The Unbearable Lightness of Getting SRS in Thailand...

[JodieTs]

Originally Posted by hankhavelock

I?ve just spent two weeks in Thailand on a biz-trip. At the airport I hit the book store to find suitable reading, and what do you know... a book titled ?Ladyboys. The secrets of Thailand?s third gender?. sort of jumped into my arms In all fairness, I didn?t expect to learn a lot from that book as I do consider myself well versed in the deeper aspects of trans*life, however, it?s a very well-written book and especially one story grapped me.

Much bad can be said about the recognition of transgender rights both in Denmark, the rest of the west and the world, however, on this particular issue I do agree with a much more careful and inquisitoric approach before granting anything.

Yes, transsexuality is far more common in Asia than anywhere else, however the vast majority is pre-op and unfortunately there are many examples of post-op regrets.

To quote from the book: ?...but how I wished that I?d had someone to offer me just a little bit of guidance in life?.

A good first step could be for Thai legislature to change the easy access and at least include mandatory counselling by people who actually knows a little bit of the transsexual mindset (yes, there is such a thing).H

I bought Third-Sex-Kathoey-Thailands-Ladyboys In the new Bangkok airport when over there 4 years ago.
It was only the first or second week after opening, so very shiny.
I read the whole book on the flight back to the UK, where my parents were waiting for me; a surprise all round as apart from them, I was full time.
Still it enabled me to fully transition.
Anyway, this book raised similar thoughts to yours about just how sorted young poor thai's were when it came to srs.

There has been a tightening of legislation in thailand recently re srs & orchis.
Now you need a shrinks ok letter. Though this is unlikely to be a restriction in a few back street places that do srs.

My friend, Evil Helen, is over there in Nov with sanguan http://www.phuket-plasticsurgery.com/. She is full time for 25+ years but has no supporting shrink letters. {tons of docs proving living as female for 25+ yrs} This afternoon at a gender shrink[dr kenneth Demsky] hopefully getting an srs ok letter, as I type this.

[hankhavelock]

Yes, I've actually been informed, that the Thai laws are being changed. Good! I cannot give specifics as of yet, but let's all find out what's happening. It appears to be good news.

H

[crossingoceans]

I actually agree with H's first post, and there's something funny about this that, I've personally felt sometimes.

I believe that, when people want something so badly, some of them become stubborn and aren't willing to listen to other options, therefore, there's a high risk of taking bad decisions that will bring undesired consequences or regrets not only for the people who took the decision, but possibly to those who surround them.

I've personally felt this, call it a second though about whether to transition or not, and it does makes things confusing sometimes :/ specially with all of the social pressure.

However, one thing is true: it's a very important decision that should not be taken lightly and that requires a lot of critical thinking in order to make a right choice. Transitioning is NOT for everybody, and we still need to find out more information about this subject. Hopefully, time and research will give us more answers