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Home ❯ Services and specialties ❯ Gender-affirming top surgery

What is Gender-Affirming Top Surgery?

Gender affirmation may involve modifying secondary sex characteristics to reflect one’s gender identity. There are a variety of surgical procedures designed to help achieve these goals, all of which will be reviewed by your surgeon(s) to help create a personalized treatment plan that meets your goals.

What are the benefits?

After gender affirming upper body surgery at Optum Plastic Surgery in New York, you will experience:

  • Improved body contours
  • Your desired physical appearance
  • Improved self-confidence
  • Improved congruence between your gender and sex

Who is the ideal candidate?

Candidates for gender affirming, upper body surgery should be physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy. Generally speaking, candidates are actively under the care of a mental health professional with whom they have a long-standing relationship. Candidates should be confident in their decision for surgery and ready to take on the significant physical changes that often accompany surgery. Physically, ideal candidates for gender transforming top surgery are at, or close to their ideal weight, do not smoke or consume nicotine and are in good general health.

What can I expect from recovery?

Recovery will depend on the surgeries you and your surgeon decide on. You will generally experience soreness, swelling, and bruising. You may be asked to wear compression garments to avoid fluid retention and excess swelling. You will be sent home with a prescription for pain medication to ease discomfort and a detailed care plan to promote healthy healing. Your surgeon will closely monitor your progress with follow-up appointments. You will need a few weeks of recovery before returning to everyday activities.

What types of top surgeries are available?

The types of surgeries available to you will depend on whether you are transitioning from male to female, female to male, or are seeking a non-binary appearance.

Patients transitioning from male to female
  • Breast augmentation with implants
  • Breast augmentation with fat grafting
  • A combination of breast augmentation with implants and fat grafting
  • Peri-areolar mastopexy (for puffy areolae)
Patients transitioning from female to male
  • Chest contouring with a “double incision” approach
  • Chest contouring with a “keyhole” approach
  • Nipple resizing / repositioning (nipple grafting)

Frequently asked questions

Is there anything required before surgery?

Gender affirmation surgery typically requires a letter of support from a qualified mental health professional stating a diagnosis of gender dysphoria as well as a detailed history of one’s gender transition journey. Some surgeons may require a second letter of support from a primary care physician.

Do I need to take hormones before getting gender affirmation surgery?

Many patients do elect hormonal therapy prior to surgery, though it is not strictly required.

Is surgery covered by insurance?

Most gender affirmation surgery is covered by insurance. Your surgeon may recommend additional, optional contouring procedures that will enhance your results, but may not be covered by insurance.

View all body contouring procedures ›

Cosmetic and reconstructive surgery at Optum ›