and the catheter in your penis is removed. You’re left with the Suprapubic (SP) catheter. • Weeks 2–4: The waiting game. You transition from bandages to Aquaphor on...
3 months ago • 1 min read