For transgender women it is extremely important to have a breast of feminine appearance and size, as it is one of the main feminine features and one of the most visible at first sight. When we refer to gender reassignment surgery in transgender women we think of orchiectomy (surgery to remove the testicles) and vaginoplasty (surgery to create a vagina), although certainly mammoplasty is another of the most important feminization surgeries.
It is common for patients who wish to undergo cosmetic surgery for gender reassignment to have previously consumed estrogen, although when it comes to breast augmentation they often fall short. Although the treatment helps breast growth, the result is not as expected for them.
It is also common for patients to use external prostheses or bras with fillers, since for many of them the breast is a feature that gives them a complex and interferes with their social, personal and work life.
When is augmentation mammoplasty recommended for trans women?
It can be performed either before or after the orchectomy and vaginoplasty and it is really decisive in the physical change from one gender to another. Although it apparently consists of a surgery similar to that of cisgender women, the truth is that transgender women have some physical particularities that must be taken into account to obtain the expected results.
What is breast augmentation for transgender women?
Breast augmentation surgery in trans and cisgender women is very similar, although the former are a challenge, especially if you want to achieve natural results. Transgender women have certain peculiarities. Firstly, they usually have wider chest walls, which implies a larger space between the breasts.
Secondly, the areolas and nipples are in a more lateral position. And finally, there is less distance between the nipples and the creases under the breasts. All these factors make breast augmentation surgery in trans people a challenge, especially if we are looking for the most natural results possible.
There are three ways to perform the surgery, although the most common is to choose to place the prosthesis via inframammary or through the areola, as this way you get to hide the scars. The choice of method will be determined by the patient’s anatomy.
There is also a third way, the axillary, which in these cases is discarded because it is not indicated when anatomical prostheses are used.
As for the postoperative period, it is very similar to the rest of mammoplasties. During the first weeks it is advisable to wear a bra with a pectoral band and avoid physical exertion.