Both FTM (female-to-male) and FTN (female-to-nonbinary) gender affirming top surgery are incredibly positive and effective procedures if you are experiencing significant gender dysphoria.
It is, without exaggeration, life changing.
Just ask others who have already had top surgery.
The mental and emotional struggles leading up to these procedures can be, at times, almost overwhelming.
And then the day of surgery has finally arrived.
For many, it is surreal.
The following information will cover the surgical dressing placed as part of your top surgery procedure and the postoperative garment. This is the regimen that I use for my patients and it is very effective. There are different approaches that are used and recommended by other plastic surgeons which also can be quite effective.
Will I Have a Surgical Dressing on After My Top Surgery?
Fig. 1. Surgical dressing at 3 days
Your top surgery will be performed at an outpatient center under general anesthesia. An anesthesiologist will administer the anesthesia during the entire procedure.
Upon completion of your top surgery, a surgical dressing will be placed over your chest. This serves to provide comfort, protection of the site and helps reduce the risks for several potential postsurgical complications.
A typical dressing applied can be seen in Fig. 1.
The FTM and FTN Post-surgical Garment
Fig. 2. A post-surgical garment
Your first postoperative appointment is usually two to three days after surgery. At that time, your dressing is removed and is replaced by a post-surgical garment like the one seen in Fig. 2. There are other alternatives.
This can be considered to be a binder or a sports bra. Its purpose is to provide gentle compression on your chest, facilitate comfort, protect the incisions and drains and stabilize the secondary dressing securing the free nipple graft in place (if you have elected to have nipples).
Preferred Characteristics of the Post-surgical Garment
The characteristics of the ideal FTM/FTN elastic and post-surgical garment are important and should not be ignored. These include:
- Elastic and form fitting: Being elastic and flexible will facilitate more ideal compression and support of your chest. This can reduce the risks of bleeding and hematoma formation as well as fluid accumulation. It can also better secure and stabilize the dressings holding the free nipple grafts in place (if you elect to have them) and the drains.
- Opening in the front: Putting your garment on and taking it off is far easier, more comfortable and will be less likely to negatively impact the healing of your chest if the clasps/zipper are in the front.
- Comfortable: If your garment is comfortable, not only will you feel better but you will likely have a more pleasant postoperative course.
- Correct size: It is important that you wear a garment that is the correct size. If it is too large, it won’t provide the benefits that it should; too small and you may experience ongoing, unwanted discomfort. It is recommended that you purchase a few different sized garments prior to your surgery that will allow you to have the most ideal one available for you to wear starting at your initial postoperative appointment. The others can be returned.
- Adjustable straps: Though not always easy to find, obtaining a garment with adjustable straps will allow for a more flexibility of fit which is important in certain situations.
How Long Will I Need to Wear My Binder After Top Surgery?
Our FTM and FTN top surgery patients are generally instructed to wear their garment for four weeks. On rare occasion, some patients who elected not to have their nipple-areola complexes replaced will only need to wear this for around three to three and a half weeks.
Questions About Your Garment
If you have any questions whatsoever about your garment, whether before or after surgery – please ask! We want you to have a great overall experience with an excellent outcome and having the right garment is an integral part of this.
Your Consultation
If you are strongly considering FTM or FTN gender affirming top surgery and would like to schedule your consultation with me, Steven H. Turkeltaub, MD, you can call the Arizona Center for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery at (480) 451-3000 or contact us by email.
Steven H. Turkeltaub, M.D. P.C.
Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona
