Indian hijras are very poor people who have often undergone castration and penectomy. Some have had the operations performed by doctors. Has anyone gone to India and spoken to hijras, and been directed to someone who could safely perform the surgery? I would think that it might be easier and less expensive, with the possible exception of the flight, than having it done in America, Europe or Thailand.

Once, I've checked the price in India, it about the same as in USA, except that over there they do it under general anesthetic while in Michigan it is done under local anesthetic. The cheapest by far is done by Dr. Thep Vechavisit in Pratunam Poly Clinic.

Thanks. According to http://www.tsroadmap.com/physical/vagin ... visit.html, he only charged US$125 for an orchiectomy in 2006, at his Thailand practice. His qualifications have been questioned, so I'd be wary of full SRS with him, but the orchiectomy might be worthwhile. Thailand has in any case become stricter about SRS since 2006 but perhaps easy castration is still available.

The castration ban is for minors only. Adults castration is still available but they might require a letter from a psy. For older men it's quite easier. Dr. Thep is a general practician who does SRS surgery for nearly 20 year. Never I've read any bad comment about his work except that he isn't a graduated cosmetician. He charge same price for foreigner as for local boys. Castration with local anesthetic cost about 150$ while SRS clinics this cost 2-3000$. Underground cutters charge about 1500-2000$. So at $150 what have you got to lose ?

$150 is good value, I agree. I wouldn't want to pay much for an orchiectomy. The thing about most doctors, if they are willing to remove testicles, is that they offer bilateral orchiectomy, preserving the scrotum for use in SRS or as a container for prosthetic testicles. A would-be eunuch typically does not want a scrotum. Even a skilled farm labourer could safely castrate a pig or a man, but he could be charged with practising medicine without a licence. It's a shame that sex-offenders are offered castration but law-abiding would-be eunuchs usually have to pay a lot of money.

Having it done by Dr Thep, there would also be the cost of travel and hotels, but many people regard Thailand as a great holiday and sightseeing destination. If you don't have a therapist's letter (and not everyone wants to be judged by a therapist), it would be best to make sure that Dr Thep doesn't need one, before making travel arrangements.

I would still be wary of SRS with him if someone still wanted sexual pleasure after the operation. On http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22815143 (different surname spelling because of transliteration from Thai), Dr Thep says "I do a standard surgery for male to female sex change - the same as you'd get in Charing Cross Hospital in London. We remove all the genital contents from the penis and the scrotum leaving just the skin. Then we make a tunnel into the person and use the skin to make a new vagina. The results are good - the ladyboys can then go and work in a massage parlour." There is no mention of using penile tissue to make a sexually sensitive vagina, or using the penis head to make a clitoris.

However, most would-be eunuchs do not want vaginas. If someone wants the full "oriental shave", with no penis, scrotum or vagina, India might still be worth more investigation. Indian clinics advertise quite expensive full SRS, but would-be eunuchs don't want that. On http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2 ... r-in-india it says "... a breast augmentation operation alone can cost about $1,000 — a considerable amount in India. Castration surgeries cost a similar amount." I understand that for hijras, castration, or "nirvan", means having everything cut off. $1000 is pretty cheap.

According to https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php?topic=186475.0, Dr Arnkoff charged $3500 for a penectomy in 2015, and that did not include an orchiectomy. Then there is the cost of travel and hotels if you don't live in Michigan. Some Indian hotels may be cheaper. Also, if hijras are also getting breast implants, it means that the surgery won't be performed by the traditional "old lady with a knife". If suitable doctors don't advertise, the hijra community may recommend one. However, Dr Arnkoff performs a perineal urethrostomy a month before the penectomy, so that the patient can pee sitting down and the hole doesn't heal over. I am not sure that cheap emasculation in India would be so meticulous.

i heard Mexico City is the cheapest including round trip airfare...you just need a passport and 'mucho donero.'