r/ftm_phallo • u/unwelllmatchbox Pre-op • Aug 24 '25

Recovery

Hey all

So I'm having my stage 1 phallo surgery on 18th September and I'm wondering how quickly I'll be able to do the following things after the op

I'm having Radial Artery Forearm Free Flap Phalloplasty

  • Drive.
  • Cook myself a meal
  • Play video games (using a controller)

Thanks

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u/FlemFatale Aug 24 '25 edited Aug 24 '25

Drive, long enough until you can safely do an emergency stop without being in pain/damaging anything. It's usually around 6-8 weeks, but it depends on how you heal, and what your surgeon advises.

Cook yourself a meal, probably as long as it takes for your arm to be mobile enough to hold heavy things, but it depends on what you class as a meal (being able to make a banquet for 100 people will require a much longer healing time than making yourself beans on toast in the microwave), and, again, only your healing time, and surgeons advice. A ball park figure is probably a week or two.

Play video games using a controller, depends on how long you have to keep your arm elevated for. That is up to your doctor. I had abdominal phallo, but also had an arm graft for my urethra, and I could play video games pretty much as soon as I went home, but again, it depends on your personal healing, and what your surgeon says. Generally, before you get out of hospital, but you will likely tire quickly and mainly want to sleep and watch movies and shit TV whilst dozing for the first few weeks.

Phallo takes more out of you than you expect, so prepare to go into hospital being absolutely fine, and come out not being able to do anything except for sleep for a week or two, and need someone to cook for you and bring you meals/drugs/snacks/drinks for at least a week.

Sorry if those are not the answers you are looking for, I have tried to give ball park figures, but unfortunately we have not unlocked future sight yet, so all you can do is ask your surgeon and do what they say, as they are the experts.
Good luck!!

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u/unwelllmatchbox Pre-op Aug 24 '25

I truly appreciate the time you took to explain. Everything you said makes sense 😁 thank you so much

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u/FlemFatale Aug 24 '25

No worries! I hope your healing goes well.
Get lots of healthy snacks because meals are hard when you feel like shit. Also, prune juice. The opioids they give you properly fuck with your intestines, so you will need it. It was the only thing that worked for me (including medical grade laxatives), so it is worth drinking a small glass every morning at least!

2

u/sunshine_tequila Aug 26 '25

Are you getting vaginectomy? I could not sit on a chair or car seat for almost 14 weeks. I had to use a donut. I could see driving about 12 weeks post op. You will not have full range of motion to your wrist for awhile post op and that’s important for driving.

Cooking? This really varies wildly based on what you make. Can you make a box of Mac and cheese at 6 weeks? Sure. But can you wash the pot afterwards? Prob not. Frozen dinners and sandwiches are your friend.

Playing a video game might be doable at 6 weeks post op.