Preparing for surgery

Please see our patient guide page to learn about:

• Steps to surgery
• WPATH standards of care
• The letter of support needed for some surgeries

Gender-affirming mastectomy

OHSU’s plastic surgeons do hundreds of surgeries a year to remove breasts for transgender and nonbinary patients. If desired, surgeons can also reshape the chest to better match a patient’s gender identity.

Surgery types

We offer a range of types, including liposuction when needed. Your surgeon will work with you to choose the technique best suited to your anatomy and preferences.

Recovery

Surgery is usually done in our outpatient surgery center, and you go home the same day.

You will have a compression garment for several weeks. You can expect to get back to most normal activities within six weeks.

Considerations and risks

Serious complications are uncommon. The two most common long-term problems are scarring and reduced nipple sensation. We recommend that you continue routine mammograms as some breast tissue will remain.

Gender-affirming breast augmentation

Estrogen therapy can produce breast development, but the chest may not have the proportions you want. Our plastic surgeons use implants and contouring to achieve these proportions.

Our surgeons use methods specific to gender-affirming breast augmentation. The surgery is not the same as breast augmentation for a cisgender patient.

At OHSU, our specialists do dozens of these surgeries a year. OHSU studies of outcomes have improved how we work with each patient to choose a technique.

Gender-affirming breast augmentation options

You and your surgeon will decide on:

• Type of implant (saline or silicone)
• Shape of implant
• Implant placement (above or below muscle)
• Incision site

Recovery

You’ll go home the same day. Patients can typically resume most normal activities after six weeks.

Considerations and risks

Gender-affirming breast augmentation is relatively safe. Implants are subject to wear and tear, though, so it’s possible more surgery will be needed later in life.

It’s also not uncommon for a tight capsule of scar tissue to form around the implant (capsular contracture), requiring revision surgery. Your surgeon will discuss risks with you before surgery.