The Skinny
Gender confirmation surgery or gender reassignment surgery can be a major component of a transgender individual’s transition. There are numerous surgical procedures from head to toe for male to female (MTF) transgender patients. Plastic surgery procedures are typically used in conjunction with medical and hormone therapies being administered under the care of a medical provider. You can also consult our female to male (FTM) gender confirmation guide.
All individuals undergoing a gender confirmation or gender reassignment transition are evaluated for mental health, emotional health, and physical health. This is to provide whole patient consideration and maintain standards of care for transgender health and gender dysphoria. Numerous international and national organizations exist to advocate, educate, and create a transgender community. The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), American society offshoot USPATH, and GLAAD are some of these institutions.
The Specifics
Who is a candidate for male to female (MTF) gender confirmation surgeries?
Candidates for gender confirmation surgery are individuals identified as male at birth who are seeking to fully embody their authentic female gender identity. The decision to pursue medical and/or surgical treatments as part of the transition journey is entirely unique to every individual transgender person. Anyone considering a gender confirmation surgery should consider their overall health, expectations of the procedure, and ability to commit to recovery times prior to pursuing treatments.What can you expect from male to female gender confirmation surgeries?
MTF gender confirmation surgeries vary significantly depending on an individual transgender candidate’s needs. There are both surgical and non-surgical procedures for gender reassignment.
Surgical options are more involved, but also more permanent, and will involve weeks to months of recovery. Non-surgical procedures typically provide less permanent results, but are also less invasive, and possibly changeable. Certain hair procedures may take years to achieve full, lasting results. Medical and hormone therapies may affect surgical procedures and so should be discussed with your providers.
When should you consider male to female gender confirmation surgeries?
The decision to pursue gender confirmation surgeries is unique to every individual transgender patient. Considerations for mental health and physical health are highly important components of the appropriate time to pursue procedures. Additionally, candidates undergoing medical and hormone therapies will need to discuss the possibility of surgical procedures with their plastic surgeon and medical provider.
What is the youngest age someone can have male to female gender confirmation surgeries?
Guidelines for pediatric individuals (those under age 18) pursuing gender affirming surgeries recommend that transgender candidates do not undergo genital reconstruction procedures including phalloplasty (penile construction), scrotoplasty (scrotum construction), vaginoplasty (labia, clitoris, and vaginal construction), oophorectomy (ovary removal), or hysterectomy (uterus removal) until they are 18.
Certain top procedures can be considered around age 16. A discussion with a certified medical provider is important in determining the most appropriate timing of all gender affirming procedures and therapies. Additionally, parental consent and complete physical and mental health evaluations will be necessary.
Facial Feminization Procedures
A combination of surgical and non-surgical procedures that address the forehead, hairline, nose, lips, cheeks, chin, neck, and more may be employed for facial feminization.
Forehead Contouring & Hairline Advancement
Eyelash & Eyebrow
Hair Removal
Rhinoplasty
Cheek Augmentation
Lip Augmentation
Chin Surgery
Neck & Jaw Procedures
Transfeminine Top Procedures
Breast augmentation via implants, fat transfer, or some combination of the two is the goal of transfeminine top procedures.
Transfeminine Bottom Procedures
Transfeminine bottom procedures can be used to remove male sex organs and create a vagina, clitoris, and labia.
Body Contouring
There are both surgical and non-surgical treatment options to shape and contour the body.
The Takeaway
For transgender individuals considering incorporating gender confirmation surgeries into their transition, there are a myriad of available procedures to further refine, define, and idealize their desired aesthetic. A plastic surgeon can assist with both sex reassignment surgeries and cosmetic transgender surgeries in conjunction with medical and hormone therapies from a healthcare provider. Candidates should also consider discussing with their insurance companies possible coverages for some of these procedures in the treatment of gender dysphoria.