what is gender affirming surgery

Gender affirming surgery refers to a set of surgical procedures that help individuals transition to their self-identified gender. These procedures may include facial surgery, top surgery, or bottom surgery. Facial surgery can include a variety of procedures to create more feminine or masculine features, such as reshaping the nose, brow lift, chin, cheek, and jaw reshaping, Adams apple reduction, lip augmentation, hairline restoration, and earlobe reduction. Top surgery is a common procedure that removes or augments breast tissue and reshapes the chest to create a more masculine or feminine appearance for transgender individuals. Bottom surgery can include penile construction, vaginoplasty, vulvoplasty, metaoidioplasty, and scrotoplasty. Gender-affirming surgery is not required for gender affirmation, but many patients choose to undergo one or more surgical procedures. People who choose gender affirmation surgeries report improved mental health and quality of life.