Both men and women can have gender affirming surgery if they wish to change the way they feel about themselves. It involves performing procedures to change the penis and skin of a male or female to a female or vice versa. One procedure is a hysterectomy and another is an orchiectomy. Other procedures include penis inversion and inversion.
Hysterectomy
Hysterectomy is also known as gender affirming surgery. It is a procedure where a male undergoes a surgical procedure to change from a female to male. Around 0.4% are transgender. This condition can cause gender dysphoria symptoms like emotional and physical pain. The most common treatment is medical management, but surgery is also an option for transgender man. 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 man underwent hysterectomy as a result of a gender change.
Hysterectomy for gender confirmation is relatively new and in constant development. In the past, hysterectomy was performed for medical reasons. However, coexisting gender dysphoria could have led to a decision to have a hysterectomy. However, in recent years, insurance providers are beginning to cover this procedure.
Orchiectomy
Orchiectomy, or testicular removal, is one of the first steps in a transgender patient's surgical transition. It removes the testicles, which in turn decreases testosterone production. This surgery can reduce blood clot risks and simplify a patient's hormone regimen.
This procedure can be performed on an outpatient basis and is quite simple. The recovery time depends on the surgeon and the technique used. It can take anywhere from two to eight weeks. The cost of the procedure in Australia is between $3000 and $10,000. It may also be covered by Medicare and private health insurance.
Inversion of skin and penis
The inversion skin-penis procedure is one of most popular transvaginal surgeries. It is also known as the "gold standard" of genital reconstructive surgery for transgender females. It involves inverting the penis into a vagina in order to recreate the natural look of a woman’s vagina. It takes approximately three to five hours, and can take several days for recovery. A special dressing is applied to the vagina following surgery to keep the skin in its new place.
During the procedure a standard protocol must be followed. 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 get follow-up emails from your surgeon and appointments to follow up with them.
Time to recover
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 popular surgery, but you can also have a vaginoplasty or breast augmentation. Both procedures need at least a week's rest and can take up to five- or six weeks.
Gender-affirming surgery aims to minimize testosterone production in the body. This can help eliminate the need for hormone therapy or hormonal-suppressive medications. The procedure can also preserve your ability to have a naturally occurring child. Gender affirming surgery for male and female differs depending upon the type of procedure performed and the patient’s health.