When our team was in the U.S. recently, we were pleased to note that a growing number of surgical and non-surgical procedures are being developed to help individuals cope with a dissonance between their inner gender identity and outward physical appearance.

A variety of factors have contributed to this phenomenon:

• Cosmetic procedures are no longer considered hush-hush for anyone.
• There is a greater acceptance in the diversity of gender.
• Public figures have served as standard bearers for gender identity.

As Australia’s leading source for news and information on cosmetic surgery and personal enhancement, we wanted to know more.

6 Surgeries that Address Gender Dysphoria

Gender dysphoria is a condition where a person experiences discomfort or distress because there’s a mismatch between their biological sex/external sexual characteristics and their gender identity. The consequences can be devastating:

“Many individuals with gender dysphoria become socially isolated, whether by choice or through ostracization, which can contribute to low self-esteem and may lead to school aversion or even dropping out. Peer ostracism and teasing are especially common consequences for boys.” – Psychology Today

For patients with gender dysphoria, cosmetic surgery can be a lifesaver. To achieve a more balanced and satisfying sense of self, transgender individuals often seek out:

• Breast Augmentation – Individuals who are transitioning from male to female often experience some breast development from the long-term hormone therapy that is part of their treatment. Most develop an “A” cup size breast from this therapy, and those who desire a larger breast than can be helped by augmentation surgery in which an implant is inserted.

• Buttock Enhancement or Reduction – Transgender patients schedule buttock enhancement or reduction surgery to achieve a classically feminine or masculine look to their posteriors. Enhancement can be achieved with implants or autologous fat injections, while reduction is achieved with liposuction.

• Breast Reduction Surgery – The surgery used for female-to-male transsexuals is the same procedure that has been used to help women re-contour their chests. It removes skin and tissue to minimise, but not completely eliminate the breasts.

• Chest Reconstruction Surgery – This surgery removes nearly all underlying fat and tissue, including milk-producing ducts and glands, to give the appearance of a masculine-looking chest. In some cases, nipple removal and relocation, which typically results in a reduction in nipple sensation, may be necessary. 

• Facial Feminisation Surgery – This is an umbrella term for a collection of different procedures intended to transform a person’s masculine facial features into a woman’s visage. In general, facial feminisation surgery works by bone reduction and manipulation of the skeletal framework.

• Gender Reassignment Surgery (GRS) – This surgical procedure is used to replace genital organs from one gender with those of another. Male-to-female GRS requires removal of the penis, reshaping the genital tissue to appear more female, and constructing a vagina. Female-to-male surgery involves creating a functioning penis from the much smaller clitoral tissue available in the female genitals.

Often, by the time patients seek this step in their physical transformation, they have already transitioned in their daily lifestyle through their clothing choices, hair and makeup, activities, and partners.

The Appeal of Non-Surgical Treatments for Everyone

Transgender individuals are as diverse as their cisgender counterparts. (Cisgender is a term for people whose gender identity agrees with the sex they were assigned at birth.)  Just like cisgender people, trans individuals may have reservations about the surgery, from concerns about risk to worries about dissatisfaction over results that may be permanent. According to The Advocate:

“Only 33% of transgender people have reported undergoing some form of gender-confirming surgery, with 14% of transgender women and 21% of transgender men not interested in ever having genital surgery.”

For these people, a wide range of non- and minimally invasive aesthetic enhancement treatments are available. Looking ahead to the future, it is likely that transgender and cisgender individuals will both contribute to a growing demand for:

• Dermal fillers
• Muscle-relaxing injections
• Laser skin resurfacing
• Laser hair removal

When it comes to beauty and identity, Costhetics subscribes to the philosophy, “You do you.” We believe that every individual has the right to define a personal best in terms of their appearance. It’s the reason we applaud and support the work of compassionate, sensitive surgeons and aesthetic enhancement experts.