Patients from all part of the blog have been visiting India mainly for procedures like joint replacement, hip replacement, surrogacy, weight loss surgery, cosmetic surgery, dental care, organ transplants, Ayurveda etc. However, there was not or unknown numbers of medical tourists who visit for sex change surgery. Ideally, Thailand has been one of the most preferred location for sex change surgery. This trend in now changing and there is a growing number of foreigners who visit India for affordable sex change surgeries. Major part of those tourists consists from UK, US and Australia.
What is Sex change Surgery?
Sex change surgery also known as Sex reassignment surgery, Gender Affirmation Surgery (GAS), Sex Re-alignment Surgery or simply called a Sex-change operation. This is a procedure performed where pateints wants to changes in their sexual characterstics so that their sexual function and physical appearance resemble to the opposite sex. Most of the people who opt for sex reassignment surgery included those suffering from Gender Dysphoria (a kind of gender identity disorder) or the transgender people. The two kinds of processes are Male to Female and Female to Male. Female to male is more complex as compared to Male to Female. Both the surgeries include change of sexual organs and further procedure like vocal chord surgery for required change in the voice.
Why India is preffered location for sex change surgery?
- M Visa - New medical visa is quick to get and are valid for a year. Thanks to the Indian government approach to boost the medical tourism industry.
- Cheaper, fractions of what is costs in homeland and even cheaper as compared to Thailand.
- No waiting period
- Well connected flights from all over the world
- Advance health care facilities
- English speaking staff at most hospitals and easy availability of translator for non-English speaking patients.
However there are some things that patient like to know prior to visiting India for sex change surgery.
- Conservative approach on this topic
- Rejected transgender community in India
What are the requrement for gender change surgery in India?
- Spousal Release Form if married
- Patient must be abover 10 years of age (Major)
- In case of minor a parental release form is required.
- Must be in stable frame of mind, and are living in society as the new desired external appearance (Real Life Experience) for at least 1-year.
- Continuous consultation & counselling with psychiatrist (mental health physician) for at least 1-year; and approval with two independent Psychiatrists for surgery at two different intervals (a gap of at least 6-months) to rule out any abnormal mental status or infatuation or temporary attraction and IQ of patient. -
- Affidavidt from patient that he/she is a major and is capable of taking the decision for the procedure independetly. Patient must aso recognize that he/she understants the pros and cons of the proedure. Also knows the fact that process is irreversible.
Are there any complexities involed ?
Like all other medical prooecdure there are fear of infection and post-operation pain. But with advance technology these thing are taken care and there is no need to worry about. So far there aren't any reports of death during procedure thus we can say its relatively safe :). Morevoer majority of the patinets are said to leave happy life but a percantage of sucidal death of death due to unknown facts are also reported.Some other issues include:- Patient might not be satisfied with the desired results of sex changes
- Dysfunctional penis in male to female procedure.
- Process is irreversible
- Once gender changes patient can't become father or mother.
