The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) has issued new recommendations regarding gender-affirming surgeries for transgender and nonbinary patients. The group now advises that these procedures be delayed until the patient reaches at least 19 years of age. This announcement marks a departure from the stance taken by other major medical organizations in the United States.
The ASPS, which boasts a membership of over 11,000 physicians, clarified that the statement does not serve as a clinical practice guideline but rather as “professional guidance” due to the rapidly evolving and controversial nature of gender-affirming care. The organization emphasized its trust in the decision-making abilities of its members and strongly opposed any punitive measures against doctors providing such care.
Scot Bradley Glasberg, a former president of the ASPS, revealed that the group began reevaluating the evidence surrounding gender-affirming care for minors during the Biden administration. He mentioned that recent reviews of the evidence led to the conclusion that the data supporting such care is of low quality and certainty, prompting the need for a more robust position.
The timing of the announcement, coinciding with the Trump administration’s push to end gender-affirming care for individuals under 19, was deemed incidental by Glasberg. He denied any involvement of the administration in the decision-making process of the ASPS. The Department of Health and Human Services and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. commended the group for upholding “sound science” and resisting the pressure to limit gender-affirming care.
While the Trump administration has spearheaded efforts to curtail gender-affirming care, several hospitals and medical groups have pledged to continue offering these services. The ASPS’s new stance aligns with groups advocating for a more cautious and evidence-based approach to gender-affirming care for minors.
Critics of gender-affirming care often highlight the lack of high-quality evidence supporting these procedures as a reason to restrict them. However, proponents argue that similar quality research underpins many other healthcare practices. The ASPS’s decision to delay gender-affirming surgeries until the patient is at least 19 years old reflects a more conservative outlook compared to other medical associations.
The group’s statement underscores the ethical considerations specific to gender-affirming procedures, highlighting the potential long-term implications and dependency associated with such surgeries. The ASPS emphasizes the need for careful evaluation of minors’ understanding of the procedures’ irreversibility and long-term effects before proceeding with any gender-affirming surgery.
Overall, the ASPS’s updated recommendations on gender-affirming surgeries signal a shift towards a more cautious and evidence-based approach to care for transgender and nonbinary individuals. The organization’s decision is expected to spark further discussions within the medical community regarding the optimal age for undergoing such procedures.
