Patients who undergo breast reduction may be able to chestfeed, but may have to supplement with formula. There are some anecdotal cases of patients being able to chestfeed after undergoing aggressive breast reduction and buttonhole/inverted T, but for most forms of chest reconstruction this is not possible. For those who receive nipple grafts, the nipples are not connected to milk ducts. Chestfeeding for transfeminine individuals has been anecdotally reported. Patients who undergo breast augmentation can produce milk, but may need to be supplied. If breast/chestfeeding is a priority for you, you can speak with one of our board-certified surgeons in a free consultation.

We recommend that patients look for surgeons who specialize in serving non-binary patients. Look for surgeons who have a proven track record of not only performing gender-affirming procedures successfully, but also competency with non-binary patients. It is also valuable to seek recommendations from support groups, online communities, or individuals who have undergone similar surgeries.

The GCC’s insurance advocacy team has a 90% success rate in securing insurance coverage for interested patients. That said, insurance coverage for non-binary surgeries varies significantly depending on your specific insurance provider, plan and ability to provide necessary supporting documents. It is essential to reach out to your insurance company to understand their policies, requirements and limitations on gender-affirming surgery.

At least in California, transgender body contouring may be covered by insurance. At the GCC, our insurance concierge team will ask for the required documents to secure full or partial coverage for your medically necessary gender-affirming care. Please note that since May of 2023, most insurance companies are reimbursing less to patients for body contouring procedures. Given the changing rules and policies around certain medically necessary gender-affirming care, we ask that you work with us to secure full or partial coverage for your care. You can learn more about our efforts to secure affordable care for our patients here.

Because our patients create personalized and customizable plans to realize their bodily goals, body contouring and top surgery can sometimes be incorporated into the same surgical plan. However, some surgeries may be difficult to undergo simultaneously due to recovery periods or other medical constraints. A surgical consultation is the best time to get a concrete answer to this question.

There is no simple way to know if transgender body contouring is right for our patients. Through a careful and trusting process, an initial consultation with a surgeon can create an open conversation around gender dysphoria and the possibilities to relieve these sensations, your personal goals, and whether or not surgery is the best way to achieve them. We encourage you to request a free consultation to know if transgender body contouring is right for you.

The results that hold about 6 months after surgery are considered to be permanent. That said, drastic weight fluctuations can alter the amount and distribution of fat cells in the body and therefore undo the effects of surgery.

Generally speaking, patients can expect to return to work 2 weeks after surgery. That said, patients should avoid heavy lifting and strenuous physical activity for at least the first 6 weeks post-op.

Most patients, if healing permits, are able to return to work after 1-2 weeks after top surgery with some limitations. It is essential to your healing that you take it easy, and avoid heavy lifting above 5 lbs and engaging in any other strenuous activity. A good rule of thumb is that you should not be breaking a sweat during the first 3 weeks of healing.

Coupling top surgery with additional procedures such as body contouring–liposuction and/or pectoral silicone implants–is possible. Combining multiple procedures into a single surgery may lower the overall expense and recovery time. However, this may carry a higher risk of complications. Consulting with your surgeon can help clarify potential risks and your candidacy for multiple procedures.