Introduction to Gender-Affirming Top Surgery The process of learning about top surgery options can be overwhelming.  This summary page will provide a thorough overview of the different sections of this website and help you make your way through the learning process.Think of this page as something of an annotated site map – and then click on the links to access the information described below. Top surgery is also called chest masculinization, breast augmentation, breast feminization, etc., depending on the type of surgery being done and what communities you are involved in. We use the terms “chest reconstruction top surgery” and “breast augmentation” as these are non-gendered terms that we hope are …

Emotional Recovery From Surgery: Depression Symptoms, Coping, and Support Medically reviewed by Dr. Scott Mosser on April 28th, 2025. Recovering from surgery can be a physically and emotionally challenging process. Many people experience postoperative depression, even when their procedure is successful and free of complications. Feeling emotional after surgery is a common part of the healing process. This can arise from factors such as stress about regaining full strength, experiencing pain and inflammation, the impact of medications on mood, the body’s reaction to anesthesia, and limited mobility during recovery. Post-surgery depression and anxiety may manifest in different ways—persistent sadness, exhaustion, and a loss of interest in activities you used to …

The Gender Confirmation Journey It can be both daunting and exciting to think about all the steps that are necessary between considering surgery and actually having  surgery. To help with this process, we lay out a typical overview of the process – though each person takes their own journey – to help you prepare for the milestones that lay ahead. It’s important to realize that there are many diverse stages people go through in the exploratory process of gender transition. We tried to take some of these early stages into account when we thought about the design of information on this website. Some individuals are at a very early stage …

Legal Gender & Name Change Many  transgender people change their legal name and/or gender marker for their identification documents, including a driver’s license, birth certificate, passport, and more. After your surgery, our office can provide a letter for a legal gender change anytime, stating you’ve had a surgical procedure related to your transition. Since requirements vary by state, ID type, and country, let us know if there is any specific language that needs to be included. Note that for many US documents (such as your passport), you do not need to undergo hormone replacement therapy or gender confirming procedures  to update your gender marker. All you need is a simple …

Realistic Expectations for Top Surgery (Chest Reconstruction and Breast Augmentation) The plastic surgeon is responsible for setting expectations and informing the patient on all possible risks, compromises, and complications regarding any surgical procedure. These expectations, risks, and complications are especially important when pursuing gender confirming chest reconstruction and breast augmentation procedures, as there is a lot of information spread through the community, on the internet, and by providers. It’s important to recognize that not all of the information shared within and around the community is the most up-to-date or accurate. Here we attempt to give the most thoughtful, informed, and current information regarding preparing for these surgeries, their risks, and …