Lalita Salve, the 29-year-old police constable from Beed who underwent a genital reconstruction procedure at St George’s Hospital, was discharged on Tuesday. After a week’s rest, Mr. Salve will rejoin the police department as Lalit.
Mr. Salve, born male, was raised as a girl due to an anomaly that made his genitals look female. He said, “After spending 29 years as a woman, I will take up my new identity fully. It hasn’t been easy, but I’m very happy now. I will complete necessary procedures for the name change after returning to my hometown.”
Dr. Rajat Kapoor, the plastic surgeon who operated on Mr. Salve, said the next surgery will be in three to five months. “At present, he is completely fine. The surgery went well. We have advised him rest for a week and then he can get back to work.”
The first surgery on May 25 was to construct an open tube that will allow him to pass urine while standing, and the second surgery will complete this tube. Later, Mr Salve will undergo a hair transplant. The entire genital reconstruction procedure will take close to 18 months, said Dr. Kapoor.
