Facing Violence: The Protective Impact of Facial Gender-Affirming Surgery

Facial Masculinization Surgery

“…Importantly, we have learned from the FFS literature that gender-affirming surgery can lessen this disconnect, and it can be hypothesized that similar results would come from FMS as the research expands. 16 Previous studies showed that transgender individuals had approximately 6 times greater frequency of mental health care visits, 3 to 4 times greater frequency of receiving antidepressants or anxiolytic medication, and 6 times more likely to have been hospitalized for a suicide attempt. 17 However, after gender-affirming surgery, there was a significant decrease in mental health treatment for 10 years.…”

“…24 The association between violence and appearing transgender or non-gender-conforming leads to the hypothesis that FGAS may confer protection from violence, murder, and subsequent suicide attempts by lessening gender incongruence. 16 The medical field can help protect gender-affirming surgical patients by increasing awareness, publishing on FMS, and working to improve surgical techniques to give patients the best outward physical presentation of their internal gender identity. Given the increasing interest in FMS, more patients may be seeking FMS as a method to protect themselves from stigma and violence every time they enter the outside world.…”

“…These individuals cannot live freely because of their gender incongruence 24 . The association between violence and appearing transgender or non–gender-conforming leads to the hypothesis that FGAS may confer protection from violence, murder, and subsequent suicide attempts by lessening gender incongruence 16 . The medical field can help protect gender-affirming surgical patients by increasing awareness, publishing on FMS, and working to improve surgical techniques to give patients the best outward physical presentation of their internal gender identity.…”