In the 60s and 70s, for more than a decade, Casablanca Morocco became known worldwide for a very special kind of tourism. It was here, in this mythical city that transsexuals from all over the world came to change their gender and make a new start in life. Casablanca’s reputation in this area was due to Georges Burou, an obstetrician and gynecologist.
Trans Sexuality
As Transgender Awareness Week unfolds, it’s timely to reflect on the contributions of Dr. Georges Burou, a maverick in the field of gender reassignment surgery. His groundbreaking work, rooted in the unlikely setting of Casablanca, not only recharted the course of medical science but also dared to confront entrenched societal norms. This exploration delves into Dr. Burou’s remarkable legacy, his pioneering surgical technique, and its lasting impact on medical science and the advocacy for transgender rights.
The controversial career of Georges Burou
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Born in France in 1910 to teacher parents, he grew up in Algeria, in Oran, where he earned a degree in gynecology and obstetrics before becoming head of clinic at the Algiers hospitals. Forced to leave Algeria in the 1940s with his wife and children after being struck off the French medical register for performing illegal abortions, he settled in Morocco.
He worked at Clinique Conte near Parc Murdoch, then at Clinique Val d’Anfa before settling permanently at Clinique du Parc near Avenue Hassan II in Casablanca.
He was a renowned gynecologist and quickly became known for the abortions he continued to perform illegally, as well as for in vitro fertilization, which he is said to have pioneered in Morocco.
Helping men become women
In 1956, he took it a step further and performed the first transsexual surgery. In a long portrait of him in Paris Match magazine in 1974, Dr Burou confessed: “I started this specialty almost by chance, because a beautiful woman came to see me. In reality, it was a man – I didn’t know this until later – a 23-year-old sound engineer from Casablanca, dressed like a woman, with ravishing breasts that he had grown thanks to hormone injections. He told me about his problems, with the deep conviction that his boyish body was a tragic accident of nature. Faced with this problem, which was new to me, I studied the male and female pelvis for several months and admitted him to my clinic, which is next to my office and under my apartment. The operation took three hours. The “patient” spent a month recovering. She was pleased beyond words. I had made a real woman of her.”
From that moment on, Clinique du Parc became the temple of gender reassignment, especially for the Parisian nightlife scene. Music hall stars, artists and athletes… The Clinique du Parc was never empty, and by the 1970s, Dr. Burou had performed over 800 such operations.
After being expelled from Algeria and disbarred from the French College of Physicians, he became an eminence cited as a reference and whose surgical practices are still used today. He was invited all over the world to share his experience. In February 1973, he presented a report at the Medical Congress on Transsexuality at Stanford University in the United States, and that same year he was invited to present his treatment at the International Congress of Sexology in Paris, at the invitation of the Collège des Hôpitaux de Paris.
In 1974, Time magazine followed in the footsteps of Paris Match and devoted a long report titled “The Sexes: Prisoners of Sex”, in which Dr. Burou appeared as an expert to talk about his exploits in Casablanca.
At the time, he was so successful that it was rumored that Michael Jackson and Amanda Lear had also passed through his hands.
The Burou Technique
Dr. Burou’s landmark contribution was the penile inversion technique. Before his innovation, male-to-female surgical procedures were rudimentary, marked by high complication rates and unsatisfactory outcomes. Dr. Burou’s technique, using the penile skin to construct a neovagina, was a paradigm shift. It offered not just functional improvement but also aesthetic harmony, aligning patients’ physicality with their gender identity.
Key features of the Burou Technique were:
- Innovative Design: The penile skin’s repurposing for neovaginal construction minimized complications and enhanced the surgical outcomes’ aesthetic quality.
- Focus on Sensory Preservation: Prior methods often overlooked the importance of sensation. Dr. Burou’s technique placed a premium on maintaining sensory integrity, significantly improving patients’ postoperative experiences.
- Functional Improvement: Patients reported not just satisfactory aesthetic results but also functional enhancements, signifying a leap forward in gender reassignment surgery.
Lasting Impact of the Burou Technique
Decades later, the core principles of Dr. Burou’s technique continue to underpin modern gender reassignment surgery. Its influence is seen in:
- Refinement and Adaptation: The original technique has evolved, integrating new surgical advances while retaining its fundamental insights.
- Redefining Standards: Dr. Burou’s method set new benchmarks for safety and aesthetic outcomes in gender reassignment surgery.
- Inspiring Global Practice: The technique transcended geographic and cultural barriers, influencing practices worldwide and becoming a cornerstone in transgender healthcare.
In Retrospect: Honoring a Legacy
In commemorating Transgender Awareness Week, reflecting on Dr. Burou’s contributions underscores the journey of transgender healthcare. His legacy is a reminder of the continuous evolution of medical science, driven by innovators who dare to think differently. Dr. Burou’s life and work inspire a future in medical practice marked by innovation, empathy, and an unwavering commitment to patient dignity and care. His story is not just about surgical advancements but about challenging barriers and embracing the diversity of human experience.
References
The Sexes: Prisoners of Sex. (1974, January 21). TIME. Retrieved November 19, 2023, from https://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,911027,00.html
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