Give Chalekson Plastic Surgery | Medspa a phone call at +1 805 998 7993 Schedule an Appointment
Give Chalekson Plastic Surgery | Medspa a phone call at +1 805 998 7993 Schedule an Appointment

What Is Top Surgery?

Top surgery simply refers to surgery on your chest. Because the chest anatomy we develop in adolescence does not always match who we truly are, these surgeries exist to remove breast tissue or enhance breast tissue.

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Breast Augmentation With Breast Implants

Sometimes referred to as male-to-female or MTF (or male-to-nonbinary) top surgery, breast augmentation creates beautiful, feminine breasts. You can choose the shape and size of breasts you want, although the size must fall within a certain range given your current breast dimensions.

Breast Tissue Removal/Mastectomy

You may have heard this type of top surgery referred to as female-to-male/FTM (or female-to-nonbinary) breast surgery. Mastectomy removes the breast tissue, leaving you with a firm, masculine chest. Dr. Chalekson is an experienced San Luis Obispo County provider of both forms of gender-affirming top surgery.

He is driven by the sense of wholeness his patients report feeling after top surgery. Dr. Chalekson knows just how life-changing it can be for our external features to reflect who we know ourselves to be on the inside. He will discuss with you what you can expect from top surgery so that you can decide if it is right for you.

Who Is A Candidate For Top Surgery?

You may be a candidate if you:

  • Want to modify your chest to align with your authentic self
  • Have realistic expectations of what can be achieved
  • Have been living as your true gender identity and want this surgery so you can match your physical characteristics to this identity
  • Have been working with a therapist to discuss the impact of transforming this part of your body
  • Are making this decision for yourself and not to please someone else
  • Are at least 18 years old

You can discuss your candidacy for a transgender top surgery in San Luis Obispo County with Dr. Chalekson during a one-on-one consultation. Dr. Chalekson will review your health history, listen to your goals, learn more about your expectations, and determine if a chest procedure is an option for you. Our comfortable and inviting office is located in one of the most beautiful areas of California, and we hope you will visit us to discuss these procedures.

Top Surgery Before & After

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Is Top Surgery Painful?

Gender-reassigning top surgeries are performed under general anesthesia, so you will not experience the procedure itself. After you have woken up and the numbing medications degrade, you will start feeling soreness and discomfort. We will have previously discussed pain management for when you start feeling this way, and that may include prescription medications or over-the-counter pain relievers. The discomfort and soreness may peak the next day or two, and will lessen over the course of 1-2 weeks.

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How Do I Prepare For Top Surgery?

We will, of course, provide detailed pre-operative instructions for you, and they typically include:

  • Stop taking medications or supplements as instructed by your doctor and Dr. Chalekson (you may need to temporarily stop taking aspirin and certain supplements that increase the risk of bleeding)
  • If you smoke, stop smoking at least 3 weeks before surgery (and be prepared not to smoke for 3 weeks after)
  • Stop eating at the specified time, cut off the night before. Don’t eat anything the day of surgery
  • Follow our directions for bathing
  • Wear loose, comfortable clothing to surgery
  • Make sure you have arranged for someone to drive you home and stay with you

Do not worry, we will provide complete instructions that you will be able to refer back to. Getting ready for your gender-confirming surgical appointment in San Luis Obispo County is not too big of an inconvenience, and we will make sure all your concerns are addressed beforehand.

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How Is Transgender Top Surgery Performed?

Most often, the approach is a more or less straightforward breast augmentation or breast removal.

Breast Augmentation

Breast implants are placed within the tissue to create bigger breasts. Most of the time, patients have been taking feminization hormones, so breast mounds will have started developing. The breast implants are often placed in the existing breast mounds, and the tissue stretches to accommodate the implants. In other situations, a tissue expander device may be used before the implants are placed. The tissue expander looks a lot like an implant. It is gradually expanded over time, gently stretching the tissue so that it can hold and encapsulate the implants.

Mastectomy

The mastectomy is the removal of the breast tissue. If there is a lot of excess skin as well, that may need to be removed.

Sometimes the nipples are reduced and/or repositioned. All of the remaining tissue and skin is positioned over the chest contour to look masculine.

Tailored Approach

As an experienced cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Chalekson performs a full array of cosmetic procedures in San Luis Obispo County, including transgender top surgery. He may recommend combining liposuction with mastectomy or breast augmentation, or other procedures to achieve the best possible results. The only way to know for sure is to visit him for a consultation.

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Such a great experience, staff is very friendly and welcoming, I mean staff is AMAZING. I am so pleased with my results as well as the care and support you have provided me. THANK YOU.

NP

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What Is Recovery Like From Top Surgery?

Recovery from breast augmentation usually involves:

  • Having someone drive you home and stay with you for at least 24 hours after surgery
  • Nothing more than light walking for the first week
  • Return to work after 1 week, assuming your job doesn’t involve heavy lifting or strenuous activities
  • Return to strenuous activities/full range of activities after 4-6 weeks

At first, your breast implants will sit high on the chest and may feel somewhat firm to the touch. They need time to settle and “fluff” into place, as it’s called. They will first drop and soften after about 3 days, and continue to settle even more into place over the course of 6 weeks. After 3 months, you will be looking at your final results.

If you are undergoing FTM chest surgery, the recovery typically involves:

  • Having someone drive you home and stay with you for at least 24 hours after surgery
  • Nothing more than light walking for the first week
  • Returning to work after 1-2 weeks, as long as your job doesn’t involve heavy lifting or using the chest muscles
  • Returning to strenuous activities/the full range of your normal activities after 6-8 weeks

These timelines will vary based on individual healing. We will review the activities and exercises you usually enjoy, as well as the nature of your job, and provide customized timelines for returning to them. We will schedule post gender affirming surgery follow-up appointments with you in San Luis Obispo County and make sure you have contact information for any questions or concerns that arise during recovery.

What Can I Expect From My Top Surgery Results?

Our San Luis Obispo County patients are typically extremely satisfied with their results and do not regret the decision to undergo top surgery. Having a male or female chest contour that you do not identify with is distressing and causes chest dysphoria. Research shows that chest surgery can eliminate or reduce dysphoria and improve self-esteem.

If you identify along the transgender spectrum or as nonbinary, these procedures may be the right way to feel even more like yourself and feel at home in your body. If you are mulling over the option of top surgery, it is important to speak to an experienced, compassionate, and understanding plastic surgeon.

Even if you are really excited to get the procedure, it can be a stressful situation. Dr. Chalekson cares about making your experience as positive and successful as he can. He has worked with many transgender and nonbinary people over the years, and he is ready to provide clear information about your options and how to navigate the process.

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Consider Calling Our Office For A Top Surgery Consult In San Luis Obispo County

Take the next step toward becoming the truest expression of yourself. To schedule a consultation to discuss transfeminine or transmasculine top surgery in San Luis Obispo County, please call the practice of Chalekson Plastic Surgery | MedSpa. Our practice looks forward to serving you!

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If you are considering plastic surgery in San Luis Obispo County, our team can help you understand your options and move toward the outcome that feels right for you. We welcome patients from across California and the United States, including Paso Robles, Atascadero, Templeton, Arroyo Grande, Pismo Beach, Cambria, Santa Barbara, and Santa Maria.

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