Gender-affirming plastic surgery can be a huge step in a trans or nonbinary person’s gender journey. However, not all trans women will pursue top surgery. If you’re considering transgender breast augmentation, on the fence, or just curious about your options — we have all the information you need.
In addition to being a board-certified reconstructive and plastic surgeon, I am a member of WPATH (World Professional Association for Transgender Health) and USPATH (United States Professional Association for Transgender Health) and follow their standards of care.
Also known as “male-to-female (MTF)” or “feminizing” top surgery, breast augmentation is a gender-affirming surgery for transfeminine patients. The objective is to create natural-looking breasts and improve the patient’s self-esteem.
Breasts can be augmented with saline or silicone implants or fat grafting. The procedure can also include areola enhancement, adjusting nipple placement, chest contouring, and liposuction, depending on the patient’s goals.
Depending on your goals, we can use implants or fat-transfer breast augmentation. Breast implants are often preferred because of their predictability — we can control their exact shape and size.
But the benefit of fat transfer is it’s a bit of a two-in-one procedure. For fat transfer breast augmentation, I use liposuction to remove fat from target areas of your body (ex. abdomen, thighs, buttocks, etc.), purify the fat, and then strategically inject it into your chest to increase breast size. Fat transfer involves smaller incisions than implants, but can only make a modest change in breast size.
Breast implants don’t have an infinite lifespan and will someday need replacing, they also require larger incisions, albeit strategically placed to be less visible. However, you can achieve larger breasts with implants than with fat grafting.
The breast augmentation procedure is mostly similar for cisgender and transgender women. The big difference is trans women generally have less starting breast tissue. For that reason, I generally require patients to complete a full year of hormone therapy before their breast augmentation. A year of estrogen is usually enough to start breast development and make your final results more natural-looking.
For women without sufficient breast growth, a preliminary surgical procedure may be required. We can place devices called tissue expanders in front of your chest muscles. Every few weeks you’ll come in for a follow-up appointment to have saline injected into the tissue expanders. This process slowly stretches your chest skin and tissue to make room for the implants. (While this additional step is sometimes required by cisgender patients, especially following a mastectomy, it is more common for transgender patients.)
An alternative to the placement of tissue expanders is to place smaller breast implants, allow your skin to adjust to them, and then remove and replace them with larger implants down the line.
The first step on the road to augmentation mammoplasty (breast augmentation) is a consultation. I meet with all my potential breast augmentation patients to go over their goals and medical history. With this information, I can determine if you’re a good candidate for surgery. Also during this consultation, I will go over the procedure, post-op instructions, possible risks, and most likely results; it is very important to me that my patients are making fully-informed decisions.
On the day of your surgery, we will once again go over all post-surgery instructions — following these instructions will ensure you get the best results. During the procedure, you will be under general anesthesia, administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist.
For fat-grafting breast augmentation, I’ll begin with a small incision at the “donor site” — the part of your body we’re liposuctioning fat from — and remove the fat. The fat will then be purified and reinjected into your breasts. Over the next few months, the fat cells will incorporate and take their final shape.
For implants, I’ll make an incision near the inframammary fold (creases under the breasts) or around the areola, depending on implant size; larger implants require larger incisions. The implants are then placed below or above the pectoral muscles, depending on our pre-discussed plan.
After I’ve closed the incisions, your breasts will be covered with gauze and you’ll be fitted with a surgical bra.
Breast augmentation is an outpatient procedure, meaning you’ll be able to go home the same day. However, you will need a friend or family member to drive you home.
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You should take it easy for the first few days after surgery; sleep on your back and avoid putting any pressure on your breasts. Most patients can return to their normal activities after two weeks, but you’ll have to avoid heavy lifting or strenuous activity for about six weeks.
As previously mentioned, it takes a few months for the final fat grafting results to be visible.
It will take about six to twelve weeks after implant placement for the final breast shape to be visible.
I would never perform a procedure if I didn’t believe it to be safe and appropriate for my patients. There was a time when silicone implants were filled with a more liquid form of silicone that could leak and cause problems if the implant ruptured. Now we have more cohesive, i.e. gel-like or “gummy bear” implants.
If the thought of silicone causes you concern, there are also saline implants available. These are filled with sterile salt water and are often cheaper than silicone implants. However, they have a risk of “rippling” and many people believe they don’t feel as natural as silicone.
A known risk of either implant is capsular contracture. Your body will naturally form scar tissue around your implant, but in some patients, that scar tissue can become hard and constricting. This unnaturally tight tissue around the implant can cause changes in breast shape, pain, and (in the worst cases) implant rupture. If you notice changes in the shape or firmness of your breasts or start experiencing pain, talk to your doctor.
Many insurance companies now offer some form of coverage for gender-affirming care. However, you should check your policy to see what requirements your insurance provider has. Generally, insurance companies require surgery to be “medically necessary” as supported by a letter from a mental health professional.
Access to gender-affirming plastic surgery improves quality of life, mental health, self-image, and overall well-being. That’s why Dr. Sepideh Saber, M.D., is proud to provide a variety of cosmetic surgeries and procedures for trans and nonbinary patients. She brings not only years of plastic and reconstructive surgery experience, but a more sensitive female perspective.
If you’re ready to pursue this step in your gender journey, schedule your free consultation today.
Call us at (877) 205-4100 or schedule a consultation online.
The practice of Dr. Saber is located in Encino, CA for patients throughout the Los Angeles area. We are also convenient to Encino, Woodland Hills, Sherman Oaks, Calabasas, Burbank, Glendale, Hidden Hills, Agoura Hills, Northridge, North Hollywood, Malibu, Topanga, Canoga Park, Reseda, Valley Glen, Chatsworth, West Hills, Winnetka, Universal City, Bel Air, Beverly Hills, Downtown Los Angeles, Silverlake, and Echo Park.
CALL (818) 770-7050 OR CLICK HERE TO SCHEDULE ONLINE