While most people have similar concerns, some of the more challenging issues are unique to People of Color such as increased scarring and varying degrees of scar and skin coloring after surgery.  This lecture is not just for POC because in order to understand the after surgery journey, we need to understand the unique needs of all patients undergoing surgery.  Once you’ve decided to have surgery, it is critical to understand what lies ahead so there are NO SURPRISES.

Surgery is foreign and frightening to most individuals but for trans people, surgery is often essential to achieving their gender identity.  While there are many different procedures that are common in the trans community this workshop will emphasize what you need to do to get ready for any procedure.  We will address how to care for yourself after surgery to ensure a successful outcome.  Knowing the essential details help your journey with NO SURPRISES!

This will be a lecture presentation with an emphasis on open questions to facilitate a conversation with the audience.  This will stimulate a more engaging discussion that will lead to a better understanding of this important topic. 

Following attendance of the 2015 Gender Expansion Conference, attendees will be able to:

1.      Identify strategies for creating a welcoming environment for gender diverse individuals

2.      Report on best practices for masculinizing and feminizing medical treatment recommendations for adults and youth 

3.      Describe the development of gender identity in the context of adolescent development

4.      Discuss risks and benefits of available options for gender affirming surgeries

5.      Describe principles of harm reduction in relationship to gender affirming medical and surgical treatments.

6.      Explain co-management of pre and post-surgical care for transgender patients by surgeon and primary care providers