How are transsexual operations performed?

Transitioning from Female to Male

Surgeons primarily use a procedure known as penile inversion vaginoplasty to construct the penis. During this operation, the surgeon will use tissue from the clitoral hood, labia, and the vaginal wall to create the shaft of the penis and the glans (head of the penis). The vaginal opening is then stitched closed, leaving the urethral opening at the tip of the glans.

Another critical aspect of vaginoplasty is the formation of the scrotum. The surgeon creates two folds of skin from the previous labia and brings them together along the midline to create a sack that can accommodate prosthetic or nonprosthetic testes.

* Phalloplasty: This procedure involves the construction of a penis and scrotum using various techniques. The surgeon often uses a skin graft from the thigh or lower abdomen to create the penile shaft and may attach a prosthetic or non-prosthetic (such as a testicle implant) to the scrotum.

* Hysterectomy and oophorectomy: Removal of the uterus (hysterectomy) and ovaries (oophorectomy) may be performed to prevent menstruation, reduce the risk of certain types of cancer, and decrease the production of estrogen, which can contribute to feminizing characteristics.

Transitioning from Male to Female

The primary procedure used in male-to-female (MTF) transition is vaginoplasty. This involves the creation of a functioning vagina using various techniques.

* Vaginoplasty: This procedure creates a vagina using various techniques, such as using a portion of the colon (bowel) or a skin graft from the thigh or lower abdomen. The urethra (tube carrying urine from the bladder) is typically rerouted to the newly formed vagina.

* Breast augmentation: This procedure involves the placement of implants or the use of fat grafting to create breasts. The surgeon may also need to perform a procedure known as mastoplasty to remove tissue and skin and create the desired breast size and shape.

* Genitoplasty: This procedure involves the removal of the penis and testes and the creation of a feminizing external genitalia, including the labia, clitoris, and urethra opening.

It's important to note that these descriptions provide a general overview of the procedures, and individual cases may differ based on the patient's specific needs, anatomy, and surgeon's techniques.