FTM top surgery can last from one and a half hours up to four hours. Anesthesia will be administered to prepare the patient for surgery. Incisions will be created based on the techniques the surgeon will use to create the masculine-looking chest.
The procedure may include a double mastectomy, excess skin removal, and as nipple and areola repositioning/resizing. Once these techniques have been performed, the incisions are then closed with sutures to complete the top surgery.
MTF top surgery differs from cisgender breast augmentation due to the broader chest area of transgender women. After the anesthesia is administered,
Dr. Reilly creates incisions around the areolae, near the armpits, or in other areas on the chest. The chosen breast implants are placed inside pockets in the tissues, and then sutures are used to close the incisions.
In cases where the patient’s chest tissues are not large enough to accommodate implants, tissue expanders are placed for the first surgery. These are gradually increased in size until breast implants can be inserted to replace the tissue expanders.
The recovery processes for FTM and MTF top surgery are similar. The surgeon will insert drains to prevent fluid buildup, and the patient needs to wear a compression vest during the recovery period. The patient will receive medical prescriptions to ease temporary pain and soreness after the surgery.
Four to six weeks must pass before the patient can resume strenuous activities like physical exercise.
Dr. Reilly in Shelton will also schedule follow-up appointments to monitor progress.
The cost will vary depending on the type of top surgery being performed. Health insurance coverage can also impact the price of the procedure. The body size and shape of the patient, along with the implant size for MTF top surgery, also contribute to the cost of the surgery.