Gender affirming surgery is available to men and women who want to change their sexual orientation. It is a procedure to alter the penis or skin color of a male, female, or vice versa. Some procedures include a hysterectomy or orchiectomy. Inversion of the skin or penis can also be performed.
Hysterectomy
A surgical procedure that alters a male's gender from a woman to a man, called hysterectomy or gender affirming surgery. About 0.4% of the world's population is transgender. Transgender people can experience symptoms such as emotional and physical pain. Although medical management is the most common type of treatment, transgender males have another option: surgery. Some common surgical procedures for transgender men include hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. According to the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement databases, only 3.3% of transgender patients had hysterectomy performed for a change of gender.
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
One of the first steps in a transgender person's transition is orchiectomy (or testicular removal). It removes the testicles and reduces the production testosterone, the male hormone. This surgery can lower blood clot risk and simplify the patient's hormonal regimen.
This procedure can be performed on an outpatient basis and is quite simple. 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.
Inversions 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. The procedure takes about three to five hours and may require several days of recovery. To protect the new skin position, a special dressing will be placed in the vagina after surgery.
During the procedure a standard protocol must be followed. Aftercare instructions will also be given by the doctor. The medical team will also give you a kit for home follow-up dilations. You will also be provided with follow-up emails, and an appointment with your surgeon.
Time for recovery
Post-surgery recovery plays an important role in gender-affirming surgery. This involves changing a male penis into a female penis. Depending on which type of surgery was done, the recovery period can take between four and eight weeks. A mastectomy is most commonly performed, but it's also possible to have a breast augmentation or vaginoplasty. Both procedures are best done after at least one week of rest. However, they can take as long as five to six weeks.
Gender affirming surgery reduces testosterone production. The procedure can remove the need for estrogen therapy and hormone-suppressive drugs. The procedure can also preserve your ability to have a naturally occurring child. The time taken to recover from gender affirming surgery male/female varies depending on how the procedure was performed and how well the patient is doing.