The Aesthetic Society began a study into the scientific research done thus far on transgender surgery in minors in 2023 by assigning a review of all available scientific data to our patient safety committee. This study is ongoing at the present date and will continue by members of our patient safety committee as well as an ongoing review of the findings by our board of directors.
As the main Hippocratic oath of any physician is “Do no Harm”, here has been increasing concern by the members of the Aesthetic Society to make sure that the benefit of the procedures outweighs any potential harm, especially considering the procedures are irreversible to a completely normal state , and automatically result in permanent scarring, and also carry further risks of surgery including infection, hematoma, wound dehiscence, and the certainty of permanent sterilization, among others, with the most important risk being that of regret and the desire for de-transition at a later date which, if it occurs, often happens many years later.
Therefore, in order to justify such a life changing surgery on minor children, many of whom have co-morbid psychiatric conditions unrelated to gender dysphoria, the board felt that the evidence had to be highly convincing.
After a year of collection of data from all over the world and an intensive review of the findings by our patient safety committee, as well as a review of the decisions of major medical organizations from around the world, many of whom either halted or significantly reduced their transgender programs for minors, the board of The Aesthetic Society has come to the conclusion that the evidence is not convincing at this time that it is in the best interest of children to undergo gender transition surgery prior to age 18, and that any potential harm of waiting until 18 years of age is not proven to be serious enough to justify the risks of surgical intervention in minors.
Furthermore, we believe that regardless of counseling and support, that minors with gender dysphoria are at an age when they are not capable of fully understanding the ramifications of such a decision. Thus, we recommend waiting until after age 18, except perhaps in the most extreme cases of genetic anomalies, wherein with such cases the decision to proceed with surgery should be up to the parents and highly trained and experienced plastic surgeon specialists in gender-related issues.