Transgender

Individuals with gender dysphoria often describe being born in the wrong body, and plastic surgery is an important step in aligning their bodies with whom they know themselves to be.

To guide transition, the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) developed the The Standards of Care to help provide “the highest standards” of care for individuals with gender dysphoria. Accordingly, the overarching treatment goal is “…lasting personal comfort with the gendered self, in order to maximize overall health, psychological well-being and self-fulfillment.”

Several surgical procedures are available for transgender females (individuals transitioning from male to female.) Successful genital reconstruction involves the creation of a natural-appearing vagina and mons pubis that is both sensate and functional. This includes a feminine-appearing labia majora and minora, removal of the stigmatizing scrotum, a sensate neoclitoris, and adequate vaginal depth and introital width for intercourse. Additional desirable qualities include a moist appearance to the labia minora, clitoral hooding and lubrication for intercourse.

Aside from female genital reconstruction, other procedures designed to feminize one’s appearance include breast augmentation, thyroid chondrolaryngoplasty (“tracheal shave”) and facial feminization.