Sex change surgery broadcasted worldwide

[Nicke]

(Bangkok, Thailand) A sex reassignment operation performed by the man considered the foremost surgeon in the field has been broadcast around the world.

The surgery was shown in a closed circuit telecast to doctors who specialize in transgendered patients as a means of promoting Thailand's cutting edge in the field of gender reassignment.

"We want to show the world that our standards of treatment are comparable to the international level. That is why we have invited world renowned surgeons from Europe," said Dr Preecha Tiewtranon, who headed the surgical team.

Sex change surgery is a multi-million dollar industry in Thailand and Preecha, considered the leading doctor in the field in Thailand, possibly the world. He began the specialty more than 25 years ago and his reputation is so good the majority of his patients are from the US.

He told reporters prior to the surgery that he performs sex reassignment operations on three to five patients a week.

The patient in the televised operation was identified only as "Pae" a 27 year old Thai national.

During the delicate three-hour operation, surgeons removed "Pae's" testicles and created an artificial vaginal c**** lined with the outer skin of the penis.

Preecha said the procedure was safe but with unskilled surgeons there was a danger of puncturing the patient's rectum and bladder.

But, sending patients to Thailand has been criticized by some American doctors. In the US patients are required to undergo a six-month psychiatric evaluation. Thai patients, however, need to see a psychiatrist once.

Preecha dismissed the concern saying that many patients do not want to see a psychiatrist because that would mean they saw themselves as mentally ill.

Preecha said that in more than a quarter century of performing sex reassignment operations he has never had a patient return complaining they had made a mistake and should not have had the surgery.