Both men and women can have gender affirming surgery if they wish to change the way they feel about themselves. It is a procedure to alter the penis or skin color of a male, female, or vice versa. Some procedures include a orchiectomy or an hysterectomy. Inversion of the skin or penis can also be performed.
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. Transgender men have other options than medical management. 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 men underwent hysterectomy for a change in gender.
Hysterectomy to confirm gender is a relatively new procedure that is constantly evolving. Historically, hysterectomy has been performed for pathologic reasons, and coexisting gender dysphoria may have prompted a hysterectomy decision. This procedure is now covered by insurance.
Orchiectomy
One of the first steps in a transgender person's transition is orchiectomy (or testicular removal). It reduces the testosterone level and eliminates the testicles. This surgery may reduce blood clot risks, and it can simplify a patient’s hormone program.
The procedure is simple and can be carried out on an outpatient base. Recovery can take up to eight weeks depending on the surgeon and the technique used. It costs between $3000 and $10,000 in Australia and may be covered by Medicare or private health insurance.
Inversion of skin and penis
Inversion of skin or penis is a popular method of transvaginal reconstruction. It is the best option for transgender women. To create the appearance of a woman's natural vulvum, it involves inverting the penis. It takes approximately three to five hours, and can take several days for recovery. To protect the new skin position, a special dressing will be placed in the vagina after surgery.
During the procedure, a standardized protocol is applied. The doctor will give instructions for aftercare to the patient. The medical team will give you a kit to do follow-up dilations at home. Follow-up emails will be sent to you and appointments will be made with your surgeon.
Recovery time
Post-surgery recovery plays an important role in gender-affirming surgery. This involves changing a male penis into a female penis. Depending on the type of surgery, recovery can take anywhere from 4-8 weeks. A mastectomy is the most common procedure, although a vaginoplasty and breast augmentation are also possible. Both procedures take at most one week to complete, but may require up to five or six additional weeks of rest.
Gender-affirming surgery is designed to reduce testosterone production. The procedure can remove the need for estrogen therapy and hormone-suppressive drugs. It can also preserve the possibility of having a child naturally. Recovery time for gender affirming surgery male to female differs depending on the procedure performed and the patient's health.