GENDER AFFIRMATION SURGERY

Gender Affirming Top Surgery Performed by Fairfield County Plastic Surgeon Dr. Laurel Chandler

Check out our dedicated website - www.topsurgeryconnecticut.com - for more information! Please note this website is still under "construction" so please excuse any typos or browsing issues.

Dr. Chandler performs gender affirmation top surgery for female to male or transmasculine patients, male to female or transfeminine patients and nonbinary/gender neutral patients, and facial feminization surgery. She follows WPATH guidelines in screening patients regarding suitability for surgery and uses an informed consent model, and she is a member of WPATH.

Dr. Chandler has trained with experts in the field of gender affirmation surgery. During Dr. Chandler’s plastic surgery residency, she trained with Dr. Jonathan Keith, founder of the Rutgers Center for Transgender Health, which is the first multidisciplinary center dedicated to transgender care in New Jersey. During Dr. Chandler’s fellowship at Harvard Medical School, she trained with both Dr. Adam Tobias and Dr. Richard Bartlett in Boston, Massachusetts. She has dedicated a significant portion of her time in both residency and fellowship to mastering the aesthetic nuances of top surgery. She has also lectured internationally on the aesthetics of top surgery techniques at Plastic Surgery at the Red Sea in 2019.

Check out Dr. Chandler's most recent article (published in November 2022 on TopSurgery.net) on double incision scar shapes!

FTM/N Top Surgery

FTM/N top surgery involves a subcutaneous mastectomy (breast tissue removal) with nipple areola repositioning and chest wall contouring. For patients with small breasts and good skin elasticity, a “keyhole” approach is possible with incisions at the junction of the areola and lighter surrounding skin. In some patients, the incision may be carried completely around the areola ("periareolar") to reduce the size of the areola and to remove excess skin.

For patients with a moderate amount of excess skin or larger breasts, a “double incision” approach is used. This involves an elliptical excision of skin to allow access for breast tissue removal, leaving a horizontal scar near the lower pectoralis muscle (chest muscle) border. The nipples are removed and treated as “free nipple grafts”, which can be resized and replaced in the appropriate location on the chest wall. This approach provides the most control over nipple areola positioning and allows for ideal chest wall contouring. With both minimal incision and “double incision” approaches, liposuction may be added to further improve chest wall contour. A consultation with Dr. Chandler will involve counseling to determine the best approach for you.
View more before and after photos at our photo gallery

HOW TO PREPARE YOUR BODY FOR FTM/N TOP SURGERY

Request our FTM/N Top Surgery Preop Preparation Packet

Click Below to View Dr. Chandler's Videos on Top Surgery:

MTF Top Surgery

MTF top surgery involves a breast augmentation with implants placed in the subglandular (above the muscle) or submuscular (below the muscle) plane. Smooth round implants are used. Your consultation with Dr. Chandler will involve trying different sizes in the office setting to determine the volume that is best suited to your body and your preferences. Dr. Chandler will take precise measurements of your breast and chest dimensions in order to determine the appropriate implant type.

Postoperative Care for FTM/N and MTF Top Surgery

These operations are done on an outpatient basis. You go home the same day of surgery and do not stay overnight. For female to male/nonbinary patients, a compression garment must be worn for 3 weeks except while showering. If you have free nipple grafts, showering will be restricted for the 10 days. Most FTM patients will have drains, which are removed at 1 week. Male to female patients should wear a supportive soft surgical bra and avoid underwire bras for 2 months. You will receive full written instructions when you are scheduled for surgery which will go over all postoperative care instructions.

In all cases, strenuous activity should be avoided for 6 weeks. Most patients return to work in one to two weeks. Most swelling will resolve over the first six weeks, but will resolve more gradually over a period of months. The result is considered final at one year after surgery.

Body Contouring for Masculinization and Feminization

Dr. Chandler also performs body contouring procedures for masculinization and feminization of the body. Procedures may include liposuction to the hips or abdomen to create a straighter, more masculine figure. Liposculpting may also be performed for other areas including the back, flanks, calves and ankles. Recovery after liposuction requires compression therapy for a period of six weeks.
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