What is Top Surgery?
Top surgery is a procedure to reduce or remove the tissue in your breast. Often this surgery is named masculinizing surgery. Top surgery is normally performed when gender identity differs from gender assigned at birth. In medicine this diagnosis is gender dysphoria. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, over 15,000 of these surgeries are done each year in the U.S.
Before and after Top surgery
The surgical experience of your surgeon is highly important. However, it is just as important that your surgeon and her staff understand you as a person. Dr. Lorelei Grunwaldt and her team strive to create a warm and welcoming environment for every patient who visits her office. They know the guidelines of WPATH well. She and her staff understand the emotional challenges that decisions like Top surgery can bring with it. Dr. Grunwaldt will correspond with each of your other medical providers and her team will always speak to you with respect. For your safety, your BMI (body mass index) must be 30 or lower to have this surgery performed.
Surgical options
There are a few different surgical approaches to accomplishing this surgery. The approach that Dr. Grunwaldt chooses with you will vary based on your body style. Periareolar surgery and double incision surgery are the two most often used approaches. Periareolar results in less scarring after you heal but requires more expertise on the surgeon’s part. Dr. Lorelei offers her periareolar technique to as many patients as possible. Double incision surgery can be just as satisfying for patients, but its name signifies slightly more scarring after recovery.
Dr. Grunwaldt has performed many hundreds if not over a thousand of these surgeries. Top surgery was not common when Dr. Grunwaldt trained at Harvard, but she pioneered her techniques at UPMC many years ago before opening her own private office. Dr. Grunwaldt prides herself in the beauty of her patients’ outcomes. For this reason, patients from all along the East Coast, Texas, California and even the U.K. seek her very precise expertise. Here are two of many examples of patient experiences:
Patient happiness
More Patient happiness
Top surgery recovery
After Top surgery you will refrain from lifting or exertion for six weeks. You will wear dressings (bandage wraps) and a drain that is attached to your chest for ten to twelve days. You will not drive while these dressings are on. Dr. Grunwaldt will prescribe medication to help you avoid infection and discomfort while you heal. It will be important that someone help you at home during your first week of recovery. Dr. Grunwaldt does not participate with insurances, so this surgery fee is out of pocket. Call us today to learn more.
