Gender Confirmation Surgery
Overview
Summit Health is pleased to offer gender confirmation surgery (sex realignment surgery) for patients transitioning from male to female (MTF) and female to male (FTM). We feel very strongly about supporting transgender patients in their journey to realize their true self. It is important to us to maintain a safe, welcoming, and non-judgmental practice to care for patients going through transgender surgery, and indeed, any type of treatment that we offer.
Historically, sex reassignment surgery has not been readily available in reputable and established plastic surgery facilities. We feel that patients deserve services from a large multi-specialty group like Summit Health that has an established record of safety, caring, and high satisfaction rates for a long time.
For this surgery, we work with an entire care team. We do not start with the surgery until the patient is far along the transformation path. Most of the patients we work with have been on hormone treatments for some time and have had psychological evaluation and counseling. For example, FTM patients will have been taking testosterone for a period of time and will have already experienced some hair growth and muscle development. Patients must be stable from a hormonal perspective before gender confirmation surgery.
Candidates for the procedure are certain about their choice and have affirmed their transition gender socially by living as that gender for some time.
Most patients have two sets of surgeries – one for the face and one for the body. The face is usually done first since this is the part of the body that cannot be covered with clothing. After about three months, the procedures for the body can be performed. Ultimately, the order and nature of procedures is determined by the patient, in consultation with us.
Often, these procedures can be done at the same time. If the surgery would be extended for too long to be safe, however, the procedures must be divided. In some cases, patients must have three surgeries – one for the face and two for the body.
While we perform all plastic surgery procedures to change the body’s appearance FTM or MTF, we do not perform genital surgery. This aspect of gender confirmation surgery is performed at a few specialized centers that take care of both the urologic function and physical appearance of the sex organs.
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Gender Confirmation Surgery
MTF surgery involves feminization of the face, neck, and body. Bear in mind that these procedures are highly customized for each patient.
Generally speaking, the facial alterations might include:
- Making the forehead less masculine by reducing the prominence of the eyebrow area.
- Reshaping of the eyebrows so that they are more feminine, often with more of an arch.
- Rhinoplasty (nose surgery) for a more feminine-looking nose. Frequently, this includes reducing the size of the nose and refining the tip of the nose.
- Chin reduction for a less prominent chin.
- Adam’s apple reduction.
Body procedures usually include:
- Breast augmentation
- Contouring of the lower portion of the body, usually with transfer of fat (through liposuction) from one or two areas to the abdomen, hips, and buttocks to create a rounder, more feminine form.
FTM surgery involves masculinization of the face, neck, and body. Bear in mind that these procedures are highly customized for each patient.
Generally speaking, the facial alterations might include:
- Building up of the forehead with materials like hydroxyapatite, bone substitutes, or bone cement to create a more masculine eyebrow area.
- Rhinoplasty (nose surgery), often with cartilage grafts or implants to make the nose more prominent/masculine.
- Chin augmentation for a more prominent chin.
- Note that augmentation of the Adam’s apple is not usually considered necessary.
Body procedures usually include:
- Chest masculinization by removal of the breast tissue and reduction in the size of the nipples and areolae, usually involving nipple grafting. This surgery leaves visible scars on the chest, but produces a naturally masculine shape.
- Contouring of the abdomen, hips, and thighs, including reduction of the saddle bag area, which involves transfer of fat to the waist (using liposuction) to create less of an hourglass shape and more of a masculine, square shape.
- Pectoral implants are sometimes chosen by patients for an even more masculine-looking chest.
Your Gender Confirmation Surgery Consultation at Summit Health
When you meet with us for your Gender Confirmation Surgery consultation, we will have an honest discussion about your desires, expectations, and concerns, as well as the limits and risks of the surgical procedures. We will review your medical history and examine you in order to devise a highly customized surgical plan to provide you with the best possible results.
At our Plastic Surgery Center, the patient experience is of primary importance to us. We customize every single procedure we do so that it is tailored to what is best for you and you alone. This is especially true of gender confirmation surgery, which must be specifically designed for the needs of your body. Every case is carefully planned over multiple stages.
We will, of course, give you thorough written instructions to prepare for your surgery, as well as instructions for recovery. We will also answer any questions you have so that you feel comfortable about the procedures you will undergo.
Payment or Financing
Today, some insurance companies are beginning to cover gender confirmation surgery, although this coverage is not yet widespread. Please check with your carrier before your consultation appointment to find out if this surgery is a covered benefit.
If your insurance will not cover your procedures, we offer several convenient payment options that can help you handle the cost of your surgery.
We will be happy to discuss the options with you in our office. See our Insurance and Financing pages for further information.
Our Plastic Surgery Specialists
Peter Hyans, MD, FACS
Plastic Surgery
Jain Joseph, MD
Plastic Surgery
Daniel Pyo, MD, FACS
Plastic Surgery