Surgery Recovery Purpose of Top Surgery (Gender Affirming Chest Reconstruction) By Elizabeth Boskey, PhD Elizabeth Boskey, PhD Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Elizabeth Boskey, PhD, MPH, CHES, is a social worker, adjunct lecturer, and expert writer in the field of sexually transmitted diseases. Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 08, 2021 Medically reviewed by Lauren Schlanger, MD Medically reviewed by Lauren Schlanger, MD LinkedIn Lauren Schlanger, MD, is a board-certified primary care physician. She is an assistant professor at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Related Diagnosis Criteria Tests and Labs Top surgery, or gender affirming chest reconstruction, is a procedure used to create a masculine chest contour for transmasculine individuals (those assigned female at birth with a more masculine gender identity.) There are several steps to this procedure: Mastectomy, or removal of the breastsRemoving and resizing the nipples and areolae, as male nipples are usually smallerReplacing the nipples in a more masculine location, towards the outer edges of the chestContouring of the chest wall Brianna Gilmartin / Verywell Not all top surgery patients will need all procedure elements described above. Plastic surgeons use different approaches and techniques for top surgery, and different people have different body shapes and contouring concerns. However, it is important to be clear that top surgery is not an elective surgery. Top surgery is a medically necessary procedure for individuals who experience gender dysphoria related to their chest. Top Surgery for Women? Top surgery is most often used to describe gender affirming chest reconstruction for transgender men and non-binary people who are assigned female at birth. However, some transgender women also refer to breast augmentation as top surgery.In this article, we are solely discussing top surgery for transmasculine individuals, not transfeminine breast augmentation. Diagnosis Related to Top Surgery The sole indication for top surgery is gender dysphoria. This is generally coded as an F64.* diagnosis. Gender dysphoria is when a person experiences psychological distress because their body does not reflect their internal sense of themselves. Top surgery is appropriate for individuals assigned female at birth who have a non-binary or male gender identity and experience dysphoria related to the size and/or shape of their chest. Criteria Access to top surgery is generally regulated by the World Professional Association of Transgender Health's Standards of Care (WPATH). These standards are followed by most insurance companies to determine coverage. In general, for someone to access top surgery, they are expected to meet the following criteria: Diagnosis of gender dysphoriaCapacity to make a fully informed decision and to consent for treatmentIf significant medical or mental health concerns are present, they must be reasonably well controlled. One referral is needed for masculinizing chest surgery per WPATH. It is usually to confirm the diagnosis of gender dysphoria so it is often from a mental health provider or can be from the PCP or doctor providing hormones. The letter requirement for top surgery is considered to be a form of gatekeeping by many individuals in the transgender community, as similar letters are not required for similar surgeries among cisgender individuals. This may indeed be the case, but they also provide documentation of the requirements for surgery, which may not be easily measurable by a consulting surgeon. Eligibility for Breast Reduction vs. Chest Reconstruction Breast reduction is a similar, but not identical, surgery to chest reconstruction. In order to determine eligibility for breast reduction, surgeons must document that the patient has a significant history of pain and there is a large enough volume of breast tissue they intend to remove.In contrast, for gender affirming chest reconstruction, the documentation is around gender dysphoria, rather than any physical characteristics or discomfort. Tests and Labs In general, there are no specific tests or labs required for top surgery. However, some surgeons may require a cotinine test for individuals who have a history of nicotine use. This is because top surgery involves a free-flap transfer (removing and replacing the nipples), and nicotine in the system can compromise blood flow and make complications more likely. Different surgeons have different requirements around when individuals have to stop using nicotine prior to surgery and for how long they have to stay nicotine free after surgery. Individuals with other health conditions may require clearance related to those specific conditions prior to surgery. Your top surgeon may ask you to get a note from any specialists who you see on a regular basis in order to clear you for surgery. You may also be asked to see a specialist, such as a cardiologist, if you have a history of certain medical problems but no ongoing care. Acne Medication and Surgery Individuals who are taking the acne medication isotretinoin (Accutane) will often be asked to discontinue use for several months prior to surgery. There is limited, low-quality evidence that use of this drug in the six to 12 months prior to surgery may increase the risk of abnormal scarring and/or delayed wound healing. As scar appearance can be linked to patient satisfaction with top surgery, many surgeons are particularly cautious around the timing of this procedure. If you take any systemic acne medication it is important to discuss this with your surgeon prior to scheduling your procedure. It is also good to discuss your use of any topical medications for acne on your chest. You should also let your surgeon know if you use other products for chest rashes or skin breakdown. A Word From Verywell Top surgery is a medically necessary procedure to address gender dysphoria in transmasculine people. It has been shown to have substantial benefits for health and wellbeing. Although not all transmasculine individuals are interested in top surgery, those who want it can experience significant benefits. The major expected downsides of top surgery are loss of nipple sensation and inability to chest feed (breastfeed) should a person become pregnant. (Although there are reports of individuals able to chest feed after certain types of top surgery, this ability should not be assumed.) There are some transmasculine individuals who think of top surgery not as a way to get rid of gender dysphoria but to increase gender euphoria. Gender euphoria is the idea of being excited and happy that the body you are in reflects your gender identity. Some people see gender euphoria as a less pathologizing framework than gender dysphoria for looking at gender surgeries and other forms of gender affirmation. However, realistically, gender euphoria and gender dysphoria describe different experiences and either or both may feel more relevant to any given individual. 8 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. World Professional Association for Transgender Health. Standards of Care for the Health of Transsexual, Transgender, and Gender Nonconforming People (7th Version). WPATH. 2011. Almazan AN, Benson TA, Boskey ER, Ganor O. Associations between transgender exclusion prohibitions and insurance coverage of gender-affirming surgery. LGBT Health. 2020. doi: 10.1089/lgbt.2019.0212 Ganor O, Boskey ER. Submitting appropriately for breast surgery in transmasculine patients. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2018. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000005159 Dinman S, Giovannone MK. The care and feeding of microvascular flaps: how nurses can help prevent flap loss. Plast Surg Nurs. 1994;14(3):154-164. doi:10.1097/00006527-199401430-00006 Spring LK, Krakowski AC, Alam M, et al. Isotretinoin and timing of procedural interventions: A systematic review with consensus recommendations. JAMA Dermatol. 2017;153(8):802-809. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2017.2077 Olson-Kennedy, J., Warus, J., Okonta, V., Belzer, M., & Clark, L. F. (2018). Chest Reconstruction and Chest Dysphoria in Transmasculine Minors and Young Adults: Comparisons of Nonsurgical and Postsurgical Cohorts. JAMA Pediatrics, 172(5), 431–436. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2017.5440 MacDonald T, Noel-Weiss J, West D, Walks M, Biener M, Kibbe A, Myler E. Transmasculine individuals’ experiences with lactation, chestfeeding, and gender identity: A qualitative study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 2016;16(1). Embase. doi:10.1186/s12884-016-0907-y Ashley F, Ells C. In favor of covering ethically important cosmetic surgeries: Facial feminization surgery for transgender people. The American Journal of Bioethics. 2018;18(12), 23–25. doi: 10.1080/15265161.2018.1531162 By Elizabeth Boskey, PhD Elizabeth Boskey, PhD, MPH, CHES, is a social worker, adjunct lecturer, and expert writer in the field of sexually transmitted diseases. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit