Investigation, Research and Booking

I made contact in April 2021 with a beautiful woman named Savannah that had gender reassignment surgery in 2016 by Dr Sanguan Kunaporn.  I struck up a friendship with her and she was incredibly open and willing to share her experience with me.  She couldn't sing the praises of Dr Sanguan enough, and was very happy with her result.

I found that a company online called Beautiful You Holidays (BYH) offered surgery in Phuket at the Phuket Plastic Surgery Institute (PPSI), where Dr Sanguan was based.  The company had representatives in New Zealand and so I sent off an online enquiry in May 2021.  Whilst I could deal direct with PPSI, I wanted the security of dealing with someone local and having my transfers and accommodation arranged with an organisation that could recommend options.

Paula Vernon from BYH responded to my enquiry the same day, and we conversed by email, on the phone and zoom video chat regularly while I completed the required forms, sent photos and obtained readiness for surgery documentation and medical sign-offs over the following months. Paula's colleague and Trans specialist, Nikki Carlson, also had her surgery with Dr Sanguan, in 2015, and was very positive about her result and experience. 

We agreed on the procedures and costs and in July 2021 I booked to have surgery in Phuket on 6 July 2022.  BYH arranged a hotel in Patong for 3 weeks, I was going to be in hospital for the first 2 weeks but Fran, as my support person, would need somewhere for the full 3 weeks.  We chose Patong as a place to stay as it was near the coast, had plenty to do, and the rate was good.

Nikki and Paula were incredible and have become close friends

Taken during a video interview when we were documenting my journey and discussing the Thai covid entry requirements

I travelled to Queenstown in August 2021 to meet Savannah and spent a few days with her. She so very generously talked to me about her transition, her surgeries, her life experiences and relationships. We shared some similar experiences with our wives and children and spending the few days with her was incredibly informative, fun and affirming.  I knew I had made the right decision to go with Dr Sanguan and now had a year to wait for the surgery.

Savannah and I in Queenstown August 2021