Sexual Reassignment Surgery (SRS)

By Brandie Umar, Executive Director of ContentLast modified: December 01, 2011

Sexual Reassignment Surgery (SRS) Defined

Most people feel comfortable with the sex they are born as but sometimes people feel they have been born with a body of the wrong sex. Sexual reassignment surgery (SRS) is a medical solution for people suffering from gender dysphoria, the feeling of having been born in the body of the wrong sex. Commonly referred to as a sex change, gender reassignment surgery can help both male-female transgender and female-male transgender individuals feel comfortable in their bodies.

Sexual reassignment surgery is a plastic surgery procedure. Using surgical and medical methods to alter physical and hormonal characteristics of the patient, surgeons can help transgender people transition into the gender they were meant to be.

Sexual Reassignment Surgery (SRS) Procedure

Genital reassignment surgery is the final step in the process of a sex change. Before the sex change procedure begins, patients must have intense counseling to ensure they are aware of the implications, physically and psychologically of changing sex. If the counselor and the patient decide gender reassignment surgery is appropriate, both male-female and female-male transgender patients must complete a course of hormone replacement therapy. Hormone therapy replaces the patients naturally produced hormones with those of the opposite sex.

Male-Female Genital Reassignment

Sexual reassignment surgery for male-female patients is often known as MTF transgender surgery. Male-female gender reassignment involves the removal of the male genitalia (penis, testes and scrotum) and the creation of female genitalia (vagina).

Female-Male Genital Reassignment

Female-male sex change surgery, or FTM transgender surgery is more complex than male-female genital reassignment because the female genitalia is inside the body. The female sex organs must be removed before a penis can be constructed.

Additional Surgeries Required

To help the patient live a normal life as a member of the opposite sex post-surgery, additional surgeries are required to help transgender males appear feminine and transgender females appear masculine. Breast augmentation or a mastectomy, facial cosmetic surgery and liposuction are often performed alongside genital reassignment surgery.

Sexual Reassignment Surgery (SRS) Results

The results that can be expected after gender reassignment operations depend on whether the surgery was male-female reassignment or female-male, the amount of additional cosmetic surgery necessary to alter the gender appearance and the individual patients' response to surgery.

Patients can expect sexual reassignment surgery to give them the features and genitalia of the desired sex.

Cost Of Sexual Reassignment Surgery (SRS)

Sexual reassignment surgery is expensive, however the enhanced quality of life post surgery for a patient suffering from gender dysphoria often proves a positive investment. Male to female reassignment surgery can cost between $7000- $30,000 depending on the location and the amount of surgeries necessary. Female to male reassignment surgery is more expensive and complete gender reassignment can often cost more than $60,000.

To learn more about Sexual Reassignment Surgery (SRS), contact Plastic Surgery Clinics near you.

Gender Reassignment Surgery - Female To Male (FTM)

Female to male sexual reassignment surgery, or FTM transexual surgery is a complex process involving physical, hormonal and psychological challenges. Before the sex change procedure begins, patients must have intense counseling to ensure they are aware of the implications, physically and psychologically of changing sex. If the counselor and the patient decide gender reassignment surgery is appropriate, patients must complete a course of hormone replacement therapy. For female-male transexuals the course of HRT will be testosterone based to stimulate the growth of body and facial hair and deepen the voice.

Gender Reassignment Surgery - Male To Female (MTF)

Sexual reassignment surgery for male to female patients is often known as MTF transsexual surgery. The procedure for male-female SRS can be completed in one surgery and may be performed by a cosmetic surgeon or a urologist.