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FTM Top Surgery

The prospect of undergoing female-to-male top surgery is likely to inspire feelings of excitement and trepidation. On one hand, you may feel eager to finally achieve the body that you identify with and gain freedom from restrictive chest bindings and bulky undergarments. But at the same time, it’s perfectly natural to feel nervous and apprehensive about this life-altering surgery. Over the past decade, Dr. Delgado has helped countless numbers of trans men achieve a more masculine chest contour through top surgery. From his experience performing FTM top surgery, he has become very sensitive to the emotional and physical needs of his patients.

What is FTM top surgery?

FTM top surgery is the name given to any procedure that is performed to remove breast and/or fatty tissue with the goal of creating a more masculine chest. While FTM top surgery is essentially subcutaneous mastectomy, the procedure involves far more than just removing tissue and skin. The goal of surgery is to create an aesthetically pleasing male contour, while preserving as much normal sensation as possible. A successful surgery will produce the natural curves and contours associated with the male chest in addition to addressing areola and nipple positioning.

The level of surgical complexity depends greatly upon each individual patient. Transmasculine men who have only a small amount of breast tissue and excellent skin elasticity may benefit from liposuction or keyhole surgery, the least invasive forms of FTM top surgery. These approaches are highly desirable because they result in minimal scarring and preserve nipple sensation. When there are larger amounts of breast/fatty tissue and excess skin present, a more involved surgical approach will be required.

Masculinizing the chest

When Dr. Delgado consults with a patient who is considering top surgery, he will conduct a physical examination to determine which surgical technique will be most appropriate. He considers the following aspects:

  • How much breast and fatty tissue needs to be removed?
  • Will excess skin need to be removed?
  • How will the inframammary fold be eliminated?
  • Will the nipples or areolas need to be reduced or repositioned?

In addition to physical attributes, Dr. Delgado will ask the patient how they feel about nipple sensitivity and scarring. While some patients are not bothered by scars, others will feel strongly about keeping scars as minimal as possible. While Dr. Delgado always strives to minimize scarring, certain approaches inherently result in more scarring than others. At the same time, these approaches often offer the best physical outcomes. Dr. Delgado takes the time to discuss the benefits and trade-offs of each approach before recommending a surgical technique for top surgery.

Working with Dr. Delgado

If you’re interested in FTM top surgery, we encourage you to set up an initial consultation with Dr. Delgado. An initial consultation with Dr. Delgado gives you the opportunity to ask all of your questions to one of the leading experts in top surgery. You will not be pressured to schedule a surgery date during the consultation – we know that this is a big step that requires much thought and consideration. If you decide that you want to move forward with surgery, Dr. Delgado will then discuss next steps with you. To learn more, call our Novato or San Francisco office to set up an appointment today.

We’re here to help you prepare for top surgery It’s perfectly normal to have questions or feel anxious before any surgery. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or doubts before your top surgery. Our experienced team is here to help and provide reassurance as needed Virtual Consultations. Click to Learn More
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