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FTM Top Surgery Sydney NSW

Female to Male Top Surgery for Transgender Men in Sydney.

Helping patients to achieve a more masculine looking chest. Female to male top surgery, Chest Masculinisation surgery or FTM top surgery, is a procedure offered to transgender men to alter the appearance of their chest from a feminine look to a more masculine profile. The procedure removes breast tissue to create a contoured chest.

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FTM Top Surgery with Dr Hunt

The procedure is offered by Dr Maryam Seyedabadi, a specialist plastic surgeon in Sydney. She is a member of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgery and holds the prestigious fellowship of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons (FRACS). Please note that Dr Jeremy Hunt does NOT perform this procedure.

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Woollahra Sydney . Wollongong NSW

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What is Female to Male FTM top Surgery for Trans Men?

As mentioned above, this surgery is offered to transgender men. The procedure involves removing the breast tissue and rearranging the surrounding tissue. The skin around the nipple is rearranged as the male chest is usually wider than the female chest. The surgery is similar to a bilateral mastectomy but involves more chest contouring. The surgery is much more than just removing the breast tissue. The new chest should look more masculine, so, there needs to be a careful reconstruction of the entire chest.

Several techniques are used for transgender FTM top surgery. The technique to be applied In your particular case is determined by the size of the breasts before surgery.

People with larger breast tissue need a total bilateral mastectomy. It is also often called Double-incision top surgery with or without nipple grafts. As there is much more tissue to remove, Dr Maryam will need to create a larger incision; the whole nipple may be removed in this approach. Through the incision line, the breast or mammary tissues are removed. The nipple and areola are also worked on to reduce their size. The extra fat in the chest area is removed and then the altered nipple and areola are repositioned or reattached. Dr Maryam will take special care in making sure there are no wrinkles in the skin surrounding the nipples or in the chest. To make a smooth, tight masculine chest, removing excess skin is often necessary. This is one of the most common methods.

For people with smaller breasts, a periareolar approach also works. As the name suggests, the incision in the periareolar approach is done on the sides of the areola; or to be specific, in a circular motion surrounding the areola. After the breast tissue is removed, the incisions are sutured, effectively creating a smaller chest with smooth skin. If you already have a small chest, only a slight modification will be needed. In this case, only a small incision is made along the lower border of the areola. Through that small opening, Dr Maryam removes breast tissues and performs liposuction, if necessary. Thus, the chest is flattened. However, this approach only works if you already have a flat chest, so no excess skin removal is necessary.

Why Patients Might Consider FTM Transgender Top Surgery

Patient might consider FTM top surgery for a number of reasons, including:

  • Relief from gender dysphoria: Gender dysphoria is a condition many transgender people suffer from. It’s a condition where an individual feels severe discomfort or unease with the gender of their body. This sense of wrongness is often present from childhood and may be exacerbated during puberty. This is a major cause of depression and anxiety in young transgender people. According to research, these symptoms of gender dysphoria do improve following gender-confirming medical interventions like top surgery
  • The nipple sensation can be preserved in some procedures
  • A natural looking chest

Are you a Suitable Candidate for FTM Top Surgery?

Before scheduling your procedure, make sure you are ready to get the procedure done and your body is in good health condition. To be a good candidate to get Female To Male top surgery you will need to:

Have been cleared by a psychologist

Usually a psychologist needs to clear you as fit for the surgery and you will need a WPATH certificate. Undergoing top surgery is a life changing decision. Although most patients are ready and eager to go through the procedure, you still need a psychologist’s approval. They will assess your mental health to ensure you are taking this decision after understanding all that it entails.

Have a normal weight

You need to be in the healthy weight range to be able to undergo the surgical procedure under General Anaesthesia.

No systemic disorder

Any disorder that prevents you from getting the surgery.

Realistic expectations

This may sound counterintuitive, but people who have realistic expectations are good candidates. Gender affirmation surgery is a complex process. While this surgery will make your chest area flatter, it is healthy to have realistic expectations.

You don’t smoke

If you do smoke, you will need to abstain from it for at least a few weeks before and after the surgery.

Older than 18 and able to consent

This is important as you need to understand the risks and can take informed decisions.

You may have to have taken hormone therapy

Usually a 10/12 month hormone therapy is required.

How is the Female to Male Transgender Surgery Performed?

FTM top surgery is a major surgical procedure that requires you to be unconscious during the intervention. Hence, you will be under the effects of general anaesthesia. You will need to prepare for the surgery:

  • Start fasting from 12 to 18 hours before the surgery
  • Stop smoking a few weeks or a month before the surgery
  • Stop drinking alcohol or limit consumption the week before the surgery
  • If you are on blood thinners, you will need to discontinue 3- 5 days before surgery

The surgery is only a few hours long, so technically you can be out of the hospital the day you get it. However, seeing that it is a major procedure, you may want to spend a day in the hospital.

If you are choosing to go home, have someone pick you up from the hospital as you won’t be able to drive or carry your bag by yourself. You will need some time to recover from the surgery.

Recovery after FTM Top Surgery

Recovery is an essential part of the process. As the results of the surgery partly depend on uneventful recovery, you need to take extra precautions during this time. Do not put stress on your body. Immediately after surgery you will notice lots of swelling and redness. That’s completely normal. The swelling will go down soon enough. You will be prescribed some analgesic medication that also help with the swelling. Avoid applying ice packs directly on the wound as it could cause skin damage.

You should not lift your arms for a week, or you may pull on the stitches. You should also refrain from showering for 48 hours. In the meantime, take sponge baths to prevent getting the surgery site wet. Also, you will feel stiffness in your arms and upper body in the initial four/ five days following the surgery. During this time, stay home and rest. You can go back to work or school after 2- 4 weeks. During these first few weeks, you will also need to sleep on your back to prevent unnecessary pressure at the level of the incisions. You probably will be able to do some light exercises from the 4th week. However, intense exercises and heavy lifting needs to be held off until the 8th week.

FTM Top Surgery Aftercare

To make sure you are recovering well you need to rest and drink fluids. However, doing the following things may help to speed up the process:

  • Use the compression bandages. It’s a must, since these bandages prevent your tissues from accumulating fluid
  • Take medications on time. Do not skip analgesic medication as they are for more than your pain. They work on reducing swelling and bruising too.
  • Don’t put pressure on your chest. Wear loose clothes and avoid going out or doing yoga or exercises until you are completely healed.
  • Sleep on your back.

FTM Top Surgery Cost Sydney – How much is Transgender top surgery in Sydney?

You might be wondering just how much it is going to cost to get the gender affirmation surgery in Sydney.

It depends on the surgeon, technique and your insurance. Depending on whether Medicare or your health fund will cover some of the surgery, the cost could vary greatly.

You can learn more about possible Medicare & Health Fund coverage, Gender Affirmation Surgery Payment Plan, or the costs for gender affirmation surgery on our Surgical Costs page.

Speak With Dr Maryam

Dr Seyedabadi prides herself on practicing the most appropriate techniques and practices for all patients, which begins from the first consultation.

Next Step – Fill in the Enquiry form or call Dr Hunt’s Team on 02 9327 1733

Aesthetic Edge by Dr Jeremy Hunt

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  • Bring a friend or relative to help discuss the information.
  • Take lots of notes and read the documents provided.
  • Dress in simple clothes as you may need to undress.
  • Bring your GP Referral and your test results.

FTM Top Surgery Frequently Asked Questions

How old do you have to be to get FTM top surgery?

Usually a person needs to be of legal age or over 18 to get this procedure.

Do I need to stop smoking?

Yes. You need to be a non-smoker or stop smoking at least two to three weeks before the intervention to be eligible for the surgery.

Will I get scars from FTM top surgery?

A breast reduction procedure entails scars.

What are Risks and Complications of FTM Top Surgery?

All surgery has risks. As the FTM top surgery is a major surgical procedure, it holds some risks you need to be aware of:

  • Infection
  • Haemorrhage or bleeding
  • Pain
  • Swelling
  • Numbness in the chest
  • Stiffness of the arms
  • Loss/ partial loss of nipple-areolar complex

Other risks will be explained by Dr Maryam during the consultation. You can also visit Dr Hunt’s risk of surgery page to find out more details about the potential complications of plastic surgery.

Further Reading & Medical Sources about FTM top surgery

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Phone: 02 9327 1733 International: +612 9327 1733

Woollahra Sydney . Wollongong NSW

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Disclaimer: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks.
Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

AHPRA Registration: Dr Jeremy Hunt MED0001151603 – Specialist Plastic Surgery – MBBS (Syd) FRACS
Dr Maryam Seyedabadi MED0001341746 – Specialist Plastic Surgery – MBBS FRACS BDSc

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