Plastic Surgeons Advise Delaying Gender Surgeries for Minors
The realm of gender transition surgeries for minors is under intense scrutiny as the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) advises its members to postpone these procedures until patients reach 19 years of age. This recommendation comes amid ongoing debates about the long-term efficacy and impact of such surgeries.
In a statement released recently, the ASPS has clearly outlined its stance, emphasizing that the decision was backed by the ASPS Board of Directors on January 23.
Two significant reports have contributed to this decision. The 2024 Cass Review from the UK’s National Health Service and a 2025 report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have both questioned the effectiveness of gender transition surgeries.
The ASPS statement notes that there are no validated methods to predict the persistence of gender dysphoria, making it challenging to determine which minors will benefit from surgical interventions. The document also highlights that while these surgeries are often justified as improving psychological or psychosocial outcomes, the evidence supporting these benefits is not robust.
Concerns about the ethics of performing these surgeries on minors are underscored by the ASPS, with the society stating, “[S]urgeons are correct to raise the ethical threshold for performing these procedures since the evidence of benefit is either insufficient or very low/low certainty.”
The organization remains open to revisiting its position as new, higher-quality data becomes available, asserting that if future evidence shows clear benefits with acceptable risks, they will adjust their recommendations.
Amidst these developments, 27 states, including Texas, Florida, and Ohio, have enacted bans preventing minors from accessing gender transition surgeries. These legal moves reflect growing concerns about the irreversible nature and potential harms of such procedures.
Penny Young Nance, president of the advocacy group Concerned Women for America, described the ASPS’s recommendation as a “long-needed reversal” that could safeguard children from irreversible procedures. She remarked, “Ironically, ASPS is now going to follow the science.”
Nance pointed to a landmark legal case where a $2 million award was granted to Fox Varian, a detransitioner who underwent surgery as a minor. She suggested that this case may have influenced the ASPS’s position.
As some European countries reassess their approaches to treating gender dysphoria in minors, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has defended its guidelines. The AAP clarified that it does not typically recommend surgical interventions for youth, with AAP President Dr. Moira Szilagyi stating, “It doesn’t push medical treatments or surgery; for the vast majority of children, it recommends the opposite.”
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
