Many women feel their breasts foundational to their femininity. For transgender women, achieving that beautifully proportioned hourglass figure is not just transformative, it’s defining. Longwood Plastic Surgery understands how vital female breasts are, and we can help you reach the affirmation of your gender that sometimes hormones alone cannot achieve.
How Does MtF Top Surgery Work?
MtF top surgery is designed to take a masculine chest and reshape it for feminine proportions by adding implants. One key requirement is that the patient has been on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for 1 year prior to top surgery. There is a certain amount of breast and skin growth that must take place before an implant can properly fill and project a female presentation. Several factors affect the appearance of your new breasts. The type of implant, saline vs silicone, can determine the natural feel and motion of the breasts. The shape, round or teardrop, also plays a part in how natural your breasts appear. Then, of course is size, which can be the most affirming decision of all. Placement of the implant, above or beneath the pectoralis muscle, is another important choice to make. These all work in concert to make your MtF top surgery unique to you in every way.
Am I a Good Candidate?
If you’ve yet to begin HRT, please see your general physician, psychiatrist, or an endocrinologist to get started. If you’re ready to take the next step in your feminization journey with top surgery, a consultation at LPS is where to start.
Recovery for MtF top surgery is a bit easier than the top surgery for FtM patients, largely because the incisions are typically smaller. Saline implants can be placed while empty through much smaller incisions than silicone. Once they’re in the breast pocket, they’re filled in situ for a purely customizable, in-the-moment assessment by your skilled LPS physician.
The decision for subglandular or submuscular placement of the plant—above or beneath the pectoralis muscle—can affect how long your recovery lasts. Going submuscular does take more time as more tissues are rearranged during your procedure. Even with that possibility, MtF top surgery patients recover enough to return to work on average after 1 week. For more strenuous jobs that require lifting or raising the arms above shoulder height may need an additional week of recovery.
Most top surgeries are performed outpatient in LPS’s cutting-edge surgery suite, and you’ll be released the same day. You’ll likely have a surgical bra holding your bandages in place, and will need to avoid showering until your first post-operative appointment. Baby wipes, dry shampoo, or sponge baths can help keep you clean. Following your aftercare instructions is the key to a quick recovery and a better outcome. You may need help from a loved one for the first 24-48 hours, and sleeping reclined is recommended. Ice packs can help with pain management and swelling. As you feel up to it, get up, walk to the kitchen or bathroom, and slowly resume mundane tasks. This keeps your circulation up and improves your energy.
What Results Can I Expect?
Your new breasts will immediately be visible, and your figure will be more feminine right away. It may take a few weeks or months for the implants to finally settle into place, but you’ll have the side profile you’ve always wanted. It’s one step closer to you becoming the woman you were always meant to be.
Take the Next Step
Interested in learning about top surgery? Schedule your consultation with Longwood Plastic Surgery today by calling our Brookline office at (617) 383-6250. We serve the Brookline and Greater Boston area with distinction.