Clinical UM Guideline |
Subject: Gender Affirming Surgery | |
Guideline #: CG-SURG-27 | Publish Date: 05/20/2021 |
Status: Revised | Last Review Date: 05/13/2021 |
Description |
This document addresses gender affirming surgery (also known as sex affirmation surgery, gender or sex reassignment surgery, gender or sex confirmation surgery). Gender affirming surgery is a treatment option for gender dysphoria, a condition in which a person experiences persistent incongruence between gender identity and sexual anatomy at birth. Gender affirming surgery is not an isolated intervention; it is part of a complex process involving multiple medical, psychiatric and psychologic, and surgical specialists working in conjunction with each other and the individual to achieve successful behavioral and medical outcomes. Before undertaking gender affirming surgery, medical and psychological evaluations, medical therapies and behavioral trials are undertaken to help ensure that surgery is an appropriate treatment choice for the individual.
Note: Please refer to the following documents for additional information, including the use of these and other procedures for individuals with gender dysphoria that are not related to gender affirming surgery:
Note: Voice therapy is not addressed in this document, as it is not a surgical procedure.
Medically Necessary: In this document, procedures are considered medically necessary if there is a significant functional impairment AND the procedure can be reasonably expected to improve the functional impairment.
Reconstructive: In this document, procedures are considered reconstructive when intended to address a significant variation from normal related to accidental injury, disease, trauma, treatment of a disease or a congenital defect.
Note: Not all benefit contracts/certificates include benefits for reconstructive services as defined by this document. Benefit language supersedes this document.
Cosmetic: In this document, procedures are considered cosmetic when intended to change a physical appearance that would be considered within normal human anatomic variation. Cosmetic services are often described as those that are primarily intended to preserve or improve appearance.
Clinical Indications |
NOTE: Procedures to address postoperative complications of gender affirming surgery procedures (for example, stenosis, scarring, chronic infection, or pain) are not considered separate gender affirming surgery procedures.
NOTE: Reversal of a prior gender affirming surgery procedure is considered gender affirming surgery and the medical necessity criteria below apply.
Medically Necessary:
Gender affirming pelvic or gonadal surgery (which may consist of a combination of the following: hysterectomy, orchiectomy, ovariectomy, or salpingo-oophorectomy), is considered medically necessary when all of the following criteria are met:
Gender affirming genital surgery (which may consist of a combination of the following: clitoroplasty, labiaplasty, metoidioplasty, penectomy, phalloplasty, scrotoplasty, urethroplasty, vaginectomy, vaginoplasty, or placement of penile or testicular prostheses), is considered medically necessary when all of the following criteria are met:
*At least one of the professionals submitting a letter must have a doctoral degree (for example, Ph.D., M.D., Ed.D., D.Sc., D.S.W., or Psy.D) or a master’s level degree in a clinical behavioral science field (for example, M.S.W., L.C.S.W., Nurse Practitioner [N.P.], Advanced Practice Nurse [A.P.R.N.], Licensed Professional Counselor [L.P.C.], and Marriage and Family Therapist [M.F.T.]) and be capable of adequately evaluating co-morbid psychiatric conditions. One letter is sufficient if signed by two providers, one of whom has met the specifications set forth above.
**The medical documentation should include the start date of living full time in the new gender. Verification via communication with individuals who have related to the individual in an identity-congruent gender role, or requesting documentation of a legal name change, may be reasonable in some cases.
The use of hair removal procedures to treat tissue donor sites for a planned phalloplasty or vaginoplasty procedure is considered medically necessary.
Reconstructive
Gender affirming chest surgery (augmentation, mastectomy, or reduction) is considered reconstructive when all of the following criteria have been met:
Nipple reconstruction, including tattooing, following a gender affirming mastectomy that meets the reconstructive criteria above is considered reconstructive.
†See Discussion section for a list of procedures included in this group of procedures
Gender affirming voice modification surgery is considered reconstructive when all of the following criteria have been met:
Not Medically Necessary:
The following gender affirming surgical procedures are considered not medically necessary when one or more of the medical necessary or reconstructive criteria above have not been met:
Cosmetic and Not Medically Necessary:
The following procedures, when requested alone or in combination with other procedures, are considered cosmetic and not medically necessary when applicable reconstructive criteria above have not been met, or when used to improve the gender specific appearance of an individual who has undergone or is planning to undergo gender affirming surgery, including, but not limited to, the following:
A provider with experience treating adolescents with gender dysphoria may request further consideration of a gender affirming chest procedure case in an individual under 18 years old when they meet all other gender affirming chest procedure criteria above (including prior mental health evaluation) by contacting a Medical Director. (Further information is available in the Discussion/General Information section of this document titled ‘Gender Affirming Surgery in Individuals Under the Age of 18’).
Coding |
The following codes for treatments and procedures applicable to this document are included below for informational purposes. Inclusion or exclusion of a procedure, diagnosis or device code(s) does not constitute or imply member coverage or provider reimbursement policy. Please refer to the member’s contract benefits in effect at the time of service to determine coverage or non-coverage of these services as it applies to an individual member.
When services may be Medically Necessary when criteria are met:
CPT |
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17380 | Electrolysis epilation, each 30 minutes [when done to treat tissue donor sites for a planned phalloplasty or vaginoplasty procedure] |
17999 | Unlisted procedure, skin, mucous membrane and subcutaneous tissue [when specified as permanent hair removal by laser to treat tissue donor sites for a planned phalloplasty or vaginoplasty procedure] |
53410 | Urethroplasty, 1-stage reconstruction of male anterior urethra |
53420 | Urethroplasty, 2-stage reconstruction or repair of prostatic or membranous urethra; first stage |
53425 | Urethroplasty, 2-stage reconstruction or repair of prostatic or membranous urethra; second stage |
53430 | Urethroplasty, reconstruction of female urethra |
54125 | Amputation of penis; complete |
54400 | Insertion of penile prosthesis; non-inflatable (semi-rigid) |
54401 | Insertion of penile prosthesis; inflatable (self-contained) |
54405 | Insertion of multi-component, inflatable penile prosthesis, including placement of pump, cylinders, and reservoir |
54520 | Orchiectomy, simple (including subcapsular), with or without testicular prosthesis, scrotal or inguinal approach |
54660 | Insertion of testicular prosthesis |
54690 | Laparoscopy, surgical; orchiectomy |
55180 | Scrotoplasty; complicated |
55899 | Unlisted procedure, male genital system [when specified as metoidioplasty or phalloplasty with penile prosthesis] |
56625 | Vulvectomy, simple; complete |
56800 | Plastic repair of introitus |
57110 | Vaginectomy, complete removal of vaginal wall; |
57291 | Construction of artificial vagina; without graft |
57292 | Construction of artificial vagina; with graft |
57295 | Revision (including removal) of prosthetic vaginal graft; vaginal approach |
57296 | Revision (including removal) of prosthetic vaginal graft; open abdominal approach |
57426 | Revision (including removal) of prosthetic vaginal graft, laparoscopic approach |
58150 | Total abdominal hysterectomy (corpus and cervix), with or without removal of tube(s), with or without removal of ovary(s); |
58552 | Laparoscopy, surgical, with vaginal hysterectomy, for uterus 250 g or less; with removal of tube(s) and/or ovary(s) |
58554 | Laparoscopy, surgical, with vaginal hysterectomy, for uterus greater than 250 g; with removal of tube(s) and/or ovary(s) |
58570 | Laparoscopy, surgical, with total hysterectomy, for uterus 250 g or less; |
58571 | Laparoscopy, surgical, with total hysterectomy, for uterus 250 g or less; with removal of tube(s) and/or ovary(s) |
58572 | Laparoscopy, surgical, with total hysterectomy, for uterus greater than 250 g; |
58573 | Laparoscopy, surgical, with total hysterectomy, for uterus greater than 250 g; with removal of tube(s) and/or ovary(s) |
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HCPCS |
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C1813 | Prosthesis, penile, inflatable |
C2622 | Prosthesis, penile, non-inflatable |
L8699 | Prosthetic implant, not otherwise specified [when specified as testicular or penile prosthesis] |
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ICD-10 Procedure |
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0HDSXZZ | Extraction of hair, external approach [when done to treat tissue donor sites for a planned phalloplasty or vaginoplasty procedure] |
0UQG0ZZ | Repair vagina, open approach |
0UQJ0ZZ-0UQJXZZ | Repair clitoris [by approach; includes codes 0UQJ0ZZ, 0UQJXZZ] |
0UT20ZZ-0UT2FZZ | Resection of bilateral ovaries [by approach; includes codes 0UT20ZZ, 0UT24ZZ, 0UT27ZZ, 0UT28ZZ, 0UT2FZZ] |
0UT70ZZ-0UT7FZZ | Resection of bilateral fallopian tubes [by approach; includes codes 0UT70ZZ, 0UT74ZZ, 0UT77ZZ, 0UT78ZZ, 0UT7FZZ] |
0UT90ZZ-0UT9FZZ | Resection of uterus [by approach; includes codes 0UT90ZZ, 0UT94ZZ, 0UT97ZZ, 0UT98ZZ, 0UT9FZZ] |
0UTC0ZZ-0UTC8ZZ | Resection of cervix [by approach; includes codes 0UTC0ZZ, 0UTC4ZZ, 0UTC7ZZ, 0UTC8ZZ] |
0UTG0ZZ-0UTG8ZZ | Resection of vagina [by approach; includes codes 0UTG0ZZ, 0UTG4ZZ, 0UTG7ZZ, 0UTG8ZZ] |
0UTJ0ZZ-0UTJXZZ | Resection of clitoris [by approach; includes codes 0UTJ0ZZ, 0UTJXZZ] |
0UTM0ZZ-0UTMXZZ | Resection of vulva [by approach; includes codes 0UTM0ZZ, 0UTMXZZ] |
0VRC0JZ | Replacement of bilateral testes with synthetic substitute, open approach |
0VTC0ZZ-0VTC4ZZ | Resection of bilateral testes [by approach; includes codes 0VTC0ZZ, 0VTC4ZZ] |
0VTS0ZZ-0VTSXZZ | Resection of penis [by approach; includes codes 0VTS0ZZ, 0VTS4ZZ, 0VTSXZZ] |
0VUS07Z-0VUSX7Z | Supplement penis with autologous tissue substitute [by approach, includes codes 0VUS07Z, 0VUS47Z, 0VUSX7Z] |
0VUS0JZ-0VUSXJZ | Supplement penis with synthetic substitute [by approach; includes codes 0VUS0JZ, 0VUS4JZ, 0VUSXJZ] |
0VUS0KZ-0VUSXKZ | Supplement penis with nonautologous tissue substitute [by approach; includes codes 0VUS0KZ, 0VUS4KZ, 0VUSXKZ] |
0W4M070 | Creation of vagina in male perineum with autologous tissue substitute, open approach |
0W4M0J0 | Creation of vagina in male perineum with synthetic substitute, open approach |
0W4M0K0 | Creation of vagina in male perineum with nonautologous tissue substitute, open approach |
0W4N071 | Creation of penis in female perineum with autologous tissue substitute, open approach |
0W4N0J1 | Creation of penis in female perineum with synthetic substitute, open approach |
0W4N0K1 | Creation of penis in female perineum with nonautologous tissue substitute, open approach |
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ICD-10 Diagnosis |
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F64.0-F64.9 | Gender identity disorders |
Z87.890 | Personal history of sex reassignment |
When services are Not Medically Necessary:
For the procedure and diagnosis codes listed above when criteria are not met.
When services may be Reconstructive when criteria are met:
CPT |
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11920-11922 | Tattooing, intradermal introduction of insoluble opaque pigments to correct color defects of skin, including micropigmentation; 6.0 sq cm or less [when specified for nipple/areola reconstruction after breast surgery; includes codes 11920, 11921, 11922] |
11950-11954 | Subcutaneous injection of filling material (eg, collagen) [includes codes 11950, 11951, 11952, 11954] |
15769 | Grafting of autologous soft tissue, other, harvested by direct excision (eg, fat, dermis, fascia) |
15771-15772 | Grafting of autologous fat harvested by liposuction technique to trunk, breasts, scalp, arms, and/or legs |
15773-15774 | Grafting of autologous fat harvested by liposuction technique to face, eyelids, mouth, neck, ears, orbits, genitalia, hands, and/or feet |
15876 | Suction assisted lipectomy, head and neck |
15877 | Suction assisted lipectomy, trunk [when specified as breast liposuction for breast reduction] |
17999 | Unlisted procedure, skin, mucous membrane and subcutaneous tissue [when specified as injection of a dermal soft tissue filler] |
19303 | Mastectomy, simple, complete |
19318 | Breast reduction |
19325 | Breast augmentation with implant |
19350 | Nipple/areola reconstruction |
21120-21123 | Genioplasty [includes codes 21120, 21121, 21122, 21123] |
21125 | Augmentation, mandibular body or angle; prosthetic material |
21127 | Augmentation, mandibular body or angle; with bone graft, onlay or interpositional (includes obtaining autograft) |
21137-21139 | Reduction forehead [includes codes 21137, 21138, 21139] |
21172 | Reconstruction superior-lateral orbital rim and lower forehead, advancement or alteration, with or without grafts (includes obtaining autografts) |
21188 | Reconstruction midface, osteotomies (other than LeFort type) and bone grafts (includes obtaining autografts) |
21193-21194 | Reconstruction of mandibular rami, horizontal, vertical, C, or L osteotomy [with or without bone graft] |
21195-21196 | Reconstruction of mandibular rami and/or body, sagittal split [with or without internal rigid fixation] |
21198 | Osteotomy, mandible, segmental |
21208 | Osteoplasty, facial bones; augmentation (autograft, allograft, or prosthetic implant) |
21209 | Osteoplasty, facial bones; reduction |
21210 | Graft, bone; nasal, maxillary or malar areas (includes obtaining graft) |
21215 | Graft, bone; mandible (includes obtaining graft) |
21230 | Graft; rib cartilage, autogenous, to face, chin, nose or ear (includes obtaining graft) |
21235 | Graft; ear cartilage, autogenous, to nose or ear (includes obtaining graft) |
21270 | Malar augmentation, prosthetic material |
30400-30420 | Rhinoplasty, primary [includes codes 30400, 30410, 30420] |
30430-30450 | Rhinoplasty, secondary [includes codes 30430, 30435, 30450] |
31599 | Unlisted procedure, larynx [when specified as thyroid cartilage chondroplasty, tracheal shave, or voice modification surgery such as anterior glottal web formation, cricothyroid approximation, vocal cord shortening] |
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HCPCS |
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L8600 | Implantable breast prosthesis, silicone or equal |
Q2026 | Injection, Radiesse, 0.1 ml |
Q2028 | Injection, sculptra, 0.5 mg |
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ICD-10 Procedure |
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0H0V07Z-0H0V0KZ | Alteration of bilateral breast, open approach; [with autologous tissue substitute, synthetic substitute, or nonautologous tissue substitute; includes codes 0H0V07Z, 0H0V0JZ, 0H0V0KZ] |
0HBV0ZZ-0HBV8ZZ | Excision of breast, bilateral [by approach; includes codes 0HBV0ZZ, 0HBV3ZZ, 0HBV7ZZ, 0HBV8ZZ] |
0HRW07Z-0HRXXKZ | Replacement of nipple [by approach; includes codes 0HRW07Z, 0HRW0JZ, 0HRW0KZ, 0HRW3JZ, 0HRW3KZ, 0HRW37Z, 0HRWX7Z, 0HRWXJZ, 0HRWXKZ, 0HRX07Z, 0HRX0JZ, 0HRX0KZ, 0HRX3JZ, 0HRX3KZ, 0HRX37Z, 0HRXX7Z, 0HRXXJZ, 0HRXXKZ] |
0NB10ZZ | Excision of frontal bone, open approach |
0NBB0ZZ | Excision of nasal bone, open approach |
0NBM0ZZ | Excision of right zygomatic bone, open approach |
0NBN0ZZ | Excision of left zygomatic bone, open approach |
0NBR0ZZ | Excision of maxilla, open approach |
0NBT0ZZ | Excision of right mandible, open approach |
0NBV0ZZ | Excision of left mandible, open approach |
0NU107Z-0NU10KZ | Supplement frontal bone, open approach; [with autologous tissue substitute, synthetic substitute, or nonautologous tissue substitute; includes codes 0NU107Z, 0NU10JZ, 0NU10KZ] |
0NUB07Z-0NUB0KZ | Supplement nasal bone, open approach; [with autologous tissue substitute, synthetic substitute, or nonautologous tissue substitute; includes codes 0NUB07Z, 0NUB0JZ, 0NUB0KZ] |
0NUM07Z-0NUN0KZ | Supplement zygomatic bone, open approach; [right or left, with autologous tissue substitute, synthetic substitute, or nonautologous tissue substitute; includes codes 0NUM07Z, 0NUM0JZ, 0NUM0KZ, 0NUN07Z, 0NUN0JZ, 0NUN0KZ] |
0NUR07Z-0NUR0KZ | Supplement maxilla, open approach; [with autologous tissue substitute, synthetic substitute, or nonautologous tissue substitute; includes codes 0NUR07Z, 0NUR0JZ, 0NUR0KZ] |
0NUT07Z-0NUV0KZ | Supplement mandible, open approach; [right or left, with autologous tissue substitute, synthetic substitute, or nonautologous tissue substitute; includes codes 0NUT07Z, 0NUT0JZ, 0NUT0KZ, 0NUV07Z, 0NUV0JZ, 0NUV0KZ] |
0W0407Z-0W040KZ | Alteration of upper jaw, open approach [with autologous tissue substitute, synthetic substitute, or nonautologous tissue substitute; includes codes 0W0407Z, 0W040JZ, 0W040KZ] |
0W040ZZ | Alteration of upper jaw, open approach |
0W0507Z-0W050KZ | Alteration of lower jaw, open approach [with autologous tissue substitute, synthetic substitute, or nonautologous tissue substitute; includes codes 0W0507Z, 0W050JZ, 0W050KZ] |
0W050ZZ | Alteration of lower jaw, open approach |
0WU407Z-0WU40KZ | Supplement lower jaw, open approach [with autologous tissue substitute, synthetic substitute, or nonautologous tissue substitute; includes codes 0WU407Z, 0WU40JZ, 0WU40KZ] |
0WU507Z-0WU50KZ | Supplement lower jaw, open approach [with autologous tissue substitute, synthetic substitute, or nonautologous tissue substitute; includes codes 0WU507Z, 0WU50JZ, 0WU50KZ] |
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ICD-10 Diagnosis |
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F64.0-F64.9 | Gender identity disorders |
Z87.890 | Personal history of sex reassignment |
When services are Cosmetic and Not Medically Necessary:
For the procedure and diagnosis codes listed above when reconstructive criteria are not met or when the code describes a procedure designated in the Clinical Indications section as cosmetic and not medically necessary.
Discussion/General Information (Return to Clinical Indications) |
The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth edition (DSM-5) provides criteria for the diagnosis of gender dysphoria. The DSM-5 criteria are widely recognized as the community standard by which individuals suspected of gender dysphoria are evaluated and diagnoses are confirmed. The DSM-5 criteria for gender dysphoria are as follows:
Gender dysphoria in Children*
Gender dysphoria in Adolescents and Adults*
*From: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. DSM-5. American Psychiatric Association. Washington, DC. May 2013. Page 451-459.
The World Professional Association for Transgender Health’s (WPATH) Standards of Care (SOC) for the Health of Transsexual, Transgender, and Gender Nonconforming People, Seventh Version (2012) provides recommendations for care of individuals with gender dysphoria. The SOC states,
The SOC are intended to be flexible in order to meet the diverse health care needs of transsexual, transgender, and gender-nonconforming people. While flexible, they offer standards for promoting optimal health care and guiding the treatment of people experiencing gender dysphoria.
and
Clinical departures from the SOC may come about because of a patient’s unique anatomic, social, or psychological situation; an experienced health professional’s evolving method of handling a common situation; a research protocol; lack of resources in various parts of the world; or the need for specific harm-reduction strategies.
Any variations from recommendations by WPATH within this guideline may reflect where SOC standards are, for example, not based on published medical evidence.
Procedures for the chest, also known as “top surgery”, and those for the groin and reproductive organs, also known as “bottom surgery”, do not need to be done in conjunction. Additionally, individuals undergoing top surgery do not need to subsequently undergo bottom surgery, or vice versa. The selection of appropriate procedures should be based on the needs of the individual in relation to the treatment of their diagnosis of gender dysphoria. The WPATH SOC addresses this issue, “The SOC do not specify an order in which different surgeries should occur. The number and sequence of surgical procedures may vary from patient to patient, according to their clinical needs.”
Gender Affirming Pelvic and Gonadal Procedures
Procedures addressing pelvic and gonadal anatomy in individuals with gender dysphoria are conducted to achieve the desired physical anatomy and function aligning with the individual’s experienced gender. Gender affirming pelvic and gonadal procedures have been shown in many studies to provide significant functional improvement in multiple areas (Becker, 2018; Butler, 2019; Cardoso da Silva, 2016; Castellano, 2015; De Cuypere, 2005; de Vries, 2014; Djordjevic, 2009; Guss, 2015; Hage, 2006; Jellestad, 2018; Lawrence, 2006; Miller, 2019; Murad, 2010; Olson-Kennedy, 2018; Owen-Smith, 2018; Papadopulos, 2015; Simbar, 2018; Terrier, 2014; Tucker, 2018; van de Grift, 2017; Weigert, 2013; Wernick, 2019; Wierckx, 2011). These improvements include gender dysphoria-related symptoms such as psychological distress, depression, anxiety, and acceptance of the individual’s body. Additionally, the available literature also demonstrates significant benefits related to quality of life and overall well-being.
The medical necessity criteria above for pelvic and gonadal procedures are based on several sources including the WPATH SOC, published peer-reviewed studies and expert opinion. In addition to having an established gender dysphoria diagnosis, individuals seeking gender affirmation surgery must be of the age of legal majority in the country in which they are seeking care (in the United states: 18 years of age). Individuals seeking irreversible surgical procedures should have the capacity to make fully informed decisions, and any significant medical or mental health issues should be reasonably well controlled. Gender affirming surgical procedures present significant medical and psychological risks, and the results are difficult to reverse (Djordjevic, 2016).
Published peer-reviewed studies have shown that hormonal therapy and real-life experience living as the other gender, as well as social support and acceptance by peer and family groups, improve psychological outcomes in individuals undergoing gender affirming surgery (Eldh, 1997; Landen, 1998). Monstrey (2001) described the importance of close cooperation between the medical and behavioral specialties required for proper treatment of individuals with gender dysphoria who wish to undergo gender affirming surgery. Similar findings were reported earlier by Schlatterer (1996). One study of 188 subjects undergoing gender affirming surgery found that dissatisfaction with surgery was highly associated with sexual preference, psychological co-morbidity, and poor pre-operative body image and satisfaction (Smith, 2005).
While this document does not address the medical necessity of hormone therapy, when indicated, it is administered under medical supervision and begins the gender transition process by altering body hair, breast size or development, skin appearance and texture, body fat distribution, the size and function of sex organs, and other characteristics, including voice deepening. The WPATH guidelines support using hormonal therapy prior to pelvic and gonadal procedures.
For individuals undergoing gender affirming genital procedures, real-life experience living as the desired gender is important to validate the individual’s desire and ability to incorporate into their desired gender role within their social network and daily environment. This generally involves gender-specific appearance (garments, hairstyle, etc.), involvement in various activities in the desired gender role including work or academic settings, legal acquisition of a gender appropriate first name, and acknowledgement by others of the new gender role. With regard to real-life experience, the WPATH states:
The criterion noted above for some types of genital surgeries – i.e., that patients engage in 12 continuous months of living in a gender role that is congruent with their gender identity – is based on expert clinical consensus that this experience provides ample opportunity for patients to experience and socially adjust in their desired gender role, before undergoing irreversible surgery. As noted in section VII, the social aspects of changing one’s gender role are usually challenging – often more so than the physical aspects. Changing gender role can have profound personal and social consequences, and the decision to do so should include an awareness of what the familial, interpersonal, educational, vocational, economic, and legal challenges are likely to be, so that people can function successfully in their gender role. Support from a qualified mental health professional and from peers can be invaluable in ensuring a successful gender role adaptation (Bockting, 2008).
The duration of 12 months allows for a range of different life experiences and events that may occur throughout the year (e.g., family events, holidays, vacations, season-specific work or school experiences). During this time, patients should present consistently, on a day-to-day basis and across all settings of life, in their desired gender role. This includes coming out to partners, family, friends, and community members (e.g., at school, work, other settings).
Health professionals should clearly document a patient’s experience in the gender role in the medical chart, including the start date of living full time for those who are preparing for genital surgery. In some situations, if needed, health professionals may request verification that this criterion has been fulfilled: They may communicate with individuals who have related to the patient in an identity-congruent gender role, or request documentation of a legal name and/or gender marker change, if applicable.
Gender Affirming Chest Surgery:
Gender affirming chest surgery in individuals with gender dysphoria is reconstructive, in that the procedure is intended to address the significant variation from normal appearance for the experienced gender. The evidence addressing gender affirming chest surgery for the treatment of gender dysphoria supports a consistent association between surgery and satisfaction with breast appearance, psychological and sexual well-being, and body image and attractiveness; however, evidence supporting improvements in functional outcomes (for example, quality of life, gender dysphoria symptoms, or sequelae of severe illness, including crisis visits, suicide attempts, etc.) is less clear (Becker, 2018; Miller, 2019; Olson-Kennedy, 2018; Weigert, 2013). Criteria for chest surgery are generally consistent with genital/gonadal surgery including requirements related to age, capacity to consent, diagnosis of gender dysphoria, and reasonably well controlled concomitant physical and mental health conditions.
For individuals born with male anatomy and considering gender affirming breast surgery, hormone therapy results in the development of at least some breast tissue in most cases. Breast development generally occurs within the first 12 months (although development may continue through 2-3 years of therapy) (De Blok, 2020a). Published studies have reported that final breast size varies significantly, anywhere from no growth to a C-cup, although the average individual achieves an A-cup in size. WPATH notes “Although not an explicit criterion, it is recommended that patients undergo feminizing hormone therapy (minimum 12 months) prior to gender affirming breast augmentation surgery. The purpose is to maximize breast growth in order to obtain better surgical (aesthetic) results.” To establish a reconstructive intent, it is important that an individual has undergone a minimum of 12 months of continuous hormonal therapy (when recommended by a mental health professional), and insufficient breast development has occurred.
Gender Affirming Chest Surgery in Individuals Under the Age of 18 (Return to Clinical Indications)
Further consideration of a gender affirming chest procedure in select individuals under 18 years of age may be appropriate; there may exist extenuating circumstances, such as the level of maturity of the individual, duration of dysphoric symptoms, medical and mental health, and other factors, that should be considered in consultation with a provider with experience treating adolescents with gender dysphoria. The WPATH SOC provides the following guidance for individuals under the age of 18:
Genital surgery should not be carried out until (i) patients reach the legal age of majority to give consent for medical procedures in a given country, and (ii) patients have lived continuously for at least 12 months in the gender role that is congruent with their gender identity. The age threshold should be seen as a minimum criterion and not an indication in and of itself for active intervention.
Chest surgery in FtM patients could be carried out earlier, preferably after ample time of living in the desired gender role and after one year of testosterone treatment. The intent of this suggested sequence is to give adolescents sufficient opportunity to experience and socially adjust in a more masculine gender role, before undergoing irreversible surgery. However, different approaches may be more suitable, depending on an adolescent’s specific clinical situation and goals for gender identity expression.
Gender Affirming Facial Surgery (Return to Clinical Indations)
In some cases, an individual’s facial features may be outside of what is perceived as normal for their experienced gender. Gender affirming facial surgery in individuals with gender dysphoria is considered reconstructive, in that the procedure is intended to address as a significant variation from normal appearance for the experienced gender.
The published data regarding gender affirming facial surgery generally support associations between surgery and the likelihood of being properly identified by the experienced gender by observers; however, evidence supporting improvements in functional outcomes (for example, quality of life, gender dysphoria symptoms, or sequelae of severe illness, including crisis visits, suicide attempts, etc.) is less clear (Ainsworth, 2010; Cohen, 2018; Fisher, 2020; Morrison, 2020). There is some data to demonstrate that the long-term use of hormone therapy does quantifiably femininize or masculinize facial features, thus extended use of hormone therapy prior to facial feminization may be warranted in some circumstances (Tebbens, 2019).
The WPATH does not recommend specific criteria for the use of facial feminization procedures. Instead, they note the following:
Unfortunately, in the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery (both in general and specifically for gender-related surgeries), there is no clear distinction between what is purely reconstructive and what is purely cosmetic. Most plastic surgery procedures actually are a mixture of both reconstructive and cosmetic components.
While most professionals agree that genital surgery and mastectomy cannot be considered purely cosmetic, opinions diverge as to what degree other surgical procedures (e.g., breast augmentation, facial feminization surgery) can be considered purely reconstructive. Although it may be much easier to see a phalloplasty or a vaginoplasty as an intervention to end lifelong suffering, for certain patients an intervention like a reduction rhinoplasty can have a radical and permanent effect on their quality of life, and therefore is much more medically necessary than for somebody without gender dysphoria.
Individuals with gender dysphoria who undergo gender affirming procedures may seek additional procedures to further alter their facial appearance when existing facial appearance demonstrates significant variation from normal appearance for the experienced gender. Such procedures may include the following:
Gender Affirming Voice Modification Surgery
Gender affirming voice modification surgery is considered reconstructive for individuals when existing vocal presentation demonstrates significant variation from normal for the experienced gender. WPATH notes:
Some transsexual, transgender, and gender-nonconforming people will undergo voice feminization surgery. (Voice deepening can be achieved through masculinizing hormone therapy, but feminizing hormones do not have an impact on the adult MtF (sic: male-to-female) voice.) There are varying degrees of satisfaction, safety, and long-term improvement in patients who have had such surgery. It is recommended that individuals undergoing voice feminization surgery also consult a voice and communication specialist to maximize the surgical outcome, help protect vocal health, and learn nonpitch related aspects of communication. Voice surgery procedures should include follow-up sessions with a voice and communication specialist who is licensed and/or credentialed by the board responsible for speech therapists/speech-language pathologists in that country.
WPATH notes that voice surgery to obtain a deeper voice in individuals desiring body masculinization is rare but may be recommended in some cases, such as when hormone therapy has been ineffective.
Published data evaluating gender affirming voice modification surgery is limited to postoperative satisfaction and vocal outcomes; functional outcomes (for example, quality of life, gender dysphoria symptoms, or sequelae of severe illness, including crisis visits, suicide attempts, etc.) have not been specifically assessed (Kim, 2020).
Referral Letters (Return to Clinical Indications)
An independent assessment of an individual by a qualified mental health professional is considered standard of care before an individual undergoes a gender affirming surgical procedure.
The SOC states the following regarding referral letters in support of gender affirming surgery:
The recommended content of the referral letters for surgery is as follows:
While the SOC also states:
For providers working within a multidisciplinary specialty team, a letter may not be necessary, rather, the assessment and recommendation can be documented in the patient’s chart.
Additionally, the SOC provides the following recommendations regarding the credentials for mental health professionals who work with adults presenting with gender dysphoria:
This statement from the SOC does not govern CG-SURG-27. A letter including all of the recommended items should be included in surgical requests.
Other Guidelines
In late 2017, the Endocrine Society released a clinical practice guideline for the endocrine treatment of gender-dysphoric/gender-incongruent persons (Hembree, 2017). This publication was co-sponsored by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the American Society of Andrology, the European Society for Pediatric Endocrinology, the European Society of Endocrinology, the Pediatric Endocrine Society, and WPATH. Among other recommendations this document includes the following:
2.1. We suggest that adolescents who meet diagnostic criteria for GD/gender incongruence, fulfill criteria for treatment, and are requesting treatment should initially undergo treatment to suppress pubertal development. (2 |⊕⊕○○)
2.2. We suggest that clinicians begin pubertal hormone suppression after girls and boys first exhibit physical changes of puberty. (2 |⊕⊕○○)
2.3. We recommend that, where indicated, GnRH analogues are used to suppress pubertal hormones. (1 |⊕⊕○○)
2.4. In adolescents who request sex hormone treatment (given this is a partly irreversible treatment), we recommend initiating treatment using a gradually increasing dose schedule after a multidisciplinary team of medical and MHPs has confirmed the persistence of GD/gender incongruence and sufficient mental capacity to give informed consent, which most adolescents have by age 16 years. (1 |⊕⊕○○)
2.5. We recognize that there may be compelling reasons to initiate sex hormone treatment prior to the age of 16 years in some adolescents with GD/gender incongruence, even though there are minimal published studies of gender-affirming hormone treatments administered before age 13.5 to 14 years. As with the care of adolescents ≥16 years of age, we recommend that an expert multidisciplinary team of medical and MHPs manage this treatment. (1 |⊕○○○)
5.1. We recommend that a patient pursue genital gender-affirming surgery only after the MHP and the clinician responsible for endocrine transition therapy both agree that surgery is medically necessary and would benefit the patient’s overall health and/or well-being. (1 |⊕⊕○○)
5.2. We advise that clinicians approve genital gender affirming surgery only after completion of at least 1 year of consistent and compliant hormone treatment, unless hormone therapy is not desired or medically contraindicated. (Ungraded Good Practice Statement)
5.3. We advise that the clinician responsible for endocrine treatment and the primary care provider ensure appropriate medical clearance of transgender individuals for genital gender-affirming surgery and collaborate with the surgeon regarding hormone use during and after surgery. (Ungraded Good Practice Statement)
5.4. We recommend that clinicians refer hormone treated transgender individuals for genital surgery when: (1) the individual has had a satisfactory social role change, (2) the individual is satisfied about the hormonal effects, and (3) the individual desires definitive surgical changes. (1 |⊕⊕○○○)
5.5. We suggest that clinicians delay gender-affirming genital surgery involving gonadectomy and/or hysterectomy until the patient is at least 18 years old or legal age of majority in his or her country. (2 |⊕⊕○○).
Note: “MHP” is the Endocrine Society’s abbreviation for “mental health professional”.
Hair removal Procedures
In many instances, the creation of a neovagina or a urethra for a neopenis requires an autologous skin graft from the forearm or thigh. Such skin may be excessively hairy, which will impair the function of the newly constructed organ if not permanently removed. Pre-operative permanent hair removal treatments to these areas may be warranted to prevent post-operative complications.
Procedures to Address Postoperative Complications of Gender Affirming Surgery and Reversal Surgery (Return to Clinical Indications)
Procedures to address postoperative complications of a prior gender affirming surgery (for example, scarring, stenosis, infection, etc.) are not considered a separate gender affirming surgery procedure and are not addressed in this document.
Reversal of a prior gender affirming surgery procedure is rare and is considered gender affirming surgery. According to the literature on this issue, the predominant factor in requests for reversals are regret, which has been further associated with age greater than 30 at first surgery, personality disorders, early loss of both parents, social instability, preoperative sexual orientation for heterosexual male-to-female (MtF) individuals, degree of social support, secondary transsexualism, early decision to undergo surgery and dissatisfaction with surgical results (Blanchard, 1989; Landén, 1998; Lawrence, 2003; Lindemalm, 1986 and 1987; Olsson, 2006).
Djordjevic (2016) reported on the outcomes of surgical reversal surgery in MtF individuals wishing to transition back to male. While the main focus of this paper is related to surgical outcomes, the authors reported on characteristics of the participating subjects and contributing factors to the reversal decisions. The seven subjects had an absence of “real-life experience” prior to surgery, absence or inappropriate hormonal treatment, recommendations by inexperienced professionals, and insufficient hormonal therapy and medical follow-up. Furthermore, they failed to fulfill the complete diagnostic criteria for GID. The authors concluded that the main factor contributing to regret was absence of proper pretreatment assessment. In their reversal protocol, each subject was required to have recommendations from three well-known WPATH psychiatrists prior to reversal procedures.
The available evidence indicates the importance of thorough preoperative physical and psychological evaluation and treatment as being a critical factor in postoperative success. As noted above, these aspects of the treatment process are critical to sufficiently prepare an individual for the social, physical, and mental ramifications of the decision to undergo gender affirming surgery.
The clinical evidence addressing the satisfaction and quality of life following gender affirming surgery is limited, and the reported findings are mixed (Cardoso da Silva, 2016; Castellano, 2015). It is important that proper and thorough pre-operative work-up and preparation be conducted in individuals considering such life-altering procedures. Additionally, long-term post-operative follow-up, including availability of mental health services, may also contribute to satisfaction with surgical results.
Other Procedures
Additional surgeries have been proposed to improve the gender appropriate appearance of the individual. Such procedures may be considered cosmetic and are not reconstructive when intended to change a physical appearance that would be considered within normal human anatomic variation or are primarily intended to preserve or improve appearance irrespective of gender-defining features.
Such procedures may include the following when one or more of the medical necessary or reconstructive criteria above have not been met:
WPATH notes that other surgeries for assisting in body feminization or masculinization may include suction-assisted lipoplasty (contour modeling) of the waist, face-lift, blepharoplasty (rejuvenation of the eyelid), gluteal augmentation (implants/lipofilling), liposuction, lipofilling, pectoral implants, and “various aesthetic procedures.” Such procedures are considered cosmetic when intended to change a physical appearance that would be considered within normal human anatomic variation or are primarily intended to preserve or improve appearance.
Review Considerations:
Reconstructive procedures address features that are distinctly and directly related to gender appearance (or in the case of gender affirming voice modification surgery, vocal presentation), when documentation sufficiently demonstrates significant variation from what is considered normal for the experienced gender. When multiple procedures are requested, each procedure should be considered separately as some procedures may be cosmetic and others may be reconstructive. Procedures primarily intended to preserve or improve appearance (that is: independent of any gender-defining feature or overall gender appearance) are considered cosmetic.
References |
Peer Reviewed Publications:
Government Agency, Medical Society, and Other Authoritative Publications:
Index |
Gender affirmation
Gender confirmation
Sex affirmation
Sex change
Sex confirmation
Sex reassignment
History |
Status | Date | Action |
Revised | 05/13/2021 | Medical Policy & Technology Assessment Committee (MPTAC) review. Updated title and rest of document to replace “reassignment” with “affirming”. Alphabetized procedures in MN statements. Revised gender dysphoria criteria in all MN statements. Added “or intolerance” to hormone therapy in related MN criteria. Clarified hair removal MN statement. Moved bilateral mastectomy from MN to Reconstructive section. Added breast augmentation and breast reduction procedures to Reconstructive section. Moved gender affirming facial feminization procedures and voice modification surgery from Cosmetic and NMN to Reconstructive section. Removed voice therapy from scope of document. Clarified the NMN statement and Cosmetic and NMN statement. Revised Further Considerations statement to include breast augmentation and breast reduction procedures. Updated Discussion and References sections. Updated Coding section with additional codes for facial and chest surgery. |
Revised | 02/11/2021 | MPTAC review. Clarified note regarding number of letters required for mastectomy procedures. The phrase “cosmetic” was clarified to read “cosmetic and not medically necessary”. Updated Description, Coding and References sections. |
| 12/16/2020 | Updated Coding section with 01/01/2021 CPT changes, revised descriptors for codes 19318, 19325; removed deleted ICD-10-PCS codes. |
Revised | 08/13/2020 | MPTAC review. Added penile prostheses to MN statement addressing phalloplasty procedures. Updated Description and References sections. Reformatted Coding section and added codes 54400, 54401, 54405, 55899, C1813, C2622, L8699. |
Revised | 05/14/2020 | MPTAC review. Added text to MN statement for mastectomy referring reader to see Further Considerations section for individuals under 18 years of age. Added new Further Considerations section addressing mastectomy procedures for individuals under 18 years of age. Updated Description, Discussion, References and Index sections. |
| 04/01/2020 | Updated Coding section; added CPT 19318 and removed deleted code 19304. |
Revised | 11/07/2019 | MPTAC review. Updated title and document contents to replace “sex reassignment” with “gender reassignment” and “his or her” with “their”. Made minor language revisions to Clinical Indications section. Clarified MN statement regarding hair removal procedures. Added text to the Background section regarding WPATH recommendations for the content of referral letters. Updated Discussion and References sections. Updated Coding section with 01/01/2020 CPT changes; noted 19304 is deleted effective 12/31/2019. |
Revised | 01/24/2019 | MPTAC review. Revised MN criteria for bilateral mastectomy to require one referral letter. Added new notes addressing treatment of postoperative complications and reversal procedures. Updated Discussion, Coding, and References sections. |
Revised | 11/08/2018 | MPTAC review. Added criteria for referral letters to mastectomy MN statement. |
Revised | 03/22/2018 | MPTAC review. |
Revised | 02/23/2018 | Behavioral Health Subcommittee review. Clarification of mastectomy criteria to remove specification that a female must be transitioning to be a male. Clarification of several Cosmetic indications. |
| 01/01/2018 | The document header wording updated from “Current Effective Date” to “Publish Date.” Updated Coding section; removed CPT 55970, 55980 (not applicable). |
Revised | 08/03/2017 | MPTAC review. |
Revised | 07/21/2017 | Behavioral Health Subcommittee review. Added note regarding timing of “top” and “bottom” surgical procedures. Added new statement regarding nipple reconstructions following mastectomy. Updated Coding and References sections. |
Revised | 02/02/2017 | MPTAC review. |
Revised | 01/20/2017 | Behavioral Health Subcommittee review. Updated criteria regarding confirmation of female gender prior to bilateral mastectomy in female-to-male transitions. Updated Reference sections. |
Revised | 08/04/2016 | MPTAC review. |
Revised | 07/29/2016 | Behavioral Health Subcommittee review. Updated formatting in the Clinical Indications section. Added bilateral mastectomy to MN section with criteria. Updated Reference sections. Updated Coding section to include 10/01/2016 ICD-10-CM changes. |
Revised | 05/05/2016 | MPTAC review. Revised title from “Gender Reassignment Surgery” to “Sex Reassignment Surgery”. Updated Coding, Rationale and Discussion section. |
Revised | 02/04/2016 | MPTAC review. |
Revised | 01/29/2016 | Behavioral Health Subcommittee review. Added new medically necessary statement addressing the use of hair removal procedures to treat tissue donor sites for a planned phalloplasty or vaginoplasty procedure. Added additional procedures to Cosmetic statement. Updated Coding and Rationale sections. Removed ICD-9 codes from Coding section. |
Revised | 08/06/2015 | MPTAC review. |
Revised | 07/31/2015 | Behavioral Health Subcommittee review. Revised text regarding educational and professional qualifications required for individuals submitting referral letters to include master’s-level practitioners. Added text to referral letter criteria, requiring that letters need to be no more than 12 months old at time of request. Revised criteria regarding hormone therapy requirements. Replaced the word ‘surgeries’ with ‘procedures’ in Cosmetic statement. Added note to Cosmetic section. |
Reviewed | 08/14/2014 | MPTAC review. |
Reviewed | 08/08/2014 | Behavioral Health Subcommittee review. |
Revised | 08/08/2013 | MPTAC review. |
Revised | 07/26/2013 | Behavioral Health Subcommittee review. Revised document text to align with new DSM-5 terminology and diagnostic criteria. Updated Discussion and Reference sections. |
Revised | 08/09/2012 | MPTAC review. |
Revised | 08/03/2012 | Behavioral Health Subcommittee review. Created separate criteria sets for gonad and reproductive organ procedures and for external genital procedures in alignment with the WPATH SOC7. Deleted the criteria requiring 12 months of continuous living in desired gender role from the reproductive organ procedures criteria set. Deleted criteria requiring “Demonstrable knowledge of the required length of hospitalizations, likely complications, and post-surgical rehabilitation requirements of various surgical approaches”. Deleted “not due to chromosomal abnormality” from medically necessary criteria. Updated Coding, Discussion and Reference sections. |
Revised | 02/16/2012 | MPTAC review. |
Revised | 02/10/2012 | Behavioral Health Subcommittee review. Significantly revised the medically necessary to align with new 2012 WPATH Standards of Care document. Updated Rationale and Reference sections. |
Reviewed | 05/19/2011 | MPTAC review. |
Reviewed | 05/13/2010 | MPTAC review. Updated Reference section. |
Reviewed | 11/19/2009 | MPTAC review. Updated Coding section with 01/01/2010 CPT changes. |
Reviewed | 11/20/2008 | MPTAC review. Updated Coding section. |
Reviewed | 11/29/2007 | MPTAC review. Updated Coding section with 01/01/2008 CPT changes. |
New | 12/07/2006 | MPTAC initial guideline development. |
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