Masculinizing surgeries are gender-affirming surgical procedures that create physical characteristics reflective of one’s gender identity or gender expression.
Funded surgeries
The following surgeries (and any surgical revisions required) are funded by BC Medical Services Plan (MSP):
Chest construction is a gender-affirming, upper body surgery that removes unwanted chest
(breast) tissue and sculpts the remaining tissue into a flatter
shape. Chest construction is a term that refers to both chest reduction
surgery (procedure to reduce the amount of chest tissue) and full
bilateral mastectomy
Clitoral release is a gender-affirming, lower body surgery that creates a penis by
cutting ligaments around the erectile tissue (clitoris) that has been enlarged
by testosterone to release it from the pubis and give the shaft more length (4
to 6 cm). A scrotum can be created from the labia. Testicular implants can be
inserted in the scrotum in a separate surgery, months later.
Hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy are two gender-affirming lower body surgeries. Hysterectomy removes all
or part of the uterus and sometimes the reproductive organs (ovaries or
fallopian tubes). Oophorectomy removes one or both of the ovaries.
Metoidioplasty is a gender-affirming lower body surgery that creates a penis by cutting
ligaments around the erectile tissue (clitoris) to release it from the pubis
and give the shaft more length (4 to 6 cm).
Phalloplasty is a gender-affirming lower body surgery that takes place over multiples
surgeries. These procedures create a penis and scrotal sac, testicular and
penile implants.
You may want to consider other gender-affirming surgeries; however, at this time, these are not currently funded by BC MSP. These surgeries include:
- Liposuction or lipofilling
- Pectoral implants
- Voice surgery