Is Gender Affirming Breast Surgery Painful?

Patients will not experience pain during the gender-affirming breast surgery itself, but there will be some acute pain and swelling after the procedure. However, this can be managed with over-the-counter pain medication as the body adjusts to its new contour. The entire Élevé team wants you to be as comfortable and supported as possible during your recovery. We will be checking in with you throughout your recovery period so you may have as much assistance as needed.

How Many Appointments Will I Need?

Dr. Familusi wants to monitor her patients’ recovery to ensure they are healing well. The Élevé team will schedule you for several follow-up appointments after your initial surgery. Gender-affirming breast surgery patients can expect several follow-up appointments so Dr. Familusi can ensure that the patient’s results are satisfactory.

How Long Until I See Results?

Our patients feel the difference immediately! While every patient will heal on their own recovery timeline, Dr. Familusi advises patients to wait several weeks for their swelling to reduce and their body to adjust to its new shape before appreciating the new appearance of their upper torso. Patients will have a more accurate sense of their new body around six months following their procedure.

Can I Combine Gender Affirming Breast Surgery With Other Procedures?

Yes. Our Atlanta gender-affirming breast surgery patients may elect other cosmetic procedures to reduce their gender dysphoria, including liposuction or Brazilian Butt lifts . Please mention all your cosmetic and surgical preferences in your individual consultation with Dr. Familusi. She will develop a treatment plan that fulfills your aesthetic goals while centering your safety and recovery.

What Are the Risks Associated With Gender-Affirming Breast Surgery?

Patients undergoing any surgery should be advised there are risks. For gender-affirming breast surgeries, the following risks apply: Scarring Blood clotting Fluid buildup Infection Changes or loss of sensation in nipples or surrounding breast tissue Tissue death If you are experiencing complications as a result of your surgery, please contact our office immediately.

Atlanta, GA

Gender Affirming Breast Surgery

Introduction to Gender Affirming Breast Surgery

Gender-affirming breast surgery (top surgery) is performed for both MTF and FTM patients who feel a lack of congruence between their inner and outer selves. The procedure allows transgender and non-binary individuals to feel more at home in their own bodies, enjoying enhanced self-confidence, a wider array of clothing choices, and an overall elevated quality of life. At Élevé Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery in Sandy Springs, GA, board-eligible plastic surgeon Dr. Olatomide (Tomi) Familusi provides a compassionate, patient-centric approach while delivering customized, natural-looking transformations.

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What is Gender Affirming Breast Surgery?

Gender-affirming breast surgery is a surgical procedure that enhances or reduces breast tissue and reconstructs the chest to conform to a more masculine or feminine appearance.

Male-to-Female (MTF)

MTF surgery is most commonly a breast augmentation procedure. For patients undergoing estrogen therapy, Dr. Familusi advises waiting until they have been on estrogen for at least a year to ensure sufficient breast growth before adding implants. Patients may also undergo a fat grafting breast augmentation to transfer fat from one area of the body to their breast if they seek a more permanent look.

Female-to-male (FTM)

An FTM surgery is most commonly a mastectomy, where the breast tissue is removed, and the nipples and areola are reshaped to create a masculine chest. The methodology of this procedure will vary depending on the amount of breast tissue to be removed.

What Are the Benefits of Gender Affirming Breast Surgery?

Our gender-affirming breast surgery patients in Atlanta, GA, experience the following after receiving their procedure:

An affirmation of their gender identity
Reduced gender dysphoria
Increased self-confidence and well-being

According to the American Journal of Surgery, less than 1% of patients regret receiving gender-affirming surgery.

Who Are the Best Candidates For Gender Affirming Breast Surgery?

If you are considering gender-affirming breast surgery in the Atlanta area, Dr. Familusi would love to see you! The best candidates for this surgery are:

Experiencing gender dysphoria
Non-smokers
In good overall health
Are legally responsible for their own medical decisions

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Let’s Get Started

What’s the first step?

The first step in receiving a gender-affirming breast surgery from our practice in Atlanta is to contact Élevé Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery in Sandy Springs and schedule a consultation. Our team will greet you with your preferred pronouns. During your consultation, Dr. Familusi will listen to your reasons for electing to receive this procedure, evaluate your breasts to determine the range of surgical options available to you, and create a customized surgical plan designed specifically for you to achieve the breasts or chest that will make you feel like yourself.

Please be prepared to discuss your lifestyle and medical history during this appointment. Dr. Familusi wants you to feel comfortable and heard before undergoing any surgery. By being open and honest with Dr. Familusi, she can develop a surgical plan that will center your safety and help prevent unnecessary risks during surgery or recovery.

Once you and Dr. Familusi have agreed on the best surgery for you, our patient coordinator will help you schedule a procedure date. Our entire Élevé team is available to answer any questions or concerns you may have at any point during your treatment and recovery.

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What to Expect on the Day of Gender Affirming Breast Surgery

Before you undergo your gender-affirming breast surgery, the Élevé team will provide you with pre-surgery instructions. Please refrain from drinking or smoking for at least two weeks prior to your surgery, as this may affect your recovery period. Our team will also check in to address all your questions and concerns before the surgery begins. When you are ready, Dr. Familusi will mark the areas of your chest to establish tissue and nipple positions.

During the surgery, you will be placed under anesthesia and feel no pain or discomfort during the procedure itself. Once you have been fully sedated, Dr. Familusi will create incisions where marked.

After the surgery, you will be given a compression garment to wear to prevent bleeding and fluid buildup. The procedure will take several hours, and you can go home the same day. If you are unable to have a friend or family member take you home and assist around the house immediately after your procedure, you may choose to stay overnight under the care of expert nurses in the extended recovery unit.

Gender-Affirming Breast Surgery Recovery

Following your surgery, Dr. Familusi will provide specific instructions on maintaining your health during recovery. Please avoid strenuous activity while wearing the compression garment. You may feel pain, but this can be addressed with over-the-counter medication such as ibuprofen and should wane in the several days following your procedure.

You may also have drains in place to prevent fluid buildup. These will be removed after your first follow-up appointment.

Transparent Pricing

How Much Does Gender Affirming Breast Surgery Cost in Atlanta, GA?

The cost of gender-affirming breast surgery in Sandy Springs and the Atlanta area at Élevé Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery ranges from $6,500 to $13,000. This cost will depend on the extent of the surgery, the type of implants used (if applicable), and the facility fees. Dr. Familusi will provide an exact breakdown in your individual consultation.

walking down the hall dr Olatomide (Tomi) famalusi | Élevé Plastic Surgery Plastic Surgery Atlanta

Why Choose Dr. Familusi?

Dr. Olatomide (Tomi) Familusi is an Ivy League and fellowship-trained board-eligible plastic surgeon who believes patients experiencing the transformative power of plastic surgery should experience the highest level of hospitality to match. In her words: “Elevated hospitality. Unmatched results.” This philosophy guides the entire Élevé Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery team. Dr. Familusi strives to provide the highest level of care centered on compassion with every gender-affirming breast surgery procedure provided at the practice.

When patients decide to undergo plastic surgery, there is often a fundamentally personal and deeply emotional reason for doing so. Dr. Familusi strives to honor this by providing each and every one of her patients with the most natural, well-balanced, and long-lasting results in the Atlanta area. A patient at Élevé can count on Dr. Familusi and our entire team to be by their side for their entire surgical journey.

Gender Affirming Breast Surgery FAQ’S

Patients will not experience pain during the gender-affirming breast surgery itself, but there will be some acute pain and swelling after the procedure. However, this can be managed with over-the-counter pain medication as the body adjusts to its new contour. The entire Élevé team wants you to be as comfortable and supported as possible during your recovery. We will be checking in with you throughout your recovery period so you may have as much assistance as needed.
Our patients feel the difference immediately! While every patient will heal on their own recovery timeline, Dr. Familusi advises patients to wait several weeks for their swelling to reduce and their body to adjust to its new shape before appreciating the new appearance of their upper torso. Patients will have a more accurate sense of their new body around six months following their procedure.
Yes. Our Atlanta gender-affirming breast surgery patients may elect other cosmetic procedures to reduce their gender dysphoria, including liposuction or Brazilian Butt lifts. Please mention all your cosmetic and surgical preferences in your individual consultation with Dr. Familusi. She will develop a treatment plan that fulfills your aesthetic goals while centering your safety and recovery.
Patients undergoing any surgery should be advised there are risks. For gender-affirming breast surgeries, the following risks apply:
- Scarring
- Blood clotting
- Fluid buildup
- Infection
- Changes or loss of sensation in nipples or surrounding breast tissue
- Tissue death
If you are experiencing complications as a result of your surgery, please contact our office immediately.

Schedule Your Consultation

If you are a trans or nonbinary patient in the greater Atlanta area and have concerns about your body dysphoria, please consider scheduling a consultation at Élevé Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery in Sandy Springs, GA, today! Dr. Familusi is eager to meet you and help you discover how you can obtain the body that matches your true self. Please call us directly or request a consultation for a gender-affirming breast surgery through our online form, and a member of the Élevé concierge team will be in touch to help you schedule your appointment.

Schedule a Consultation

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