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Surgical Anatomy: Vaginoplasty

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Urological Care for the Transgender Patient

Abstract

Vaginoplasty is the most common genital surgery performed for gender affirmation. Annually, there are more than 3000 performed each year. Vaginoplasty is a safe, reliable technique for performing genital transition in transgender female patients. Penile inversion vaginoplasty is the most common technique used today, although there are several other methods of vaginoplasty: penile inversion, visceral interposition, and pelvic peritoneal vaginoplasty. Overall, outcomes are excellent. It is recommended surgeons follow the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) guidelines for determining who is a candidate for surgery. There are no absolute contraindications to vaginoplasty, only relative contraindications that include active smoking and morbid obesity. Important but rare complications include flap necrosis, rectal and urethral injuries, rectal fistula, vaginal stenosis, and urethral fistula. When performed correctly in appropriately selected patients by expert surgeons, this is a rewarding operation for both patient and surgeon.

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Abbreviations

FTM:

female-to-male

GDD:

Gender development disorder

GID:

Gender Identity Disorder

IMA:

inferior mesenteric artery

MTF:

male-to-female

SMA:

superior mesenteric artery

WPATH:

World Professional Association for Transgender Health

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA

    James J. Drinane

  2. Brownstein-Crane Surgical Services, Austin, TX, USA

    Richard A. Santucci

Authors
  1. James J. Drinane
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  2. Richard A. Santucci
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Correspondence to Richard A. Santucci .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Urology Department, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA

    Dmitriy Nikolavsky

  2. Urology Department, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA

    Stephen A. Blakely

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Drinane, J.J., Santucci, R.A. (2021). Surgical Anatomy: Vaginoplasty. In: Nikolavsky, D., Blakely, S.A. (eds) Urological Care for the Transgender Patient. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-18533-6_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-18533-6_6

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-18532-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-18533-6

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