Lalita Salve's sex reassignment surgery today

Mumbai: Lalita Salve (29), the constable from Beed, got a few medical check-ups done and is likely to undergo the Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS) on Friday. The surgery will take place at St. George Hospital. Dr Rajat Kapoor who is treating Salve’s case said that Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) has been consulted for the SRS. She told The Asian Age that she will be known as ‘Lalit” after the genital-reconstruction surgery.

Salve underwent a series of tests such as X-ray scan, ECG examination and blood tests to establish medical fitness for the upcoming surgery. Talking to this paper, Salve’smaternal uncle, Arjun Ujgare said, “It was a six-month-long and after struggling for so long we have finally received a nod from the police department and government. It’s a very happy moment for us. I would like to thank The Asian Age and home ministry.”

Plastic surgeon Dr Rajat Kapoor and his team will be performing the surgery; Salve’s operation is reconstruction of her genitalia that is SRS in her case, as Salve is already biologically male. Dr Kapoor said, “Salve was born with small external genitalia due to which her parents mistook her for a female and brought her up accordingly. However teste later revealed that Salve was genetically male with XY sex chromosome.” He further said that medicos will first carry out surgeries to ensure that she will be able to urinate like a man. Then they will work on reconstructing a penis.

Mr Kapoor has been treating Salve for over a  year. St George Hospital’s medical superintendent Madhukar Gaikwad said preparations for the surgery are underway.