Assessing Quality of Life and Patient-Reported Satisfaction with Masculinizing Top Surgery: A Mixed-Methods Descriptive Survey Study

Background: Masculinizing top surgery (bilateral mastectomy with chest wall reconstruction) is an important gender-affirming procedure sought by many transmasculine and non-binary individuals. Current literature is primarily focused on details of surgical technique and complication rates, with limited data available on how top surgery affects subjective quality of life measures. Methods: An anonymous online survey was distributed to 81 of the senior author's former top surgery patients. Survey response rate was 72% (58 respondents). Responses were analyzed to investigate quality of life, sexual confidence, mental health, satisfaction with top surgery, and patient attitudes toward top surgery's role in gender affirmation. Results: Following top surgery, measures of quality of life and sexual confidence significantly improved (P