Not all trans people undergo surgical procedures as part of their transition, but if you're interested in pursuing gender reassignment surgery as part of your journey then we've prepared an overview for you.
What are the different types of gender affirming surgery?
Gender affirming surgeries can be broadly categorized into bottom surgery, top surgery, and other surgeries (for specific aesthetics or functions).
Bottom surgery
These are surgeries on the genitals.
Transfeminine
- Penectomy (removal of the penis)
- Orchidectomy (removal of the testes)
- Vaginoplasty (construction of a vagina)
- Labiaplasty (construction of labia)
You can read more about these here.
Transmasculine
- Hysterectomy (removal of the uterus)
- Bilateral salpingooopherectomy (removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes)
- Metoidoplasty (enlarging the clitoris into a penis)
- Phalloplasty (construction of a penis from skin grafts)
- Scrotoplasty (construction of scrotum and addition of testicular implants)
You can read more about these here.
Top surgery
These are surgeries on the chest.
Surgeries for transfeminine people include breast augmentation and reconstruction.
Surgeries for transmasculine people include mastectomy (removal of the breasts) and chest reconstruction.
Other surgeries
Other surgeries include facial feminisation, facial masculinisation, chondrolaryngoplasty (reduction of the “Adam’s apple”), and vocal feminisation surgery.
Your surgeon will be able to discuss the range of available surgical options to you, as well as the risks and benefits of these options.
What risks are associated with surgery?
All surgical procedures have risks. The specific risks will depend on the specific sort of surgery. Your surgeon will be able to advise you about these specific risks.
General risks that are common to all surgical procedures include:
- Bleeding: Blood loss is a common complication of any major surgical procedure. This can usually be managed by proper fluid management during and after surgery. If there is a lot of blood loss, then a blood transfusion may be needed.
- Infection: In addition to possible wound infections, surgery increases the risk of chest infections and urinary tract infections. This risk can be decreased by the use of antibiotics, proper postoperative care, and proper hygiene.
- Blood clots: Surgery can increase the risk of blood clots, such as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. This risk can be decreased by the use of prophylactic anticoagulant medications, compression stockings, proper postoperative care, and keeping mobile after surgery.
- Anaesthetic complications: Very rarely, people may have reactions to the anaesthetic.
Your surgeon will be able to advise you further on these risks, as well as on the more specific risks of specific sorts of surgery.
Do I need to stop taking hormones before I have surgery?
There’s no evidence that there is any need to stop taking hormone treatment before having surgery. However, if your surgeon stipulates that they’d like you to stop taking hormones ahead of surgery, we recommend you follow their advice.