You realize that just because someone might get that qualification for GAS, doesn't mean they'll get the surgery anytime soon?
Because there is even LESS GAS doctors out there in Canada than doctors who treat Cancer patients.
It's not a question of what the person has, it's a reality of there aren't enough doctors; in this case cancer doctors, to handle the workload.
The two situations are not the same, at all.
24 months start to finish.
12-18 months in just hair removal then approx 6 months later the first butchering.
The Gender Surgery Program is comprised of a multidisciplinary team of health care providers and surgical specialists devoted to providing high-quality gender-affirming treatment and surgical care. Patients will receive care through the Gender Surgery Clinic throughout their entire surgical journey, including pre- and post-operative care, until discharged to their primary care provider.
The Gender Surgery Program offers both feminizing and masculinizing procedures consistent with the guidelines established by the World Professional Association of Transgender Health (WPATH).
Feminizing Procedures
vaginoplasty
vulvoplasty
revision surgery
Masculinizing Procedures
metoidioplasty
clitoral release
phalloplasty
penile and testicular implant surgery
revision surgery
All procedures will be performed at surgical sites in Vancouver.
For breast construction and mastectomy questions, referrals, and waitlist visit Surgery Referral
Unfortunately, we cannot provide your standing number as you wait for surgery. The waitlist changes are dependent on the complexity of surgeries, OR availability, differences in patient hair removal times, etc. We can, if needed, provide a general sense of where you fall in each stage of the process on request.
Resources
General
Workbooks
ERAS workbooks
Recovery and care
Lower surgery referral form (Print)
Download
Lower surgery referral form (Fillable)
Download
FAQ Vaginoplasty Hair Removal Template Change
Download
Vaginoplasty and Vulvoplasty Workbook
TransCare B.C.
View document
Phalloplasty, Metoidioplasty, ET Release Workbook
View document
Metoidioplasty
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) workbook
Visit the website
Phalloplasty
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) workbook
After completed referral - After the GSPBC receives a fully completed referral, patients are placed on an extensive, first come first serve waitlist dependent on their surgical type.
Intake and surgical consult - Patients will be booked for an intake appointment over the phone with one of the GSPBC Nurses. The purpose of this session is to confirm your medical history, and get a full sense of how best we can support you. At a later date, you will then meet with a surgeon either in person, or via zoom. They help provide more information about your surgery, answer questions, and help determine steps to move towards surgical readiness. For many, this includes starting on the process of hair removal.
Hair removal - The process of hair removal takes different amounts of time for each person, dependent on the type of surgery and your individual body (this can take up to 18 months). GSPBC is working with Trans Care BC to track hair removal progress. Trans Care BC will connect with patients and inform GSPBC once hair removal is near completion. Patients are then scheduled for a second surgical consult. *Please note that if Trans Care BC and GSPBC cannot reach you this may result in a discharge from the surgical program. To avoid this, please keep your contact information up to date and check your voicemail and email regularly.
Second surgical consult - This consultation is a check-in on your surgical readiness and helps to determine if any additional steps are needed. If all steps are completed, you are deemed surgically ready and added to a wait list for surgery. Please note the second surgical consult is often completed in person and may require a physical examination that can include one of the surgeons looking at your current genitals to help plan for your surgery.
Preparing for surgery - This stage involves multiple Allied Health professionals depending on your needs. You will meet with the GSPBC Social Worker for an assessment, and to help prepare multiple kinds of supports, travel, accommodation, and a post-surgery support plan. You will also check-in with the GSPBC Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist for an assessment and ongoing support as needed. When a surgical date is offered to you, you will receive further education on your surgery. An Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) booklet will be reviewed with the clinic nurse.
Surgery - Our aim is to provide patients 2 - 3 months’ notice prior to an available OR date for your surgery. We may offer an OR date sooner than this should there be cancellations. Surgery typically requires a few days of hospital stay, with the length of stay dependent on the type of surgery and follow-up requirements.
Post-op follow-up - Follow-up is provided by our team of surgeons, nurses, social worker, and physical therapist. This will look different for each person but requires multiple check-ins and support sessions for the first six weeks, followed by ongoing support as needed. Depending on your type of surgery you will be asked to stay local in Vancouver for a given length of time after you leave the hospital.
Discharge - When your post-operative care is complete, you will be discharged from the Gender Surgery Clinic to your primary care provider for any required ongoing care.
The Gender Surgery Program B.C., including the Gender Surgery Clinic, opened at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) in September 2019, making the Gender Surgery Program B.C. Western Canada's only program performing lower gender-affirming surgeries for transgender and gender-diverse people.
www.vch.ca