Gender affirming surgery is available to men and women who want to change their sexual orientation. It involves the conversion of male or female penis and skin to females or vice versa. Some procedures include an orchiectomy or hysterectomy. Other procedures involve inversion of the skin and penis.
Hysterectomy
Hysterectomy, or gender affirming surgery, is a surgical procedure in which a male is surgically changed from a female to a male. About 0.4% of the world's population is transgender. This condition can cause symptoms of gender dysphoria such as physical and emotional pain. While medical management is a common form of treatment, surgery is another option for transgender men. Some common surgical procedures for transgender men include hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. According to the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement database, only 3.3% of transgender man underwent hysterectomy as a result of a gender change.
Hysterectomy for gender affirmation is relatively new and still evolving. In the past, hysterectomy was performed for medical reasons. However, coexisting gender dysphoria could have led to a decision to have a hysterectomy. This procedure is now covered by insurance.
Orchiectomy
Orchiectomy is the procedure that removes the testicles. It is one of many first steps in a transgender individual's surgery transition. It reduces the testosterone level and eliminates the testicles. This surgery can lower blood clot risk and simplify the patient's hormonal regimen.
The procedure is relatively simple and can be done on an outpatient basis. Depending on the type of surgery used, recovery can take between two to eight weeks. It costs between $3000 and $10,000 in Australia and may be covered by Medicare or private health insurance.
Inversion of skin and penis
The inversion skin-penis procedure is one of most popular transvaginal surgeries. It is also known as the "gold standard" of genital reconstructive surgery for transgender females. It involves placing the penis inverted in a vagina to create the look of a woman's natural vagina. The entire procedure can take between three and five hours. It may take several days to recover. To protect the newly placed skin, a special dressing must be applied to the inside of the vagina.
During the procedure, a standard protocol is used. The doctor will give instructions for aftercare to the patient. The medical team will provide a kit for you to use at home for follow-up dilations. You will also be provided with follow-up emails, and an appointment with your surgeon.
Time to recover
Post-surgery recuperation is a crucial component of gender affirming surgery. It involves the conversion from a male to a woman's penis. The specific type of surgery will determine the length of the recovery period. It can take from four to eight weeks. Most common is a mastectomy. However, a vaginoplasty (or breast augmentation) can be performed. Both procedures take at most one week to complete, but may require up to five or six additional weeks of rest.
Gender-affirming surgeries aim to lower testosterone levels in the body. This procedure can reduce the need to take hormone-suppressive medication and estrogen therapy. It can also preserve the possibility of having a child naturally. The recovery time for gender affirming surgery male or female varies depending on the type of procedure and the patient's condition.