Top Surgery Without Being On T?

[Casey M.]

I've been on and off debating if/how much I want to transition for years now but my chest dysphoria has always been bad and I'm at a point now where top surgery is seeming like a very very good option and I know I'll be getting it eventually. I'm not taking T though, and I don't plan on ever being on it. And I wonder if that makes it harder to get surgery. The only people I've seen who have gotten top surgery are trans guys or non-binary people already on hormones. There isn't really a lot of information out there for people like me who aren't transitioning 'fully'.

So I guess my question here is: can I get top surgery? Like obviously I can but is it worth it? Is it okay?

If any of you have or are planning to get top surgery without starting hormones or if you know someone who has or anything maybe you could give me advice?

Thanks!!! ^_^

[Certified Cake Decorator]

Ok i dont know anyone or had top surgery myself, but i suggest google things like

"Top surgery without T"

"Will my chest grow back if i stop taking T ftm"

And similar stuff. Mostly i am pretty sure people will have reponded to that last one. Will the chest grow back? No it will not. Probably

[citizenofAcity]

I'm going to provide info as it relates to where I live, so what I say may or may not apply to you. At the end of the day, you're the one who has to decide whether or not it's worth it because it's your body. :)

It's possible to get top surgery without hormones, but you'd have to go through a lot more evaluations with a therapist/psychologist than someone who would be planning to go on hormones. They have to do this because they have no other way of determining whether or not you're eligible for surgery. Then they have to write a letter to the surgeon you're planning on having your procedure with explaining why you should be allowed to have the surgery without hormones.

The process isn't harder, per se, but it's a bit more prolonged. Surgeons usually prefer that patients have been on hormones for about a year, but it's not a requirement (that is, if you have the letter of recommendation as I explained above; otherwise, it is required). As long as you receive the proper OK, and take care of your body before and after surgery then you should be fine.

[igatun]

You might want to have a look at this website: http://neutrois.me/tag/top-surgery/

The writer of this blog identifies as agender and had top surgery before going on T and there's some good info there.

[Kelly]

Very good points, all.

The new WPATH Standards of Care (SoC) allow top surgery without T. Further, the new SoC address non-binary gender identities.

The SoC even state that T (or any HRT) is not required:

Criteria for breast/chest surgery (one referral)
Criteria for mastectomy and creation of a male chest in FtM patients:
1. Persistent, well-documented gender dysphoria;
2. Capacity to make a fully informed decision and to consent for treatment;
3. Age of majority in a given country (if younger, follow the SOC for children and adolescents);
4. If significant medical or mental health concerns are present, they must be reasonably well
controlled.
Hormone therapy is not a pre-requisite.

[zabz]

Yes, it is possible. You will have to undergo more psychiatrist evaluations, as stated above, but there are plenty of surgeons out there whose requirement is actually the referral from the gender specialist, not being on T. I'm planning for top surgery at the moment and about to start the multiple rounds of psychiatric evals :)