Gender Reassignment Surgery

When an individual feels that their birth gender does not match their gender identity, it is known as gender dysphoria and is considered a medical condition.

The individual might choose to undergo gender reassignment to medically and surgically alter their body to match the gender of their desire. 

A gender reassignment surgery is a procedure that allows people to change their self-identified gender. Most people today prefer to use the terms gender affirmation or confirmation surgery.[

1. Long-term mental health benefits
2. Improves quality of life
3. Less anxiety and depression
4. Provides higher self-satisfaction and self-esteem
5. imparts increased sex satisfaction in trans men and women
6. Improves overall physical as well as mental health

Gender reassignment procedure is preferred by the following individuals:

1. People who wish to undergo or have undergone gender reassignment procedures.
2. People who wish to be identified as a different gender instead of their gender at birth while not undergoing any medical intervention.

 

Those undergoing gender reassignment, with or without the aid of medical intervention, are said to be in transition.

 

Gender-reassignment surgery provides transgender individuals with a body that aligns with their gender. The surgery includes procedures that are typically performed on the chest, face, or genital areas. There are several options for transgender surgery:

1. Facial reconstructive surgery alters the facial features to make them appear more feminine or masculine.
2. Chest or ‘top’ surgery improves breast shape and size for a more feminine appearance or removes breast tissues to give a more masculine appearance.
3. Genital or ‘bottom’ surgery involves transforming and reconstructing the genital organs.

What happens during surgery differs depending on the procedure. For example, you may choose top surgery, facial surgery, bottom surgery, or a combination of these procedures.

Facial surgery may alter your:

1. Cheekbones: Transgender women often receive injections to enhance their cheekbones.
2. Jaw: Your surgeon may use fillers to enhance your jaw or may shave down your jawbone.
3. Nose: You may have a rhinoplasty done to remodel your nose.
4. Chin: You can choose to soften or make the angles of your chin more prominent.

As a transgender woman (assigned male at birth or AMAB), you may also undergo the following surgeries:

1. Reduction of Adam’s apple.
2. Construction of labia and a vagina (feminising genitoplasty).
3. Installation of implants into the breast (breast augmentation).
4. Elimination of the penis and scrotum (penectomy and orchiectomy).

Transgender men (assigned female at birth, or AFAB) might undergo surgeries involving:

1. Elimination of the ovaries and uterus (oophorectomy and hysterectomy).
2. Breast reduction or mastectomy.
3. Creation of a penis and scrotum (metoidioplasty, phalloplasty and scrotoplasty)

Surgery is just one treatment option for gender dysphoria. Those who identify as transgender or nonbinary may not always choose to undergo surgery. However, depending on one’s age and preferences, they may opt for:

1. Hormone therapy: It is done to increase male or female characteristics, such as voice tone or amount of body hair.
2. Puberty blockers: It is done to prevent the process of puberty.
3. Voice therapy: It is done to adjust their voice tone and help with communication skills, such as introducing themselves with respective pronouns.

With or without surgery, people can also socially transition to their true gender. For instance, as part of social transitioning, one might:

1. Give themselves a new name
2. Choose a new pronoun
3. Present their gender identity through different clothing or hairstyle changes

There are different risks associated with various procedures. For example, individuals who undergo bottom surgery may experience changes in their sexual sensations or have difficulty emptying their bladder. However, as long as an experienced surgeon operates, significant complications are rare.

There is a small possibility of complications with any surgery, including:

1. Infection
2. Bleeding
3. Side effects of anaesthesia.