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.
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.
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.
You may be a candidate if you:
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.
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.
We will of course provide detailed pre-operative instructions for you, and they typically include:
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.
Most often, the approach is a more or less straightforward breast augmentation or breast removal.
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.
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.
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.
“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.” -N.P.
Recovery from breast augmentation usually involves:
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:
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.
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.
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 Charles Chalekson, MD, INC. Our practice looks forward to serving you!
