What are the risks of chest feminization surgery?

The decision to have chest feminization surgery is extremely personal. You'll have to decide if the benefits will achieve your goals and if the risks and potential complications are acceptable.

Your mental health is very important. Surgery affects everyone differently. There is not enough research to say if this surgery will improve or worsen your mental health or improve or alleviate your gender dysphoria.

This surgery is considered permanent and may be impossible to reverse. Some patients later report regret about their decision to have gender surgery. There is not yet good data on the number of patients who regret their surgery or later detransition.

Your plastic surgeon and/or their staff will explain in detail the risks associated with surgery. You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedures you will undergo and any risks or potential complications.

Risks of surgery

The possible risks of chest feminization surgery include, but are not limited to, bleeding, infection, poor healing of incisions and scars, hematoma, loss of nipple sensation, breakdown of nipple grafts if your nipples are removed and replaced and anesthesia risks.

Risks related to breast implants

The possible risks related to breast implants themselves include, but are not limited to, implant leak and rupture, capsular contracture, skin wrinkling and rippling, breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), breast implant-associated squamous cell carcinoma (BIA-SCC) and breast implant illness (BII).

You can get more information about breast implants from the FDA, the breast implant patient decision checklist and the information sheets found in the manufacturer's implant package.

Breast Implant Safety: What Patients Need to Know