Top Surgery Brooklyn | Gender-Affirming Top Surgery

Brooklyn Top Surgery at Nathan Molina MD

Your Best is Yet to Come

At Nathan Molina MD, we are on a mission to harmonize people's external and internal self-image. Dr. Molina specializes in gender-affirming top surgery and nonbinary breast reduction, working alongside each patient to plan and perform a procedure that aligns with their specific goals. A careful listener, compassionate practitioner, and highly skilled surgeon, Dr. Molina is proud to provide personalized care to help patients from Brooklyn and beyond envision and embody their most healthy, confident selves.

What is GENDER-AFFIRMING Top Surgery?

It’s Your Time

Gender-affirming surgery is an umbrella term for various surgical procedures used to help bring an individual’s physical features into alignment with their gender identity. These can include facial surgeries, voice procedures, top surgery, and bottom surgery. Dr. Nathan Molina specializes in top surgery for transmen, transwomen, and nonbinary patients. This can involve breast augmentation with implants or fat grafting, or removal of breast tissue and chest contouring.

What are the benefits of GENDER-AFFIRMING Surgery?

The Essence of You

Achieving harmony between your inner self and the body that carries you through the world can have significant benefits. This can be especially true with gender-affirming top surgery. In one peer-reviewed study, patients who had gender-affirming surgery expressed between a 94 and 100-percent satisfaction rate with their outcomes¹.

Gender-affirming top procedures can help to align an individual's physical appearance with their true gender identity. This can alleviate feelings of gender dysphoria and promote a sense of congruence between the mind and body. Many individuals report improved mental health and reduced emotional distress after gender affirmation surgery. Increased self-esteem and self-confidence can positively impact various aspects of your life, including relationships and career opportunities. Gender-affirming surgery provides the freedom to express your identity authentically, which can include clothing choices, hairstyles, and other aspects of self-expression.

Additional Reading

Physically, gender-affirming top surgery can enhance an individual's comfort and well-being. For example, chest or breast surgery can eliminate the need for binding or wearing prosthetics, contributing to physical comfort and relief. Overall, gender affirmation surgery is a deeply personal and empowering experience. The outcome can help you to take control of your body and make choices that are consistent with your most authentic self.

Your Brooklyn Top Surgery Consultation

From Vision to Reality

Nestled in the vibrant heart of Brooklyn, our practice is a haven for transformative care and personal growth. Dr. Molina’s philosophy focuses on honoring and manifesting each individual’s unique vision for themselves. Gender affirmation surgery is a significant physical and emotional step that deserves the highest quality of care. To learn more about our approaches to gender-affirming top surgery, we invite you to schedule a personal consultation with highly skilled surgeon Nathan Molina MD.

Your Top Surgery Procedure

Skill & Artistry

Prior to your top surgery Brooklyn surgeon, Dr. Molina, will spend time collaborating with you to understand your specific goals and design a procedure completely tailored to your needs. The steps of your individual procedure will depend on the type of surgery performed.

We will review all the details of your procedure carefully ahead of time, including anesthesia information, the expected duration of surgery, and aftercare requirements, ensuring you are well prepared for a safe and successful procedure. Dr. Molina’s careful surgical approach focuses on results that align with your goals and look as natural as possible with minimal scarring. After your surgery is over, we will monitor you in a recovery area to ensure your safety and comfort as the effects of anesthesia wear off. You can typically expect to return home on the same day as your surgery with a friend or family member to drive you.

CHEST FEMINIZATION

Embracing Individuality

Chest feminization for male-to-female (MTF) transgender patients typically involves breast augmentation through the use of implants or autologous fat. The procedure is designed to enhance the size and shape of the breasts to create a more feminine appearance to the chest. The options and techniques used continue to evolve as experience in this field grows, and the specific approach may vary among plastic surgeons. The goal is to create a female breast from natal male chest anatomy, which poses significant challenges due to sexual dimorphism. The surgery is usually performed under general anesthesia and may involve repositioning the nipple and making incisions along the breast fold, around the areola, in the armpit, or through the belly button. The use of fat grafting for breast augmentation is an option for patients who only want a smaller breast size.

CHEST MASCULINIZATION

Aesthetic Goal Realized

Chest masculinization surgery, also known as "top surgery," is a procedure for female-to-male (FTM) transgender individuals that involves the removal of breast tissue and the reshaping of the chest to create a more masculine appearance. There are several approaches to this surgery, including the following:

Double Incision Mastectomy: This procedure is recommended for people with larger breasts. During the surgery, the surgeon makes cuts under and on top of each breast, removes breast tissue and some chest skin, and repositions the nipples to create a male-contoured chest.

Circumareolar Mastectomy: This surgery is ideal for patients without a significant excess of skin or breast tissue laxity. The breast tissue is removed through a small incision around the areola, and a limited degree of skin tightening can be achieved. The areola is resized at the same time.

Keyhole Surgery: This option is for individuals with smaller chests. It may involve the removal of breast tissue through an incision around the edge of the areola or through the armpit, leaving minimal scarring.

Top surgery is typically performed as an outpatient procedure and may involve risks such as bleeding, infection, asymmetry, and changes in sensation. Patients are advised to discuss the different surgical approaches and expected outcomes with their surgeon.

Top Surgery Recovery and Aftercare

Healing Care

Recovery times can vary depending on the details of your top surgery and individual rates of healing. Getting plenty of rest is vital in the first days after your procedure. Many people can return to light activity levels within a week of surgery, but you will need to refrain from strenuous exercise and heavy lifting for a number of weeks as your body continues to heal. Aftercare support will include guidance and medication for pain management as post-procedure bruising and swelling subside. You may need to wear a compression garment or bra to support tissue healing during early recovery. Good aftercare is essential to achieving an optimal outcome. Make sure to attend all post-operative appointments. We will maintain an open line of communication and are always available to answer any questions and offer additional support as needed during this time.

Top Surgery Results

Welcome to You

The outcome of your gender-affirming top surgery can be a significant moment in your journey of self-actualization. As post-procedure swelling fades, your results come into focus, providing you with a physique that matches how you feel inside and helps you engage more fully and actively in your life.

You may enjoy a renewed sense of confidence, a stronger sense of self, increased enthusiasm for taking on new opportunities, and a better ability to express your personal aesthetic and sense of style. Other treatments, such as hormone therapy and support from a counselor, may also be pursued in combination with top surgery to facilitate your personal evolution into the you that you were always meant to be. Our team will work with you to coordinate our services to move you forward on your remarkable journey.

GENDER-AFFIRMING TOP Surgery Frequently Asked Questions

How can I prepare for top surgery?

Preparing for top surgery is an important step in ensuring a successful and smooth surgical experience. You should educate yourself about the specific type of top surgery you'll be undergoing, whether it's mastectomy (chest masculinization) or breast augmentation. We will provide detailed information about surgical approaches and potential risks, but it is also useful to do your own research.

If you are on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), you should discuss this with Dr. Molina to check whether any adjustments to your HRT regimen are necessary before surgery. We will provide pre-operative guidelines, which may include dietary restrictions, alcohol and tobacco cessation, and discontinuation of specific medications or supplements that can increase the risk of bleeding or complications.

Arrange for a support system to help you during your recovery. This may include a friend, family member, or caregiver who can assist with daily tasks and provide emotional support. Some individuals find it helpful to prepare emotionally for the surgery by seeking support from therapists, support groups, or counselors who specialize in gender-affirming care.

Is gender affirmation surgery covered by insurance?

Insurance coverage for gender affirmation top surgery varies widely depending on factors such as the insurance provider, location, policy type, and medical necessity. Many insurance companies in the United States have started to provide coverage for gender affirmation surgery, but the extent of coverage can differ significantly. To determine whether your specific surgery is covered, you should contact your insurance provider, consult with our office team, and be prepared to provide documentation of medical necessity.

References

Tim C. van de Grift, Els Elaut, Susanne C. Cerwenka, Peggy T. Cohen Kettenis & Baudewijntje P. C. Kreukels (2018) Surgical Satisfaction, Quality of Life, and Their Association After Gender-Affirming Surgery: A Follow-up Study, Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 44:2, 138-148, DOI: 10.1080/0092623X.2017.1326190

Get in touch with us

Explore Your Options

Ready to learn more about your Brooklyn plastic surgery options? Get started by scheduling a personal consultation with Dr. Nathan Molina. He will spend time getting to know you, listening to your goals, and formulating recommendations individualized to you. From the moment you step into our beautiful practice, you will know that you have entered a welcoming space where you will be respected and supported with expert care throughout your journey of transformation.

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Top Surgery in Brooklyn, NY