Care of the Patient Undergoing Sex Reassignment Surgery

Sex reassignment surgery (SRS) has proven to be an effective intervention for the patient with gender dysphoria. As with any surgery, the quality of care provided before, during, and after SRS has a significant impact on patient outcomes. This article is intended to help primary care providers who are already familiar with routine transgender care to understand the specialized processes involved in SRS. Topics include guidelines for the recommendation of SRS, feminizing and masculinizing surgical procedures, suggested timelines for various interventions, expected course and recovery, risks and complications, and revisional surgery that may be required. (C) 2006 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.