A Drain-free Technique for Female-to-Male Gender Affirmation Chest Surgery Decreases Morbidity: Outcomes From 306 Consecutive Masculoplasties.

PURPOSE: One of the most common surgical procedures for gender affirmation surgery of the chest is mastectomy. The aims of this article are to review the outcomes of a single surgeon's experience with a drainless technique, which we named "masculoplasty" and compare morbidity in this group to previously published outcomes where drains were used.
METHODS: A retrospective chart review was undertaken of all patients presenting to a single surgeon for gender-affirming chest surgery. A literature review was completed, compiling data from previously published studies of mastectomy with free nipple graft for the transgender patient. Outcomes of this drain-free group were compared with historical data, where drains were known to have been used.
RESULTS: One hundred fifty-three patients underwent 306 masculoplasties in a university teaching hospital. The mean age of patients was 30 years (17-66 years). Sixty-five (42%) had 1 or more chronic medical comorbidities with 17 diabetic patients (11%). The mean body mass index was 32 kg/m (18-57 kg/m), and 83 (54%) were obese. Forty-two (27%) of the patients had a history of smoking. Mean operative time was 136 minutes (74-266 minutes).Hematoma occurred in 1 patient (0.3%). Infections occurred in 7 masculoplasties (2%) with wound dehiscence in 3 (1%). Two masculoplasties (0.7%) had partial nipple necrosis. Two patients (0.7%) developed a symptomatic pneumothorax. There were 0 seromas, and no procedures were performed to drain fluid. Eight masculoplasties (3%) underwent secondary corrections. Median follow-up was 9 months.Outcomes from this drain-free technique were compared with previously published outcomes of mastectomy where drains were known to be used. When compared with previously published series (n = 1334), the drain-free group had statistically significantly lower rates of hematoma (1/306 vs 39/1334, P = 0.0036) and acute reoperation (1/306 vs 42/1334, P = 0.0024). There was a shorter length of hospital stay in the drain-free group with a statistically significantly lower revision rate (8/306 vs 116/1334, P = 0.0001).
CONCLUSIONS: Gender affirmation chest surgery can be safely offered using a drain-free or "masculoplasty" technique. Compared with historical data, the use of progressive tension sutures decreases the incidence of hematoma, the need for acute reoperation, and other complications.