Gender-Affirming Masculinizing Surgeries (Female to Male)
Gender-affirming masculinizing surgeries are a variety of surgical procedures that transgender men may choose to have, to help them feel complete in their male identity. There are several types of surgeries that can help your body become more masculine. You may have surgery to:
- Remove the ovaries (oophorectomy). Remove the uterus (hysterectomy). Remove the vagina (vaginectomy).
- Create a penis from a flap of skin (phalloplasty). Create a penis from the clitoris (metoidioplasty).
- Remove the breasts (mastectomy).
- Create a more masculine chest.
If more than one procedure is needed, the surgeries may be combined.
What happens before treatment?
Hormone therapy– It is recommended that you start masculinizing hormone therapy 12 months or more before your procedure(s). This involves taking the male sex hormone, testosterone, to help you develop some of the changes that occur during male puberty (secondary sex characteristics).
General instructions – Your health care provider will evaluate your readiness to have gender-affirming surgery. This involves making sure you have a clear understanding of the physical changes you will have, and evaluating the stability of your mental health. You may need psychological counselling.
What happens during treatment?
- Patient will be given a medicine to fall asleep (general anesthetic) and patient may also be given a medicine to relax (sedative).
- Depending on which procedures you choose to have, one or more of the following may be done.
- Removal of the ovaries, uterus, or vagina. This involves making incisions in the abdominal, pelvic, or genital area to remove those organs.
- Creation of a penis from a flap of skin. The skin may come from your arm, thigh, or another part of your body. Incisions will be made to remove the skin.
- More incisions will be made in the genital area to attach the skin.
- A second procedure to implant a penile prosthesis will be needed to allow for sexual intercourse.
- Creation of a penis from the clitoris. The clitoris may be moved, extended, and shaped to create a penis.
- Removal of the breasts. This involves making incisions in the chest area to remove them.
- Creation of a more masculine chest. This involves making incisions in the chest area to reshape the muscles and remove tissue.
What are the risks?
Generally, these are safe procedures. However, problems may occur, including: Infection. Bleeding. Blood clots. Scarring.
Gender-Affirming Feminizing Surgeries (Male to Female)
Gender-affirming feminizing surgeries are a variety of surgical procedures that transgender women may choose to have, to help them feel complete in their female identity. There are several types of surgeries that can help your body become more feminine. You may have surgery to:
- Create more feminine breasts (Breast augmentation).
- Modify male genitals into female genitals. This may involve: Removing the penis (penectomy).
- Removing the testicles (orchiectomy). Sometimes this procedure can be done without modifying the rest of the genitals.
- Creating a vagina, labia, and clitoris (vaginoplasty).
Sometimes, if more than one procedure is needed, the surgeries may be combined.
Depending on your needs, you may decide to have more procedures that will enhance your feminine appearance, such as: Reducing the size of the Adam’s apple (tracheal shave). Modifying the skin and bones around the nose to create a more feminine appearance (facial feminization surgery). Body shaping (contouring) to create a more feminine body shape. Hair removal by electrolysis, laser, or both.
What happens before treatment?
Hormone therapy – It is recommended that you start feminizing hormone therapy 12 months or more before your procedure(s). This involves taking the following female sex hormones:
- Estrogen. This hormone is responsible for developing the feminine body features that happen during female puberty (secondary sex characteristics).
- Anti-androgen medicine. Anti-androgens block the actions of male sex hormones (androgens), such as testosterone.
General instructions – Your health care provider will evaluate your readiness to have gender-affirming surgery. This involves making sure you have a clear understanding of the physical changes you will have, and evaluating the stability of your mental health.You may need psychological counselling.
What happens during treatment?
Patient will be given a medicine to fall asleep (general anesthetic) and patient may also be given a medicine to relax (sedative).Depending on which procedures you choose to have, one or more of the following may be done.
Depending on which procedures you choose to have, one or more of the following may be done:
- Creation of feminine breasts:- This involves making incisions in the chest area to add implants and change the shape of the breasts.
- Removal of the penis:- This involves making incisions in the pelvic or genital area to remove the penis.
- Removal of the testicles:- This involves making incisions in the pelvic or genital area and opening the scrotum to remove the testicles.
- Creation of a vagina:- This involves Making incisions in the pelvic or genital area. Opening the skin that contains the testicles (scrotum).
Removing the testicles
- Removing the head of the penis.
- Creating a clitoris from the head of the penis.
- Creating other female genital structures, such as labia, from the skin of the scrotum.
- Creating a vagina by inverting the skin from the penis, so it forms a pouch inside the body.
What are the risks?
Generally, these are safe procedures. However, problems may occur, including: Infection. Bleeding. Blood clots. Scarring.
This information isn’t intended to exchange advice given to you by your health care provider. Make sure you discuss any questions you’ve got together with your health care provider.
Book a Consultation for Gender-Affirming Surgery in Bangalore
If you are considering gender-affirming surgery, a detailed consultation can help you understand the available procedures, expected outcomes, risks and recovery requirements.
Dr. Rajendra can discuss your individual goals and help determine which surgical options may be appropriate for you.
Book a consultation for gender-affirming surgery in Bangalore.
Frequently Asked Questions
Both terms may refer to surgical procedures that help align physical characteristics with gender identity. Gender-affirming surgery is the more current terminology used in contemporary clinical guidance, while “gender reassignment surgery” remains a commonly searched term.
Yes. Gender-affirming surgery is individualised. Some people may choose only chest or breast surgery, while others may consider genital surgery or additional procedures. There is no requirement for every person to undergo every available procedure.
Not necessarily for every procedure or every individual. Hormone therapy requirements depend on the procedure, the individual’s goals and medical circumstances. Some people may not want hormone therapy or may have medical reasons that make it unsuitable.
Some procedures can permanently affect fertility, particularly those involving removal of the reproductive organs. Fertility-preservation options should therefore be discussed before surgery when future biological parenthood is important to the individual.
Recovery varies considerably depending on the procedure. Chest and breast procedures generally involve a different recovery process from complex genital reconstruction. Your surgeon will provide procedure-specific instructions regarding activity, wound care and follow-up.