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Citation
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Esmonde N, Heston A, Ramly E, Jedrezsweski B, Annen A, Guerriero J, Hansen J, Berli J. Aesthet. Surg. J. 2019; 39(5): NP106-NP112. |
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Abstract
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BACKGROUND: The majority of transgender research focuses on patients who fall within the gender binary of either trans-male or trans-female. This largely omits understanding of the "non-binary" gender identity, as it pertains to surgical care.
OBJECTIVE: To describe a single-institution experience performing chest affirming procedures in non-binary patients, including patient characteristics, surgical techniques, practice pearls, and outcomes.
METHODS: This is an observational study of non-binary patients undergoing a "chest affirming surgery" from 2012 to 2017. Demographic and surgical data were collected. A postoperative questionnaire assessing quality of life and body image outcomes was administered.
RESULTS: A total of 458 patients with gender dysphoria underwent chest surgery; fifty-eight (13%) patients were non-binary. All non-binary patients indicated they had a female sex assigned at birth (100%). The most commonly performed procedure was the double incision technique with nipple grafts (72%), followed by the double incision technique without nipples grafts (19%). Patients reported improved quality of life (4.88, SD ± 0.34), comfort with exercise (4.07, SD ± 0.98), sex life (4.02, SD ± 0.92), and comfort in physical appearance with (4.97, SD ± 0.18) and without clothes (4.69, SD ± 0.47) on a Likert scale.
CONCLUSION: Chest surgery for non-binary patients comprises a significant proportion of our transgender surgery practice, and surgeons providing affirming care should be familiar with the unique characteristics and treatment options for this patient population.
Language: en |