Both men and women can have gender affirming surgery if they wish to change the way they feel about themselves. It involves changing the penis and skin color of a male to female or vice versa. Some procedures include a hysterectomy or orchiectomy. Other procedures include penis inversion and inversion.
Hysterectomy
The surgical procedure of gender affirming surgery or hysterectomy (or gender changing surgery) is when a male is surgically transformed from a girl to a boy. 1.4% of the population are transgender. Gender dysphoria can lead to emotional and physical pain. Transgender men have other options than medical management. Some common surgical procedures for transgender men include hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Only 3.3% of transgender males had hysterectomy to change their gender according to the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Database.
Hysterectomy for gender confirmation is relatively new and in constant development. 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
Orchiectomy is the procedure that removes the testicles. It is one of many first steps in a transgender individual's surgery transition. It removes the testicles from the patient and lowers the level of testosterone, the masculine hormone. This surgery can reduce the risk of blood clots and simplify the patient's hormone regime.
The procedure can be done outpatient and is fairly straightforward. Recovery can take up to eight weeks depending on the surgeon and the technique used. It can cost between $3000 to $10,000 in Australia, and may be covered under Medicare or private insurance.
Inversion of skin, penis
The inversion of skin and penis is one of the most popular methods of transvaginal surgery and is considered the gold standard of genital reconstruction for transgender women. It involves inverting the penis into a vagina in order to recreate the natural look of a woman’s vagina. The recovery time can be several days and takes between three and five hours. A special dressing is then placed inside the vagina for protection.
During the procedure, a standard protocol is used. The doctor will explain aftercare instructions to the patient. The medical team will give you a kit to do follow-up dilations at home. You will also be provided with follow-up emails, and an appointment with your surgeon.
Recovery time
Post-surgery healing is crucial for gender-affirming procedures that involve the conversion of a male penis to one female. The specific type of surgery will determine the length of the recovery period. It can take from four to eight weeks. A mastectomy is the most common procedure, although a vaginoplasty and breast augmentation are also possible. Both procedures can be done with a minimum of one week of rest. They may take between five and six weeks.
Gender affirming surgery reduces testosterone production. The procedure can eliminate the need for hormone-suppressive medications and estrogen therapy. This procedure may allow you to have a natural child. The recovery time for gender affirming surgery male or female varies depending on the type of procedure and the patient's condition.