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Gender confirmation surgeries rise 20% in US
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The American Society for Plastic Surgeons reported today that more than 3,200 gender confirmation surgeries were performed in 2016 in the United States.
That is a 20% increase of transgender-related surgeries from 2015, and includes both transfeminine and transmasculine surgeries, ranging from facial and body contouring to gender reassignment surgeries, according to a press release from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), which reported for the first time on the surgeries in the U.S.
Access to gender confirmation procedures has improved in recent years, according to the ASPS.
"In the past several years, the number of transgender patients I've seen has grown exponentially," Loren Schechter, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon based in Chicago, stated in the release. "Access to care has allowed more people to explore their options, and more doctors understand the needs of transgender patients."
Schecter reported that surgical therapy is just one component of the overall care in transgender-related treatment.
"It takes a team of experts across different disciplines working together to provide comprehensive care. I often partner with doctors who may prescribe treatments such as hormone therapy and mental health professionals who help patients through their transitions,” Schechter stated.
Reference: www.plasticsurgery.org