"You know a girl when you see one": experiences of surgeons who perform gender/affirmation/reassignment surgery

Abstract

Most recent research on gender affirmation/reassignment surgery focuses on discrimination and health disparities faced by the transgender community, and on perspectives and identity constructions of patients transitioning from one gender presentation to another. However, few studies address perspectives and experiences of the surgeons performing these operations. This exploratory study examines narratives of some of these surgeons in order to understand how they entered this particular practice, and how they perceive and classify these procedures. This study also aims to show the affect these procedures have on these surgeons and their discipline, and how these surgeons navigate the complex relationships between patients, healthcare providers, and surgeons, in the context of social values and popular media perspectives in the United States.