Plastic surgeons society recommends delaying gender-affirming procedures until age 19
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By
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Daniel Payne
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Theresa Gaffney
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February 3, 2026
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Clinical Scorecard: American Society of Plastic Surgeons Advocates for Postponing Gender-Affirming Surgeries Until Age 19
At a Glance
| Category | Detail |
|---|
| Condition | |
| Key Mechanisms | Low quality, low certainty evidence surrounding gender-affirming care for minors. |
| Target Population | |
| Care Setting | |
Key Highlights
- ASPS recommends delaying gender-affirming surgeries until at least age 19.
- The statement is professional guidance, not a clinical practice guideline.
- Evidence supporting gender-affirming care is categorized as low quality, low certainty.
- ASPS emphasizes the need for high-quality research in this area.
- Surgeons share responsibility for assessing minors' understanding of procedures.
Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Management
- Delay gender-affirming surgeries until patients are at least 19 years old.
- Encourage multidisciplinary approaches involving various specialists.
Monitoring & Follow-up
Risks
Patient & Prescribing Data
Surgeons typically require letters of recommendation from other clinicians as part of the assessment process.
Clinical Best Practices
- Encourage multidisciplinary approaches involving various specialists.
- Advocate for more high-quality research on gender-affirming care.
References
