Dr Trevino Ridgard – Urologist at Life Fourways Hospital with a special interest in Gender Affirmation Surgery

Not enough medical centres and services are available in South Africa to assist with the health and wellbeing of trans and gender diverse people.  Unfortunately, there is a stigma attached to gender nonconformity in many societies around the world leading to discrimination and psychological distress. Gender affirmation surgery (GAS) may include top and/or bottom surgeries.  It is a multidisciplinary approach involving a psychiatrist/ psychologist, endocrinologist, gynaecologist, urologist, plastic surgeon, and the primary care physician.  The transition process usually includes evaluation by a psychologist or psychiatrist specialized in transhealth followed by hormonal treatment and eventually surgery.

As a Urologist, I’m mostly involved in Male to Female affirming surgery in transwomen and this includes:

  1. Penectomy (surgical removal of the penis) with creation of a neoclitoris
  2. Bilateral orchidectomy (removal of both testis)
  3. Vaginoplasty (creating a vagina between the urethra and the rectum)

Before any genital surgery is performed the MtF patient must have:

  1. At least one year of mental-health care/ therapy;
  2. At least one year of hormonal therapy;
  3. More than one year social- transition ie to life full-time in identified-with gender
  4. Lastly a referral letter from a mental-health professional recommending genital affirming surgery.

Other Surgical Procedures for the Male-to-Female (MtF) Patient includes

  1. Breast/chest surgery: augmentation mammoplasty (implants/lipofilling)
  2. Nongenital, nonbreast surgical interventions: facial feminization surgery, liposuction, lipofilling, voice surgery, thyroid cartilage reduction, gluteal augmentation (implants/lipofilling), hair reconstruction, and various aesthetic procedures.

For more Information on any of these surgical offerings or any other specialist at Life Fourways Hospital contact Tanya Jenneker on 011 875 13 42 or email Tanya.Jenneker@lifehealthcare.co.za

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