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Lalit(a) Salve’s first genital reconstruction surgery successful, say doctors

Doctors from state-run St George’s Hospital, where the surgery was performed by Dr Rajat Kapoor, said Lalit(a) Salve will undergo the second stage of the procedure after six months

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Lalit(a) Salve (front left)
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On Friday around 8.30 am, a team of four plastic surgeons began to perform genital reconstructive surgery (GRS) on Lalit(a) Salve, a constable from Beed. According to doctors, the first stage of GRS has been successful and he will undergo the second stage of surgery after six months.

The surgery was performed at St George’s Hospital by Dr Rajat Kapoor, who has been monitoring Salve’s case since a year. A tube was inserted in his urinary bladder in order to allow passage of urine, as in men. In Salve’s case, the urinary bladder was undeveloped, due to which his family mistook him to be female.

The surgery took around three hours. Salve was given general anaesthesia for the same. “In the first stage, we have tried to change the appearance of the genitals and functioning of passing urine. The base for preparing the conduit has been placed. After a gap of three to six months, we will perform the second stage of surgery during which the whole conduit will be ready. After two to three weeks, he can urinate like a normal person. After the surgeries, an operation will follow to change the appearance of the genitals and hair transplant for the beard and moustache,” said Dr Kapoor.

Doctors said the surgery went as expected. Speaking about the risk factor, Dr Kapoor added, “The only complication could be is a bit of skin infection. We are not expecting any complication in this case. We have taken all necessary precautions to avoid the same.” This will be the first genital reconstructive surgery performed at St George Hospital. 

Looking at Salve’s modest financial background, the hospital has waived off the operation charges. Dr Madhukar Gaikwad, medical superintendent of St George Hospital, said, “We asked the social work department to help them. We are doing the operation free of cost.”

Explaining about hormonal changes after the surgery, Dr Kapoor, said, “The operation will not affect his hormones. Whatever hormones were produced earlier will be produced even after the surgery because we haven’t done any surgery on the testicles. The sexual aspect of being a male will be investigated once the surgery is completed, after which we will decide how he can have a convenient sexual life. Hormone supplementation will be decided in the later stage.”

He added, “Producing sperms will be decided after doing a testicular biopsy. If the biopsy shows viable sperms are produced in the testicles then he will be able to produce kids. But if there are no viable sperms then there are low chances.”

Arjun Ujgare, Salve’s uncle, said, “Finally his wish to be identified as a male is coming true. He is stable now.”

Establishing Sexual Identity

  • Salve’s undeveloped urinary bladder led his family to confuse him for a female 
  • The surgery took around three hours and Salve was given general anaesthesia
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