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status-publish hentry"> <header class="entry-header"> <h1 class="entry-title">History</h1> </header> <div class="entry-content"> <p><strong>Dr. Bowers is one of the few surgeons worldwide who perform surgical reversal of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). </strong>In 2007 and 2009, Dr. Bowers traveled to France and received training from renowned physician Dr. Pierre Foldes. Using delicate surgical techniques, Dr. Bowers removes scar tissue, corrects and reverses infibulation, and works to restore sensation. She performs these surgeries at no cost to patients (although there is an operating room and anesthesia fee). The surgical procedure is relatively simple and short in duration (under one hour) with most patients experiencing improved cosmetic appearance, sensation, reduction in pain and infection. Many patients have reported being orgasmic for the first time in their lives after healing from the surgery.</p> <p>Dr. Bowers traveled to Kenya in 2017 and 2018 to train local surgeons to perform Clitoral Restoration Surgery. The Kenya program is up and running and surgeons are available and ready to treat patients. In March of 2014, Dr. Bowers traveled to Africa to train surgeons at the Hospital Kamkaso “Pleasure Hospital” in Burkina Faso, where victims of FGM will be able to have identity-restoring surgery once the hospital is rightfully granted its licensure.</p> <p>For women considering this surgical procedure, there are many considerations. We attempt to be culturally respectful but forcefully disapproving of the cultural practices that lead to FGM. There appears to be a current of resistance against FGM in Africa with larger cities, countries (Kenya in 2013), and individuals beginning to say no to the practice. As women (and men!) communicate about the devastating effects on intimacy, relationships, and health due to FGM, the tide seems to be turning. Much of this education is leading to growing awareness of the consequences, that these so-called ‘purifying’ rituals do harm rather than good, I believe the tide is turning. Communication via cellphone and internet is helping to spread truth about this practice. That there is also a surgical procedure which can help to reverse FGM is also empowering to the people of Africa. Our goal in bringing the surgical procedure to Africa is to allow women to control their own destiny, to regain their sense of identity as women and as sexual human beings.</p> <p>Unfortunately, there remains enormous work to do. Even Burkina Faso, which has had wide support for the FGM reversal procedure and outlawed the practice of FGM in 1996, there are still pockets of stubbornness and ignorance—as evidenced by our hospital denial and medical privilege revocation in 2014. Female sexuality is still devalued and traditions remain strong. Worse, the major source of perpetuation of the FGM practice are the towns and villages where the majority of Africans live. It is in these small villages where information can be manipulated and myths perpetuated. Unfortunately, it is often the ‘cutters’, women who benefit economically from performing FGM, who continue to promote FGM as beneficial to young women and girls. These beneficial claims vary wildly from desirability to purification to improved health—all false and misleading. Quite the contrary as women after FGM grow to have medical and obstetrical complications, urinary tract infections, misery during sex and intimacy and ruined relationships—-all due to FGM. Education, honesty and sincerity are the keys to bringing a better future to the women of Africa. Our role is expected to be supportive and short as the People of Africa assume control of their collective futures.</p> </div> <footer class="entry-meta"> </footer> </article> </div> </div> <div class="column span-1 last"> <aside> <div> <ul class="socialicons clear">  <li class="icon facebook"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/GenderSurgery" target="_blank">Facebook</a></li> <li class="icon linkedin"><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/marci-bowers/5/377/343" target="_blank">Linkedin</a></li> </ul> </div> <div> <div class="tertiary sidebar-container" role="complementary"> <div class="sidebar-inner"> <div class="widget"> <aside id="search-3" class="widget widget_search"> <form role="search" method="get" id="searchform" action="https://marcibowers.com/"> <input type="text" class="text" placeholder="Search this site" name="s" id="s" /> </form></aside><aside id="sks_templ_newsevents_posts-7" class="widget widget news-events"><div class="widget news-events"> <h3 class="widget-title">From Our Blog <span><a href="http://marcibowers.com/blog/category/appearances" class="more">see all »</a></span></h3> <ul class="latest_posts"> <li class=""> <a href="https://marcibowers.com/blog/dr-bowers-nyt-op-ed-piece/"> <span class="newstitle">Dr. Bowers’ NYT Op/Ed Piece</span> </a> <span class="newscontent"> What Decades of of Providing Trans Healthcare Have Taught Me. Click here… </span> <span class="newstime">Posted April 19, 2023</span> </li> <li class=""> <a href="https://marcibowers.com/blog/visiting-professor-lecture/"> <span class="newstitle">Visiting Professor Lecture</span> </a> <span class="newscontent"> Join Dr. Bowers for her lecture on Gender Affirming Surgery as a visiting… </span> <span class="newstime">Posted October 22, 2020</span> </li> <li class=""> <a href="https://marcibowers.com/blog/live-stream-on-june-4th/"> <span class="newstitle">Live stream on June 4th</span> </a> <span class="newscontent"> Dr. Bowers and Dr. Daniel Simon from the FACIALTEAM discussed how the pandemic… </span> <span class="newstime">Posted May 28, 2020</span> </li> <li class=""> <a href="https://marcibowers.com/blog/i-am-janet-one-transgender-womans-journey-and-her-pioneering-surgery/"> <span class="newstitle">‘I am Janet.’ One transgender woman’s journey and her pioneering surgery</span> </a> <span class="newscontent"> Read this article featured on The Star in Toronto regarding the first patient… </span> <span class="newstime">Posted November 20, 2019</span> </li> <li class="last"> <a href="https://marcibowers.com/blog/las-vegas-transgender-community-faces-barriers-to-health-care/"> <span class="newstitle">Las Vegas’ transgender community faces barriers to health care</span> </a> <span class="newscontent"> Dr. Bowers works hard to minimize healthcare barriers for her patients.… </span> <span class="newstime">Posted November 4, 2019</span> </li> </ul> </div></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </aside> </div> <footer class="footer-main"> <div class="column-box clearfix"> <div class="column span-3"> <span>Copyright ©2024 Marci L. 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