Gender-affirming surgery: an overview

Gender-affirming (sometimes called gender-confirmation) surgeries are a range of procedures some people choose as part of their transition. No surgery is required to be valid in your gender, and most trans people have some or none.

Procedures people may consider

1. 1

   Chest / 'top' surgery

   Chest reconstruction (masculinising) or breast augmentation (feminising) to align the chest with a person's gender.

2. 2

   Genital / 'bottom' surgery

   A range of procedures such as vaginoplasty, phalloplasty or metoidioplasty, and related options. These are major surgeries with detailed assessment and recovery.

3. 3

   Facial surgery

   Facial feminisation or masculinisation procedures that adjust features such as the brow, jaw or nose.

4. 4

   Voice surgery

   Occasionally considered alongside or instead of voice therapy to alter vocal pitch.

5. 5

   Other procedures

   For example tracheal shave, hair transplant, or body contouring, depending on individual goals.

How decisions are usually made

On the NHS, surgery normally follows assessment at a Gender Identity Clinic and, for some procedures, a period of living in your gender and being on hormones. Internationally recognised standards of care guide eligibility and timing. Private routes exist too, with their own assessment requirements.

Magdalena can provide psychological support before and after surgery, gender dysphoria assessments, and surgical readiness assessments producing the written referral or support letter a surgeon or clinic asks for. Requirements differ between services, so check what yours needs. See the Services page or get in touch to talk it through.