Is top surgery always necessary?

Nadeest · 07-17-2012, 06:14 PM

I know one guy that didn't have top surgery, and looked fairly normal for a male. He just exercised, but to be fair, I didn't know him before he started T, either.

Corkey · 07-17-2012, 06:22 PM

Surgery is not always necessary. Your guy needs to discuss this with his therapist. Depending on what your guy feels is best for him is what he should do, none of us can make that decision for him. There are threads here that discuss transition, post transition and even a Braveheart thread for those of us who choose not to have SRS (surgical reassignment surgery).
Good luck to you both.

Gothy · 07-18-2012, 09:39 AM

Thank you, everyone, for your input so far. Corkey- as I said, Daddy does have upcoming appointments with a therapist and doctor but just wanted information based on others' experiences while waiting for those upcoming appointments. Obviously, the decision about whether to have top surgery or not will come down to a lot of personal factors including His anatomical make-up, and that will be something that He and His doctor will have to discuss. He just wanted to know what other people have experienced and if top surgery was actually necessary in order to achieve a masculine (passing) chest. We know it is possible, but we have not been able to find statistics on how many FTMs are able to achieve this without surgical intervention. I guess the ultimate goal here is hope. He would like to have hope that it would be possible in His case that surgery will not be needed.

Regarding liposuction- we have heard that this is not always effective because breast tissue is more dense than just fat. Are there cases where liposuction is sufficient?

Deborah · 07-18-2012, 09:55 AM

I am in a relationship with an FTM who has not and doesn't plan to have top surgery....as with most things this is an individual decision - no one should dictate what you do with your body...if one is comfortable with themselves it matters not what someone else thinks.

Just my opinion.

DMW · 07-18-2012, 02:15 PM

He is lucky he has you and your support.
It is true, what others have said here, that he is the only one that should decide on what he wants and makes him comfortable. That includes the therapist and Dr's.
I do know that if all of the breast tissue is not removed and
female hormones are still running around rampant...that the breast tissue,or cells, can continue to grow. I am not sure but, i bet with liposuction there would be extra skin tissue that would remain post op. Indeed, working out and increasing pectoral muscle mass could help reduce that void.

The good news is...transitioning is just that...it is a work in progress.
Knowing what you want is the first step.
Then, you gotta try and make it happen.

He could go on T and build his pecks and decide he doesn't need lipo.
He could get the lipo and if he doesn't like it...there are still options.
He could get lipo and then plastic surgery to remove the extra skin or
any extra breast tissue... if he isn't happy with just the lipo.
I think the options require more patience. However, in this case, it may be
the right thing to do.

It's a work in progress.

I will say this...and this is my personal perspective and experience...
If i where he, and i knew i didn't want breast tissue...i would go on T and get the double mastectomy. Because it would just be done. I have no patience.

That is what i did. I actually got the surgery before T cause i had plenty of peck muscle. They thought i was already on T.
I didn't have to be on T to get the surgery.

However, in regards to passing, you have mentioned that a few times...So, i am getting the impression that it is very important to him.
With the double mastectomy i had...i still have scars on my chest.
Funny story,
i was on the beach, with my ex girlfriend, and people kept looking at us. I of course was subconscious and thought for sure it was my scars they were staring at...but, then we heard the people say that's so and so and...is that? are they? We both kinda laughed...cause they thought we were a famous couple...and then i felt sorry for celebrities.

My point is that, sometimes the scars don't go away and you are left with either explaining yourself or not. i have never been asked what are those from? or what happened to you? Now a days, the more people transition, the more people will know what the scars are. And, it is a way to be outed.
I am not ashamed. However, we still have to be careful and live at the same time.

So, there are the scars to think about with double mastectomy. Maybe he doesn't want to take a chance on those. Some people don't have any scars. and others have worse. I consider myself very lucky.

I wish you both luck.

Corkey · 07-18-2012, 02:49 PM

Another option is a compression shirt. Can be very warm in the summer, but it will flatten without having surgery. Like a A line tee but with spandix like properties.

Rockinonahigh · 07-18-2012, 03:36 PM

I wear a spandex t-shirt that works fine for me,I just made shure it was tight enough to do the job.It can be a bit warm in the summer but not overly so,besides for about $12.00 each is a lot cheeper than surgery,I cut mine shorter than they come to about the near bottom of my rib cage to give me some legnth so it wont roll up ..corse im a bit chubby but it still dose a good job.

07-17-2012, 06:22 PM	#2
Corkey Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: Human Preferred Pronoun?: He Relationship Status: Very Married Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Where I want to be Posts: 8,155 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 47,491 Thanked 29,271 Times in 6,637 Posts Rep Power: 21474859	Surgery is not always necessary. Your guy needs to discuss this with his therapist. Depending on what your guy feels is best for him is what he should do, none of us can make that decision for him. There are threads here that discuss transition, post transition and even a Braveheart thread for those of us who choose not to have SRS (surgical reassignment surgery). Good luck to you both. __________________ "Many proposals have been made to us to adopt your laws, your religion, your manners and your customs. We would be better pleased with beholding the good effects of these doctrines in your own practices, than with hearing you talk about them". ~Old Tassel, Chief of the Tsalagi (Cherokee)

07-18-2012, 09:55 AM	#4
Deborah Member How Do You Identify?: queer femme Preferred Pronoun?: Babydoll is a start.... Relationship Status: Mrs. Livingston 4/20/2013 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Nashville where my heart belongs... Posts: 611 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 3,451 Thanked 1,454 Times in 276 Posts Rep Power: 14676215	I am in a relationship with an FTM who has not and doesn't plan to have top surgery....as with most things this is an individual decision - no one should dictate what you do with your body...if one is comfortable with themselves it matters not what someone else thinks. Just my opinion. __________________ "Slow to trust but I'm quick to love, I push too hard and I give too much, I aint saying I'm perfect, but I promise I'm worth it" "The Good Within Me Honors The Good Within You"

07-18-2012, 02:49 PM	#6
Corkey Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: Human Preferred Pronoun?: He Relationship Status: Very Married Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Where I want to be Posts: 8,155 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 47,491 Thanked 29,271 Times in 6,637 Posts Rep Power: 21474859	Another option is a compression shirt. Can be very warm in the summer, but it will flatten without having surgery. Like a A line tee but with spandix like properties. __________________ "Many proposals have been made to us to adopt your laws, your religion, your manners and your customs. We would be better pleased with beholding the good effects of these doctrines in your own practices, than with hearing you talk about them". ~Old Tassel, Chief of the Tsalagi (Cherokee)

07-17-2012, 06:14 PM	#1
Nadeest Member How Do You Identify?: as myself Preferred Pronoun?: She Relationship Status: Single Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Leesburg, FL Posts: 595 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2,876 Thanked 2,118 Times in 501 Posts Rep Power: 17077997	I know one guy that didn't have top surgery, and looked fairly normal for a male. He just exercised, but to be fair, I didn't know him before he started T, either.

07-18-2012, 09:39 AM	#3
Gothy Junior Member How Do You Identify?: NB\trans (fluid) Preferred Pronoun?: They Relationship Status: Anarchist Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Humboldt County, CA Posts: 79 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 101 Thanked 278 Times in 49 Posts Rep Power: 2480520	Thank you, everyone, for your input so far. Corkey- as I said, Daddy does have upcoming appointments with a therapist and doctor but just wanted information based on others' experiences while waiting for those upcoming appointments. Obviously, the decision about whether to have top surgery or not will come down to a lot of personal factors including His anatomical make-up, and that will be something that He and His doctor will have to discuss. He just wanted to know what other people have experienced and if top surgery was actually necessary in order to achieve a masculine (passing) chest. We know it is possible, but we have not been able to find statistics on how many FTMs are able to achieve this without surgical intervention. I guess the ultimate goal here is hope. He would like to have hope that it would be possible in His case that surgery will not be needed. Regarding liposuction- we have heard that this is not always effective because breast tissue is more dense than just fat. Are there cases where liposuction is sufficient?

07-18-2012, 02:15 PM	#5
DMW Member How Do You Identify?: FTM/Male (Will 14) Relationship Status: Caught An Angel and she doesn't lie! Join Date: May 2012 Location: @ Posts: 784 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2,256 Thanked 1,858 Times in 614 Posts Rep Power: 21474850	He is lucky he has you and your support. It is true, what others have said here, that he is the only one that should decide on what he wants and makes him comfortable. That includes the therapist and Dr's. I do know that if all of the breast tissue is not removed and female hormones are still running around rampant...that the breast tissue,or cells, can continue to grow. I am not sure but, i bet with liposuction there would be extra skin tissue that would remain post op. Indeed, working out and increasing pectoral muscle mass could help reduce that void. The good news is...transitioning is just that...it is a work in progress. Knowing what you want is the first step. Then, you gotta try and make it happen. He could go on T and build his pecks and decide he doesn't need lipo. He could get the lipo and if he doesn't like it...there are still options. He could get lipo and then plastic surgery to remove the extra skin or any extra breast tissue... if he isn't happy with just the lipo. I think the options require more patience. However, in this case, it may be the right thing to do. It's a work in progress. I will say this...and this is my personal perspective and experience... If i where he, and i knew i didn't want breast tissue...i would go on T and get the double mastectomy. Because it would just be done. I have no patience. That is what i did. I actually got the surgery before T cause i had plenty of peck muscle. They thought i was already on T. I didn't have to be on T to get the surgery. However, in regards to passing, you have mentioned that a few times...So, i am getting the impression that it is very important to him. With the double mastectomy i had...i still have scars on my chest. Funny story, i was on the beach, with my ex girlfriend, and people kept looking at us. I of course was subconscious and thought for sure it was my scars they were staring at...but, then we heard the people say that's so and so and...is that? are they? We both kinda laughed...cause they thought we were a famous couple...and then i felt sorry for celebrities. My point is that, sometimes the scars don't go away and you are left with either explaining yourself or not. i have never been asked what are those from? or what happened to you? Now a days, the more people transition, the more people will know what the scars are. And, it is a way to be outed. I am not ashamed. However, we still have to be careful and live at the same time. So, there are the scars to think about with double mastectomy. Maybe he doesn't want to take a chance on those. Some people don't have any scars. and others have worse. I consider myself very lucky. I wish you both luck.

07-18-2012, 03:36 PM	#7
Rockinonahigh Senior Member How Do You Identify?: stone butch Preferred Pronoun?: makes no diffrence,I know who I am. Relationship Status: single,maybe looking if the right person comes along. Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: shreveport,Louisiana Posts: 4,907 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 4,682 Thanked 14,934 Times in 3,938 Posts Rep Power: 21474856	I wear a spandex t-shirt that works fine for me,I just made shure it was tight enough to do the job.It can be a bit warm in the summer but not overly so,besides for about $12.00 each is a lot cheeper than surgery,I cut mine shorter than they come to about the near bottom of my rib cage to give me some legnth so it wont roll up ..corse im a bit chubby but it still dose a good job.