Procedure
We aim to work in the most safe, dedicated, professional and welcoming way. To be able to deliver this high end results, we work according to the Standards of Care (7th version) of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH).
Types of surgery
At this moment we offer topsurgery and some secondary corrections for men. Also we offer breast augmentation and some secondary corrections for women. We do not offer vaginoplasty and phalloplasty. Please inform if you are not sure the offered options meet you needs. We do not work with photographs/ result pictures.
Conditions to apply
- We provide surgical care to all people who received a formal diagnosis of gender dysphoria (DSM) or gender incongruence (ICD) by a mental health professional. We need this diagnosis on paper.
- We also need a letter of referral, written by your endocrinologist or psychiatrist. In this referral should be stated:
- insight into the (multidisciplinary) preliminary process that you have had with regard to the diagnosis and previous (medical) treatments and transition steps
- relevant information about your current situation
- duration and status of hormone treatment
- the vision of the referring authority
- possible risk factors for admission and recovery
- other (diagnostic) information such as psychological / psychiatric examinations, interview reports and medical results are requested.
- Please be aware that there are several health requirements:
- Your age should be between 18 and 70 years old.
- Your BMI should be between 18 and 30
- Some medication is not allowed, f.e.*: some psychiatric medications, blood thinners and others.
- Some allergies are not allowed.
- Some health issues in present or past are not allowed, f.e.*: cardiological issues, stroke, hypertension, brain damage, bariatric surgery, and more.
- You should be in good condition, you should be able to mobilize in a normal way, you should be a non-smoker and no drug user.
*This is not a complete list. Your health is always screened by our anesthesiologist, before surgical care is planned. If health requirements aren't met, the surgery cannot be planned.
Please contact us
If you think you might meet the above requirements, please email us with the above paperwork (info@gendersurgeryamsterdam.com).
Referral and file check
We charge € 150 for referral and file check by one of our psychologists. Based on the given information and to provide you with the highest quality of support around your surgery, contact may be sought by our psychologist for further information. In these cases, your consent will be asked and an online consultation with them is planned.
Health screening
If your diagnoses and letter of refferral are likely to be accepted, we start with the health screening. We kindly ask you to fill in a health questionnaire. Additionally we need your blood to be examined, a blood pressure measurement and an ECG (tracing of the heartbeat). You are asked to arrange this in your home country. The results are examined by our anesthetists. Despite our dedicated selection proces, based on the outcomes of this screening it might be not possible be operated in our clinic. Consultations and surgery dates are only scheduled after approval from our psychologist plus the approval of our anesthetist. When your health status changes, please contact uw to make sure you are still eligible for surgery.
Surgical techniques
Gender Surgery Amsterdam offers various techniques for Top Surgery. Information on this techniques is provided here. For most people, most of the time, this information gives a clear indication for which technique of Top Surgery they will be eligible. Based on your body composition, breast size and shape, the technique for you will be selected and discussed on the day before surgery.
Face to face consultation with a surgeon is possible for specific questions or if there is uncertainty about which technique you will be eligible for. A fee will be charged for this kind of consultation, which will be refunded when you choose to have surgery in our clinic.
Operation date
If all information is provided, if there is indication for surgery and if finance is arranged, a date for operation will be communicated to you by our team. For Top Surgery, most of the time, surgery is possible within three months.
Surgical consultation
The day before surgery you will meet with the surgeon, the final surgical technique will be discussed and all your further questions can be answered. You are not allowed to eat or drink anything after 00:00 the evening before the operation. The exact time we expect you in the clinic the next day, will be confirmed.
Surgery
On the day of surgery we will guide you through the entire process and make it as comfortable as possible for you. You will receive an OK hat and jacket. You can wear underwear under this surgical gown. Jewelry, piercings and dental prostheses have to be taken off or out. You will be operated under general anesthesia. When you come back in your room after the operation, no diet is requested and you are allowed to mobilize. You stay overnight in our clinic.
Post-operative care
The day after surgery the drains are removed depending on the drain production. Most of the time, people return to their hotel the day after surgery. We schedule a face-to-face follow-up after five days. If everything is OK and the wounds are healing fine, you are allowed to go home after that final check.
Please contact us if you have any questions.