If you’re a transgender youth or the parent of a transgender child, one of the biggest questions you may have is when you or your child can have gender-affirming surgical procedures. Here are three milestones that transgender youth must reach before they can get transgender reassignment surgery.
Reach the Age of Majority
The most important factor in whether a youth can get surgery or not is whether they have reached the age of majority, which is 18 in the United States. While some surgeons will do top surgery on older minors, it’s not possible to get bottom surgery before legal adulthood.
Hormone Treatment
Because hormones cause many changes to the body, hormonal transition before surgery is essential to getting good results. Most surgeons require at least one year of hormone therapy before transgender reassignment surgery. Some patients even find that certain procedures are no longer desired after the results achieved from hormones.
Social Transition
Sometimes called the “true life” test, social transition is an important part of preparing for surgical transition. Your doctor may request letters from family, friends or mental health professionals to confirm that you have been living as your true gender for at least one year before surgery.
If you or your child is searching for a compassionate, experienced and technologically advanced practice for surgical or non-surgical interventions, the International Center for Transgender Care is the destination of choice for the transgender community.