Am I required to have letters from therapists, be on active HRT, or have GRS/SRS in order to obtain breast aug surgery?

Question

I have undergone 2 years of prior HRT and have been living "full time" as my preferred gender for over 5 years and was recently advised that I would have to be post-op in order to get breast augmentation surgery. I have opted to stop HRT due to the risk of chemical castration. I may want the opportunity to have children at some point. I am looking to get implants in order to present myself more to the gender that I now live as and to enhance my confidence and quality of life.

Babak Dadvand, MD · Answer

Hi missdavidson,Thanks for the post. The criteria for MTF Top surgery are set out by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) and consist of the
following:   1. Persistent,
well-documented gender dysphoria   2. Capacity
     to make a fully informed decision and to consent for treatment   3. Be
     of the age of majority in the country of surgery (and follow SOC rules for
     children and adolescents*)   4. Significant
     medical or mental health concerns, if present, must be reasonably well
     controlled at the time of surgery.Some surgeons, including myself, also require a referral letter from the patient's therapist stating that she is ready for transformational surgery.Sincerely,Dr. Dadvand

Josef Hadeed, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question.  Generally speaking, there are several criteria that must be met in order to undergo plastic surgery procedures for gender confirmation.  Two referral letters from independent mental health professionals, along with a diagnosis of gender identity disorder, are usually necessary in order for a person to begin hormone replacement therapy.  The person must also live for twelve months in a gender role that is congruent with their gender identity.  Once the person has fulfilled these requirements, they are usually able to get a note from their primary care physician that they can then take to a plastic surgeon to perform gender confirmation surgery.  These surgeries can be divided into facial, body, and genital reconstruction.  A consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon who specializes in gender confirmation surgery can help you to understand what your options are.  It sounds like based on the information you have presented that you have fulfilled the criteria to have surgery.  I have included a link to provide you with additional information.  Best wishes and be safe.

Am I required to have letters from therapists, be on active HRT, or have GRS/SRS in order to obtain breast aug surgery?

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Am I required to have letters from therapists, be on active HRT, or have GRS/SRS in order to obtain breast aug surgery?

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Everything you need to know about Feminizing Top Surgery

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.