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Anesthesia and Gender Surgery

This article provides information on the anesthesia experience during a gender affirming surgery. Here, we describe the processes we have in place to help your surgery journey be as smooth and safe as possible. We briefly explore what happens once you arrive at our operating suite and how our professional staff can help guide you through the pre-op and post-op period. Read on to gain a better understanding of what to expect during your surgery day.

Surgery is not a routine experience for most of us. The Gender Confirmation Center recognizes surgery can be an anxiety-provoking experience. We find that for many patients, a description of surgery can help you feel more comfortable with the experience.

Your surgery will be performed in an operating room. The team includes a board-certified anesthesiologist, a trained operating room technician, and a registered nurse in charge of the operating room.

When you arrive, you will be asked to change into a gown and robe. You will meet with your surgeon and the anesthesiologist before you go into surgery. This is the time for final surgical planning; it is also when we will do basic preparation or draw on your skin as needed. There will be time for last minute questions.

Once you enter the operating room, the staff will do everything they can to make you feel comfortable.  Our staff will connect you to monitoring devices, such as a blood pressure cuff and heart monitor. This will allow your board-certified anesthesiologist and the rest of your surgical team to constantly monitor you while you are unconscious to make sure that you are safe. You will receive sedative medication through an IV in your arm, which will put you to sleep and eliminate sensation so that you do not feel any part of surgery. This is what we call general, as opposed to localized, anesthesia. Many patients report that being under general anesthesia feels like taking a short nap. While Our surgeons go over risks associated with general anesthesia during the informed consent process. If you have specific questions about general anesthesia, we encourage you to ask your surgeon during a free, virtual consultation.

When your surgery is over, you will be moved to the recovery room, or post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). This is where you will gradually wake up from being under general anesthesia. Most patients are fully awake within 30-60 minutes after surgery but may not remember much about their stay in the recovery room. You will be connected to monitoring equipment for the entirety of your stay in the recovery room. During this period, a nurse will take care of you and remain with you at all times. Many patients experience pain and nausea as they come into consciousness after surgery, symptoms that will be quickly treated by the nurse taking care of you in the PACU. Your stay in the recovery room will last from 1 to 4 hours, depending on how quickly you wake up and feel okay.