Quality of life of individuals with and without facial feminization surgery or gender reassignment surgery

Abstract

Transwomen have diminished mental health-related quality of life compared with the general female population. However, surgical treatments (e.g. FFS, GRS, or both) are associated with improved mental health-related quality of life.

Connecting the Dots: Examining Transgender Women’s Utilization of Transition-Related Medical Care and Associations with Mental Health, Substance Use, and HIV

“…There is research demonstrating improved quality of life for transwomen who have undergone facial feminization surgery (FFS) and/or gender reassignment surgery (GRS). 9 In that study, transwomen without surgical intervention in the overall study had statistically significant lower mental health scores compared to the general female population. 9 The benefits of transition-related medical care for mental health outcomes may also extend to substance.…”

“…9 In that study, transwomen without surgical intervention in the overall study had statistically significant lower mental health scores compared to the general female population. 9 The benefits of transition-related medical care for mental health outcomes may also extend to substance. We found significantly lower odds of binge drinking and non-injection substance use for those who utilized transition-related medical care.…”

“…[5][6][7][8] Compared with cis-gender females, transwomen report lower overall mental health and quality of life. 9 In a study comparing quality of life between transwomen on and off hormones, hormonal therapy was associated with higher scores in general and mental health. 10 A study by Rotundi found that transgender people ready but not able to medically transition are more likely to have depressive symptoms than peers who have begun the process.…”

Surgical Satisfaction, Quality of Life, and Their Association After Gender-Affirming Surgery: A Follow-up Study

“…Although many studies have methodological limitations, trans women rate their QoL after vaginoplasty higher than before surgery (Horbach et al, 2015). Similarly, QoL is also higher in trans women who have undergone facial feminization surgery, compared to trans women without surgery (Ainsworth & Spiegel, 2010). Regarding trans men, Newfield and colleagues (2006) report higher scores in multiple QoL domains after mastectomy when compared to trans men who did not receive this intervention.…”

Exclusion of Medically Necessary Gender-Affirming Surgery for America's Armed Services Veterans

“…There is strong and rapidly accumulating evidence that patients with gender dysphoria benefit from mental health, hormonal, and reconstructive surgical interventions during the social transition from their assigned to their intrinsic gender. Although there are no large multicenter studies in this area, multiple retrospective and a smaller number of single-center prospective studies on facial feminization [16][17][18][19], chest reconstruction [20], and genital sex reassignment [21] clearly demonstrate that gender-affirming surgery substantially improves the mental and physical health of transgender patients. This convincing body of evidence has led many major professional organizations, including the American Medical Association [22], the World Professional Association for Transgender Health [23], the National Association of Social Workers [24], the American Public Health Association [25], the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Endocrine Society to endorse the medical necessity of genderaffirming care, including gender-affirming surgery, for people with gender dysphoria [26].…”