top surgery

American  

[top sur-juh-ree] / ˈtɒp ˌsɜr dʒə ri /

noun

1. the surgical alteration of a transgender person’s chest, usually through double mastectomy or breast augmentation, to align with their gender identity.

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Etymology

Origin of top surgery

First recorded in 1990–95; cf. bottom surgery ( def. )

Example Sentences

They moved to San Francisco in 2018 and began their gender transition, having top surgery in 2019 to remove breast tissue.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2026

Then they traced the scars of top surgery, asking their father to sew a line through the chest tissue that helped Man, 25, embody their transmasculine, genderqueer identity.

From New York Times • May 24, 2024

Earlier this year, a trans King County teen and his family filed a class-action lawsuit against Mountlake Terrace-based Premera Blue Cross, alleging the insurer repeatedly denied coverage of his medically necessary top surgery.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 17, 2023

When I woke up from top surgery, I began to sob as soon as I looked down at my chest.

From Salon • Oct. 17, 2023

"They may choose top surgery instead, and they'll just deal with the family-building consequences later," Leondires said.

From Salon • Sep. 10, 2023