Is Top Surgery Painful?

Top surgery is performed under general anesthesia and, thus, will be pain-free. Patients will experience minor swelling, bruising, and discomfort after surgery. They are recommended to maintain their compression garment use and take pain medication as needed.

How Many Appointments Will I Need?

Dr. Rivera-Serrano will have patients return within a week of surgery to monitor recovery, remove sutures, and redress any bandages. At every appointment, he will notify patients of when he wants to see them next.

How Long Until I See Results?

Patients can see results immediately. However, the swelling takes six to eight weeks to resolve fully. Final bruising and scarring may take up to a year to resolve.

Can I Combine Top Surgery With Other Procedures?

Yes, you can! Our patients who undergo top surgery in Miami Beach often combine it with other body enhancement procedures such as liposuction or a tummy tuck . During your initial consultation, please share your ideas for combined procedures with Dr. Rivera-Serrano so he can include them in your surgical plan and/or advise you best.

What Are the Risks Associated With Top Surgery?

Top surgery in Miami Beach is considered a major surgery despite the expert level of Dr. Rivera-Serrano. It comes with some associated risks (very uncommon) as follows: Anesthesia risks Asymmetry Bleeding Dog ears, a small piece of fat that hangs from the nipple site (FTM) Fat tissue build-up Hematoma Infection Loss of nipple sensation Need for revision surgery Scarring If you are experiencing any of these side effects or anything else that is concerning, please contact us at Rivera Plastic Surgery immediately so that we can help.

Miami, Florida

Top Surgery (M2F)

Name: Rivera Plastic Surgery
Brand: Rivera Plastic Surgery
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5.0 (22 reviews)

Introduction

Introduction to Top Surgery

Top surgery is a cosmetic procedure that changes the appearance of the chest/breast tissue, augmenting it to help someone transition from a masculine to a feminine (MTF) chest or reducing it to transition from feminine to masculine (FTM). These procedures are performed for transgender and/or non-binary people as part of their gender affirmation process. If you are interested in top surgery in Miami Beach, FL, consider scheduling a consultation at Rivera Plastic Surgery with double board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Carlos Rivera-Serrano, who prides himself on his practice of patient care excellence and satisfaction.

The goals of masculinizing chest surgery (FTM) include removing the breast tissue from both breasts and creating a masculine or nonbinary appearance of the chest. Procedures include partial and subtotal mastectomies (similar to excision gynecomastia surgery). Another very common operation performed by Dr. Rivera-Serrano is the double incision mastectomy.

The goals of feminizing chest surgery (MTF) include enhancing the size and shape of the breasts to create a more feminine appearance. Procedures include breast augmentation with implants or fat grafting.

Top Surgery (M2F) Results

Top Surgery (M2F) B&A

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What is Top Surgery and Gender Affirmation Surgery?

Gender Affirmation Top Surgeries are designed to help transgender individuals achieve the physical appearance and functional abilities of the gender they identify with. These procedures include facial surgery, top surgery, and bottom surgery. Dr. Rivera-Serrano is one of the few plastic surgeons in the country who has formal, hands-on training in gender affirmation surgery. He trained at the University of Gent in Belgium with Prof. Dr. Stan Monstrey, a world-renowned pioneer in transgender surgery, and his colleagues in the university’s plastic surgery department. Dr. Rivera-Serrano chose to specialize exclusively in facial and top surgeries, focusing on these areas rather than the entire body. He recognizes that bottom surgeries are best performed at larger, specialized centers with multidisciplinary teams. Additionally, Dr. Rivera-Serrano has extensive training in facial, craniofacial, and breast surgery, which makes him particularly well-suited for facial and top surgeries (please refer to his resume for more details).

What Are the Benefits of Top Surgery?

Our patients who have received top surgery in Miami at Rivera Plastic Surgery have shared the long-lasting benefits it has contributed to their gender affirmation journey. More patient benefits are listed below:

Boost in self-esteem
Boost in socially relevant cues
Gender affirmation
Increased potential for intimacy
Reduced risk of depression

Who Are the Best Candidates For Top Surgery?

Patients interested in receiving a top surgery in Miami at Rivera Plastic Surgery will share some of the following characteristics:

Are in active therapy and addressing mental and physical concerns
Have a letter of recommendation from a mental health professional supporting the decision
Have been living as a member of their desired, not assigned sex
Have no underlying medical conditions
Have ongoing and documented gender dysphoria
Have realistic expectations

What’s the first step?

If you’re interested in getting top surgery in Miami Beach, the first step is to schedule an initial consultation with double board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Carlos Rivera-Serrano at Rivera Plastic Surgery.

During your consultation, being honest and upfront with Dr. Rivera-Serrano is important. You should also outline where you are in your gender affirmation journey and your aesthetic targets, concerns, and expectations. He will examine you in detail and explain the various techniques for breast augmentation with their associated risks and outcomes, as well as the expected recovery timeline.

If you both decide to proceed with the procedure, Dr. Rivera-Serrano will create a surgical plan for you. Our Patient Coordinator will then help you schedule your appointment, estimate the procedure, and provide you with pre-surgery instructions to help make your procedure as successful as possible.

What to Expect on the Day of Top Surgery

On the day of your top surgery in Miami Beach, Dr. Rivera-Serrano and his staff will receive you at River Plastic Surgery, settling you in the state-of-the-art surgical suite. A member of the staff will review your surgical plan to ensure you are fully comfortable with it and to answer any outlying questions. Once Dr. Rivera-Serrano is certain you are at ease, you will be administered general anesthesia.

Once you are sedated, Dr. Rivera-Serrano will begin making the incisions based on the technique you chose for breast augmentation. He will access and manipulate the underlying tissue to achieve your body-contouring goals. Once he feels your aesthetic goals have been achieved, he will close the incisions with sutures, dress the area, and put on a compression garment.

A top surgery will take one to four hours, depending on the complexity of the case and whether other combined procedures are also being performed.

Top Surgery Recovery

After surgery, our staff will monitor you in the recovery room to ensure that your sedation wears off. Patients are recommended to ask a family member or a friend to drive them home.

For instance, patients are recommended to take one to two weeks off from work, during which time they require plenty of rest to help with healing and abate the swelling and discomfort. Pain medication will be given as needed, and it is important to keep wearing compression garments as advised. Cold compresses and anti-inflammatories can also relieve pain.

It will take most patients six to eight weeks to return to physical activity fully.

How Much Does Top Surgery Cost in Miami, FL?

The cost of Top Surgery in Miami Beach will vary depending on many factors, including the complexity of your case, Dr. Rivera’s fees, and the anesthetist’s fees. For the most accurate cost, we recommend that patients schedule their consultation with Dr. Rivera-Serrano so that he can draft a surgical plan and then price it out.

Why Choose Dr. Rivera? What Sets Us Apart?

We are specialists and have the know-how. Dr. Rivera-Serrano is among the country’s most highly trained plastic surgeons, having completed two separate residencies (plastic surgery and head and neck surgery / ENT) and two clinical fellowships in some of the most prestigious institutions in North America, Asia, and Europe.

He should be your top choice for your top surgery in Miami Beach. As mentioned, Dr. Rivera-Serrano is one of the country’s few plastic surgeons who has formal, hands-on training in gender affirmation surgery. He trained at the University of Gent in Belgium with Prof. Dr. Stan Monstrey, a world-renowned pioneer in transgender surgery, and his colleagues in the university’s plastic surgery department. He also specializes in facelifts, tummy tucks, and body contouring.

Dr. Rivera-Serrano has been a University Professor of Surgery, teaching residents how to perform plastic surgery and understanding the intricacies of the field. He is a respected Miami plastic surgery community member, an innovator, and the author of numerous articles in leading peer-reviewed journals and textbooks. Always aiming for natural results, he knows how to combine artistry with safety. All of the above sets him apart as a top surgeon with one of the most comprehensive plastic surgery offerings throughout Miami, South Florida, and Colombia.

Dr. Rivera-Serrano is a double board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon affiliated with the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (ABO-HNS), the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS).

Top Surgery (M2F) FAQ’S

Top surgery in Miami Beach is considered a major surgery despite the expert level of Dr. Rivera-Serrano. It comes with some associated risks (very uncommon) as follows:
- Anesthesia risks
- Asymmetry
- Bleeding
- Dog ears, a small piece of fat that hangs from the nipple site (FTM)
- Fat tissue build-up
- Hematoma
- Infection
- Loss of nipple sensation
- Need for revision surgery
- Scarring
If you are experiencing any of these side effects or anything else that is concerning, please contact us at Rivera Plastic Surgery immediately so that we can help.

Patient Reviews

4.79 – 103 Reviews

Dr Rivera is an excellent surgeon

Dr Rivera is an excellent surgeon. Very professional and great chair side manner. I was extremely pleased with my experience and procedures and I will recommend Dr Rivera Always!!!!

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J.P., Google
I cannot recommend Dr. Rivera enough

I cannot recommend Dr. Rivera enough. I had such a good experience at his practice and I appreciate how kind and knowledgeable he was.

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L.B., Google
as soon I meet Dr Rivera I knew he was the best

I had a great experience. I visited 4 surgeons between Miami and Ft Lauderdale; some very senior and well known, but as soon I meet Dr Rivera I knew he was the best. Dr Rivera listened, was patient and gave me several options for treatment. He is exceptionally talented and trained, ans has great manners. I was impressed with his resume, superior to pretty much any plastic surgeon I’ve meet. The procedure went very well. I obtained the results I wanted. His staff is top notch. Absolute recommendations. He is a Rockstar!

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Anonymous, RealSelf

Schedule a Consultation

If you are experiencing gender dysphoria and are on your gender affirmation journey, consider learning more about an MTF & FTM top surgery in Miami Beach at Rivera Plastic Surgery. Schedule your consultation with double board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Rivera-Serrano as soon as possible and get started on a journey toward self-realization.