Surgical Treatment

THE main thing to know about surgery is, it’s not just a surgery. It is a series of surgeries. There are a number of different options for surgery, as well as a growing number of techniques being performed around the world. So you will need to research all your options (surgeries, costs, surgeons and techniques) carefully to be sure you will get the results you want to have.

Evidence shows there is a high level of satisfaction for the outcome of sex affirmation surgery(1). There are a number of factors that contribute to your long term satisfaction. These include general health, success of the surgical procedures as well as family and social support.

Any surgery is a process. You will need to attend a couple of appointments face to face with the surgeon you choose and ask them what they need from you (usually a psychiatric clearance) to consider you for surgery. Every surgeon you intend to visit will require a separate referral from your GP.

Male sex-affirmation surgeries can be broken down into three broad areas:

1. chest reconstructive surgery (also called ‘top surgery’),
2. sex affirmation surgery (also called hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy) and
3. genital reconstructive surgery (also called ‘lower surgery’).

Health Insurance

• Paying for surgery
• Medicare cover for surgeries
• Health funds used by FTM Australia members

iSelect – help choosing private health insurance in Australia

Chest Reconstructive Surgery

• Chest reconstruction 101 – written with Dr Megan Hassall
• Questions to ask your surgeon
• Choosing your chest surgeon
• Surgery and weight loss
• Chest reconstructive surgery photographs

Sex Affirmation Surgery

This is removal of the female reproductive organs (hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy). Reasons for total hysterectomy include no longer having these “female” reproductive organs in your body; it removes your risk of uterine, ovarian or cervical cancer; you won’t need any pap smears or pelvic exams; and it makes it possible to correct your birth certificate.

• Testosterone and the female reproductive system
• Surgery costs for hysterectomy in Queensland (2005)
• Surgery costs for hysterectomy in NSW (2010)
• Hysterectomy Surgery – Andrew, Qld

Genital Reconstructive Surgery

The surgical procedures to create male genitalia, can involve a combination of one or more of the following (also called ‘lower surgeries’): metoidioplasty, scrotoplasty urethroplasty, testicular prostheses and phalloplasty.

• Genital reconstructive surgery (GRS)
• GRS resources – surgeons, personal accounts and photographs

References

1. Green and Fleming (1990) report a satisfaction of 97% for female-to-male patients.

 page updated 5 February 2012