FTM Top Surgery Procedures

What Is Top Surgery?

In medical terms, FTM Top Surgery is a subcutaneous mastectomy. The goal is more than just a flat chest; it should also have an aesthetically pleasing male contour, be fully sensate, and result in minimal scarring.

FTM Top Surgery includes:

• Removal of most of the breast tissue;
• Removal of excess skin;
• Removal of the inframammary fold.
• Reduction and repositioning of the nipple-areolar complex.

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How To Choose a Top Surgery Procedure

The choice of Top Surgery procedure is largely based on chest size and skin elasticity:

• Small breasts with good skin elasticity - Periareolar or Keyhole.
  
• Moderately sized chests (B cup) with good skin elasticity - Periareolar, Buttonhole Technique, Double Incision or Inverted-T.
  
• Large chest or moderately-sized chest with poor elasticity - Buttonhole Technique, Double Incision or Inverted-T.
  
• Very large chests - Buttonhole Technique, Double Incision.

Note that skin with poor elasticity, often due to years of binding, can limit the surgeon’s choice of procedure and adversely affect post-operative results.

Revision surgery is common: removal of "dog ears", reduction and/or repositioning of areola, nipple reduction, additional liposuction.

Special note on breast reduction mammoplasty: Some choose a breast reduction instead of a subcutaneous mastectomy, often for insurance reasons. However, note that prior breast reduction surgery may affect your options for top surgery and so should be carefully considered if top surgery is in your future.

The techniques for FTM Top Surgery procedures varies between surgeons. To ensure an optimal outcome, be sure to take the time to discuss with your surgeon the specifics of the methods he or she will be using for your Top Surgery, such as size and placement of areola, nipples and incisions.

Your surgeon will provide you with instructions about post-operative care and healing time. It's important to follow your surgeon’s recommendations, otherwise you could their nullify policies on surgery revisions and liability. For more information about how to take care of your Top Surgery scars, see the guide to surgery scar care.