Top Surgery
Conveniently located to serve the areas of Beverly Hills and Greater Los Angeles
Top surgery refers to surgical procedures that reshape the chest to provide transgender patients with gender-affirming care. These procedures can be life-changing for patients who experience gender dysphoria. Top surgery can help create a more masculine or feminine chest contour, thereby improving one’s confidence and quality of life.
Dr. Michael Omidi is one of the leading gender-affirming care providers and plastic surgeons in Beverly Hills and the greater Los Angeles area. If you would like to learn more about top surgery, schedule a consultation with Dr. Omidi today.
Call our Beverly Hills office at (310) 281-0155 with your questions or to schedule an appointment.
Contents
About Top Surgery
Top surgery is designed to surgically reshape the chest area for both transgender men (those transitioning from female to male) and transgender women (those transitioning from male to female). The primary goal of top surgery is to align a patient’s physical appearance with their gender identity. These procedures serve as a form of gender-affirming surgery, which has proven psychological and emotional benefits for individuals experiencing gender and body dysphoria. (1)
Many people seek top surgery to alleviate feelings of discomfort related to their current chest appearance, whether it includes excessive breast tissue in transgender men, or seeking augmentation in transgender women for enhanced femininity. Because each patient’s goals are different, all top surgery procedures are planned carefully and respectfully to help you achieve your ideal body image goals. In the United States, thousands of patients undergo top surgery each year.
Benefits
Top surgery offers patients dozens of benefits that improve their lives and well-being. Dr. Omidi’s top surgery patients often experience the following:
- Improved body image: Patients often report enhanced satisfaction with their body post-surgery, leading to increased self-esteem.
- Enhanced confidence: A gender-affirming chest contour can foster greater confidence in individuals whose chest is not aligned with their gender identity.
- Reduced gender dysphoria: Alleviating body dysphoria can lead to improved mental health and reduced feelings of distress associated with one’s gender identity.
- Customizable results: Each surgery is tailored to fit the unique wishes of the patient regarding size and shape.
- Long-lasting effects: Results from top surgery are essentially permanent.
- Supportive care network: The top surgery process often includes professional guidance and support groups catering specifically to the LGBTQ+ community.
Candidates
Candidates for top surgery typically include transgender or non-binary patients who want to alter their chest to a more feminine, masculine, or neutral appearance. It is recommended that candidates for top surgery be in good overall health, not smoke or be willing to quit smoking for a period of time, and maintain realistic expectations for their results. Individuals who have already undergone or are currently undergoing hormone therapy to further align their physical appearance with their gender identity are eligible candidates and can see impressive results as well.
Personal Consultation
The first step in your top surgery treatment is a personal consultation with Dr. Omidi. This appointment will be your opportunity to discuss your goals for your appearance. You will explore the various treatment options that are available to your case. We foster a safe, welcoming environment where you can ask questions openly and make an informed decision about your top surgery.
Your medical history will also be reviewed at this appointment. Any past procedures, existing conditions, medications, allergies, or supplements that could pose risks to your healing will be considered in your treatment to provide optimal results.
Preparation
We will provide specific preparation instructions for your treatment plan after your consultation. We recommend that patients stop smoking and eat healthy, nourishing meals before their procedure. You will be placed under general anesthesia, so you will be required to fast for at least 12 hours before your surgery. You may receive prescriptions for pain management medications and antibiotics from Dr. Omidi. We recommend filling these before your appointment. You must arrange transportation, preferably with a trusted friend or family member.
Procedure
Top surgery procedures are normally either chest feminization, which creates breasts and a curvier physique, or chest masculinization, which decreases breast volume to sculpt a more masculine chest.
Male-to-Female Top Surgery
Breast implants are the most common method of breast augmentation for male-to-female top surgery. (2) If you have already seen growth in your breasts from hormone therapies, then a fat transfer may be sufficient, but most patients find that implants offer the most ideal results.
Incisions will be placed in discreet locations that will be hidden by the natural contours of the breasts. The implants can either be placed above or below the pectoralis major muscle. Dr. Omidi offers the option of either saline, silicone, or silicone “cohesive gel” implants.
Female-to-Male Top Surgery
Female-to-male top surgery employs techniques similar to those used in breast reduction and male breast lifts (a type of gynecomastia treatment). The most common technique is called bilateral mastectomy, where incisions are made around the areola or underneath the breast fold to remove excess glandular tissue, fat, and skin.
Dr. Omidi may also use liposuction in these treatments. For this, he will make a small incision on or under your breasts and insert a cannula. Breast tissue and body fat will then be suctioned away to sculpt the chest. (3)
Once the desired appearance is achieved, Dr. Omidi can tighten your pectoral muscles with sutures. Some of the removed breast tissue and fat may also be processed and then reinjected into your chest to create a more defined masculine chest.
Recovery
You will likely need some assistance from a close friend or family member in the first few days following your top surgery. Swelling and tenderness are normal side effects that will resolve within a few weeks. A compression garment should be worn to keep the swelling down, and you should sleep with several pillows to keep your head and chest elevated.
Everyone heals differently, but you will likely need approximately one to two weeks off work. You can carefully resume light activities after a few days, but you need to avoid strenuous activity for a few weeks. During follow-up appointments, Dr. Omidi will monitor your recovery and update your suggested activity levels.
Results
Once the swelling and bruising on your chest has reduced, you will immediately notice the results of your procedure. If you receive MTF top surgery, you will have attractive, feminine breasts that match your original goals and enhance your body image. For FTM patients, you will enjoy a more sculpted, masculine chest appearance. A 2021 study found that 90.5% of patients were satisfied with the results of their top surgery. (4)
Corresponding & Complementary Procedures
Patients may wish to incorporate other procedures into their treatment plan at a later time. Dr. Omidi offers many other cosmetic enhancement procedures for the face, body, breasts, and more. For example, facial feminization is a series of procedures that creates a softer, more feminine facial appearance through various surgical and non-surgical techniques.
Cost of Top Surgery in Beverly Hills
During your personal consultation, you will receive a price quote that is accurate for your procedure. We offer various financing options for our patients. Many insurance companies cover gender-affirming care. If you have any questions about insurance coverage, payments, financing, or anything else related to the procedure, please call us at (310) 281-0155 and get the information you need.
FAQ
Are implants the only method for MTF top surgery?
No. Some patients can achieve their ideal breast results with fat transfer methods, but implants are the most common method.
Will there be scarring after top surgery?
Depending on the surgical technique selected, scarring is likely but can be strategically hidden or minimized based on careful incisional placement. Most patients find that scars fade significantly over time.
Will I have to stop taking hormones before top surgery?
No. You can continue your hormone regimen as normal throughout the procedure.
Does insurance cover top surgery?
Some insurance companies do cover gender-affirming care procedures. If you are not sure if your insurance policy provides coverage for your procedure, please contact our office. We are happy to help you find this information.
Can top surgery be combined with other procedures?
Yes. Many patients choose to undergo additional procedures alongside top surgery. Discuss these options during your consultation.
References
1. Ascha M, Sasson DC, Sood R, et al. Top Surgery and Chest Dysphoria Among Transmasculine and Nonbinary Adolescents and Young Adults. JAMA Pediatrics. 2022;176(11):1115. doi:https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2022.3424
2. Sanchez Figueroa N, Kuruoglu D, Fahradyan V, Tran N, Sharaf B, Martínez-Jorge J. Feminizing Gender Affirming Breast Surgery: Procedural Outcomes at a Single Academic Institution. Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum. Published online April 28, 2024. doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/asjof/ojae032
3. Sachs D, Szymanski KD. Breast Reduction. PubMed. Published 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441974/
4. Day DL, Klit A, Lang CL, Mejdahl MK, Holmgaard R. High Self-Reported Satisfaction After Top Surgery in Gender-Affirming Surgery: A Single-Center Study. Transgender Health. Published online October 27, 2021. doi:https://doi.org/10.1089/trgh.2021.0091