Jazz Jennings reveals that sexual confirmation surgery has had a "complication"

The star of TLC's "I Am Jazz," describing her life as a transsexual teenager, spoke to "Nightline" co-presenter Juju Chang for a segment airing on Monday. Jennings, 18, said she knew very early that she was a girl, although she was assigned a man at birth.

"When I was 2 years old, I went to see my mother and I asked her," When will the good fairy come with her magic wand to change my penis into a vagina? " " she says.

In June, the star of the reality show had undergone a confirmation operation of its kind, but she added that several challenges arose. Before the operation, she had to lose 30 pounds, which was difficult according to her.

"It was really very difficult because I was addicted to food," she said. "And it's something that has comforted me." And I had to give up because the operation is so much more important to me than any other piece of cake or cake. of pizza. "

Jennings' use of puberty blockers forced doctors to innovate.

"I do not regret being stuck at all," she said. "But the only drawback is that I did not have enough growth down.

"So there was not enough tissue to work with during the operation," she continued. "And it was very difficult to find a doctor, a surgeon who was ready to practice the operation on me just because I am such a difficult case."

"They use the tissue that I have, the peritoneum, and can also undergo a skin graft," she explained. "I'm saying it's going to be like a patchwork vagina, Franken-vagina, so yes, as long as it's functional, it's all that matters."

After the operation, which would have taken nearly five hours to three surgeons, Jennings' recovery turned out to be a bit difficult.

"There was just one unfortunate event and one setback where things collapsed, and there was a complication," she said. "I had to come back for another procedure, but it was all part of the trip, the good thing was that it was just aesthetic and external, so it was not too dramatic."

And it seems that Jennings would not change anything. Reflecting on the day of her operation, she remembered: "I woke up in the morning after the operation, and I do not think I was so happy in all my life." It was like pure energy and positive. "

After her surgery, Jennings informed her fans about her recovery on Instagram. "I'm fine," she added. "Thank you for all your love and support."

The fifth season of "I Am Jazz", presented on January 1st on TLC, illustrates Jennings' journey.

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