Is Transfeminine Top Surgery Painful?

While you can expect some mild pain and bruising during your initial recovery, most patients find the surgery to be very tolerable . We perform all of our breast surgeries under general anesthesia, so you will be comfortable the entire time. Dr. Li can provide you with some pain medications so you can be more comfortable as you heal.

How many appointments will I need?

After your surgery, you will need to return for an initial follow-up appointment with Dr. Li so he can observe your initial healing. After that, you can expect to return a few more times over the next six months. We will always inform you of when we’d like you to return at the end of each check-up.

How long until I see results?

You can expect final results four to six months after the procedure. Some patients who are taking estrogen therapy may experience even further breast growth post-surgery.

Can I combine Transfeminine Top Surgery with other procedures?

Of course! At CA Aesthetics, we want you to feel as comfortable as possible with your external appearance, so if there are other areas that you would like to discuss with Dr. Li, please bring them up during your consultation. Many Transfeminine top surgery patients may opt for a rhinoplasty, tummy tuck, or Liposuction to achieve a more feminine form. We can also pair your surgery with non-surgical options like BOTOX & wrinkle relaxers or dermal fillers. No matter what your aesthetic desires are, Dr. Li and his team can help you achieve your desired look.

What are the risks associated with Transfeminine top surgery?

When performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon, any cosmetic surgery should be overall safe, however, every procedure will come with its own potential complications. The risks associated with Transfeminine top surgery include: Breakdown of nipple graft Bruising Hematoma (blood gathering in the tissues after surgery and clotting) Infection Reduced nipple sensitivity Seroma (fluid collection under the skin) Surgical scars In addition to the potential risks associated with the surgery, patients should be aware that if they are currently taking estrogen pills, it can increase the breast cancer risk. Some physicians or care providers may recommend a baseline mammogram before chest feminization and continuing breast cancer monitoring after the procedure. If you experience any long-lasting or concerning reactions during your healing process, please contact our practice immediately.

Top Surgery (Transfeminine)

In San Jose, CA

Top Surgery (Transfeminine) Introduction

Top surgery is a broad term used to describe different types of procedures for patients who experience gender dysphoria or gender incongruence and wish to either feminize their chest (e.g., Breast Augmentation or Fat Transfer) or masculinize their chest (e.g., Mastectomy). Whether the transition is from male-to-female (MTF), female-to-male (FTM), or non-binary (N), the surgical technique is always individualized to meet your personal aesthetic goals.

The purpose of Transfeminine top surgery is to increase the dimension and shape of the breasts to give the chest a more feminine look.

Top Surgery (Transfeminine) Results

Top Surgery (Transfeminine) B&A

Enter Gallery

Asian woman leaning against mirror | CA Aesthetics by Dr. Li

What is Transfeminine Top Surgery?

Transfeminine top surgery, also called Male-to-Female (MTF) top surgery, is a procedure designed as a solution for transgender women or non-binary transgender people who are looking to obtain a more feminine appearance. This is done through breast augmentation with the use of either saline or silicone implants to enhance the overall size and shape of the patient’s breasts.

Various techniques can be used to feminize the chest, but ultimately, the goal is to add tissue, projection, and shape to the chest. The technique that is best suited for you depends on

your goals. The techniques used to place breast implants for transgender patients are the same as those used for cisgender patients, with several nuances to consider. Different incisions can be used to access the chest tissues, including transaxillary, peri-areolar, or inframammary incisions, through which either sub-glandular/pre-pectoral or submuscular/subpectoral pockets are created for the implants. Both saline and silicone implants can be placed, although Dr. Li prefers the latter because they are lighter for the same volume and have a more natural feel. To read more about Breast Augmentation, click HERE.

Often, patients who are already taking hormone therapy develop softening of their skin and some breast growth. This may lead to the development of enough breast shape such that fat transfer or grafting is all that is desired. In this technique, fat is liposuctioned from different areas of your body, processed, and then injected into your chest. Dr. Li prefers to process his fat using the PureGraft® system to have the highest quality fat for injection. The higher the quality of the fat, the greater the likelihood of its survival. The technique of injecting the fat also influences fat survival and Dr. Li has significant experience with fat transfer to the face, breasts, and buttocks. After the fat is injected, it eventually becomes a part of your chest, such that if you lose weight, the fat will get smaller, but on the other hand, if you gain weight, the fat will get larger. The liposuction performed to retrieve the fat can also help feminize the torso.

Lastly, fat transfer or grafting can be combined with breast augmentation with saline or silicone implants to further improve results, e.g., it can be used to target certain areas like the upper half and medial half of the breasts to make them fuller. This is especially helpful in patients who are thinner as fat transfer can make results appear more natural and minimize the visibility or palpability of implants.

The limitations of fat transfer or grafting are that you may not always have enough fat for liposuction, and there is a limit to which fat can increase the size and projection of your breasts.

This limit is determined by the current volume of your tissues and the tightness of your skin, and generally, you can expect the breasts to approximately increase in one cup size with each surgery. Notably, the skin can sometimes be tighter and stiffer in patients who are hoping to have MTF top surgery. If larger increases in volume and projection are desired, breast augmentation with saline or silicone implants will be required.

Patients hoping to have MTF top surgery can sometimes have stiffer and tighter skin, so there may be greater benefit in placing implants in a sub-glandular/pre-pectoral pocket to allow maximum stretch and shaping of the skin by the implants. It may also be helpful to use higher profile implant styles as well as more filled implants such as the newer Mentor Xtra or Boost implants to help shape the breasts. If the skin is very tight, it may be necessary to progressively create larger breasts through multiple or staged procedures with gradually larger implants or use special implants called tissue expanders to stretch the skin in a controlled fashion over time.

Who are the best candidates for Transfeminine Top Surgery?

The ideal candidate for a San Jose and Bay Area Transfeminine top surgery would be someone who has the following characteristics:

In overall good health and maintains a good diet and exercise regime.
In good mental health
Old enough to consent to the surgery
Looking to undergo transformative surgery to change their external characteristics, specifically the chest area
Maintain realistic expectations of the overall outcomes

At CA Aesthetics, we believe that there’s no need to continue feeling uncomfortable in your skin or feel that your physical features limit who you are. If you are interested in MTF Surgery, we encourage you to come in for a consultation and discuss your options! We look forward to meeting you.

What are the benefits of Transfeminine Top Surgery?

While Transfeminine top surgery in San Jose and the surrounding Bay Area is an incredibly personal decision, many of our patients have been able to see numerous benefits from their surgery, which include:

Can create better mental health
Helps you feel more socially accepted
Improves confidence and renews your sense of self
Reduces gender incongruence
Sexual encounters are more aligned with your gender
Your body reflects the gender you identify with

curly haired girl with butterfly necklace | CA Aesthetics by Dr. Li

Top Surgery (Transfeminine) First Step

What’s the first step?

The first step in getting Transfeminine top surgery in San Jose and the greater Bay Area is to have a consultation with Dr. Li at CA Aesthetics in Los Gatos, CA. At the time of your consultation, Dr. Li will analyze your chest in detail and discuss the techniques that are best suited for your personal goals.

He will then review your medical history, current medications that are being taken, and any previous surgeries you may have had. A physical examination will be performed to determine your candidacy and ensure that transfeminine top surgery would be beneficial in achieving your particular goals. After gathering all of this information, Dr. Li can then work with you to build an individualized treatment plan.

Patients who are candidates will have the option to schedule their procedure, and doing so will receive their list of preparatory instructions to follow leading up to the surgery. This list most commonly instructs patients who are smokers to quit 4 weeks before their surgery as smoking can hinder the body’s ability to heal efficiently.

Patients will also be advised to refrain from taking any anti-inflammatory medications for about 2 weeks before their procedure. If patients have any questions during this time, we encourage them to call our office, our friendly and knowledgeable staff and ready and willing to help in any way possible

What to expect on the day of Transfeminine Top Surgery

When you arrive at the surgery center in Los Gatos, our care team will make you comfortable and prepare you for surgery. Dr. Li will discuss your surgical plan once again and answer any last-minute questions you may have. You will then meet with our Anesthesiologist who will ask you some medical questions and administer general anesthesia to keep you comfortable and reduce the possibility of feeling any pain.

Once you are sedated, Dr. Li will make the incisions. These will vary from patient to patient, based on the chest anatomy, the type of breast implant used, and other specifics of your surgery. From there, the implant will be placed in a pocket underneath your tissues. Once the implants are properly positioned, the incisions are closed with sutures, dressings are applied and you will be awakened from anesthesia.

You will be taken into a recovery area where you will be monitored by a member of our team. Before you are released, we will give you all the information you need for your recovery period when you return home.

For more information on Breast Augmentation, please refer to its dedicated page HERE.

Transfeminine Top Surgery recovery

We advise our Transfeminine top surgery patients to arrange transport to and from surgery, as this is a major surgery and you will need to rest.

Dr. Li often recommends his patients walk daily to help improve circulation and reduce the risk of blood clots. You will need to wear a compression garment or a surgical bra throughout your recovery in order to help with swelling and any possible bruising and provide additional support.

Results for transgender females will be instantly apparent, however, you can expect to experience some swelling throughout the treated region during the healing stage. The full results can be seen four to six months after the procedure.

Top Surgery (Transfeminine) Cost

How much does Transfeminine Top Surgery cost in San Jose, CA?

The cost of Transfeminine top surgery in San Jose, Los Gatos, and the Bay area will vary on multiple factors, including the techniques that are used and the type of implant, among other things. The best way to learn the full price of your surgery is to come in for a consultation with Dr. Li so your custom surgical plan can be created. Once made, our Patient Coordinator will be able to provide you with a full cost breakdown.

Why choose Dr. Li?

Dr. Eric Li at CA Aesthetics in Los Gatos, CA is a highly experienced and double board-certified plastic surgeon with affiliations to prestigious organizations like the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC), and American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). With his extensive training and expertise, Dr. Li specializes in Breast Augmentation procedures, offering personalized treatment plans tailored to each patient’s unique goals and anatomy. Patients choose Dr. Eric Li for his commitment to safety, attention to detail, and dedication to achieving natural-looking and beautiful results.

Top Surgery (Transfeminine) FAQ’S

Of course! At CA Aesthetics, we want you to feel as comfortable as possible with your external appearance, so if there are other areas that you would like to discuss with Dr. Li, please bring them up during your consultation. Many Transfeminine top surgery patients may opt for a rhinoplasty, tummy tuck, or Liposuction to achieve a more feminine form. We can also pair your surgery with non-surgical options like BOTOX & wrinkle relaxers or dermal fillers.

No matter what your aesthetic desires are, Dr. Li and his team can help you achieve your desired look.
When performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon, any cosmetic surgery should be overall safe, however, every procedure will come with its own potential complications. The risks associated with Transfeminine top surgery include:
- Breakdown of nipple graft
- Bruising
- Hematoma (blood gathering in the tissues after surgery and clotting)
- Infection
- Reduced nipple sensitivity
- Seroma (fluid collection under the skin)
- Surgical scars
In addition to the potential risks associated with the surgery, patients should be aware that if they are currently taking estrogen pills, it can increase the breast cancer risk. Some physicians or care providers may recommend a baseline mammogram before chest feminization and continuing breast cancer monitoring after the procedure.

If you experience any long-lasting or concerning reactions during your healing process, please contact our practice immediately.

Schedule a Consultation

To schedule your consultation for Transfeminine top surgery at CA Aesthetics in Los Gatos, CA, please visit our contact page or call our office directly. Our compassionate and experienced team is here to support you every step of the way, from the initial consultation to post-operative care. If you’re in San Jose or the greater Bay Area, don’t hesitate to reach out to us to schedule your consultation and take the first step toward achieving a more feminine profile that matches you.

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