Sex Reassignment Surgery

Sex reassignment surgery, commonly known as sex change surgery, is a procedure designed to transform the patient’s appearance to match with the gender they are identified with. The need for this surgery may sometimes arise in children who are actually male, but have become identified as female due to less developed sexual organs, resulting in hormonal deficiencies. The vice versa of this situation is also equally true.

Sex reassignment procedure may also be performed for adults with fully developed organs who constituently identify themselves with the opposite sex. The procedure will allow for a change of the patient’s genital organs and breasts from one gender to another. Dr. Bram Kaufman is a board certified plastic surgeon providing a wide range of plastic, reconstructive and cosmetic surgery procedures, including sex reassignment breast surgery, aka “top surgery”. Patients in Pepper Pike, Cleveland, OH, and surrounding communities have an opportunity to receive treatment from Dr. Kaufman.

Procedure Stages

Candidates for sex reassignment surgery will typically be required to engage with a mental health professional to diagnose the condition appropriately. Once the diagnosis has been adequately established, the patient should be prepared to undergo the following stages:

• Hormone therapy
• Real Life Experience or Real Life Test
• Surgery to change genitalia and other sexual features

Hormone Therapy

Once the patient is ready for treatment, the physician will prescribe appropriate hormones as the first step of treatment. Biological females changing to male will receive androgen therapy, while biological males changing to female will receive estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone blocking hormones.

This therapy may continue for one year, and may be accompanied by a Real Life Experience. Following the successful hormone therapy, the patient may be eligible for sex reassignment surgery.

Surgical Procedure

Patients changing from male to female may have to undergo a number of genital surgeries, including orchiectomy, penectomy, vaginoplasty, clitoroplasty, and labiaplasty. Our practice is currently in the process of the developing a team to perform the “bottom” surgeries which will require collaboration between multiple departments such as gynecology, urology, plastic surgery and others. Procedures we currently offer include aesthetic changes such as breast augmentation, liposuction, rhinoplasty, facial bone construction, cheek implants, brow lift, lip augmentation, chin recontouring, jaw recontouring, and eyelid surgery.

Patients changing from female to male may have to undergo various surgical procedures such as hysterectomy, salpingo-oophorectomy, vaginectomy, metoidioplasty, scrotoplasty, placement of testicular prostheses and phalloplasty. Elective aesthetic procedures for these patients may include liposuction, fat reduction in the hips, buttocks and thighs, and tummy tuck.

Effects of Hormone Therapy

Biological males who receive gender reassignment hormone treatment may expect growth of breasts, reduction in body hair, fat redistribution in some areas, reduced fertility and testicular size, and reduced erections.

Biological females receiving this treatment may experience an increase in facial hair, body hair, weight gain, male pattern baldness, growth in sexual interest, enlargement of the clitoris, and a heavier voice.

To learn more about cosmetic treatment and procedures or to schedule a consultation by Cleveland Ohio area plastic surgeon, Dr. Bram Kaufman, please contact us at  1-216-778-2245 or click here.