Gender Affirming Mastectomy
Top surgery is a gender-affirming procedure designed for transgender men and non-binary individuals, creating a more masculine chest.
While mastectomy is commonly associated with breast cancer treatment—where the primary goal is to remove cancerous tissue and prevent recurrence—gender-affirming mastectomy and gynecomastia surgery require a different approach. Unlike cancer-related mastectomies, these procedures prioritize aesthetic outcomes, ensuring a natural and well-contoured chest. Additionally, preserving the nipple, areola, and nerve structures is crucial to maintaining sensation and achieving optimal results.
Top surgery brings you into the present moment—the place where your true self comes to life.
Dr. Francis Jeon, Executive Director of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery at Evita Clinic, has extensive experience treating heart, lung, and thoracic deformities at a leading university hospital. In 2009, he founded Evita Clinic, specializing in gynecomastia, breast surgery, and body contouring. Drawing from his years of expertise, he developed a surgical technique that minimizes incisions and reduces scarring. Today, countless patients from around the world trust his approach and achieve results they are truly satisfied with.
Top Surgery: Surgical Techniques
Periareoar Minimal Approach
This technique is ideal for individuals with small, non-sagging breasts, typically under a B cup.
It is a common choice among patients seeking minimal scarring and a quicker recovery.
- Fast recovery: Most patients recover within 7 days.
- Cost: Approximately $2,500 USD (₩3,500,000 KRW).
Circumareolar Skin Resection
This technique is ideal for individuals with B or C cup breasts that are not sagging.
While effective in achieving a more masculine chest contour, it may result in some reduction in nipple sensation.
- Recovery time: Approximately 2 weeks
- Cost: Around $3,200 USD (₩4,500,000 KRW)
Inverted T (Anchor) Skin Resection
This technique is ideal for individuals with C cup or larger breasts, especially those with significant sagging.
While it provides the most aesthetically refined results, it also leaves the most noticeable scarring.
- Recovery time: At least 2 weeks
- Cost: Approximately $3,900 USD (₩5,500,000 KRW)
Double Incision
This technique is best suited for individuals with D cup or larger breasts, providing a well-defined masculine chest contour.
During the procedure, the nipples are removed, resized, and grafted onto the chest to achieve a natural appearance.
- Recovery time: At least 3 weeks
- Cost: Approximately $3,900 USD (₩5,500,000 KRW)
Minimal Approach
- Same-day procedure: Surgery and discharge are completed on the same day.
1. Design
The Minimal Approach technique is designed for individuals with small, non-sagging breasts (typically under a B cup). This method focuses on achieving a natural masculine contour while minimizing scarring and recovery time.
2. Minimal Incision Next to the Areola
A small incision is made next to the areola, ensuring minimal visibility of scars. This strategic placement allows for effective removal of glandular tissue while preserving the natural appearance of the chest.
3. Liposuction & Glandular Tissue Removal
- Liposuction is performed to remove excess fat and sculpt the chest.
- Glandular tissue is carefully excised through the small incision to achieve a flatter contour.
4. Minimal Scarring
- The incision is neatly sutured along the areolar edge, blending seamlessly with the natural pigmentation.
- Since there is no major skin removal, the skin retracts naturally, minimizing the risk of visible scarring.
- Patients typically experience a fast recovery (around 7 days) with minimal discomfort.
In most cases, this procedure alone naturally reduces nipple size by approximately 10–20%. However, if the patient desires further reduction, a nipple reduction surgery can be performed for an additional cost of $1,000 USD.
1
Starting Your Top Surgery Journey
Consultation
Your decision to undergo top surgery is entirely personal—it’s your choice when and why you pursue the procedure.
If you are under 18, you must attend the consultation with a legal guardian, and their consent is required.
A letter of recommendation from a qualified mental health professional is also necessary for surgery.
During your consultation, Dr. Francis Jeon will evaluate your breast condition and discuss the most suitable surgical approach for you.
You will receive a detailed explanation of pre-operative precautions, the surgical procedure, and post-operative recovery to ensure you are fully prepared.
2
Enhancing Yourself Through Surgery
Operation
Before surgery, you must fast for at least 6 hours to ensure a safe procedure. The operation is performed under Monitored Anesthetic Care (MAC) and typically takes 2 to 3 hours. After the surgery, you will be monitored in the recovery room for 4 to 6 hours before being discharged. During this time, you will receive important post-operative care instructions and precautions. Upon discharge, you will be provided with a compression garment, which should be worn 24 hours a day for 2 weeks to aid in healing and improve results.
3
Embrace the Change
Recovery
The day after surgery, Dr. Francis Jeon will assess your condition and, in most cases, remove the Hemovac drain. Your first follow-up visit takes place on day 7, during which our aesthetician will perform your first high-frequency massage to aid in recovery.
At two weeks post-surgery, stitches are removed, and you can begin light stretching and gentle exercise. With each visit, you will continue receiving therapeutic massages, and starting from week 3, laser treatment will be introduced to improve scar healing.
Post-surgical swelling may persist for 3 to 4 months, but over time, your chest will gradually settle into its final, well-defined shape.
