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Gender Affirmation Top Surgery Brisbane
Gender affirmation top surgery, or transgender top surgery, is performed to alter a person’s chest in a way that aligns more closely with their gender identity. A patient may seek the procedure to transition to another gender or may identify as non-binary.
Accessible Consultation Process
Surgery in Accredited Medical Facility
A Patient Care Focused Approach
What is top surgery?
Gender identities are highly personal, which means that each top surgery procedure needs to be performed with a thorough understanding of the individual’s needs, and with an individualised approach.
Top surgery will typically involve either a Chest Masculinisation Surgery, also known as Mastectomy or Breast Augmentation.
Surgeons who operate at Valley Plastic Surgery in Brisbane will discuss each patient’s needs before planning a highly personalised top surgery procedure.
The two types of top surgery
Top surgery may help a patient transition from male-to-female or female-to-male. Some patients who may choose to undergo the procedure can also be identified as non-binary.
- Chest Masculinisation Surgery (Mastectomy): A mastectomy to remove the breasts may be performed for transgender men and non-binary individuals assigned female at birth (AFAB), who seek a more masculine chest appearance. It involves the removal of breast tissue to create a flat or contoured chest. The surgery may also include nipple and areola resizing and repositioning.
- Chest Feminisation Surgery (Breast Augmentation): A breast augmentation may be performed for transgender women and non-binary individuals assigned male at birth (AMAB) who want to achieve a more feminine chest. It involves the placement of breast implants, and/or the use of fat grafting, to increase the size and alter the shape of the chest to create a feminine appearance.
Every patient will be able to receive more information about their procedure options during a consultation with one of the experienced surgeons who operate at VPS.
Suitable candidates for top surgery
All candidates will require a thorough consultation, including a health screening process, to assess their suitability for the procedure. Ensuring that a candidate is suitable for their surgery is a key step that surgeons need to take to minimise complications.
Candidates will complete their consultation process at Valley Plastic Surgery in Brisbane. Our team will let you know if we require any additional information before or after your consultation.
Requirements in Australia
Currently, those seeking top surgery in Australia will need to have a history of gender incongruence for at least 12 months. Gender incongruence will need to be well-documented. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to make an informed decision and be over the age of 16. Suitable candidates will need to have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria by a qualified psychologist or psychiatrist.
Before your consultation, please contact our team if you have any further questions about Australia’s requirements for top surgery.
Physical health assessment
As with any surgery, a thorough health assessment is essential to determine a candidate’s suitability. Candidates should generally be in good general health without any contraindications to the procedure. They must not be pregnant at the time of undergoing the procedure and should be non-smokers or willing to quit when preparing for surgery.
For any surgical procedure, all candidates will need to have realistic expectations for the outcome of surgery and be willing to follow recovery instructions, attend follow-up appointments and follow any important requirements.
How top surgery can be performed?
The specific type of top surgery that is being performed will determine the procedure’s steps.
A patient, whether transgender or non-binary, may choose to achieve a more masculine chest or a more feminine chest.
Your surgeon will explain the detailed steps during your consultation so that you can have a good understanding of how your procedure will be performed. Gender is highly personal. Therefore, gender affirmation surgery will also be highly personal in nature.
Both types of procedures are performed under general anaesthesia by experienced and qualified surgeons at accredited facilities.
Chest Masculinisation Surgery
To achieve a more masculine chest, a portion of the breast tissue can be removed with a mastectomy.
During a mastectomy, breast tissue is carefully removed, and the remaining tissue on the chest is shaped and tightened. The nipples and areolae are also typically repositioned to suit the new chest shape.
The details of incision placements will be discussed with your surgeon in advance, as incision placements will determine where any visible scarring will be located. The surgery may be performed with minimal scarring techniques.
Chest Feminisation Surgery
To create a more feminine chest, breasts may be created with a breast augmentation using breast implants, a fat grafting procedure, or a combination of both methods.
A breast augmentation involves the option of breast implants in a variety of sizes, projections and shapes. These options allow for the highly personalised creation of breasts.
Fat grafting is performed by taking fat from another area of the body and moving it to the breasts. The transferred fat is carefully placed and shaped in the chest area. Depending on the patient’s desired aesthetic results, fat grafting can sometimes be combined with the use of breast implants.
Incision placement will depend on the type of chest feminisation procedure being performed. Your surgeon will outline where incisions will be placed during your consultation.
What should I expect during recovery?
Recovering from gender affirmation top surgery, whether it be chest masculinisation or breast feminisation, will require that recovery instructions are closely followed.
Patients are typically advised to limit strenuous activities and follow specific wound care guidelines. They may also be instructed to wear a compression garment, as recommended by their surgeon.
Immediately after surgery, patients may experience pain, swelling, and discomfort around the chest area. Pain management medications may be prescribed to reduce discomfort. Dressings and drains may be in place to aid healing, with drains usually removed within a week or two after surgery.
In the early stages of recovery, patients are usually required to attend follow-up appointments. These appointments allow your surgeon to monitor healing progress, remove stitches if necessary, and address any concerns or complications.
Most patients can resume normal daily activities, including work and exercise, within a few weeks to a couple of months, depending on the type of surgery and their healing progression.
Recovery is essential to reducing the risk of post-surgery complications, so it is highly important to follow your surgeon’s instructions closely. Your surgeon will tailor your instructions to suit the personalised details of your procedure.
Costs of top surgery at Valley Plastic Surgery in Brisbane
The costs of top surgery will need to be calculated after a thorough consultation.
The costs will need to be based on the type of top surgery being performed, the anaesthesia fees, the surgeon’s fees, the total procedure time, and more.
Each type of top surgery procedure involves different surgical techniques, materials (such as implants), and post-operative care requirements, which contribute to the varying costs.
The complexity of the surgery required for an individual’s unique anatomy and goals also influences procedure costs. For example, some patients may require additional procedures or modifications beyond the standard surgery to achieve the desired aesthetic outcome.
Factors such as the amount of tissue to be removed or adjusted, the need for nipple or areola resizing and repositioning, or the choice of specific implant types can influence the overall surgical complexity.
For a personalised cost estimate, you will need to discuss your needs during a consultation with your surgeon. If you have any questions about costs before your consultation, you are welcome to contact our friendly team.
Surgical risks and complications
Medically speaking, as with all surgeries, there are some potential risks that can be associated with a mastectomy, breast augmentation, and fat grafting.
The possible complications of these types of surgeries will be minimised with high quality patient care, taken by experienced and qualified surgeons who operate at VPS. Ensuring that a candidate is suitable for their chosen type of procedure and does not have any health contraindications to surgery will also be a key prevention step.
Potential risks and complications of these surgeries include infection, excessive bleeding, reactions to anaesthesia, temporary or permanent changes in sensation around the chest and/or nipples, seroma (fluid accumulation underneath the skin), blood clots, haematoma (collection of blood underneath the skin), and scarring.
If a patient has had a breast augmentation with breast implants, specific breast implant risks include capsular contracture (where scar tissue forms around the implant, potentially causing firmness or distortion of the breast shape), implant rupture, or implant leakage. These complications, if they occur, could require surgical intervention to remove or replace the implant.
Your surgeon will thoroughly explain the specific risks associated with your surgery, including your personal risk level. All patients should make an informed decision about whether or not to undergo surgery after their consultation. Surgeons who operate at VPS will discuss how associated risks can be minimised and prevented through preparation and aftercare steps, as well as how they can minimise complications during the surgical procedure.
Patients will be given information on the signs to look out for during recovery that could indicate a complication has occurred, as well as steps to follow to seek further advice or medical attention.
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