I wanted to make this post for anyone considering vaginoplasty, especially with Dr. Dany Hanna. I’m about 2½ months post-op now, and overall my experience has honestly been phenomenal. Recovery definitely hasn’t always been easy, but it’s gone much smoother than I expected. I figured I’d share everything I learned along the way in hopes that it helps someone else preparing for surgery.  
The biggest thing I wish I had done was start pelvic floor therapy before surgery and actually take it seriously. I waited until after surgery, and I definitely regret it. Learning how to relax your pelvic floor before surgery can make dilation so much easier afterward.  
The second biggest thing is having a support system. Recovery is hard, both physically and mentally. Even if you’re independent, having someone there to help you those first couple of weeks makes a huge difference. You’ll need help getting around, picking things up, preparing food, and sometimes you’ll just need someone there emotionally. I really can’t stress that enough.  
Be prepared to spend a lot on lube. I started with Surgilube and personally hated it. Once I got home I found Slippery Stuff, and it’s easily been my favorite for the Soul Source dilators. Since packing removal I’ve probably spent around $400 to $500 on lube alone. It’s one of those expenses nobody really talks about beforehand.  
Stock up on pads before surgery too. You’ll go through way more than you think. I personally love the Walgreens brand ones because they’re affordable and they’re almost always on sale, buy one, get one half off. The 42 count packs lasted me a while.  
One of the best things I bought was a little rolling cart to keep all my dilation supplies together. Since I have pets, I could easily roll everything into my closet afterward and keep everything clean and organized.  
When it comes to dilating, don’t force anything. Use plenty of lube, and don’t be afraid to put some inside the canal with your finger before inserting the dilator. If it starts feeling dry, or you’re not making progress after 30 to 60 seconds of relaxing and diaphragmatic breathing, take the dilator out, add more lube, and try again. During those first couple of months you really can’t use too much lube.  
Medical grade Manuka honey was amazing for my incision lines where my sutures were, especially when I developed a small skin split. It helped a lot with healing. More importantly though, rest, hydrate, and then rest some more. Even if you think you’re being careful, doing too much can cause small wound separations. Healing really needs to be your full time job those first several weeks.  
As far as Dr. Hanna goes, I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Him and his entire team were wonderful. They assigned me a care coordinator who was always available whenever I had questions, and they made the entire process feel much less overwhelming. Before I left the hospital they also prescribed me more oxycodone and 100 mg gabapentin because my pain still wasn’t well controlled, and that helped me tremendously once I got back to my Airbnb.  
For anyone flying home, if it’s in your budget, I highly recommend booking first class. I booked the front row so I’d have extra room, easy access to the restroom, and I could get off the plane first. It made traveling home so much easier.  
Overall my hospital stay was really good. Most of the nurses and staff were amazing. There were a couple younger staff members who seemed a little less experienced, but nothing that affected my care.  
One interaction actually made me laugh. One of the younger staff members noticed my pronouns listed on my chart and asked what they said because she couldn’t read them. She then told me she didn’t understand why they were there because I looked like any other woman. I know some people probably would’ve been offended, but I personally laughed and took it as a compliment.  
If your pain isn’t controlled, don’t be afraid to ask for Dilaudid while you’re in the hospital. It helped me so much, and finally allowed me to relax and actually sleep.  
The hospital food honestly surprised me too. There were a lot of good options, and I definitely recommend taking advantage of the Juven drink mixes they give you. They’re meant to support collagen production and wound healing, and every little bit helps.  
As far as eating goes, I barely ate after arriving in Texas because the medications and stool softeners made me feel awful. After surgery I was constipated, so eating still wasn’t easy. I ended up going to Panera quite a bit because it sat well with my stomach. I mostly lived on smoothies, mac and cheese, and chicken noodle soup.  
I packed a couple comfortable outfits with shorts for after discharge and for my flight home, and I’m really glad I did.  
For anyone wondering about cost, my total bill was around $60,000 before insurance. I’m still waiting for everything to finish processing, so I’m not sure what my final out of pocket cost will be yet.  
Overall, I’m incredibly happy I chose Dr. Dany Hanna. Recovery isn’t easy, but if you prepare ahead of time, stay consistent with dilation, listen to your body, and don’t rush your healing, it becomes so much more manageable.  
If anyone has questions about Dr. Hanna, recovery, dilation, traveling, packing removal, or anything else, feel free to ask. I’m more than happy to help however I can.

My honest experience with Dr. Dany Hanna, 2 1/2 months post op, things I wish I knew before Vaginoplasty