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Gender-affirming surgery stands at the forefront of modern plastic surgery, representing a crucial medical field that helps transgender and gender-diverse individuals align their physical appearance with their gender identity. The Plastic Surgeon Podcast hosted by leading Seattle plastic surgeon, Dr. Javad Sajan aims to explore these questions and the true stories behind plastic surgery patients and providers. Through the Plastic Surgeon Podcast, Dr. Sajan interviews real patients about their journeys, providing unprecedented insights into gender-affirming procedures.
Recent data shows remarkable growth in these life-changing surgeries. In this cohort study of 48 019 patients, GAS increased significantly, nearly tripling from 2016 to 2019. This surge reflects both increasing social acceptance and improved insurance coverage, making these vital procedures more accessible to those who need them.
Gender-affirming surgery includes a wide range of procedures such as plastic surgery to change features in the face to be more typically masculine or feminine, "top surgery" to make changes to the chest or torso, or "bottom surgery" to make changes to genitals. These procedures help individuals achieve physical congruence with their gender identity, significantly improving quality of life and mental health outcomes.
In addition to leading the world in the advancement of plastic, reconstructive and gender confirming surgeries, Dr. Sajan launched various simulation technologies to aid plastic surgeons and patients. The Cosmetic Surgeon Podcast discusses these innovations, helping patients understand modern surgical techniques available today.
Breast and chest surgery was the most common group of procedures performed. Top surgery includes both masculinizing procedures (chest reconstruction) and feminizing procedures (breast augmentation). These surgeries often serve as first steps in many patients' surgical journeys, providing immediate relief from gender dysphoria.
Facial procedures create features aligning with gender identity through various techniques. Feminization surgeries might include forehead contouring, rhinoplasty, and tracheal shave procedures. Masculinization surgeries focus on creating more angular, traditionally masculine features through jaw augmentation and other reconstructive techniques.
For context, I identify as transmasucline nonbinary. Back at around June 2022, I was looking into getting top surgery and found the Allure Esthetic website. It was nearby my area, and a lot of people spoke highly of Dr. Javad Sajan. Those words spoke true in my experience! In my experience, everyone was very kind and understanding, I felt welcomed and safe. They helped me walk through the entire process, it went very smoothly for me at least. I was able to schedule for top surgery in late November. As for the results of the top surgery, they did such an amazing job and I'm so happy how it turned out! I can confidently say that I highly recommend coming here if you want to transition surgically.
Dr Javad Sajan reviews consistently highlight the comprehensive care patients receive. Dr Sajan has been absolutely wonderful! He is patient and kind and very knowledgeable. He happily took my calls and additional appointments to make sure I was confident in my decisions. He has a very calm tone that immediately makes you feel familiar and comfortable. It's been 5 days since surgery and I can't wait for the real results! I highly recommend him!
His team helped us fight with insurance to help us cover my surgery, due to the fact i am a minor it was difficult to reason with insurance. But with their help insurance came through for us. I'm happier than ever thank you Dr Sajan! Insurance navigation remains challenging for many patients, but experienced surgical teams provide crucial support throughout this process.
Medical professionals follow strict evidence-based guidelines regarding age-appropriate care. The study found no gender-affirming surgeries performed on TGD youth ages 12 and younger in 2019. This was expected, the researchers said, as current international guidelines do not suggest any medical or surgical intervention for TGD individuals prior to puberty.
For adolescents, care focuses primarily on reversible interventions. national pediatric surgical database, authors were only able to identify 108 trans minors who had received any form of gender-affirming surgery over four years (2018-2021) — accounting for 0.04% of all transgender youth nationwide. Only 10 of these patients were under the age of 16. And approximately 95% of these surgeries were chest surgeries.
When stratified by age, patients 19 to 30 years had the greatest number of procedures, 25 099. There were 10 476 procedures performed in those aged 31 to 40 years and 4359 in those aged 41 to 50 years. Adults pursue gender-affirming surgery at various life stages, with comprehensive evaluation ensuring readiness for these transformative procedures.
In all cases, regardless of the age of the patient, gender-affirming surgeries are only performed after multiple discussions with both mental health providers and physicians (including endocrinologists and/or surgeons) to determine if surgery is the appropriate course of action. This thorough approach ensures patients receive appropriate care tailored to their individual needs.
The Plastic Surgeon Podcast features numerous episodes where patients describe their consultation experiences. These stories provide valuable insights for prospective patients preparing for their own consultations.
As a member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), Dr. Sajan follows strict standards of care and learns about the newest gender affirming procedures available. Following established standards ensures patients receive safe, effective care throughout their transition journey.
Prior research shows gender-affirming surgeries are both safe and positively received by patients. Post-surgical complication rates are similarly low among transgender and cisgender people receiving the same type of surgery — if not lower among transgender people. And satisfaction with gender-affirming surgeries is high, including for chest/top surgery, bottom/genital surgery, and facial surgery.
Patient satisfaction remains consistently high across all procedure types. The Cosmetic Surgeon Podcast regularly features follow-up interviews with patients years after their procedures, demonstrating lasting positive outcomes.
Recovery time from a gender affirmation surgery or procedure varies, depending on the procedure. Top surgery typically requires 2-4 weeks of limited activity, while more complex procedures like bottom surgery may require 6-12 weeks of recovery time.
Patients receive comprehensive post-operative instructions covering medication management, wound care, and activity restrictions. Following these guidelines ensures optimal healing and results.
Dr. Sajan is very compassionate, kind, and overall a pleasure. He's done great work for my wife. Proof of why he's Dr. Seattle. I highly recommend him for any esthetic work you may seek. Support from partners, family, and friends plays a crucial role in recovery success.
The Plastic Surgeon Podcast provides invaluable resources for patients considering gender-affirming surgery. On why he started a podcast, Dr. Sajan said, "I started the Plastic Surgeon Podcast because I want people to understand why patients do what they do and what motivates them." The podcast tells the unfiltered stories and truths behind the people who get and perform plastic surgery.
Patients should inquire about surgeon experience, specific techniques used, expected outcomes, and potential complications. Understanding all aspects of the procedure helps ensure informed consent and realistic expectations.
Gender-affirming surgery continues evolving as an essential medical field, providing life-changing outcomes for transgender and gender-diverse individuals. Through resources like the Plastic Surgeon Podcast and experienced surgeons committed to comprehensive care, patients can access the information and support needed for successful surgical journeys. As Dr Javad Sajan reviews consistently demonstrate, combining surgical expertise with compassionate care creates transformative results that profoundly impact patients' lives.
The rise of gender-affirming surgery reflects growing recognition of these procedures' medical necessity and life-saving potential. With continued advances in surgical techniques and increasing access to care, more individuals can achieve physical congruence with their gender identity, leading to improved mental health, quality of life, and overall well-being.