FTM Top Surgery

You will meet your specialist gender reassignment surgeon for up to two consultations at our award-winning Chelsea based clinic to discuss FTM Top Surgery and your hopes for surgery. Your surgeon will discuss your medical history and the steps you have taken in your transition so far. They may ask to review 1-2 referral letters from other gender specialists you have previously worked with. This is to ensure that you are at the right point in your transition to undergo top surgery.

We recommend writing any questions you have for your surgeon down, while you are preparing for your consultation. This will allow you to get the most out of your consultation and allow you to walk away feeling confident and fully prepared.

Your surgeon will also carry out a general health and wellness check, take your measurements and take photos for your medical records. This will help them to put together your surgical plan in as much detail as possible.

Following your consultation, your surgeon will send your completed surgical plan to your patient advisor. Your advisor will explain the plan and the procedure your surgeon has suggested for you, as well the pricing and your surgeon’s available dates for surgery. You will then have a compulsory two week cooling off period to consider the options that have been given to you and whether you would like to go ahead with surgery.

 If you decide to proceed with FTM Top Surgery, there are certain steps your surgeon will ask you to follow in preparation for surgery:

• You will receive two questionnaires, one about your medical and one about your psychological health. Once completed, your surgeon and anaesthetist will review these to confirm you are ready for surgery.
• If you smoke or vape, your surgeon will ask you to give up six weeks before your procedure. This will significantly improve your healing and recovery process.
• You will also be asked to cut down on drinking alcohol in the weeks running up to your surgery. You shouldn’t drink any alcohol in the 48 hours before your procedure.
• In the 7 days running up your procedure you will be asked to not to take any anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen and aspirin, as well as herbal supplements as these may increase your chances of bleeding in your surgery.
• You must ask a friend or family member to come and collect you following your procedure. They must be able to either accompany you in a taxi or drive you in a private car before staying with you overnight.
• In the 6 hours before you arrive at the clinic, you cannot consume any solid food, juice or milk (including tea or coffee). You can have sips of clear liquids (water, or black tea and coffee) up to 2 hours before you arrive at the clinic

Your arrival time will be an hour before your surgery is due to begin. The nurses will prepare you for surgery by taking your blood pressure, height and weight and asking you to change into a surgical gown and compression socks. Your surgeon and anaesthetist will come to greet you and answer any questions. Your surgeon will then make any markings they need to carry out your procedure.

When you are taken into theatre, your anaesthetist will administer your general anaesthetic. All procedures at Cadogan Clinic are performed using TIVA (Total Intravenous Anaesthesia) as it has a faster initial recovery time and less risk of post-operative nausea and vomiting.

Once your surgery is finished, you will be taken to our recovery ward, where you will wake up from the anaesthetic and a nurse will check your vital health signs. Once you are awake and comfortable, you will be taken into our ambulatory ward to have something to eat and drink. When you are ready, a nurse will talk you through any medication and aftercare you will need once you leave. You will then get changed and your chaperone will come to collect you.

In the first few days following surgery, you will likely experience some pain, bruising and swelling, this is completely normal and will calm down within the first 2 weeks. Most patients are mobile within 2-3 days and can bathe normally after this time. Your surgeon will ask you to wear a compression vest for up to 8 weeks post-surgery to preserve your results and to reduce the swelling. They may also ask you to sleep on your back for the first few weeks of recovery to prevent any pressure being placed on your chest.

One week after your surgery you see our nurses so they can assess your incisions and make sure you are healing well. They will explain how to look after and change your dressings from this point onwards and will answer any questions you have about your aftercare.

Six weeks after your surgery you will see your surgeon so they can discuss your results and recovery. After this point, if you have any questions or concerns you will still be able to contact our nurses or your patient advisor who will be able to organise for you to speak with your surgeon if necessary.