I'll be blunt - surgery is not for me. While I have chosen to be on testosterone, that is as far as I am willing to go. To me, testosterone is no big deal while surgery is. Testosterone to me is an addition to my life, not a subtraction or true altercation. I refuse to put my body through the trauma of surgery in order to have my identity externally validated by society. Men come in all shapes and sizes, and if people have a problem with me not getting top surgery - that's their problem, not mine.

It is my opinion that bottom surgery is pointless for me since I do not believe I am defined by my genitals. Even if I wanted a penis - bottom surgery doesn't produce a completely functional penis by any means. It's a startling revelation for some FTM's that no matter what they do they will never have a fully functional penis - but I refuse to sugar coat reality - unlike those who have redefined the word "real" in order to feel that the bottom surgery they have gone through has, indeed, given them the same kind of penis nature gives to biologically born males. The truth is, however, that no current surgical procedure can create a fully functional penis - the way that nature intended. An artificially created penis will allow you to urinate as long as you have opted for urethral lengthening, and you will be able to function sexually with it, but you will never experience an erection nor ejaculation.

While I understand some people's need to have something attached to their pubic area in the shape of a penis in order to feel complete, I don't share that feeling. On the other hand, bottom surgery should be something you choose to do for yourself, not others. If you are happy with the results then it was a success!

Just because bottom surgery doesn't produce a biologically functional penis does not mean it isn't worth it. Consider someone who was born with only one arm who goes through surgical procedures to attach an artificial limb for functionality. That artificial arm is not real and does not feel nor function the way it would if they had been born with it. That, however, does not discourage them from getting an artificial limb simply because it doesn't matter! Real or not, the point of the artificial limb is not to validate their existence to society as a human being who has two arms - the purpose of that artificial limb is to make their life easier to live the way they want to live it.

There are many types of surgery FTM trans* people may choose to have. Top surgery is basically chest reconstruction - this procedure removes the breasts and reconstructs the chest to a male contour and nipple placement. There are multiple types of procedures, but in a nutshell there are two main ones: periaeriolar and double incision. Generally speaking, people whose chests are a B or smaller do well with Peri. This procedure is also referred to as "keyhole" in which the surgeon makes small incisions around the aereola in order to remove breast tissue while leaving the nipples in tact. Double incision requires two incisions below the breast line and is necessary for larger chested people. In this procedure, the nipples are removed, trimmed, and grafted back on. There are other procedures which involve double incision in which the nipples are not grafted. The techniques and specifics vary by surgeon.

Some FTM's have hysterectomies of some kind, which essentially serves to remove the female reproductive organs.

Then there is bottom surgery which can consist of varying degrees of many types of surgeries. Phalloplasty - in simple terms - consists of constructing a penis out of the forearm skin or inner thigh and then transporting it to the pubic area. Most people get urethra lengthening to enable them to urinate through their newly constructed genitals, however, a phalloplasty does not function as a biological penis. You cannot get an erection, it stays the same size, you cannot ejaculate, and it does not magically become a source of sexual stimulation except from within your mind connecting with your body.

The other popular type of surgery is called Metaoidioplasty. Metaoidioplasty - in simple terms - consists of freeing the testosterone-enlarged clitoris from the pubic mound. Some people choose to have testicular implants at the same time which are made from silicone and placed within the outer labia. This procedure leaves no visible scars.

www.transster.com has photos from different surgeons that you may check out if you are interested in seeing results. Surgery is always a personal choice, and it's important to choose your surgeon based on their overall results as well as the possible results realistic to your body type.