There are a few things that you need to do in order to get approved for top surgery. The first is to schedule a consultation with a qualified surgeon. During your consultation, the surgeon will assess your physical and psychological health to see if you are a good candidate for the procedure. If they determine that you are not ready or suitable for surgery, they may recommend that you wait until you are older or have completed other treatments, such as hormone therapy.
The second step is to obtain letters of recommendation from two mental health professionals. These letters should state that you have been assessed by the professionals and that they believe that you would benefit from top surgery.
The third step is to gather all of your medical records related to your transition, including any previous surgeries, hormone therapies, and psychiatric evaluations. You will need to provide these records to your surgeon during your consultation.
If your surgeon determines that you are a good candidate for top surgery, they will likely recommend one of two types of procedures: bilateral mastectomy (also called “double incision”) or keyhole chest surgery (also called “peri-areolar” or “topless”). Bilateral mastectomy involves making an incision across each breast, while keyhole chest surgery only involves making small incisions around the edge of the areola (the dark area surrounding the nipple).
Your surgeon will also discuss with you the risks and potential complications associated with each type of procedure. It is important to remember that no surgical procedure is without risk and there is always a possibility that something could go wrong. However, serious complications from top surgery are rare and most people who undergo the procedure experience excellent results.