Mastectomy Surgery

For transgender males and non-binary people, a mastectomy, sometimes known as top surgery, is a serious surgical procedure used to remove breast tissue and give the chest a more masculine shape. In order to treat gender dysphoria and harmonise a person's physical appearance with their gender identity, it is a crucial part of gender-affirming care. There are several distinct forms of mastectomy, including complete (simple), modified radical, radical, skin-sparing, and nipple-sparing mastectomy.

A mastectomy is usually performed under general anesthesia. This means you're in a sleep-like state during the surgery. The surgeon starts by making an incision around your breast. The breast tissue and lymph nodes that are removed will be sent to a lab for testing. As the surgery is completed, the incision is closed with stitches. Often these stitches are the type that dissolve over time. 

Most people go home on the same day of surgery. Some may need more time to recover and may stay overnight in the hospital. After surgery, the breast tissue and lymph nodes are sent to a lab for testing. Results from the lab will show whether all the cancer was removed and whether cancer was found in the lymph nodes. The results are typically available within a week or two after surgery.