GSP BC (Vancouver)

Your surgical team will provide you with many opportunities and resources to prepare for your surgery. This will include:

  • Pre-operative education sessions
  • Enhanced Recovery After Surgery guide. This booklet will help guide you through each step of the process and provide answers to common questions you may have

Below is a description of what generally happens when you access surgery at the Gender Surgery Program BC. This information is provided to help you start imagining what the hospital experience could be like- you will be given more detailed and up-to-date information once you meet the GSP BC surgical team and receive your Enhanced Recovery After Surgery guide.

  • The GSP BC nurse and Health Navigator will provide you with instructions on any preparations you need to do before your surgery.
  • The day before surgery, a nurse from the hospital’s Admitting Department will call to confirm the time of your surgery and the time you need to arrive at the hospital.
  • The night before your surgery, follow the instructions from your surgeon for when to stop eating and drinking.
  • The day of your surgery, arrive at the hospital’s Admitting Department at the time advised by the surgeon’s office.
  • Check in with the Admissions Desk. Get a wristband with your name, date of birth, PHN and the gender that is listed on your BC Services Card.
    1. HOT TIP: The team at GSP BC works with other hospital departments to ensure that your correct name and pronoun are used during your hospital stay. Hospital Admission staff will write the name you go by on your wristband ID.
  • You will be given some privacy to wash and change into a hospital gown.
  • A nurse will talk with you about what to expect. You’ll be reminded to remove your jewelry. You can ask any questions you have.You may be given some medications.
  • The nurse may start an IV, check your blood pressure, and assist you into the hospital bed.
  • The surgeons may visit you, do some assessments on the blood vessels in your arms and legs, and make some drawings on your body to guide the procedure. 
  • The anesthesiologist may visit you to talk about the anesthetic and answer questions.
  • You will be taken to the Operating Room in your hospital bed.
  • The nurses will assist you onto the surgical table and put on a blood pressure cuff and some monitors.
  • The Operating Room team will confirm with you the name that you go by, the name on your BC Services Card (if different), and the type of surgery you are having.
  • The anesthesiologist will talk you through going under anesthesia.
  • Once the anesthesia has made you fall asleep, the surgeon will begin the procedure. The procedure usually takes about 9-12 hours for phalloplasty and 5-6 hours for metoidioplasty. Your friends and family can wait for you in the waiting room.
  • When the surgery is over, you will be taken to a recovery area. Nurses will monitor you closely until the anesthesia wears off.
  • You will be taken back to your hospital room and the nurses will help you get settled. They will continue to monitor you, help you with pain management, and talk to you about your bandages and drains. Once you are settled, your friends and family can visit you.
  • After your surgery, you will stay in the hospital for 6-7 days if you have had phalloplasty and 2-3 days if you have had metoidioplasty.
  • You will then be discharged home or to your local temporary accommodations.