Gender reassignment surgery refers to methods that help people identify with their gender. Gender-based options may include facial surgery, upper surgery, or lower surgery. Most people who choose sex-enhancing surgery improve their mental health and quality of life.

Gender reassignment surgery in Iran: THE FACT you need to know

Performing gender reassignment surgery abroad is not an uncommon decision. Because, while the ideal option would be to have complex surgery in your city, not all countries offer the type of surgery you want with the quality you deserve and the price you can afford. As a result, medical tourism has emerged as a popular alternative for many transgender people. Iran is a "paradise" for many. The extensive experience of Iranian specialists combined with the low cost of surgery has encouraged thousands of patients from Arab and Eastern European countries to undergo SRS in Iran.

What is gender reassignment surgery?

Gender reassignment surgery, sometimes called sex reassignment surgery, is performed to transition individuals with gender dysphoria to their desired gender. People with gender dysphoria often feel that they were born in the wrong gender. A biological male may identify more as a female and vice versa.

Surgery to change the appearance of your body is a common choice for all kinds of people. There are many reasons that people might want to alter their appearance. For transgender or gender non-conforming people, making changes to their bodies is a way of affirming their identity.

A trans person can choose from multiple procedures to make their appearance match their gender identity. These are often called gender "reassignment" procedures by the general public. However, trans persons and their doctors typically refer to them as gender confirmation surgeries.

Trans people might decide to have surgery on their chest, genitals, or face. These surgeries are personal decisions, and each person makes their own choices about what is right for them.

• Surgery is typically the last step in the physical transition process, but it is not a decision to be made lightly.
• Many healthcare providers require patients to be formally diagnosed with gender dysphoria and undergo counseling to determine if they are truly ready to surgically transition.
• Patients usually undergo hormone therapy first. Hormones can suppress the secondary sex characteristics of the biological gender and make them appear more like their desired sex.
• Surgeons may also require that patients live as their desired gender for at least one year. A man might dress as a woman traditionally does in the culture. Many men change their names and refer to themselves with female pronouns. Women transitioning to men would do the reverse.

Why is gender affirmation surgery done?

People may have surgery so that their physical body matches their gender identity. People who choose gender affirmation surgery do so because they experience gender dysphoria. Gender dysphoria is the distress that occurs when your sex assigned at birth does not match your gender identity.

Why choose Iran for Sex Reassignment Surgery?

Iran is the hub for gender reassignment surgery in the Middle East. It is known as the country that performs the most sex reassignment surgeries. There are many reasons behind the country's popularity among those who seek to achieve self-identity and transition to their desired gender.

One of the primary reasons is that Iran offers high-quality medical centers equipped with the latest medical technology and surgeons with specialist skills who stay up to date on the recent sex reassignment surgery advancements. Besides, some of the best SRS surgeons in Iran have been performing the procedure for more than 20 years. Therefore, patients can be sure to receive the best results. Numerous hospitals and clinics in the country are accredited by local or international organizations, such as Joint Commission International (JCI), which means that their quality is par, if not exceed, with medical centers in the US. These hospitals and surgeons usually provide their gender reassignment surgery before and after photos to show patients their aesthetics and skill level and allow them to evaluate their work.

What surgical options are available to transgender and gender non-conforming patients?

Gender affirmation surgeries, also known as gender confirmation surgeries, are performed by a multispecialty team that typically includes board-certified plastic surgeons. The goal is to give transgender individuals the physical appearance and functional abilities of the gender they know themselves to be. Listed below are many of the available procedures for transwomen (MTF) and transmen (FTM) to aid in their journey.

• Facial Feminization Surgery: The goal of facial feminization surgery, or feminizing facial surgery, is to transform the masculine features of the face to a more feminine or nonbinary appearance.
• Transfeminine Top Surgery: The goal of transfeminine top surgery, or feminizing chest surgery, is to enhance the size and shape of the breasts to create a more feminine appearance to the chest.
• Transfeminine Bottom Surgery: The goal of transfeminine bottom surgery, or feminizing genital surgery, is to reconstruct the male genitalia into female genitalia.
• Facial Masculinization Surgery: The goal of facial masculinization surgery is to transform the feminine features of the face to a more masculine appearance.
• Transmasculine Top Surgery: The goal of transmasculine top surgery, or masculinizing chest surgery, is to remove the breast tissue from both breasts and create a masculine or nonbinary appearance to the chest.
• Transmasculine Bottom Surgery: The goal of transmasculine bottom surgery, or masculinizing genital surgery, is to reconstruct the female genitalia into male genitalia.

What happens before gender affirmation surgery?

Before surgery, you should work with a trusted healthcare provider. A healthcare provider can help you understand the risks and benefits of all surgery options. Many insurance companies require you to submit specific documentation before they will cover a gender-affirming surgery. This documentation includes :

• Health records that show consistent gender dysphoria.
• Letter of support from a mental health provider, such as a social worker or psychiatrist.

What happens during transgender surgery?

What happens during surgery varies depending on the procedure. You may choose facial surgery, top surgery, bottom surgery or a combination of these operations. Facial surgery may change your:

• Cheekbones: Many transgender women have injections to enhance the cheekbones.
• Chin: You may opt to soften or more prominently define your chin’s angles.
• Jaw: A surgeon may shave down your jawbone or use fillers to enhance your jaw.
• Nose: You may have a rhinoplasty, surgery to reshape the nose.

If you are a transgender woman (assigned male at birth or AMAB), other surgeries may include:

• Adam’s apple reduction.
• Placement of breast implants (breast augmentation).
• Removal of the penis and scrotum (penectomy and orchiectomy).
• Construction of a vagina and labia (feminizing genitoplasty).

How to prepare for sex change in Iran?

Individual cases vary in terms of status, expectations, and surgical goals. Therefore, each person's preparation instructions may be different. For more information about your gender reassignment in Iran, you can have a free consultation with our care specialists. Here are some general do's and don'ts before sex reassignment surgery.

• Usually, patients need to follow a course of hormonal therapy 6 months to a year before opting for surgery.
• Obtaining a letter of recommendation from a psychiatrist attesting to your condition is required.
• Make sure you don’t have conditions such as kidney, liver, or blood problems.
• You should acknowledge the fact that it might be unlikely for you to have children after the surgery. If you wish to have babies in the future, share your decision with your psychiatrist and surgeon to find a solution such as egg/sperm frizzing.