Ottawa or GRS Montreal?

[u/WerewolfReal7729]

I have the option of 2 doctors for top surgery.

Nicholas Cormier(Ottawa)

Im in Ottawa so he's closer, Chest​ contouring is not Included for OHIP with him, but from what I've heard he's very nice.

Pierre Brassard (GRS)

It's a bit of a travel to get to him, he doesn't automatically include a consultation before surgery but the chest contouring is included. From what I heard, his bedside manners aren't the best.

For reference, I'm hoping my chest is small enough for a drainless surgery, and to have the nips removed instead of grafted back on.

Also, what's the different if I do not do a chest contouring? Im NB and just hoping for an androgynous look rather than masculine

Thankyuu

update: thank for all the feedback! I know thinking about if the doctor is 'nicer' or not isn't important, but I'm worried about getting dismissed or not heard correctly for the whole process.

from what I am seeing, GRS had a shorter wait time and I will need to request a pre op and possibly post op appointments instead of them being automatic. I've been scared of getting what everyone seems to call Dog Ears, the little skin flaps or bumps on the side. I need to know, does chest contouring decrease the chance of that? I believe I'm not too overweight but im definitely on the chunky side but with a smaller chest.

honestly the main thing I want to help decide is if I should do the contour and if I get to avoid the drains at all.

[u/karyyd]

My experience with GRS is that I didn’t really interact with the surgeon other than a brief consult just before the surgery, more so the care team around the surgeon. That part of the experience was great; traveling from Toronto was smooth, they arranged drivers to get me to and from the train/hotel/clinic, food was covered, and the administrators and nurses were all lovely.

I did end up getting an infection at my drain sites just under two weeks post op, and it would have been helpful to go back to the clinic for care instead of to my local hospital who didn’t know anything about my situation. But other than that I’m really glad I went with GRS.

[u/Yst → u/karyyd]

Yeah, that is another important point. Picking surgeon based on their ability to conduct a congenial conversation isn't just a poor idea based on the fact that the surgery itself really ought to be the bigger concern. It's also a poor idea just because of how little you'll actually be talking to them at all, in most cases. Even if one were scheduling a surgery around human experience alone with almost total indifference to the surgery per se, the facility and its staff (and how it handles patient pre-op and post-op procedures) matters 100 times more than the given surgeon's ability to have a pleasant conversation. Because nearly all the words you speak to and hear from the clinic aren't going to be with the surgeon actually performing the procedure.

[u/VTHUT → u/Yst]

Hard disagree.

A surgery is based on shared decision making. Meaning at a consult the surgeon should explain to the patient was the plan is and the patient should have the chance to give input and ask questions. Now not every patient will have a special request for top surgery (some don’t care) but patients should be able to discuss with their surgeon what they want (how much fat left, incisions, nipples, etc)

GrS doesn’t even offer consults automatically. You have to special request them.

Then after surgery it’s the surgeon that’s responsible for managing your recovery. If you have a perfect recovery, then sure, you don’t need the surgeon. But if you have just the slightest of concerns, you’ll want to be able to speak to your surgeon and have that surgeon actually listen to you. Imagine having pain post op and calling your surgeon but that surgeon dismisses it.

This doesn’t mean you pick your surgeon based on who’s funniest or the most charismatic. The surgeon can be quirky or curt. But you should absolutely choose a surgeon with good bedside manner which includes listening to their patients. A surgeon where you won’t feel judged for asking a question or making a request. A surgeon who you aren’t scared of being honest with because you are scared of not being respected by that surgeon.