Myth Busting: Are Transition surgeries performed on minors?
There is now ample evidence showing that Australians under 18 are undergoing a variety of ‘gender affirming’ surgeries, including mastectomies, breast implants, tracheal shaves, and facial surgery.
Under Australian guidelines, people under 18 who receive parental consent can be eligible for sex trait reassignment surgeries. The Australian Standards of Care and Treatment Guidelines for Trans and Gender Diverse Children and Adolescents, (Australia's de facto standards of care), don’t set specific age limits on any procedures. While these guidelines advise that genital surgery (bottom surgery) is best delayed until adulthood, on the whole, they recommend that decisions about surgeries, including mastectomies, require an ‘individualized’ approach.
Because 'gender affirming' surgeries lack specific Medicare item numbers, precise data on how often they're performed isn't available, but reports and anecdotal evidence offer insights into current practices:
Plastic surgeons have reported a dramatic rise in minors receiving transition surgeries, with some surgeons even questioning Australia's lack of regulations.
In a recording aired by the Desexing Society podcast, an employee at a Brisbane-based clinic confirmed in a phone conversation that it is possible for children as young as 13 to be referred for mastectomies.
Mastectomy appears to be one of the most sought-after procedures for under 18s. As far back as 2016, the Family Court permitted a 15-year-old to have a double mastectomy.
Patient reviews, support forums, and crowdfunding listings for affirmation surgery show that many people under 18 now seek these surgeries.
The absence of clear, consistent information, combined with varying interpretations of what constitutes 'gender affirming' surgery, obscures the facts surrounding surgical interventions for transgender and gender-diverse youth.
Phrasing around age eligibility requirements is often vague. One plastic surgeon’s website says that teens seeking top-surgery (mastectomies) should “usually” be older than 16.
Healthdirect.gov.au says top surgery can be performed over the age of 16, but “some surgeons will provide surgery to younger people in very specific situations”
Claims that these types of surgeries are never, or are almost never performed on minors, may rely on a narrow definition of affirmation surgery that only includes bottom-surgery.
Without clear definitions and reporting guidelines, it's difficult to assess the true scope of surgical interventions for minors and to have an informed discussion about the ethical and medical considerations involved.