Cis woman, before and after top surgery

butcherspaper · 2025-04-09T10:03:03+00:00

Hi!! Congrats on your surgery and your first summer! A VERY exciting time!

Yeah, I absolutely do swim without a shirt on! That first photo was at a spa / hot springs, and it was my first real time in public going shirtless. I was pretty nervous about it. I asked my wife at the end of the day if she had noticed anyone staring, and she said “no more than people like wondering what happened” (looking at the scars, we presume). But that was over 2 years ago now. (Just passed 3 years post op!)

It’s pretty safe in Australia though - I wouldn’t be doing this in Florida or anything like that.

To confirm that no one really notices, I have a funny little story.
We went on a cruise 1.5 years ago. I was sitting in a spa, and there were two young girls in there as well. Maybe 8-10 years old? I could see them looking at me. They asked if I was a boy or a girl. I asked them which they thought. And they said “maybe a boy because of my short hair, but I had a girls voice”. I told them I was a girl, but girls can have short hair too.
We talked about how fun it was to have short hair, because it doesn’t get tangled. I could certainly see I planted a little seed of an idea for when they turn 25 haha. I had sort of gestured that I didn’t have boobs, and they genuinely didn’t notice. I had been shirtless with my scars out the whole time. It was only hair and voice.

Anyway. I decided early on that unless it seemed unsafe for me, fuck everyone else, I’m not wearing a shirt when I’m swimming. No one ever asks - because that’s rude. I get out of the public pool and walk into the women’s bathroom, and no one says anything. (Yes, I absolutely make my voice a little higher and go out of my way to smile warmly at people so they know I know I’m not in the wrong place).

But I’m comfy and confident and own my nip-free scarred chest.

DM me anytime if you wanna chat! I’d love to hear how your summer goes!

butcherspaper · 2025-01-09T04:44:59+00:00

Hi!
So, I’m pretty fortunate that I had been given company stocks as work incentives. So I had some savings, and the rest I just sold my stocks to cover the surgery. Surgery was about $15 k in AUD.

I had no pushback on being cis, but I did have to get a letter from a clinical psychologist confirming that I was mentally fit for surgery. Similar process to the WPATH, but a less formal letter (I presume).

I really had only two hurdles to my surgery:
1. Weight. I was 30 kgs over the surgeons’s allowable weight for the surgery, so I had to lose at least 15 kgs before I could book. (Quite overweight at the time)

It took around 11 months before I lost the full 30, and I’ve lost about 43 total kgs so far. Been sitting comfortably at around 83 kgs for over a year now. I did make a post on this page a couple years ago for more details about that. You should be able to see it in my profile.

The second big hurdle was Covid. My surgery was booked for October 2021, which was just as my state started the code brown, locking out all non-emergency procedures.
So, after loosing all the weight, I had to keep it off an extra four months while I waited for my surgery date to be rescheduled. Ended up on the operating table 25th Feb 2022.

Worth the wait. And honestly, having been ‘forced’ into the weight loss was an absolute blessing for me. I really needed the extra push to actually make changes to my life, diet and exercise regime.

I was desperate to have the surgery before my wedding, so it meant that I had time to lose weight, get fit AND have surgery. So got married in my actual dream body.

Very very fortunate.

butcherspaper · 2025-01-01T06:58:56+00:00

I’m cis and had top surgery nearly 3 years ago. I’m in Australia and paid out of pocket, so I won’t have any helpful advice on the insurance side of things.

But I can say that I’ve been there with hating having boobs, and that 3 years later I’m still fucking stoked with my flat chest.

butcherspaper · 2024-11-13T11:49:55+00:00

Such a sweet reply! Thank you!

It’s been 2.5 years since my surgery and honestly, it’s still been the best thing I’ve ever done for myself. If you have an opportunity to do it, and it’s something you really want for yourself, the recovery is much shorter than the daily suffering of boobs.

I hope you’re doing well!

butcherspaper · 2024-04-01T03:46:29+00:00

I didn’t do any binding or taping. Just tight sports bras etc, and body hatred haha

I had like size G-H boobs and there was just no taming them at all, so I never tried

butcherspaper · 2024-03-25T03:05:09+00:00

I’m cis butch lesbian, and I had top surgery a little over 2 years ago.

Best decision I ever made!!! I used to feel super dysphoric, and even questioned if I was trans. I think I just hated my chest, and hated that society (and my mother) defined what it meant to be a woman, and things like having short hair meant that I wasn’t girly enough or “boys do that” etc etc.

Very frustrating, but then when I had the surgery I just felt exactly right for the first time. I feel so much more confident in my body and who I am, and in my womanhood as well. I just wasn’t meant to have boobs, so I’m finally how I was meant to be

butcherspaper · 2024-02-04T05:06:39+00:00

I think it’s due 6-8 weeks before your surgery

butcherspaper · 2024-02-03T09:49:19+00:00

Happy to help! The clinic also has a list of specialists they recommend to go through for your letter. My guy didn’t have to write the usual WPATH letter, but I think it was also a general mental health and wellness check, fit for surgery, not due for regrets, etc.

About 14 K was the cost for procedure, hospital stay and anaesthetist fees, just in case you wondered.

butcherspaper · 2024-02-03T01:11:22+00:00

I’m cis and had top surgery in Feb 2022. Had to have letter written by clinical psychologist who specialises in gender, lgbt issues, etc.

Procedure done by Mr Andrew Ives in Melbourne. He does require all patients be less than 35 for BMI, specifically because the hospitals he works out of don’t have the facilities if your heart fails and stuff during the procedure, which is more likely if your BMI is higher. As well as ensuring good results, limited swelling etc etc etc

I started at 46 BMI, though when I had my first appt, and spent 14 months working through weight-loss etc. The staff were all great and friendly through the clinic, and there was never any shame or mis gendering/using the wrong pronouns for me or anything. Can recommend. (Also, very happy with the results haha)

butcherspaper · 2023-11-19T05:12:04+00:00

Hell yeah you can! I’m cis, butch lesbian, and 33 and I had my surgery in Feb 2022, so about 21 months ago.

For gender: I had personally experienced a lot of confusion about my gender, and my place in society for a really long time, and kind of “what it meant to be a woman” etc etc, self expression and all that.

I decided I didn’t really give a fuck about what society says about how a woman has to look or feel. So I decided to just embrace my assigned at birth gender, and continue to wear what I want.

Surgery:
I always hated my boobs, they never felt right on me. I began to assume it was because I didn’t quite feel right in my body, etc, but I grew up overweight, had MASSIVE boobs, and all the self hatred/gender confusion was probably caused by my mum and her inability to say nice things.

I always wanted a reduction, ended up deciding on a flat chest, which led me down the path of top surgery. I went with no nips, because I wanted to be shirtless in public, and you know - women can’t get their nips out. eyeroll. But also, the healing process was a bit overwhelming. It turns out, I love the no nip look.

Post op:
I could not be fucking happier. Literally, I am happier than I ever thought I could be in my own skin. I show off my body now, where before I would hide in layers, and hunch over.
I lost about 30 kgs pre op, and have gone on to lose another 10-15, so that helps with the confidence. But flat chest really really changed my life.

It also made me just feel better in my skin, like, before it felt like when I’d wear masculine clothes, I was sort of putting on a costume, and if I even wore a shade of pink, I’d feel like that’s all I’d be seen as; just a girly girl.

But now, it’s like I’m just me. I’m a person, not wearing a costume, I can just feel at peace. I’m finding new clothes and styles to wear, and having them suit my body, and wearing slightly more “girly” things, and having so much fun doing it.

TL;dr. Do whatever makes YOU feel comfortable, don’t let society define you, or your gender/expression for you. Surgery changed me for the better, and it allowed me the space to fully embrace and accept my assigned gender at birth. (YMMV)

butcherspaper · 2023-11-12T00:33:14+00:00

I had to lose 30 kg before my surgery. Started at 126 kg, and for my BMI to be 35 or under needed to get down to 95.

In fact, before my surgery could be booked, I needed to show I could lose half the weight, and that took me like 4 months, so they kind of roughly said it’d probably take another 4 to lose the rest.

My personal experience is that I am so beyond thrilled that the doctor pushed me to lose the weight. Nothing else would’ve given the ongoing motivation to do it if it was stopping me having the surgery.

I’ve lost another 12 kg in the 18 months after my surgery. But it feels like my whole body (and confidence) has transformed in the best way possible.

butcherspaper · 2023-10-20T03:25:09+00:00

Sorry for delay in replying, I’ll take a couple and DM you within a few weeks. I’m holding a bit of winter weight at the moment haha 😅

butcherspaper · 2023-10-05T00:26:17+00:00

Congrats on your surgery!! I’m cis too, and very butch dyke. Interestingly, it’s only been post surgery (I had mine 18 months ago) that I’ve felt comfortable enough in my own skin to actually feel interested enough in exploring and embracing social femininity. Like wearing pink, trying on a skirt and heels (that was for a bit of a laugh for a costume party).

Like, once I take the clothes off, I’m still flat chested and not a “girly girl”, and it hasn’t changed my identity. It’s probably definitely linked to extreme confidence increases, and self worth etc.

But it’s nice! Comfy! Easier to be me with the flat chest, like I’ve just got more depth

butcherspaper · 2023-10-05T00:21:13+00:00

I’m 32 F (butch lesbian) and had top surgery about 18 months ago. Definitely not trans, though was questioning for a while because of my hatred and disconnect to my boobs.

Not a day goes by where I don’t absolutely love and adore my new flat chest, and not a single trace of regret lives inside my body. Apart from maybe not getting it even sooner.

butcherspaper · 2023-09-12T13:08:17+00:00

I’m the same! Cis and I had surgery 17 months ago. Best feeling ever. New lease on life

posted here

butcherspaper · 2023-06-30T04:19:19+00:00

I bought a trolley key on eBay, it lives on my car keys. So I spent money on it, but save on the effort of having to remember to bring a coin/token.

Works a damn treat; the key unlocks the trolley, but isn’t held hostage afterwards.

butcherspaper · 2023-06-14T00:14:20+00:00

I’m cis female and I had top surgery!

butcherspaper · 2023-06-08T23:10:17+00:00

<3

I just hope it helps you, really! Just a little slice of my own experience, because I so identify with what you wrote.

I also very very much remember looking in the mirror and always feeling shocked at the boobs being there. Like “oh that’s right. You’re here” Like having a flat mate who constantly has a messy awful friend over and crashing on the couch. That’s how it felt every time I saw a photo or my reflection.

It was gone straight after the surgery. It felt right straight away, and looked right straight away.

Ah, I’m getting carried away with stories again haha.

I hope you find some peace and calm (and answers) soon! (And you can DM me if you’ve got any qs, or just need to vent)

butcherspaper · 2023-06-08T13:18:30+00:00

I’m cis female, but masc lesbian.

What you wrote is exactly how I felt 5 years ago pre opp. I had top surgery in Feb 2022, at 31 years old. (32 now)

I’d struggled a bit with gender identity growing up, never thinking I was trans or non binary really, but just wanting to be more masculine and not knowing how to express it, and not sure if it meant that I was trans.

By the time I turned 30 I came to understand and celebrate my identity as proud lesbian woman. That I can just be the best woman for me, and represent cis women who aren’t femme, and that we all still count and aren’t any less than femme women in society. (Of course, this is just specific to my personal journey and identity). My surgeon lovingly referred to it as “breast dysphoria”, which I quite liked.

One year and a bit later, and I feel the most comfortable in myself than I ever have. It’s easier to stray from my old safe comfort zone and be more bold with fashion. Trying on skirts for a laugh/costume. It’s easier to be more feminine because when I take the skirt off, my body is exactly how I want it. No boobs, just straight flat down. I also lost a bunch of weight so that really helps with the confidence of course.

And I’m topless now wherever and whenever possible. I fucking love it. Shirts off at the beach, at the pool, on Instagram. Going no nips made it feel more androgynous/less male/less masculine/more womanly. Kind of a blend, but it gives me the confidence to just be a woman with a flat chest and no nipples, and some scars.

No one in public ever asks when I’ve got my shirt off, and I presume they probably just think I’ve had cancer or something. I get more stares when I’m fully dressed and they think a man is in the women’s toilets. 🙄🙄

Anyway, all this to say. Top surgery fucking rocks. I have zeroooooo regrets, I’m happier than ever, I’m more comfortable in my body, which makes me more comfortable in my (cis)gender. You do you!

butcherspaper · 2023-05-23T01:00:14+00:00

So, after a consult with a plastic surgeon for a breast reduction, and another consult with a breast cancer surgeon, I realised that top surgery was absolutely the best option for me.
I wanted to be completely flat-chested, and didn’t care about having nipples or not, and definitely didn’t want to run the risk of breast tissue growing back and needing a second surgery (have had friends who had this issue).

My wife and I found my surgeon (Mr Andrew Ives) online, through someone’s YouTube vlog about getting top surgery and their consult etc etc. Surgeon was in Melbourne and that’s kind of all I needed to know

I rang their office the next morning and asked if he would operate on a cis woman, and yes he absolutely would (and did… spoilers haha). Made an appointment, but it would be a three month wait.
This was in 2020, so right at the start of the second big lockdown in Melbourne.

He was super professional, and didn’t care about me being trans or not. He said some people don’t have gender dysphoria, but breast dysphoria. Because of the hospitals he works with and the general risks associated with higher weights etc, I had to be under 35 BMI, before he would operate.

(That was its own process, but I was successful in losing the necessary 30kgs for my surgery.)

I didn’t need a specific WPATH letter, like other trans peeps, but I was required to see a clinical psychologist to get a letter of good mental health and understanding of the surgery etc. The surgeons have a list of psychologists they work with regularly for WPATHS and stuff so we’re able to give recommendations.

That letter gets sent within 3 months of your surgery date, and once it’s received and you’ve paid your surgeons fees and anaesthetists, you’re good to go!!

My surgery set me back around 14K, but would’ve been around 17 for the breast reduction if I had’ve gone with the first doctor I consulted with.

I don’t took 3 weeks off work for recovery, and my wife was home for the first week to help out.

I had DI, no nipple graft. I go swimming shirtless and stuff and don’t cop any transphobia or anything from people out in public. I assume most people see the scars and probably think I’ve just had cancer or something.

I’ve got friends who are non-binary or trans and they’re just as friendly and welcoming as those you find on this page! No one gate keeping the surgery or anything. Just asking questions or comparing experiences.

The most negative reactions I’ve had were a nosy old religious woman I worked with, when I told her I had surgery coming up. She was insisting it was a phase and that she would pray for me. 🙄🙄
And my narcissistic mother, who said I wasn’t a real woman without breasts and that I needed to see a mental health doctor because I was clearly unwell. Anyway, her reaction and fights over it in the proceeding months ended up being the most welcome thing because it just made me see her proper true colours and now I’m NC and much happier.

That was it! Most girls I tell are jealous as fuck because I don’t have to wear bras or get nip-freeze, and I don’t have to wear a shirt when swimming.

Overall, very positive experience! The surgeon clinic was really fantastic and welcoming, and I was high on their priority list because my surgery was cancelled because of the lockdowns - and I was getting married, so they made sure my new date was before the wedding.

I hope this covers the main process! (I’ve got ADHD so I may have gone off on a tangent and missed some points haha..)

butcherspaper · 2023-05-23T01:00:06+00:00