Feminization surgery — enhancing or creating feminine characteristics in patients — is commonly done in male-to-female transgender surgeries. It is also performed in women to correct masculine features. Here some questions and answers about what feminization surgery is, and the specific interactions between plastic surgeons and patients undergoing sex-change operations.
Let’s start with a definition. What is feminization surgery?
Feminization surgery creates modifications that give patients more female physical characteristics. It’s usually performed on transgender male patients who want to pass as female. Feminization surgery is also done in women who have strong physical male-like characteristics and want to soften those features.
Is sex-change or gender reassignment surgery part of that?
Answer: Feminization surgery is generally an additional part of genital reassignment surgery. As a plastic surgeon, I don’t do the genital reassignment — that’s the role of the urologist.
What drives patients to want gender reassignment? Who qualifies?
It’s listed in the DSM-4 as a gender identity disorder. Transgender patients envision themselves as being in the wrong body, and it’s a sense they have from day 1. Even in early childhood, the ones who are boys identify themselves with being feminine, and the girls identify with being male. It’s not something that all of a sudden struck them. They are born this way, and the ones compelled to surgery have realized that they will never be comfortable with their current gender.
