Masculinising Top Surgery

First face to face appointment with your Consultant Surgeon

You will have an appointment with your consultant surgeon and this is an opportunity for you to ask any questions and discuss the surgery and what it entails and understand the outcomes of this surgery. The appointment will cover:

• Desired procedure detail, how long it will take, and what you should expect from this surgery.
• A review of previous surgeries.
• Initial Verbal informed consent discussion regarding the procedure, risks and outcomes.
• Physical examination with the option of medical photography to be done on the day.

In addition to your verbal consent conversation, you will receive a digital consent form which formally documents the discussion that you will have had with your consultant. The consent form will be sent to your email or mobile phone using our digital consent system known as Concentric. This form confirms you are informed about the surgery including knowledge about the associated risks and complications of the procedure. You will need to sign this prior to your surgery.

This form confirms you are informed about the surgery including knowledge about the associated risks and complications of the procedure. You will need to sign this prior to your surgery.

Consent to the planned procedure will be confirmed with you again on the day of your surgery and any discussions or questions raised can be documented on your Concentric profile by the clinician.

If you have any difficulties with remotely consenting, please contact our Patient Pathway Co-ordinators. Their telephone contact details can be found on the last page of this information leaflet.

Pre-operative Assessment (usually six weeks before your operation)

You will attend a face-to-face appointment with a pre-operative nurse, who will talk through your previous and current medical history, arrange any tests such as blood tests that you need before surgery and give you information about preparing for your anaesthetic.

One Week before Surgery

• It is required that you stop drinking alcohol one week before and for three weeks after surgery. This is because alcohol increases chances of bleeding. If you need support with this, let your Clinical Nurse Specialist know.
• NO aspirin or any blood thinning medication.
• NO nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs- such as Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, or Naproxen.
• NO herbal supplements e.g. St John’s Wort.
• NO fish oil.
• Wash and change bed sheets, as this will be more difficult to do when you get back from the hospital.
• You don’t need to stop hormonal treatment prior to surgery
• If you have had diarrhoea or vomiting 72 hours or less, before your operation, please contact the team as soon as possible, as your procedure will need to be rescheduled.
• It is also important that you inform us if you are feeling unwell, have had a temperature, cough or flu like symptoms on or on the days leading up to your planned operation. It may be safer to postpone your operation until you are well.
• Please remove any nail varnish before you come in for your operation as it can interfere with monitoring.

Day of Surgery

Fasting Instructions

• Morning Surgery: You can eat until midnight the night before the surgery you may drink sips of clear fluids (which includes only water, black tea, or black coffee until time of surgery)
• Afternoon Surgery: You must finish eating breakfast by 7am on the day of the surgery.

You may drink sips of clear fluids (which includes only water, black tea, or black coffee until time of surgery)

Why is Fasting Important?

Fasting (not eating, sips of clear fluids are allowed) is important to avoid complications with your anaesthetic during your operation.

What to expect on the day:

It is important you arrive on time. You may be waiting for a few hours for your surgery.

We advise you to wear comfortable clothes on the day e.g. wear a sweater with a front zipper to reduce the risk of adding stress to your chest when pulling a garment over your head.

On the day of surgery – shower before you leave home, don’t bring jewellery or cosmetics or a watch, and wear your glasses instead of contact lenses.

you may bring your phone with you but ensure that you have a charging cable for it.