Patients who have undergone top surgery often wonder if their breasts will “grow back” if they gain weight. Because this procedure removes the actual breast tissue (rather than just fat tissue), patients would have to gain a substantial amount of weight for the chest to recover a feminine appearance. Keep in mind that the results of top surgery are considered permanent and are not reversible.
As with any surgery, there are potential complications associated with cosmetic mastectomy. However, this is considered a very safe procedure, and most patients feel that the benefits outweigh the risks. Possible complications include bruising, swelling, nausea and vomiting, blood clots, infection, seroma (i.e., fluid build-up), and poor reaction to the anesthesia. Top surgery is generally performed under general anesthesia, which means that you’ll be asleep during the procedure. It is common to experience diminished nipple sensation post-surgery, but typically patients do retain some sensation and most transmen actually report increased sexual satisfaction following their procedure (likely due to enhanced body confidence).
A pre-operative appointment will typically be scheduled one week prior to surgery for local patients, and one to two days prior to surgery for out-of-town patients. It is essential that our office staff have all your health information at the time of scheduling in order to determine if any special requirements are needed (such as lab work or medical clearance). In addition, we follow the
WPATH guidelines for transgender care, which means that a letter from your therapist is required prior to surgery. Patients who are over fifty years of age and those with significant underlying medical problems are required to obtain a medical clearance.