Surgeons
(also: surgery)
Table of Contents
Introduction
This page is intended to provide miscellaneous information for various things related to surgeons and surgery. For information on specific surgeries relating to to transgender topics, simply navigate via the hyperlinks either throughout the dictionary portion of this website, or below in the section regarding different types of surgeon. This website may also contain miscellaneous information regarding certain surgical procedures that are not yet commonly available, resources regarding financing transgender operations, and information regarding anesthesia.
Most of the pages on this site should have relevant links at the bottom of the page with sources, and ways to find additional information relevant to the surgery discussed on that individual page. This page is for miscellaneous information, or information that applies to multiple different types of surgeries.
General Information
There are various terms used in the transgender community regarding different types of surgery. "Bottom surgery" or "lower surgery" commonly refers to surgeries that have to do with genitalia. "Top surgery" commonly refers to surgeries that have to do with the chest.
Not everyone has the most conventional or common types of surgical gender transition. Nullification refers to having certain "removal" type surgeries without having a "replacement" type surgery. Salmacian typically refers to having a desire to obtain an unconventional genital set.
Neither this page, nor the individual pages dedicated to discussing particular surgeries will contain all possible information on the surgeries discussed. If you are planning on getting any kind of surgery in the future (transgender related or not) always be sure to do your research. I am not a medical professional.
Unfortunately, there is transphobia in the medical world. There are surgeons who specifically seek out transgender patients to give them "botch jobs" deliberately. (John Ronald Brown is quite infamous for going out of his way to do botch jobs on transgender women.) Make sure to look up the name of your surgeon ahead of time, and look for reviews and photos from people who have actually gotten that surgery from that surgeon. Even if the surgeon is listed on a resource that can be found through this website, still do independant research on your surgeon. Due in part to this, there is a lot of fearmongering in relation to the quality of transgender surgeries, and what the outcomes of these surgeries typically look like. If you are considering getting surgery of any kind, it is a good idea to look at healed results from your surgeon of choice (it is rare that any surgery, gender-related or not, looks perfect immedeatly after getting it). All surgeries require some period of rest and healing.
There is also often a lot of transphobia in the form of medical gatekeeping. Sometimes it can take a very long time for a transgender person to obtain the surgeries that they desire. In some places, a patient is required to attend therapy and recieve multiple letters of recommendation and multiple gender dysphoria diagnoses to have certain surgeries. The exact requirements will vary.
Types of Surgeons
There are many types of surgeons trained to deal with the multitude of matters regarding the complexities of the human bodies. Many surgeons will diagnose patient issues themselves, or patients may be referred to see a relevant doctor regarding their condition.
- Bariatric Surgeons - Surgeons fighting obesity with surgeries that limit the food intake that the stomach can hold including gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy and adjustable gastric bands.
- Cardiothoracic Surgeons/Cardiac Surgeons/Cardiovascular Surgeons - Surgeons who specialize in working with organs located in the chest area such as the esophagus, lungs, and heart.
- Colon & Rectal Surgeons - These surgeons often deal with the removal of cancerous tissue and polyps, as well as provide procedures for inflammatory bowel diseases. Rectal surgeons also address conditions such as hemorrhoids, fistula-in-ano conditions of the bowel lining, diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, abscesses, and fisssures. These are specialists regarding health issues related to the colon, anal canal, perianal area, rectum and intestinal system.
- Endocrine Surgeons - These surgeons specilize in treating issues found in the endocrine glands, such as the thyroid gland, parathyroid glands and adrenal glands. Endocrine surgeons also deal with issues relating to a patient's malfunctioning neuroendocrine system.
- General Surgeons - Generalists who have an overall base of knowledge and understanding of anatomy, post-operative care, and surgical procedures; these surgeons typically work in trauma or critical care units performing emergency surgical procedures. While the work these surgeons do varies based on patient needs (including care regarding the head and neck, breast, skin, soft tissues, abdominal wall, extremities, gastrointestinal, vascular, and endocrine systems), they typically work in the abdominal area. General surgeons are also responsible for the comprehensive management of trauma victims and critically ill patients.
- Neurosurgeons/Brain Surgeons - Surgeons who specialize in working with the central, autonomic, and peripheral nervous system of the body, as well as the nervous systems' supporting structures and vascular supply. They study to become experts regarding diseases and afflictions of brain and spine. Neurosurgeons typically help patients suffering from strokes and other degenerative conditions and infections such as brain tumors, intracranial aneurysms, head injuries, and disorders affecting the spine—including spinal canal stenosis, herniated discs, tumors, fractures, and spinal deformities.
- Obstetric & Gynecological Surgeons - Someone who is experiencing a high-risk pregnancy or encountering other reproductive health issues may see this type of surgeon. These surgeons often deal with surgeries relating to cancerous tissue, infertility, and benign growths. Gynecological surgeons deal with surgeries such as hysterectomies, vaginectomy, and female sterilization.
- Oculoplastic Surgeons - Surgeons who specilize in surgeries regarding the eye socket, tear ducts, eyelids and face near the eyes. Their area of expertise includes both medically necessary reconstructive surgery and cosmetic procedures on the eyelids.
- Oncologist - Surgeons who focus on diagnosing, treating, and providing rehabilitation for cancer patients. Common conditions addressed by surgical oncologists include cancers of the breast, throat, thyroid, lung, gallbladder, skin, kidneys, liver, pancreas, colon, or uterus.
- Ophthalmic Surgeons - These surgeons specilize in surgeries regarding the eyes. Procedures handled by opthalmic surgeries include repairing detached retinas, removing cataracts, treating glaucoma, reshaping corneas and performing laser surgery.
- Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons - These surgeons are specialists regarding surgery involving the mouth and jaw. A dentist may refer you to see one if you require something such as wisdom tooth extraction, reconstructive surgery or dental implants.
- Orthopedic Surgeons - These surgeons typically deal with a broad range of issues related to the musculoskeletal system, including treatment of muscles, joints, bones, arteries and skin. Many orthopedic surgeons later specialize into a specific field, such as sports medicine or spinal surgery.
- Orthopedic Hand Surgeons - Surgeons who specilize in matters of the hand, wrist, and forearm.
- Otolaryngology Surgeons (Ear, Nose, & Throat Doctors aka ENT) - These surgeons specialize in surgeries regarding the larynx, neck, mouth, sinuses, and face.
- Laryngologist - A doctor who specializes in diagnosis and treatments that have to do with the larynx. They provide treatments for various things including benign (noncancerous) vocal cord growths, infectious or inflammatory conditions, airway conditions, cancerous or precancerous growths, autoimmune diseases, and vocal cord motion abnormalities. Surgeries such as voice feminization surgery and voice masculinization surgery are performed by laryngologists.
- Pediatric Surgeons - A surgeon specilized in caring for children. Alongside their medical expertise regarding charing for children from infancy to their teenage years, these surgeons become experts at communicatng with younger patients.
- Plastic Surgeons - These surgeons perform both medically necessary and cosmetic treatements regarding the underlying musculoskeletal structure of the body and skin defects. Some surgeries that may be performed by plastic surgeons inculde labiaplasty, breast augmentation, vaginoplasty, mastectomies (such as double incision, keyhole, fishmouth, and periareolar), and facial feminization surgeries.
- Podiatric Surgeons - Surgeons who specilize in treatment for the feet and ankles. People with bunions, injuries and pain in the feet and ankles may find relief from podiatric surgeons.
- Thoracic Surgeons - Surgeons who specilize in treatment regarding pathological conditions and injuries within the chest such as the coronary artery, lung, esophagus, chest wall, great vessels and heart valves, mediastinum, diaphragm, and airways. The focus of a thoratic surgeon can be cardiac or non-cardiac (see above for cardiac surgeons). Thoratic surgeons commonly address conditions such as tumors of the mediastinum, diseases of the diaphragm, lung cancer, benign diseases and tumors of the lung, esophageal cancer, chest reconstruction after major trauma or surgery, mesothelioma, and lung transplants.
- Transplant Surgeons - Surgeons who specilize in transplanting donor organs to patients. The most commonly transplanted organs are the kidneys, livers, hearts and lungs.
- Trauma Surgeons/Critical Care Surgeons - Trained to work in intense situations where the life of a patient rushed into the emergency room hangs in the balance, trauma surgeons are prepared to preform several different types of surgery depending on a patient's condition. These surgeons typically deal with acute medical conditions, traumatic brain injury, burns, automobile crash injuries, severe fall injuries, spleen and liver injuries, and critical illness complications.
- Urological Surgeons - These surgeons provide treatment regarding the male genitourinary and female urinary systems. They work with kidney, bladder, prostate and adrenal gland issues. The variety of conditions and procedures that urological surgeons work with includes ones such as incontinence,
metoidioplasty, nephrectomy, vasectomies, nephrolithiasis (kidney stones), orchiectomy, cystoscopies, prostate biopsies, phalloplasty, vaginoplasty, labiaplasty, cancers, scrotoplasty and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).
- Vascular Surgeons - Surgeons that treat conditions regarding the arteries and veins. They are often brought in when a patient is a victim of a stroke or thought to be a potential victim of one. Vascular sugeons are often involved in procedures prescribed for aneurysms, blood clots or hardening of the arteries.
Anesthesia
Click here to be redirected to the new page dedicated to the topic of Anesthesia.
Inpatient Vs Outpatient
The terms "inpatient" and "outpatient" get thrown around a lot in regards to surgery, but what do these terms mean? Simply put an "inpatient" procedure requires that the patient stays overnight at the medical facility where the surgical procedure took place. The number of days a patient stays at the hospital during an inpatient procedure depends on the procedure. An "outpatient" procedure is a procedure where the patient is at the medical facility for less than a day. The length of time spent at the medical facility during an outpatent procedure will vary depending on the surgical procedure.
Endoscope
Endoscopes are long, flexible tubes with a camera and light source on the tip. The camera transmits a live video feed to a monitor that can be viewed by the physician in real time. "Endoscope" itself is a broad term used to refer to a variety of similar medical devices used for a broad range of procedures; including diagnostic, therapeutic, and surgical applications. Endoscopes can be used to view inside the body through either small incisions or through natural openings of the body.
Different types of endoscopes include the following.
- Arthroscope - Used to examine joints such as the knee or shoulder.
- Bronchoscope - Used to examine the airways and lungs.
- Colonoscope - Used to examine the colon and rectum.
- Cystoscope - Used to examine the bladder and urethra.
Laparascope
A laparascope is a type of endoscope that is designed to be used during minimally invasive surgeries known as laparoscopic surgeries. These rigid or semi-rigid devices are used primarily to view and access the pelvic and abdominal cavities. They are used during procedures such as appendectomies, hysterectomies, hernia repairs, cholecystectomies, and vaginectomies. Laparascopes are designed to be durable and withstand high temperature environments and sterilization proccesses necessary for surgical environments. They typically have more advanced camera systems than typical endoscopes.
Laprascopic surgeries are often have the option of being "robot-assisted." This means that the surgery is performed by a robotic device that is controlled by the surgeon. Surgeries that are robot-assisted typically take longer than the versions simply performed by a surgeon.
Urinary Catheters
A urinary catheter is a hollow, semiflexible tube that collects urine from the bladder into a drainage bag that has to be emptied every few hours. Urinary catheters can be made out of rubber, plastic (PVC), or silicone. Catheters are necessary in situations where the patient is unable to empty their own bladder. If someone is unable to empty their bladder, this can lead to pressure in the kidneys, which can lead to kidney failure, which can lead to permanent damage to the kidneys.
Indwelling catheters (also known as Foley catheters or urethral catheters) can be used for long-term or short-term. A nurse inserts this catheter into the bladder through the urethra (with a variation known as a suprapubic catheter, the catheter is inserted through a tiny hole in the abdomen). A tiny balloon at the end of the catheter is inflated with water to prevent the catheter from sliding out of the body. The balloon is deflated when the catheter has to be removed.
External catheters (also known as condom catheters) are typically necessary for people with penises who do not have health problems, but have serious functional or mental disabilities, such as dementia. A device resembling a condom covers the head of the penis, with a tube leading from the condom-like device into a drainage bag. These catheters typically need to be changed daily, but some brands are designed for long-term use. External catheters are typically more comfortable and have a lower risk of infection when compared to indwelling catheters.
Short-term catheters (also known as intermittent catheters) are typically only used for a short period of time after a surgery until the bladder empties. In a home setting, patients can be taught how to apply these catheters, either with help or by themselves.
External Links
Australia-Based Resources
United Kingdom-Based Resources
United States-Based Additional Resources
Find Surgeons & Learn More About Surgery
Womb Transplant Resources
- BioEthics: Jacques Balayla: 02/07/2021: The Montreal Criteria and uterine transplants in transgender women - Balayla J, Pounds P, Lasry A, Volodarsky-Perel A, Gil Y. The Montreal Criteria and uterine transplants in transgender women. Bioethics. 2021; 35: 326–330. https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.12832
- Healio: 02/15/2018: Should — and could — uterine transplantation be an option for transgender women?
- BJOG: BP Jones: 08/13/2019: Human uterine transplantation: a review of outcomes from the first 45 cases - Jones BP, Saso S, Bracewell-Milnes T, Thum M-Y, Nicopoullos J, Diaz-Garcia C, Friend P, Ghaem-Maghami S, Testa G, Johannesson L, Quiroga I, Yazbek J, Smith JR. Human uterine transplantation: a review of outcomes from the first 45 cases. BJOG 2019; 126: 1310–1319.
- BJOG: BP Jones: 08/20/2018: Uterine transplantation in transgender women - Jones BP, Williams NJ, Saso S, Thum M-Y, Quiroga I, Yazbek J, Wilkinson S, Ghaem-Maghami S, Thomas P, Smith JR. Uterine transplantation in transgender women. BJOG 2019; 126: 152–156.
- The Guardian: Andrew Gregory: 04/07/2025: Woman becomes first UK womb transplant recipient to give birth
- Reuters: Kate Kelland: 12/05/2018: World's first baby born via womb transplant from dead donor
Terminology Resources
Additional Resources (intrigue, research, history, etc)
Bad Experiences
For lack of a better location on this site for posting bad experiences with particular surgeons, here you go. (Obviously this is not every bad surgeon that exists, but it contains some bad experiences as I come across them, or as they are submitted to be added. Like mentioned previously, always do research on whatever surgeon that you end up going to, even if they are mentioned elsewhere on this website in a positive manner. Always be careful with who handles your body in any context.)