Post-operative outcomes for transmasculine and nonbinary individuals who received top surgery as minors

Few studies assess post-operative outcomes for transmasculine and nonbinary individuals assigned female at birth who received top surgery as minors (i.e. younger than 18 years of age).

This study collected online post-operative follow-up surveys from transmasculine and nonbinary individuals who received top surgery as minors. Top surgery was received, on average, 3.70 years ago (range = 0.5-7.6 years) between the years 2016-2023. The sample consisted of 53 transmasculine (n = 49) and nonbinary (n = 4) individuals. The average age of participants at survey was 20 years (SD = 2.56; range = 16-25 years). Most participants were White/Caucasian (n = 48) and non-Hispanic/Latinx (n = 51). Transgender appearance congruence and gender identity acceptance were measured using the Transgender Congruence Scale. Chest dysphoria was measured using the Chest Dysphoria Measure. Anxiety and depression were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire Anxiety and Depression Scale. Social support was measured using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Demographic and clinical characteristics were also collected.

Analyses revealed high appearance congruence (total scale = 53.21, SD = 5.99; Appearance Congruence subscale = 40.40; SD = 4.81), and high gender identity acceptance (12.81; SD = 2.33). Chest dysphoria was very low (1.64; SD = 1.55). Anxiety (4.81, SD = 4.21) and depression (4.57, SD = 3.94) were minimal/mild. Social support was high (5.72; SD = 1.18).

The present study shows good post-operative outcomes for transmasculine and nonbinary individuals who received top surgery as minors. Medical providers should consider gender affirming surgeries as a possible beneficial treatment for gender diverse youth that follows the World Professional Association for Transgender Health Standards of Care.