Can I get top surgery without transitioning?

Question

I’m 100% sure I just want the top surgery my breast is the reason of my depression anxiety and It just makes me unhappy. This surgery would change my life.

Danielle Dumestre, MD · Answer

Hello! 
Yes, 100% you can either get a breast reduction or a full top surgery. Whichever you’re interested in without transitioning. Hope this helps!

Jaime S. Schwartz, MD, FACS · Answer

Excellent question. 
In my practice, we understand that transgender patients are on a journey to aligning their physical body with their gender identity, and that the journey can be a long and sometimes difficult one. Some transgender men may consider a top surgery as a stand-alone procedure to help them feel more like their authentic selves. FTM top surgery (breast reduction) can provide you with the masculine looking chest that better represents your gender identity, reduce body dysmorphia, and result in better overall body confidence. But ultimately the decision will be yours. 
During your initial consultation, we determine based on your individual goals and desired body shape how to tailor your top surgery specifically to you. The excess breast tissue can be removed with a traditional breast reduction or by using liposuction to sculpt a more masculine looking chest. In addition, the areola complex can be resized and made smaller and more oval for a more masculine appearance. 
The two major methods I use for FTM top surgery are double incision mastectomy with nipple grafting and keyhole. Keyhole (also known as peri-areolar) is ideal for small chested transgender men, up to a b-sized chest, with good skin elasticity. Double incision mastectomy procedure is ideal for medium to large chested transgender men. During this procedure, the skin on the chest is opened along two horizontal incisions, at the top and bottom of the pectoral muscle. (The muscle itself is not touched.) The skin is pulled back and the breast tissue is then removed. In both techniques, additional liposuction may be performed to adjust the contour of the chest. 
Which method we choose for your top surgery will depend on the size of your breasts. But, rest assured, no matter how much breast tissue there is to remove, there is a surgery for you. Our goal is to help you feel comfortable, happy, and confident in your own skin. 
The best way to assess and give true advice would be an in-person exam. Please see a board-certified plastic surgeon that specializes in aesthetic and restorative breast surgery. best of luck!

Dr. Schwartz
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
#RealSelf100Surgeon
#RealSelfCORESurgeon

Paul M. Steinwald, MD · Answer

A number of my patients (at least 10%) are not interested in hormones or fully transitioning to "male"; they simply want their breasts maximally reduced (or short of that, to be "gender neutral" - generally resulting in a braless small "A-cup" range), while some want their nipple-areolar complexes removed altogether as well, which also certainly can be done (and actually is the least risky option overall). An experienced "top surgeon" should be able to modify their most-commonly performed procedure in these ways to satisfy the wishes of almost any patient seeking top surgery.

Karthik Ram, MRCS, DNB · Answer

Hello, Thanks for sharing your query. Yes you can undergo top surgery without genital surgery. Hormonal therapy is optional and people on testosterone does shrink the breast helping in the choice of surgical procedure. Consult a board certified plastic surgeon.

Babak Dadvand, MD · Answer

Hi,Thanks for the post. You do not need to be transgender to have TOP surgery. I have performed TOP surgery on many cis gender patients who for one reason or another do not want their breasts, whether it is due to aesthetic reasons or a desire to reduce their future risk of breast cancer. In many of these patients their breasts have an impact on their mental health. Sincerely,Dr. Dadvand

Can I get top surgery without transitioning?

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Can I get top surgery without transitioning?

Answers (8)

Answer: Top surgery

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Answer: TOP Surgery without Transitioning

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Everything you need to know about Masculinizing Top Surgery

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