What Is Top Surgery: Scars, Recovery, Techniques, & More
What is Top surgery?
Top surgery is a gender confirmation procedure for trans men and nonbinary people that involves removing breast tissue in order to create pecs. Our plastic surgeon will remove the patient's breast tissue and re-size or adjust the nipples with a free nipple graft to match the patient's desired look. In some cases, patients prefer to remove their nipples completely in the process to achieve the body that represents their true self.
If you currently have small breasts, then gynecomastia surgery may work well for you which utilizes liposuction to remove excess tissue and creates very small incisions in the natural breast crease. However, if you have larger breasts, then skin excision and a free nipple graft may be necessary. Ultimately, we highly recommend booking a consultation with your desired plastic surgeon to receive an evaluation and determine which type of top surgery best suits your needs.
| Duration of surgery | Typically between 2 - 5 hours |
|---|---|
| Time Out Of Work | Typically 1 week |
| Activity Restrictions | No cardiovascular activity or heavy lifting (>5lbs) for approximately 4 - 6 weeks |
| Results Timetable | Enhancement: Immediate 70% Swelling reduction: 4 - 6 weeks Full Settling and recovery: 3 months |
| Anesthesia | General |
| BMI requirement | Must have a BMI of 40 or lower |
| Scar Placement/Visibility | Scars are placed at the inframmamary fold (the natural breast crease) |
| Price | Unlock here |
How long is Top surgery recovery?
This will depend on the type of top surgery agreed upon between you and your plastic surgeon.
Procedure: Partial Mastectomy w/ Free Nipple Graft (FTM Top)
This type of top surgery is for patients with a moderate-severe amount of breast tissue. A partial mastectomy with free nipple graft is done under general anesthesia, typically lasts 2 to 5 hours, and requires you to miss about 1 week of work while you recover. You will need to take it easy for about 4 to 6 weeks after the procedure which means no exercising or lifting anything over 5 pounds. As for the results, you will see an improvement immediately after surgery, and 70% of the swelling will go down after about 4 to 6 weeks with your full results taking about 3 months.
By Dr. Harun Zekirovski
By Dr. Harun Zekirovski
Procedure: Liposuction of The Chest (Gynecomastia Surgery)
This type of top surgery is for patients with a small amount of breast tissue. It is done under general anesthesia, typically lasts 1.5 to 2.5 hours, and requires you to miss about 1 week of work while you recover. You will need to take it easy for about 4 to 6 weeks after the procedure which means no exercising or lifting anything over 5 pounds. As for the results, you will see an improvement immediately after surgery, and 70% of the swelling will go down after about 4 to 6 weeks with your full results taking about 3 months.
By Dr. Harun Zekirovski
By Dr. Harun Zekirovski
Can I choose a Top surgery without nipples?
Absolutely! Our plastic surgeons have completed many transformations that involved removing the nipples completely. We are here to make sure you feel your most authentic self, so if you would like to completely remove your nipples during top surgery, then we are more than happy to accommodate your choice ❤️
By Dr. Harun Zekirovski
By Dr. Harun Zekirovski
What will a Top surgery scar look like?
As mentioned previously, it will depend on the exact type of top surgery you choose. However, we can share the most common approaches at our office which are gynecomastia surgery (utilizing liposuction which creates small incision along the breast fold) and a partial mastectomy with or without a free nipple graft. It’s important to note that all top surgery scars take about 1 year to fully mature, but our team will provide you with Silagen scar products to assist with the healing process.
By Dr. Harun Zekirovski
By Dr. Harun Zekirovski
How much does Top surgery cost?
This depends on the exact approach of your surgery, how involved your procedure is, and the plastic surgeon you’re interested in moving forward with. We recommend to price shop around and get quotes from the top surgeons you’re interested in to get a better idea. If you’re interested in one of our plastic surgeons, you can unlock our top surgery pricing online in seconds here to receive a price range.
Our team of plastic surgeons have completed hundreds of top surgery transformations over the years and perfected their technique. If you’re interested in booking a virtual or in-person consultation with one of our plastic surgeons, call us at 407-377-5438 or fill out our online form here. Our entire office is LGBTIQA+ friendly and we understand the emotional journey that accompanies gender reassignment surgery and want to assist you through your transition. If you're considering the top surgery in Orlando, one of our talented plastic surgeons will provide their medical expertise and assist you along the way while making sure you feel heard and supported.