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For many people living with gender identity disorder, surgery often seems like the only way to get the mind and body to align. Dr. Manny talks to an e...
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There.
Hello all the -- dog I'm Dr.
Manny.
Imagine feeling like you are in the wrong body being so uncomfortable.
In your own skin that you're willing to drastically change your body to reflect -- true identity for many people.
Living with gender identity disorder surgery often seems like the only way to get the mind and body to a -- Joining me now is doctor Sherman police founder of the Philadelphia center for transgender surgery thank you -- for being here.
This is a fascinating topic because this a lot of people have a lot of questions I think there's a lot of misconceptions.
So let's -- with -- what is gender identity disorder.
Gender identity disorder.
Can also be referred to his -- sexual -- It's basically.
When the brain is one gender.
And the body is that gender opposite that of the brain -- it has nothing would.
-- being gay or homosexual has absolutely nothing to do with being gay a gay person or lesbian doesn't want to change their gender right.
They changed and a person literally has the brain and there -- scientific studies and an atomic studies to prove this.
That the bid nucleus and our brains which is responsible for gender identity is one size and shape and -- normal male one size and shape of a normal female.
University of -- today in the neuroscience -- senator showed some years ago.
That the bed nucleus -- his gender -- is exactly the same as that event normal female.
Mom and probably -- -- so that wasn't done on female to male -- sexual tonight.
So what did what do people at what age do they begin to realize.
That that you know the -- living in the Rome body almost every patient I -- I sold to new patients yesterday.
Exactly the same when I ask and how long have you felt different.
Yet they almost universally tell me as long as I can remember.
Three for five years old I knew something was different something was wrong they didn't know what it was right not usually until puberty.
Right and then they start reading and hearing stories and discovering.
What what their situation is they really.
The gender opposite their body and it's very frustrating.
Let's go through the steps when somebody.
Comes to see you.
What is what do they do that people a psychological evaluation person mean what what -- -- what exactly is the first thing they should do they can always come and talk to me you know we'll give them guidance because.
We have the center in Philadelphia where we can really.
Help them in every aspect of their life from the beginning to the -- -- in and in helped them along the middle of their transition.
But in the beginning when Simmons frustrated they don't know what to do and they're being discriminated against and they're having problems with their family but -- school with their work.
The best thing they can do is get to a mental health specialist.
Who has been trained in gender identity issues.
I could be a licensed clinical social worker.
They psychologist Ph.D.
psychologist or an -- or DO psychiatrist.
Has to be had training in gender identity issues because the average physician has no idea what -- killing more with the transgender world and medicine unfortunately is -- discriminatory towards these people right.
Once they establish develop a relationship.
With a mental health specialists is status affected their transgender transsexual.
Then they should go to an endocrinologist.
Or some physician who has experience in training.
And hormonal therapy for transgender people because get established on -- then see a surgeon and talk about what surgical possibilities that are aren't.
So let's talk a little bit about -- the surgery how many surgery are these common surgeries how many do you do.
I do a -- I do one -- two facial feminization procedures per week.
Wanted to chest surgeries that we male or female to right.
One -- two so called bottom surgeries genital reassignment -- week.
Now I started doing this on a regular basis about seven years ago now I've done.
Probably a couple thousand of these the surgeries are ready how do you pick the candidates from with a surgical.
Respect it depends what that patient wants to do.
Right some people start with facial feminization.
-- first in the -- you know we could talk for a -- about the different things he did to the face to make a face more feminine.
Rarely do we do.
Female to male facial surgery because.
Once the female starts taking male hormones and develops a beard right answer -- assured residents clothing.
They look masculine -- of these some of may be -- short maybe a little refined features but they still a peninsula right on the other hand and then -- -- It has a big news and little brawls and heavy bones of their forehead by an -- long a -- it -- a big Adam's apple.
And a square -- switches and right it's hard for them to look feminists that we do a lot of facial feminization.
Because breast surgery or meant to breast or -- does that -- commits human chess with a lot of that.
And finally the bottom surgery the -- certainly -- some people come they wanna start -- the bottom surgery.
A lot of people come start with the face some people come in and they want to do especially.
Female to males they want to get rid of -- chest the -- because even a small female breast looks feminine.
Do you ever reject.
A patient.
Yes what would be that great to -- rejected patient if they come to me without two letters from mental health specialists to recommend the surgery the -- they must be of I -- strict about that.
They need -- and two.
-- house -- -- don't know each other.
Who have evaluated a patient who recommend them as good candidates are reject them if they haven't had that if they haven't it'll hormones at all.
If they haven't been living full time for at least a year in their desire gender.
Occasionally we can be flexible with those hormonal and living.
Situations they could easily so you you want them that you can you -- them.
So that one aspect won a psychological aspect of getting approved -- his they have to sort of live within the body that they willing to -- you're -- You know if you broke up with your girlfriend.
And think that no girls don't like me anymore last month to -- so good to become a girl girls are treated better you walk in the -- -- that.
I have to be a girl you know I can't stay in this anymore I've got to treat me you know middle -- nicely and I want surgery.
Possibly have.
Let's get evaluated on the go and operate -- summit is walks in off the street was -- -- their genitalia right do some exotic surgery I get all kinds of exotic requests from people -- all over the world.
And I won't do it right right.
-- how surgery changed over the years it's become more refined the modern era I would say -- -- -- surgery transgender surgery.
Started hitting in the fifties and sixties with a -- surgeon George -- had a big clinic in Casablanca and now we're pretty much using those same techniques -- we keep refining them more and more and more you know that it seems that ended transgender.
Community there's high rates of suicide.
Why has it.
Because these people.
Have very frustrating lives they're confused in the beginning as to who they are.
What gender they aren't they confuse their families their teachers in the people that work with are confused they're -- cheated by many people so.
Depression is very common.
It's usually temporary although anyone could have mental problem linemen but they have a very high rate of depression and anxiety 70%.
Of -- -- people think about suicide.
40% -- changed gender people attempts suicide.
If they transition that drops way way down low to.
Just a little bit higher than the average population after they have the operation -- they need to do they typically.
CN mental health professional for -- while.
All I like that the follow up brighter mental health counselor right where therapist I think it's good for them to do that though some people need it more than others just like you were on in my life he'd.
Mental health support.
For other problems we have in our lives right so -- today but many people are so happy that they finally found themselves they are so comfortable.
In their life now that they don't need that they throw away the anti depressants in the pros -- -- well be -- and and they're just having a certain percentage of mistake -- -- -- all of us right well listen this is a fascinating topic we learned a lot and we hope to have you back.
Well thank you so much for being here throughout.
And -- be out any -- you are told me about email me -- -- fox about the many functions dot com until next time.
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