Let’s go through the names that you’ll see and talk about which ones are the same and which ones are different. Not only will this help you speak with your surgeon, but it’ll also help you become more knowledgeable about these procedures.
Many people have heard it called “FTM Top Surgery”. “FTM” stands for “Female to Male”, and it’s leftover from the days when transition surgery was called “gender reassignment” instead of “gender affirmation” or “gender-confirming” as it is today. You may also see:
All of these are names for the same procedure: removing breast tissue and shaping the chest to create a less feminine and often more masculine-looking chest for transgender men or masculine-leaning nonbinary people. You can use the names you feel most comfortable with, and your doctor will understand what you mean.
It’s important to understand that gender affirming top surgery for transmen is not entirely the same as breast reduction surgery for cisgender women who want smaller breasts. They’re similar in many ways, but you should find a surgeon who specializes in gender affirmation procedures and make sure that you see examples of their work with people whose bodies resemble yours.
This kind of specialist will have experience shaping a masculine-looking chest and talking through their patients’ expectations and experiences with dysphoria. They’ll make sure they understand what you want to look like, and will be able to tell you what’s possible for your body.
In the procedure, all of your visible breast tissue and excess skin will be removed through incisions. If you have small breasts, you might be able to have your nipple and nipple stalk preserved (so you still have sensation), but you might also have your nipples removed and grafted, or simply removed. Many people have them removed and get nipple tattoos to replace them.
While there may be many names for top surgery that are pretty much the same, there are several techniques that your surgeon can choose from. These are different, so you’ll want to know what each one means:
At ACPS, we do double incision and peri-areolar. You’ll most likely talk about one of the other types with your surgeon when you discuss what to expect in the top surgery process.
If you’re wondering what type of masculine top surgery is right for you, please contact us to set up a consultation. We’re happy to answer all your questions and help you with your gender affirmation journey.