Lalit Salve discharged after part one of GRS

Mumbai: Lalit Salve - the Beed police constable (29) who underwent part one of the Genital Reconstruction Surgery (GRS) a fortnight ago at state-run St George Hospital near CSMT - was discharged on Tuesday. Salve, earlier known as Lalita, was supposed to be discharged Saturday morning but due to a financial glitch, was able to get discharge only on Tuesday, said hospital authorities.

Salve underwent the first part of the surgery on May 25, where doctors initiated the process to elongate Salve’s urethra by creating a tissue conduit. It will take nearly a year and a half to complete all surgeries, said Dr Madhukar Gaikwad, medical superintendent at the hospital.

Talking to The Asian Age, head of plastic surgery Dr Rajat Kapoor, said, “His stitches were removed and all formalities were completed on time. Salve was discharged Tuesday morning.” “Salve needs to be careful and will be continuously on medication. The first part of GRS has been completed and he requires six to eight months for the next part. We have performed the surgery for free but medication and the rest of the expenses were there so his discharge was delayed.” Later, a hair transplant procedure will be performed to give Salve a moustache and a beard. “We will ask Salve what shape he likes, depending on which, we will do the transplant,” Dr Kapoor said. Talking to The Asian Age, Salve’s maternal uncle, Arjun Ujgare, said, “We are happy about Lalit’s new identity. We were waiting for some money for his medication and the rest of his expenses which is why discharge was delayed.”

Salve was kept in a VIP room and his bill of around Rs 12,000 needed to be waived off which was done by social workers with the help of NGOs. Salve will now travel to Beed with his parent, who have been in the city since the day of his surgery.